Preschoolers are at just the right age to begin learning basic English principles. They are eager to learn and hear what you have to teach them. Although they may seem to be more interested in playing and socializing, you can insert learning into these times as well. Understand how to teach English on the preschool level while helping your students master the skills that will make them effective readers and writers throughout their school years.

Teach basics of sentence structure. Most preschoolers can learn this without difficulty. Just stick to the basics. State that a sentence is made up of words that tell something or ask something. Write sentences daily on the board or on chart paper. Point to each word and underline it. Show them that the spaces between words indicate that a new word begins. Teach simple punctuation like periods and question marks. Tell them that these marks are like stop signs at the ends of sentences.

Teach basic phonological awareness. Start with letter naming and recognition. Use an alphabet strip that is affixed to the wall. Drill this every day, going over the name of the letter. Once you have begun this process, then teach the alphabetic principle--that each letter corresponds to a sound. All reading programs have their own way of introducing letters and sounds. Alphabet charts will have a picture under the letter so students can learn to associate them. Whatever method you use, follow it every day, reviewing mastered letters and sounds along with introducing new ones.

Teach sight words. If you are teaching a published reading curriculum, there will be a list of sight words already available. You can also develop a sight word list yourself based on words you know are most commonly used at this stage of learning. If you are a new teacher, consult the Internet for a word list or ask a veteran teacher for assistance. You can introduce one word a week until you see the progress that the class is making in remembering them. Then add one more word a week or spend two weeks focusing on one word if they are having trouble retaining it. Teach these words in and out of isolation. For example, it is a good idea to have a word wall that grows with each new word. This is handy for a quick review. However, when you are reading aloud to the class and you see a targeted word, stop and point it out to emphasize that these words are everywhere. Encourage your students to look for them on signs, on items in stores, and in books to which they have access.

Begin writing. The fundamentals of English can be effectively taught in the writing process. Once a student knows the function of a sentence, have them write. You can begin this by getting them to copy a sentence that you have written on the board. Be patient with their early attempts at letter spacing and formation. The important thing is to get them to understand that they are not just writing in random, but that their words mean something when they are put together.

Teach informally. Preschoolers are not able to sit for long periods of time and listen to you. Instead, teach in fifteen minute segments. Cover a specific objective during this time with activities like read alouds and sight word as well as letter/sound recognition practice. Take advantage of indirect teachable moments. For example, while walking around the school, point out signs or posters and have them find the sight words. Get some old newspapers from the library and have them circle the periods and question marks and underline uppercase letters. When they are in learning centers, spend at least five minutes at each one yourself asking questions to assess what they are remembering. In the children's kitchen and play center, pick up different toys and ask what sound the item begins with. In these informal teaching moments you can learn a lot about what your students know or what they still may be struggling to understand.