Here at the Preschool we do a million things to build literacy skills with the children. We understand that the most important thing we can do for young children to build literacy is to READ to them everyday. We read during Gathering Time, and we sprinkle books throughout the classroom for the children to read themselves, and we read to them during Outdoor Adventure time, and we read to them the stories they have told us, and we read to them at Chapel Time and we read and read and read!
Nurturing young children to become "readers" is really not about the names of letters and the sounds they make; it is about learning language. It is about playing with words and sounds. It is about hearing stories and finger plays and poems and songs. It's about recalling what you have read and predicting what will happen next. Young children become readers when they are read to. And young children learn to love the power and importance of the written word when their own words, stories, and writings are valued.
Because we believe in the value of the child's work, we wanted them to have a special place where they could write and draw. A place that is all their own. A place that is important and attractive. So this week we presented each of the children with their own journal.
As the children entered the classroom for work time, they found a box on the journaling table. A gift for them, with a note that read, "Do Not Open!". Throughout the hour of work time the children wondered about the beautiful
package on the table.
Because we believe in the value of the child's work, we wanted them to have a special place where they could write and draw. A place that is all their own. A place that is important and attractive. So this week we presented each of the children with their own journal.
As the children entered the classroom for work time, they found a box on the journaling table. A gift for them, with a note that read, "Do Not Open!". Throughout the hour of work time the children wondered about the beautiful
package on the table.
Here are some of their ideas about this special box:
- "I think it is cupcakes."
- "Who is that for? What is it?"
- "I think it is a rocking horse."
- "It says, "Do Not Open"; not yet."
- "Maybe it's a mommy!"
- "I think it is a unicorn pillow."
- "Maybe it is a butterfly."
- "What's that present for?"
- "How do we open it?"
At Gathering Time, Ms. Kristen talked to the children about the box and explained that inside there was a very special gift for each of them. Then she and the children unwrapped the box to discover the journals inside.
Ms. Kristen explained that a journal is a special place to write stories, record your ideas and thoughts, draw pictures and keep things that are important to us. She showed the children that they each had their very own journal in the box and that they will stay at school for them to add to anytime they wish.
- "I think it is cupcakes."
- "Who is that for? What is it?"
- "I think it is a rocking horse."
- "It says, "Do Not Open"; not yet."
- "Maybe it's a mommy!"
- "I think it is a unicorn pillow."
- "Maybe it is a butterfly."
- "What's that present for?"
- "How do we open it?"
At Gathering Time, Ms. Kristen talked to the children about the box and explained that inside there was a very special gift for each of them. Then she and the children unwrapped the box to discover the journals inside.
Ms. Kristen explained that a journal is a special place to write stories, record your ideas and thoughts, draw pictures and keep things that are important to us. She showed the children that they each had their very own journal in the box and that they will stay at school for them to add to anytime they wish.
The children were so excited!
They love their journals and were thrilled to begin
writing in the the very same day...
They love their journals and were thrilled to begin
writing in the the very same day...
