Literacy
What is literacy? (According to Wikipedia)
Literacy is traditionally understood as the ability to read, write, and use arithmetic. The key to literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text.
What is Language Arts?
According to the International Council of Teachers of English, the five strands of the language arts are reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing (visual literacy).
Literacy is traditionally understood as the ability to read, write, and use arithmetic. The key to literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text.
What is Language Arts?
According to the International Council of Teachers of English, the five strands of the language arts are reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing (visual literacy).
Letters
The first step into learning to read is exposure to letters and their sounds.
Fundations
Fundations is a great program that allows students to learn the letters in correlation with the sounds. Fundations is a literacy program that associates letters to pictures and the sound.
Fundations Podcast
Fundations
Fundations is a great program that allows students to learn the letters in correlation with the sounds. Fundations is a literacy program that associates letters to pictures and the sound.
Fundations Podcast
Sight Words
Your child can identify all 26 letters of the alphabet (upper/lower case). The can also identify the 26 letter sounds. If your child can do these 2 things automatically. Your child is ready for sight words. There are different lists one can use: Dolch Word List, Fry, or if you follow Wilson's Fundations, they have their own.
Games that can be played or activities to include to help make learning more fun. I find great luck with google or my personal favorite Pinterest. The following are just a few examples one can use.
Word Walls
Word walls are a great way to build vocabulary and word knowledge. They are a great resource to enhance writing as well. Here is a picture from a Kindergarten classroom. It includes sight words, classmates names, and color words. I also like to include high frequency words, like Love, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, and Uncle.
Games that can be played or activities to include to help make learning more fun. I find great luck with google or my personal favorite Pinterest. The following are just a few examples one can use.
- Sight word Bingo
- Sight word Matching
- Sight word Go -Fish
- Sight word Hopscotch
- Sight word Word Hunt
Word Walls
Word walls are a great way to build vocabulary and word knowledge. They are a great resource to enhance writing as well. Here is a picture from a Kindergarten classroom. It includes sight words, classmates names, and color words. I also like to include high frequency words, like Love, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, and Uncle.
Print Awareness
All emergent readers begin learning the following through listening to read:
- Concepts of print
- Front/Back
- Binding
- pages
- Top/Bottom - Left/Right
- Punctuation
Reading
When reading students should be engaged in their book. There should be an interest in what they are reading.
Does it have Meaning?
When a child is reading and is struggling with a word. A good questions to ask to guide them are...
Use Visual Clues from the Words
Relate it to Talking
Does it have Meaning?
- What would make sense in the sentence?
- You read ________. Does that make sense?
- Look at the picture to help you read the word.
- Think about what is happening in the story right now.
- Go back to the beginning of that sentence and start it again.
- Skip over the word and continue reading until the end of the sentence. Now, go back to the beginning of the sentence and start again.
When a child is reading and is struggling with a word. A good questions to ask to guide them are...
Use Visual Clues from the Words
- Look at the first letter(s) of the word. Say the first sound(s).
- If the word is ____________, what would you expect to see at the beginning/middle/end of the word?
- Spell the word out loud. Look at each letter.
- We’ve seen that word before in this book. Let’s find it on the other page.
- Do you see a part of the word (word chunk) that you already know?
- Let’s cover up a part of the word and read the part we see. (For example, if the word is jumping, cover up the -ing)
- Sound it out. (This only works if the child has the word knowledge and/or strategies.)
- Do you see a prefix in the word that you know? (longer words)
- Do you see a suffix in the word that you know? (longer words)
- Can you break the word into syllables?
Relate it to Talking
- Does that sound right to you?
- Can you point to the word that sounded wrong?
- You read ______, is that how we say it?
A Literacy Rich Environment
A literacy rich environment should contain elements that ensure student progress. The environment should display things they are learning about in order refresh their memory, as well as cut the amount of questions for you. the same is said for all subjects. After my first year in 2nd grade I am already adding many things to my display.: math terminology, decimals charts, parameter, characteristic traits, reading tips, comprehension terminology, writing styles, genre's, editing tips, science, etc.
For younger students be sure to label EVERYTHING! This will familiarize them with print in their environment. It will also draw there attention to letters they know, as well as becoming familiar with initial letter sounds. In school with various languages, labels can help enhance second language learners.
It is also very important at all levels and content areas to display a word wall. This will help students expand their vocabulary, enhance their curriculum.
For younger students be sure to label EVERYTHING! This will familiarize them with print in their environment. It will also draw there attention to letters they know, as well as becoming familiar with initial letter sounds. In school with various languages, labels can help enhance second language learners.
It is also very important at all levels and content areas to display a word wall. This will help students expand their vocabulary, enhance their curriculum.