--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fastest way to teach a child to read…" description: "\"The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.\" — Mem Fox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png" --- # The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them… ![“The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.” quote by Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png) > “The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.” [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching writing first builds the skills and confidence needed for reading, as decoding and encoding are interlinked. **In simple terms:** Writing first helps reading. Key Takeaway Focus on writing to boost reading. Themes literacy education skill development Mood encouraging supportive Type educational practical When to use this quote - home school - early childhood classroom - after‑school tutoring Key Concepts phonics handwriting cognitive connection Questions to Reflect On - How does writing reinforce reading comprehension? - What writing activities best support early readers? A Different Perspective Reading also needs exposure to text and vocabulary practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-teach-a-child-to-read-and-he-or-her-will-be-able-to-pass-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Teach a child to read and he/she will pass a literary test.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/teach-a-child-to-read-and-he-she-will-pass-a-literary-test/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Don’t just teach your children to read… Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/don-t-just-teach-your-children-to-read-teach-them-to-question-what/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The trick is to get people to read anything, to engender the love of reading. Once you can read, you can teach yourself anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-cleland/the-trick-is-to-get-people-to-read-anything-to-engender-the-love-of/) [Jane Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-cleland/) > [We read because they teach us about people, we can see ourselves in them,in their problems.And by seeing ourselves in them, we clarify ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/we-read-because-they-teach-us-about-people-we-can-see-ourselves-in/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“When I was a child I read books for entertainment and information; I now think of books as lifeboats.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/when-i-was-a-child-i-read-books-for-entertainment-and-information-i/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [A child who can't read isn't going to get better because you told him he was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/a-child-who-can-t-read-isn-t-going-to-get-better-because-you-told-him/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [“What could be more important than inspiring a child to read her first book and giving her the gift of confidence?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-l-patrick/what-could-be-more-important-than-inspiring-a-child-to-read-her-first/) Kathy L. Patrick > [As a child I read all kinds of stuff, whether it was 'Asterix and Obelix' and 'Tin Tin' comic books, or 'Lord of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/as-a-child-i-read-all-kinds-of-stuff-whether-it-was-asterix-and/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“Using assistive technology with your child prevents your child from missing out on content solely because he can’t yet read or write. If your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-k-cook/using-assistive-technology-with-your-child-prevents-your-child-from/) Sandra K. Cook > [“Every child should be read to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hansen/every-child-should-be-read-to/) Kim Hansen > [Teach a child good manners during babyhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/teach-a-child-good-manners-during-babyhood/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [The parents exist to teach the child, but also they must learn what the child has to teach them; and the child has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-parents-exist-to-teach-the-child-but-also-they-must-learn-what/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“Read, so as to know; speak, so as to teach; write, so as to think!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/read-so-as-to-know-speak-so-as-to-teach-write-so-as-to-think/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“It's difficult to teach how to write novels, but teaching swimming is just as hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-s-difficult-to-teach-how-to-write-novels-but-teaching-swimming-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Mem Fox > [Writing a picture book is like writing 'War and Peace' in Haiku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/writing-a-picture-book-is-like-writing-war-and-peace-in-haiku/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [“As adults we choose our own reading material. Depending on our moods and needs we might read the newspaper, a blockbuster novel, an academic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/as-adults-we-choose-our-own-reading-material-depending-on-our-moods/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [I was the most Australian child ever in the world, even though my home was in Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/i-was-the-most-australian-child-ever-in-the-world-even-though-my-home/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn’t achieved by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fire-of-literacy-is-created-by-the-emotional-sparks-between-a/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [I don't go to church much anymore, but Methodist values still wind me up and send me ticking into my daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/i-don-t-go-to-church-much-anymore-but-methodist-values-still-wind-me/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [Books don't harm kids; they arm them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/books-don-t-harm-kids-they-arm-them/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [I think sometimes we rush through countries, ticking off the attractions, but that's missing the point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/i-think-sometimes-we-rush-through-countries-ticking-off-the/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [If you are not a writer, you will not understand the difficulties of writing. If you are not a writer, you will not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/if-you-are-not-a-writer-you-will-not-understand-the-difficulties-of/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fire-of-literacy-is-created-by-the-emotional-sparks-between-a-2/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/experts-in-literacy-and-child-development-have-discovered-that-if/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [You're not lonely when you're teaching, you're not quiet, you're laughing most of the time, you're having a wonderful time interacting with young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/you-re-not-lonely-when-you-re-teaching-you-re-not-quiet-you-re/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [Putting babies as young as two weeks into child care for the first year of their life, for 60 hours a week, will cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/putting-babies-as-young-as-two-weeks-into-child-care-for-the-first/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [As everyone knows, nothing is sweeter than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/as-everyone-knows-nothing-is-sweeter-than-tiny-baby-fingers-and/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [I don't know why some people have children at all if they know that they can only take a few weeks off work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/i-don-t-know-why-some-people-have-children-at-all-if-they-know-that/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [My mother was a very difficult woman to please. She was the sort of woman who thought that if I were praised I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/my-mother-was-a-very-difficult-woman-to-please-she-was-the-sort-of/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) [Explore all 29 Mem Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mem Fox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read-is-to-teach-them-to-write/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read-is-to-teach-them-to-write/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/mem-fox-21289_books_the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read_584228.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.” — Mem Fox", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mem Fox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fastest way to teach a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read-is-to-teach-them-to-write/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/the-fastest-way-to-teach-a-child-to-read-is-to-teach-them-to-write/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```