A quickie because I need to get some cooking done.
I'm back in the U.S. and I've had my first class weekend at I.I.N. in New York. I had a Fantastic time and I'm so happy to be able to take the course. It's Just The Thing!
Tomorrow I'm meeting my second prospective Little Sister with Big Brothers, Big Sisters - which will be exciting, too. So far that I know, she has had a Big Sister until her family moved house recently, and now her former BS is too far away for the commute. So I may be matched up with her. We'll see how it goes.
Last night I started reading to Kids at Cliveden Park again for the first time since the school year began. I was lucky enough to work with two children, aged six and five. Boy and girl respectively. They know their ABCs (almost), but can't read yet. They were full of beans, so I tried to tame them enough to sit and listen for an hour or so. We read Harold and the Purple Crayon (Thank you Gretchen!), One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and The Snowy Day.
I'm looking for ideas on how to better work with them next week, because it seems like a great opportunity to help them with their letters and reading skills. The little boy, M, (6yo) can spell letters out, but doesn't know how to sound them out. The little girl, C, (5yo) can make convincing sound noises in word sequences, but doesn't know all her letters. So we'll see. I'm thinking flash cards and a trip to the local teacher resource store. I already have one poster of word sounds (dog, fog, log etc). But I have to say I find myself uncertain of how to make progress with them.
Ideas, please.
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2 comments:
I don't have any explicit ideas on teaching reading per se. The only thing that comes to mind, is to make sure books themselves stay fun rather than a chore. In that vein, maybe take a break from actual reading skills at some point in the session and let them "read" a book to you. IE, pick a book (either one they know very well, or not at all) and have them "read" you the story by looking at the pictures and getting creative. I learned to read that way on my own. My parents read to me from the same book every night (my choice) and I'd "read" it back to them, until one day, it all clicked and I actually *was* reading that book.
That's a great idea, Imagine. Little C wanted to read a Hello Reader level one book to me and all I could say was "tell me the story you see in the pictures". But she got bored after a page. Nevermind, perhaps she'll pick that one again tomorrow night and I'll do better at encouraging.
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