Teachers can provide literacy experiences for children during every part of the day. For example, items that encourage writing can be incorporated into all centers. Children can make traffic signs in the block center, take orders or write recipes in the dramatic play center.
Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning (2007) describe specific indicators for prekindergarten children in the 4 major content areas as well as physical and motor development, and personal and social development. The literacy standards specified within the Foundation Blocks for Early Learning include oral expression, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, early knowledge and word recognition, print and book awareness, and written expression.
Teachers can provide literacy experiences for children during every part of the day. For example, items that encourage writing can be incorporated into all centers. Children can make traffic signs in the block center, take orders or write recipes in the dramatic play center. Using various materials such as whiteboards and markers, magnetic letters, alphabet stencils with play-dough, chalkboards and chalk, alphabet stamps or alphabet pocket charts offers children choices and uses various modalities.
Teaching Focus
- Reciting rhyming songs, finger plays, and poems
- Filling in the missing rhyming word of a song, fingerplay, or story
- Deciding whether two words rhyme
Instructional Strategies
- Teach songs, rhymes, poems, and fingerplays regularly. Use them at group times and during transitions.
- Play rhyming games with children.
- Intentionally draw children’s attention to rhyming words.
- Read stories that have rhyming text.
- Place rhyming materials and games in the
- Toys and Games Area.
Get Ready to Read http://www.getreadytoread.org has screening tools, online literacy games, activity cards and information for teachers and families.
Explore The Center for Early Literacy Learning http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/pgpracts.php to find practice guides for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. They also have practice-based research syntheses designed for professionals and parents.
Reference
Virginia Department of Education. (2007). Virginia’s foundation blocks for early learning: Comprehensive standards for four-year-olds. Richmond, VA.
