Will Your Child Learn to Read?
Back in the day, when I was in a master's program, the "whole language" movement was a hot topic. In simple terms, the "whole language" approach is a method of teaching children to read by recognizing words as whole pieces of language. It is an approach to spelling that encourages a lot of reading aloud to your child (a good thing!) but it also encourages children to read by sight rather than sounding out words. Phonics proponents argue that in reality there are very few words that don't follow any phonics rules and that must be learned by sight.
If you are over the age of 50, you probably learned to read by sight. Remember when you saw Dick and Jane run, eat, play and engage in any number of other activities? In many pre-k classrooms that I visited I saw a number of good things including "word walls" consisting of children's names, environmental print, such as McDonald's bags and Wal-Mart logos, along with some "sight" words to learn for kindergarten. I also heard a lot of "AA apple, and Buh Buh ball. Just to set the record straight, B doesn't really say Buh or we would say "buhall" or "buhaby". But that's a whole different blog post! However, the best thing I saw that promoted learning was teachers reading to the whole group and reading to small groups and individual children as well.
In one of my graduate classes, the professor told of a study that asked parents of newborns, "do you feel confident that your child will learn to walk?" The overwhelming answer was "of course". Then they were asked, "do you feel confident your child will learn to talk?" Once again, the overwhelming answer was "of course". But when asked, "do you feel confident that your child will learn to read?", most parents responded, "well, I hope so."
So what can parents and teachers of young children including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers do to feel confident that children will indeed learn to read when the time comes? There was once a wise doctor who had just the answer.
The next book was published in 1963 and awarded the Caldecott in 1964. It is one of my all time favorites and a great book for letting children extend their imagination. It is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. This is the story of Max who goes on a magical journey and becomes "King of all the Wild Things." He also learns an important lesson about being loved..
The next book tells the story of a police officer teaching children the rules and reasons for staying safe. However, it seems that he is upstaged by his partner, Gloria. Having children keep their eye on Gloria's antics provides endless entertainment. Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathman was published in 1995 and awarded the Caldecott in 1996.
If you share your enthusiasm about reading and your children see you absorbed in a book, newspaper, or magazine, you will be indirectly teaching the importance and enjoyment of reading.
At my house, Quincy the Coon Hound ponders what his next read will be!
That's it for now.
Check back later!
If you are over the age of 50, you probably learned to read by sight. Remember when you saw Dick and Jane run, eat, play and engage in any number of other activities? In many pre-k classrooms that I visited I saw a number of good things including "word walls" consisting of children's names, environmental print, such as McDonald's bags and Wal-Mart logos, along with some "sight" words to learn for kindergarten. I also heard a lot of "AA apple, and Buh Buh ball. Just to set the record straight, B doesn't really say Buh or we would say "buhall" or "buhaby". But that's a whole different blog post! However, the best thing I saw that promoted learning was teachers reading to the whole group and reading to small groups and individual children as well.
In one of my graduate classes, the professor told of a study that asked parents of newborns, "do you feel confident that your child will learn to walk?" The overwhelming answer was "of course". Then they were asked, "do you feel confident your child will learn to talk?" Once again, the overwhelming answer was "of course". But when asked, "do you feel confident that your child will learn to read?", most parents responded, "well, I hope so."
So what can parents and teachers of young children including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers do to feel confident that children will indeed learn to read when the time comes? There was once a wise doctor who had just the answer.
"You're never too old,
too wacky, too wild,
to pick up a book and read to a child".
Dr. Seuss
I have selected some books, all of them Caldecott Winners, for your consideration when you next visit the library. The Randolph Caldecott Medal annually recognizes the previous years "most distinguished American picture book for children," beginning in 1937. (Wikipedia)
The first book is from the "olden days" but is still a great one for reading aloud and discussing with your preschooler. It is Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey, published in 1941 and awarded the Caldecott in 1942. It is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of young ducklings looking for the perfect place to call home.
The first book is from the "olden days" but is still a great one for reading aloud and discussing with your preschooler. It is Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey, published in 1941 and awarded the Caldecott in 1942. It is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of young ducklings looking for the perfect place to call home.
The next book was published in 1963 and awarded the Caldecott in 1964. It is one of my all time favorites and a great book for letting children extend their imagination. It is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. This is the story of Max who goes on a magical journey and becomes "King of all the Wild Things." He also learns an important lesson about being loved..
The next book is described as a "visual burlesque of the improbable" and is meant to entertain. It is an account of what occurs on a Tuesday evening around eight. It is a wordless picture book illustrated by David Wiesner, published in 1991 and awarded the Caldecott in 1992. There are many opportunities for children to supply the words to the story and make it their own.
Last on the list, but not least, is Kitten's First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes. This was published in 2004 and received the Caldecott in 2005. This book is suitable for the younger child with it's black and white simple drawings and spare prose.
If you share your enthusiasm about reading and your children see you absorbed in a book, newspaper, or magazine, you will be indirectly teaching the importance and enjoyment of reading.
At my house, Quincy the Coon Hound ponders what his next read will be!
That's it for now.
Check back later!
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