If you run into questions while helping your child learn to use print — or anything else — you need only think back to how adults help a child learn to speak and accomplish so much else in their early years.
So, we take a moment now to look at what studies in various countries and cultures tell us about how we help a child learn to speak.
Follow the links to discover that studies of speech acquisition find —
Adults help a child learn to talk by modeling,
And as we model, we emphasize words with meaning to the child.
Then if the child is interested in what we do, they spontaneously
The way we use Key Words does not replicate learning to speak. But it comes very close, so I like to say it mirrors speech. The major difference is that we are more intentional here. For we carefully guide their practice as we help them develop the ability to read, write, and eventually, carry out “real-life” projects.
Also notice there’s no rote learning or memorizing involved with Key Words and The Steps. This is just as there’s none in learning to speak. Both use the child’s interests and capitalize on their natural learning strategy.
So this approach recognizes, values, and uses what the young child brings to learning.