The SMILE approach to literacy is systematic, multisensory, intentional, and engaging for young learners. It embraces and supports diverse learning styles and the wide range of language and literacy needs seen in most early childhood classrooms. This accelerated learning model is especially powerful for our high-needs children. In classrooms that incorporate SMILE principles, the entire class enjoys literacy experiences with quality literature, songs, poems, rhymes and dances. This invites them to relax, have fun and feel a sense of belonging while enhancing oral language skills and physical coordination. Then we build on success through differentiated instruction that is active, motivating and appropriate for individual learners while fostering a love of language. Our comprehensive instructional model acknowledges the social-emotional aspects of learning and children’s inherent love of nature. We celebrate the power of music, movement, sign language and the educational arts as translators of meaning. Our teaching makes us smile and it makes children smile. It also delights the hearts of parents as they see their children’s enthusiasm for learning.
Systematic, scaffolded.
Meaningful, multisensory, memorable, motivating.
Integrated (with the arts, science and children’s lives), intentional.
Literacy (literature and language with love).
Experiences. Engaging ones!
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| Nellie Edge’s visit to Kapa'a Elementary School |
The SMILE instructional model assumes that teachers’ first concern is in creating a joyful community of learners and bonding with each child and their families. We recognize the vital role of the emotions and parent collaboration in learning. Our teaching colleagues have proved that once we create a caring community and an engaging curriculum with parents as partners, the levels of learning soar for all children. The intrinsic reward of this type of meaning-centered learning is high motivation for children – and their teachers.
I was honored when the term SMILE was first used to describe our Nellie Edge Seminars approach to language and literacy instruction by the Kapa'a Elementary School primary teachers (on Kauai). After receiving training, they used our accelerated literacy model to create a K-2 “school within a school” in 1995, which they called SMILE (School for Meaningful Language Experiences). Our expanded acronym is still true to the heart of that original title. Remembering my visit to these engaging Kauai classrooms where children sang, signed, and performed language still brings a SMILE and warm aloha.
