Children are not illiterate when they come to kindergarten because they know what a lot of those symbols mean as well as, how to see literacy in every day things like coins and videotapes. I liked in the article when she gathered her kindergarteners together and asked who could read and no one raised their hand, but when she pulled out a McDonalds bag and asked what it was they all knew no matter what language they spoke.
I like the idea of an alphabet made up of pictures of the students. If I made one I would have every student hold the letter that their first name started with. I believe this would help the children learn the sounds of the letters better. I also liked the idea of the game Teacher, May We? I think that is a really good way to help the children learn about the syllables in words, and it is also a fun activity that would keep them engaged.
Thoughts to ponder:
1. How will you teach your students about syllables?
2. What activities will you use to help them sound out, read, and write new words?
Reading shampoo bottles! It is uncanny how often I read everything around me--cereal boxes and shampoo bottles and caution labels. Usually I read these things so much because they are short, my eyes are wandering around, and it is something to "do" and think about. I wonder, what is all this text on my shampoo bottle? What could the soap have to say? it's just soap... So because of all these experiences, I believe labeling the classroom will be a great tool for indirectly teaching kids. labels such as, "light switch" under the light switch in the younger grades. In a fifth grade classroom, maybe labels something like, "This is a clock. clocks come in many forms, this one is called 'analog'. the clock on the microwave is called 'digital'." Because it's a short little label under something they look at a lot, they will probably read the label, getting practice reading in small doses and learning random facts!
ReplyDelete