Send Home Mother Goose Rhyme Pages and/or Little Books
for Children to Memorize, Recite and Read

Dear Parents,

We are learning Mother Goose rhymes because research consistently shows that children who have memorized many nursery rhymes become better readers. We recite these rhymes with soft and loud voices, happy and sad voices, and even our best performance voices. We sing the rhymes, march to their rhythms, and often pantomime their actions. Then we connect the language to print and build our reading skills.

Mother Goose rhymes are an important part of our literary heritage. Many have survived since the time of Shakespeare. Children continue to love these rhymes because of their delightful rhythm, nonsense, and imagery!

Memorizing rhymes, songs, and verses is a strategy that will give your child a storehouse of language to call upon when he is asked to fluently read, write and speak the English language. We encourage memorization at home and at school for "... Pretty things, well said, it's nice to have them in your head." (Robert Frost)

Enclosed are some of the most well-known Mother Goose Rhymes. Perhaps your child already knows many of them. Enjoy chanting or singing these rhymes in the car or perhaps as a part of your bedtime routine. Encourage your child to recite them from memory with rhythm and expression and then point to the words as you read the rhyme sheet or little book together. In this way children role-play themselves as successful readers. We call this initial reading behavior "magical memory reading" which is an important phase that most children go through as they construct their knowledge of how print works. You will be amazed at how soon your child will be reading every word.

Thank you for being partners with us in literacy development. Your nightly commitment to reciting rhymes and reading together is a vital part of your child's success in school. Enjoy creating wonderful family memories as you make friends with Mother Goose.

Your partner in literacy learning,

Nellie Edge "Parents as Partners" Letter © 2004, updated 2006.
Permission granted for teachers to adapt and/or copy this letter with credits noted.