It’s such a simple strategy that we can use early on- and it helps wire the brain for more complex strategies as future readers: leaving out key words as we read to our littles. It works. It work for both recognizing rhymes and for using context clues.

Here are some examples from LITTLE BLUE TRUCK by Alice Schertle:

“Horn went “BEEP”.

Engine purred.

Friendliest sounds

you ever ________________.” (page 1)

“Little Blue Truck

came down the road.

“BEEP” said Blue

to a big green ___________.” (page 2)

For the first blank, as a parent, we recognize rhymes and we also have quite the word bank stored in our brains. We will come up with the missing word (heard) fairly easily. The key here is to read the entire book to our kiddoes a few times first, so that they are familiar with the plot and characters. This is more important the younger the children are. But, after a few times of reading them the story, even toddlers as young as 18 months of age can start to fill in and SAY (yell?) the missing word. Kids as young as four or five may even be able to figure out the missing words on the first read!

Boy, will our kids be excited to belt out the missing words and TELL US how the story goes! They will think this is fun and it will build confidence too, but we know that reading skills are being developed in those formative little minds.

Now, let’s talk about the second group of words on page two. If you are familiar with this book, you’ll know that there is a picture of the TOAD on the page, and the kids will quickly use context clues (the image) to recognize the missing word. This seems so simple to us, but if you keep repeating this pattern throughout the book, any book, you’re both enjoying and participating in the story. And our kids are developing reading skills that will only help in years to come.

This simple strategy can be used with any book that uses rhyme in the story. But, using context clues to leave out missing words can be used with any story, even those without rhymes. Our kids can use logic, prior knowledge, and illustrations to analyze what the “missing word or phrase” might be.

I have to give a plug for this Little Blue Truck series. The stories have such sweet life lessons and the illustrations by Jill McElmurry are FANTASIC. The images are clever and full of humor.

My challenge is to just try this idea of leaving out key words. I think you’ll be impressed and surprised by what our kids can figure out. “Booking Time with Our Kids” should be something we all enjoy, right? And what kids don’t like showing us what they know and how smart they are? We all like that….even us adults. Warning: using this strategy may produce boisterous, loud responses that may lead to confidence and laughter during reading.

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe and share for ideas of how we can BOOK TIME WITH OUR KIDS!