"sounding out"

When it comes to reading with young children, we notice as educators all the different ways that they try to read words. When these children are trying to read and they are stuck they try to sound out the word. In some cases this can be beneficial but in others it just doesn't work the way it is intended to. Our language is made up of words who don't sound the way they are spelled and who even sound the exact same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. 

When I was in my field experience this semester I noticed the student's constantly trying to sound out the words and getting stuck because they were frustrated when they didn't make sense. I had come to realize different strategies to help these children learn how to read these words without such a struggle. It is important in these situations to tell these children to take a step back and look and see if it looks right or if it makes sense in the sentence that it is in. This forces the child to look deeper at the story and its content. Also as a teacher in these situations it is a good idea to involve the pictures in the figuring of the word. Guide the child's thinking towards the picture and how it is incorporated and would make sense in the sentence. This helps the child connect the meaning of the pictures with the meaning behind the words. These are just a few ways to help the students really look at the text and focus on connecting the story with the meaning. 

Literacy Playshop

what is the literacy playshop approach and what are you thinking about it?

Literacy playshop in the classroom is a way to incorporate topics that children like into the lessons in the classroom. It is a way for children to become very actively engaged in what they are learning and they will become more interested in the subjects. Begin by asking children what show or toys they like at that moment and remember to jot down what they say. Last year when i was working in a pre school classroom the children were all interested in the movie Frozen. During free time we would put out Frozen templates so they could practice sketching different outlines. During the transition periods and recess we would also play the CD so the students knew it was time to clean up and switch and they loved it. 

I think literacy playshop is a great way to bring the students interests into the classroom. They will want to participate, share with the class, learn more about others interests and keep an open mind. I think the students will only benefit from these playshops. Especially if the teacher incorporates puppet shows, videos and plays into the lessons. It will keep the students attention and allow them to think outside of the box. 

No tables or chairs haiku

Learning can be fun
It lets us create and play
More room to explore

Staying positive

As teachers, we need to focus on encouraging our students to continue bettering themselves in the classroom. Focusing on students strengths will only help them try to strive and meet the goals that they need to meet. If we focus on children's weaknesses it will bring them down and they will want to give up. Being a positive influence on students at such a young age will leave an impression that they can achieve whatever they want. Bringing them down will only cause them to want to move on and forget about what they can not do. Always having a smile on your face is the best accessory!

Literacy in my community

As a future teacher, when I think of literacy I think of all of the components inside of the classroom. In reality, literacy is everywhere around us whether we realize it or not. We see literacy in our community through the simple tasks of talking, singing, reading, drawing and writing. This can occur at home, with friends, with family or with strangers; whether you are trying to accomplish a goal or not. Having a conversation with a friend, typing an e-mail or even doodling in class are ways that literacy is shown through the community. We see parents practicing literacy with their children through playing little games or asking questions like "what sound does a pig make" or talking them through what you are doing as you are doing it. This is important so the child practices their verbal skills as well as being able to match a name with an object. Helping children work on their literacy skills at a young age will only help improve their language and phonemic development as they grow.

All over the world children are entering classrooms with students and teachers who don't speak the same language as them. These language barriers can put an emotional as well as academic strain on not only these students school lives but their personal lives as well. Entering a situation where no information is known or understood is nerve racking for anyone. Being a young and vulnerable student trying to make a better person of themselves does not deserve to be put down in any way.

We need to be more cautious and sensitive of these situations and make sure to make these children with language barriers feel like they belong. We need to make them feel like they are part of a community and can belong, even when they feel lost. When I traveled to Greece and Rome for spring break my junior year of college, I was always the outsider looking in. I did not know either of the languages and always felt like I was just in the way and misunderstood. I did not like that feeling and I don't think anyone would. As a teacher, we need to incorporate all learners and all students and make it known to them we are trying to create a relationship based on respect and trust. We are there to benefit them and make them feel welcome.

Getting Started

Lets get up and start moving! Growing up, we all heard how beneficial it was to keep moving while learning because then we are engaging ourselves properly and keeping alive, alert and active! Through the article and research, I have learned that incorporating movement and sounds into the curriculum can benefit a student relating to just about any subject and from any background no matter what prior experience or language skills that they possess.

 Every child is unique and has they own specific way they thy enjoy expressing themselves, so through free movement and free expression each chill is teaching their peers what they already know while ganging even more knowledge from others. While these children are growing through music, movement or art each child is learning several kills as t hey go whether they realize it or not! As each child watches and interacts with another child, they are picking up literacy skills and expanding their own skills at the same time. It will allow children to be able to put two and two together at their own pace through activities that they enjoy because each child is on their own learning path with their own capabilities and we as teachers need to encourage and support that!