Questions and answers about the Cambridge Preschool Program:

Does the Cambridge preschool curriculum teach kids to read?

Yes, the Cambridge Early Years program includes early literacy development, which involves teaching children to read. The program focuses on building phonics skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and communication through a play-based and inquiry-led approach.

Children are introduced to:

Letter recognition and phonics (linking sounds to letters)

Basic word reading and sentence formation

Storytelling and listening comprehension

Speaking and communication skills

While the program lays a strong foundation for reading, the pace depends on the child’s progress and how the school implements the curriculum.

 

More about specific teaching methods concerning the Cambridge Early Years (preschool).

The Cambridge Early Years program uses a play-based, child-centered approach to teaching reading. It focuses on phonics, comprehension, and language development in a natural and engaging way. Here’s how they teach children to read:

1. Phonics and Letter Recognition

Children learn letter sounds (phonemes) before letter names.

Activities include singing phonics songs, rhyming games, and letter tracing.

They are encouraged to blend sounds to form simple words (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ → cat).

2. Vocabulary Development

Teachers use storytelling, picture books, and discussions to introduce new words.

Interactive read-alouds help children understand stories and concepts.

They engage in naming objects, matching words to pictures, and role-playing activities.

3. Comprehension Skills

Children answer who, what, where, when, and why questions about stories.

They predict what happens next and retell stories in their own words.

Illustrations are used to help them connect words with meaning.

4. Speaking and Listening

Storytime, songs, and rhymes build listening and verbal communication skills.

Children participate in group discussions, show-and-tell, and storytelling.

They learn sentence structures by imitating and expanding on spoken language.

5. Pre-Writing and Word Recognition

Activities like tracing letters, drawing, and scribbling prepare them for writing.

High-frequency words (e.g., “the,” “is,” “and”) are introduced gradually.

They match spoken words to written words through interactive games.

6. Hands-on and Play-Based Learning

Reading is integrated into daily activities, like labels on classroom objects.

Children act out stories and use puppets or role-play to reinforce reading skills.

Learning is kept fun through games, puzzles, and digital storytelling tools.

 

Which activities can parents do at home to support the Cambridge Early Years curriculum at home?

Supporting early reading at home can be fun and engaging! Here are some activities to help your child develop reading skills in a natural way:

1. Phonics & Letter Sounds

Sound Hunt: Pick a letter sound (e.g., “b”) and find objects around the house that start with that sound (ball, book, banana).

Letter Matching: Write letters on bottle caps or cards and have your child match them to pictures of objects that start with the same sound.

Singing Phonics Songs: Songs like “The Phonics Song” or “ABC Phonics” make learning sounds fun.

2. Storytelling & Read-Alouds

Daily Reading Time: Read a short story together every day, pointing to words as you read.

Predict the Story: Stop before turning a page and ask, “What do you think will happen next?”

Change the Ending: After reading a story, ask your child to create a new ending.

3. Word Recognition & Sight Words

Word Hunt: Write simple words (like “cat,” “sun,” “big”) on sticky notes and hide them around the room. Have your child find and read them.

Label the House: Label common objects (door, chair, fridge) and encourage your child to read them.

Flashcard Games: Use sight word flashcards and play matching or memory games.

4. Writing & Drawing

Letter Tracing: Use sand, rice, or shaving cream to trace letters with fingers.

Story Drawing: Have your child draw a picture and tell a story about it. You can write down their words to show the connection between speech and text.

Make a Mini Book: Fold paper into a little book and let your child draw and “write” their own story.

5. Interactive & Play-Based Activities

Puppet Show: Use toys or puppets to act out a story, reinforcing language skills.

Magnetic Letters: Use a fridge or magnetic board to spell simple words together.

Grocery List Game: When shopping, show them simple words on your list and ask them to find the matching item.

6. Encourage Conversation

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of “Did you like the story?” ask, “What was your favorite part and why?”

Talk About Daily Activities: Describe what you’re doing in simple sentences and encourage your child to do the same.

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