An Afternoon of Reading Magic: What I Learned from Teaching My First Workshop at Books of Wonder (A Reading Class for Kids Aged 3-5)

There's something extraordinary about transforming a corner of a bookstore into a learning space. Last week, as I set up our "Love of Reading" workshop at Books of Wonder, I watched families browse nearby shelves, not yet knowing the adventures we were about to share together.

The Joy of Learning Through Play

As our young readers arrived, their eyes widened at the sight of our sensory letter box. Inside, the letter 'A' waited to be discovered in various forms and textures. One little girl plunged her hands into the box, giggling as she searched for hidden treasures. "I found it!" she exclaimed, holding up a tiny alligator eraser like it was pure gold. These moments of discovery are why I believe so deeply in play-based learning.

We moved from sensory exploration to building letters with manipulatives. Each child approached the task differently – some meticulously lined up their materials, while others created elaborate letter designs. One boy proudly showed me his 'A' made entirely of rainbow-colored hearts: "Look, it's standing up all by itself!" His enthusiasm was contagious.

The Heart of Pre-Writing Skills

With Valentine's Day approaching, we incorporated heart tracing into our pre-writing practice. It was beautiful to watch as careful concentration turned into confident strokes. Parents leaned in, watching their children grasp markers with determination, making marks that would someday turn into stories of their own.

Stories That Connect Us

The afternoon peaked during our interactive read-aloud. As we explored rhyming words and built vocabulary, I watched children's faces light up with recognition. They weren't just listening to a story – they were part of it. When one child shouted out a rhyming word before I could finish the page, the whole group erupted in cheers.

What I Learned From Our Reading Class

This workshop reminded me of something crucial: foundational reading skills aren't just about letters and sounds. They're about creating moments of joy, discovery, and connection. In our small group setting, every child had the space to explore, question, and grow at their own pace. Every parent had the chance to see their child's unique learning style in action.

The Power of Community

Perhaps the most beautiful part of our reading class was watching parents connect with each other, sharing stories and strategies. One mother mentioned how she'd never thought to use sensory play for letter learning. Another shared how she creates letter-hunting games at home. In these exchanges, our workshop became more than a learning space – it became a community.

Looking Forward

As I packed up our materials that afternoon, surrounded by the happy chatter of families making plans for future playdates, I felt immensely grateful. Grateful for Books of Wonder opening their space to us, grateful for the trust of our families, and grateful for the reminder that learning to read is a journey best taken together. These are the moments that remind me why I fell in love with teaching reading in the first place. When we create spaces where children can explore, play, and discover at their own pace, the love of reading grows naturally. It's not about rushing to the destination – it's about enjoying every step of the journey.

Here's to many more afternoons of reading magic, one letter at a time. 📚✨

Happy reading!

Taylor Sofranko-Sutherland

Founder, TAS Literacy

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P.S. If you would like to book a small-group, play-based literacy workshop for your community, I'd love to schedule a call and see how we can make it happen!