- Print the resources (see “Tips for printing”).
- Where there are more than 6 cards available, choose 6 to teach over a two week period or until your child knows the word(s). Rotate them as appropriate.
- Add STEPs to book time.
Before book reading – show the picture, tell your child the word and explain the meaning (e.g. “____ means …” or “____ is a word for…”). Let the child hear each word twice.
During book reading – when you read the word in the story, show the picture, tell your child the word and explain the meaning (e.g. “____ means…” or “____ is a word for…”). Let the child hear each word twice again.
After book reading – show the picture, tell your child the word and put it in a sentence (context) (e.g. “I could use it in a sentence like this”). Let the child hear each word twice more.
Ensure you have repeated each word 6 times every time you read the book.
It is helpful to be familiar with the story book yourself before you start using the cards.
The page numbers on the resources are intended as a guide. Generally, the first page where the illustration or the text of the story starts is considered page 1. The symbol “+” indicates that the word appears more than once in the book.
- Repeat the book 3 times a week over 2 weeks. That is, read the book 6 times over 2 weeks so that 6 repeats x 6 reads = 36 repetitions of the target words – a ‘dosage’ that has been demonstrated to be effective.