The Story of The Reading Treehouse

Imagine that a child’s language is represented by a growing Language Tree.

The Language Tree represents his understanding of words, and his ability to use them.

Now imagine that the child is building a Treehouse up there in the branches of his Language Tree.

The Treehouse represents his developing skill in reading.

The Reading Treehouse is made of natural materials, but it is not natural.

It has to be built on purpose, with some effort--and usually with some help from grown-ups.

Imagine that the FLOOR of the Reading Treehouse represents the sounds of the boy's language.

Long before he began to build the Treehouse, the young child was playing with these sounds.

As a baby, he babbled.

As a young child, he made up silly rhymes, and sang songs, and delighted in nonsense word play.

When the child was able to play with the sounds of speech the way he plays with blocks--selecting one here, combining these there, able to build and tear down, mix and match--he was laying solid planks for the FLOOR of his Reading Treehouse.

The trunck and branches of his sturdy Language Tree are a ready-made Frame for the Reading Treehouse.

And he is adding to the WALLS a bit at a time.

Tacked firmly between the branches you will find the words he already knows how to read: his own printed name, and ‘McDonald’s’ and many others.

And here too are the alphabet letters whose spoken sounds he can tell you.

Imagine that the written words and written sounds that the boy can read, represent the WALLS of the Reading Treehouse.

These walls stay upright only if they CONNECT firmly to frame--the Language Tree.

The Treehouse is open at the top.

It is sheltered by the growing Leafy Canopy which represents the boy’s knowledge about the world.

Since the Reading Treehouse is open at the top, there is always room for more knowledge and new ideas.

Come on up, and take a look around.

Take a QUICK TOUR

Learn HOW TO BUILD a Reading Treehouse

Do you prefer a map? Then let the menu bar on the left guide you. Just pick a starting point and click your way down the list.