Learning Path Stones

Listening and Reading Comprehension

Listening and Reading Comprehension
As children develop comprehension of books read aloud or independently, they explore the uses and functions of written language. They begin to construct meaning, eventually applying critical skills to make inferences and draw conclusions.

Literary Analysis and Critical Thinking

Literary Analysis and Critical Thinking
Once they master basic comprehension, children begin to grasp the structure and meaning of texts, applying critical thinking skills across subjects and genres.

Subject Knowledge

Subject Knowledge
Children learn about the world through stories. In turn, they use the knowledge they gain to comprehend other stories, both fiction and nonfiction, more fully, building their general knowledge and increasing their vocabulary across subject areas.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
While infants and toddlers learn vocabulary by memory, older children use word structure and context to help understand the meaning of a word. They identify synonyms and antonyms. They use prefixes, suffixes and base words to build their own vocabulary.

Phonics Skills

Phonics Skills
Before they can read independently, children must learn the relationship of letters to their sounds and be able to distinguish individual sounds, or phonemes, within words. Phonics skills help children sounds out new words (If I can read "pot", then I can read "hot" and "spot").

Book and Print Basics

Book and Print Basics
A child's early experiences with books greatly influence his ability to learn to read. Reading together helps a child learn how to turn pages one at a time and that text moves from left to right. Advanced readers learn how to use books for research.

Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect
Children progress from a simple observation of action and reaction (spin the wheel to hear music) to a deeper understanding of cause and effect (germs make you sick). Cause and effect is important because it signals that a child can perceive hidden or abstract forces on objects.

Memory Skills

Memory Skills
Memory skills are essential for learning. It is fairly easy to help your child train their memory using memory games, poems and particular memory strategies.