September is national literacy month

Literacy is the child’s own emergence into the global world of speaking and listening, reading and writing.  Preschool teachers learn what books and activities to use with children through planning lessons and materials to enhance culturally developmentally age appropriate literacy experiences.

Remember each child learns information through different activities and not at the same time or pace.  Here are some literacy activities that can be used in an early childhood classroom.

1.      Survey children on lesson plan topics and chart answers (e.g., favorite fruit, name of class pet).  Write words of survey accompanied with picture, if possible and children’s name showing tally marks.

2.      Make a list of words related to weekly lesson plan.  Post with pictures throughout the learning environment in multiple languages for children to write on their work and so forth.  Record and spell the words with pictures on ring so children can flip for word needed.

3.      Write a poem or story on chart paper highlighting key words with different color markers accompanied with photos.  While reading, move finger under the words and pause for children to read highlighted words.

4.      Talk with children about what they created (e.g., artwork, construction built) and record word for word dictation and date stated.

5.      Read a story related to lesson plan topic then let children come up with a song to record.  Write the song (sung to familiar tone), practice then record.

6.      Record children’s stories on tape.  If you have access video-record stories that can be played on computer at later date.

7.      Create class book on related lesson plan topics where each child is given the opportunity to draw pictures and record dictation.  Compile with cover page, date and then display.

8.      Read bilingual books to children for acceptance of dual language learners to home vocabulary. Some books are

a.       Abuelita Full of Life (Costales, A., 2007).

b.      Margaret and Margarita (Reiser, L., 1993)

c.       Red is Beautiful (John, R., 2003)

d.      Dragonfly Kites (Highway, T., 2002)

e.       Bebe’ Goes Shopping (Elva, S. M., 2006)

9.      Have children listen for rhyming words in a story by becoming “Rhyme Word Detectives”.  Here are some books to use

a.       Grumpy Gloria (Dewdney, A., 2006)

b.      “Fire! Fire!” Said Mrs. McGuire (Martin, R., 2006)

c.       Is Your Mamas a Llama? (Guarino, D., Kellogg, S., 1997).

10.  Place environmental print labels of materials in multiple language (add photo, if possible).

11.  Write children’s name on sentence strip for recognition of different activities.  Read, Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School (Whybrow, I., 2006) and end activity with children practice writing their name from sentence strip and so forth.  

Yes, the month of September is been designated as National Literacy Month but these and other literacy ideas must be incorporated throughout the year.  It is important that children have an appreciation for all aspects of literacy that will assist in becoming productive citizens of society.