|
|
|
|
Kindergarten Poetry and "I Can Read" Notebooks Dear Parents, This is your child’s personal “I Can Read” notebook. It contains familiar words from the poems, songs, and rhymes we are learning in our classroom. This anthology is a vital part of your child’s literacy program. Each poem, song, or rhyme is first learned orally. Nothing supports the young child more as a successful reader, writer, and speaker than building a rich repertoire of oral language. It is the familiarity with the English language that allows the child’s decoding to be error free. Calling upon the sounds of this language during our shared reading time, your child will begin connecting the spoken word to the printed text. This provides a meaningful context to develop phonemic awareness and apply phonics skills while building fluency with oral language. Your young child initially may enjoy role-playing him or herself as a successful reader of these rhymes. At school we honor this “magical memory reading” as it is an important phase that most children go through as they construct knowledge about how written language works. Once your child is familiar with the song or rhyme’s language, he or she will receive an individual copy of the piece so that it can be illustrated and then be added to their Poetry “I Can Read” Notebook. Each week new poems, songs, or rhymes are added. We practice tracking the words, finding high-frequency “by heart” words, using our developing phonics skills, and rereading this language over and over again. By the end of the school year, your child will be able to recite – and read – many or all of this wonderful collection. The “I Can Read” notebook will be sent home once a week. At this time your child can practice reciting the language over and over until it is memorized. Encourage your child to perform the songs or rhymes with rhythm and dramatic flair. It is often helpful if a family member joins in reciting or singing the language. Then let your child choose one page for actual reading practice. (See How to Use the Neurological Impress Method of Supported Reading.) Keep this family reading time joyful and relaxed and please remind your child to return the notebook to school the next day. It is important to encourage and celebrate your child’s delight in these oral language accomplishments. Children who learn to recite and perform language with expression become more expressive readers and articulate speakers. Thank you for making the commitment to talk, sing, and read with your child every night. This is the foundation for developing a lifelong love of reading. Working together, we will share the pleasure of watching your child’s language and reading skills blossom and grow.
Warmly, Nellie Edge Nellie Edge Parent Letter, © 2005. Permission granted for teachers to copy or adapt letter with credit noted. |
