Sociodramatic Play and Literacy

As our curriculum clearly depicts, learning through play is what we're all about here in the classroom! Playful opportunities support children in developing knowledge in several areas:

*Knowledge About Language Factors:

-Developing literacy has to do with developing the sociocultural discourses needed to effectively use language in a variety of situations.

-Their play reflects their approach in the real world.

-According to Vygotsky, "in play, a child always behaves beyond his average age..."

-Essentially, play naturally frees children to explore culturally patterned activities, which include language and literacy.

*Knowledge of Features, Formats, and Genres

-Experiencing these elements as they occur in real contexts allows for learning to really make sense, much more so than when these are presented to children in an isolated, standardized way.

*Knowledge of the Content Area

-Play places much value in fostering a deep understanding for content areas.

*A Context for Critical Reflection

-Even when we encourage children to choose how and what to ply, they may play in ways that replicate the social hierarchies they have observed in their world.

*A Context for Expanding Literacies

-Equip play areas with familiar reading and writing materials.

*Literacy-enriched Play Areas

-There are many different ways to set up and facilitate play centers.

Here are just a few ideas:

art gallery

post office

restaurant

grocery store

doctor's office

For more information, explore resources contributed by Gretchen Owocki.

Take-Home Literature Packs

How does the opportunity to bring home a DIFFERENT bag of treats EVERY week sound?

This year, our class will be involved in the great opportunity of Take-home literature packs. Take-home literature packs are sets of books accompanied by sets of extending, relative ideas, activities, and materials.

School year 2011 has blessed me with 17 children and their families; therefore, we will have 17 plus two extra take-home literature packs offered throughout the course of the year. HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT:

-The Lit Packs will be sent home with the children on a rotating basis. Each pack will be full of various books, activities, and materials that revolve around a central theme.

-Parents are to engage and cooperate with their children and complete these packs by the due date. Parents: do not stress about the due date! Although you have tasks to complete with your child, I do not want you to feel like this homework. I am willing to discuss how much time you need at the take-home literature pack workshop.

-I invite and strongly encourage all families to attend the take-home literature pack workshop. Your input is extremely important to me. Together, we can help brainstorm ways of connecting the activities with your home culture best suited for each child.

-Lastly, and most importantly, you can expect to reap many benefits from this opportunity. Just some of the benefits include:

-Quality family time

-Packs provide a fresh array of resources for free

-Develop both literacy and world knowledge

-Creates intimacy and comfort for the family

-Provides text-to-self, text-to-others, and text-to-world connections

-Helps me, as the teacher, learn more about YOU!

I implore you to take advantage of these resources! By going through the take-home literature packs and exploring them thoroughly, I assure you that you will begin to see the lifelong benefits it can have.

Exploring Children's Literature

Explore the desires of each child so that they gain the desire to explore.

A literature-based curriculum "promotes the development of knowledge and understanding, processes and skills, as well as the dispositions to use and apply skills and to go on learning" (Bredekamp and Copple, 1997, 20).

Through books, children can explore all aspects of the world.

-Science

-Social Studies

-History

-Geography and the Environment

-Various Art Forms

-Math concepts

-Multicultural

-Self-Analysis and Emotions

These are just a few of the topics of interest that a child can learn more about through reading.

In order to foster such interests, it is important to build upon prior knowledge and experiences.

For ever topic of interest there is an equal number of ways (genres) to present that text. Literature comes in the form of poetry,songs, fiction, non-fiction, interactive, and many other books.

It is important to find out which genre and topic adheres the needs and desires of each specific child. If we want our children to want to read, then we must provide them with desirable material!

Although some of these needs and desires are innate are come from sources outside of the classroom, educators and parents can deepen these desires by strategically reading a book with purpose.

There are five different steps that can be practiced for each stage of reading:

Before reading: look at the cover, talk about pictures and text, activate prior knowledge, personal connections, and set a purpose.

During reading: make predictions, pause and reflect, create mental images, synthesize and summarize, and conduct oral cloze.

And After reading: make personal connections, make text-to-text connections, sketch to stretch, create reenactments, and perform retellings.

So you can see that there is more than just giving a child any book to read--READING IS A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS!

Reelin’ in the Reading: How to hook struggling readers

Have you ever encountered a child disinterested in or discouraged from reading?

Were you ever a person that was disinterested or discouraged?

There’s a solution—a key.

The ultimate to key to relieving these all-too-common problems is to provide the person with a book they actually want to read.

Encouragers must keep in mind that any form of literacy should be encouraged, especially for hesitant readers. Non-fiction books, newspapers, magazines, even comic books can hook students on reading.

If a child tends to be off-task during reading times, make an effort to pin-point the reason for such behavior. Does he or she really just have trouble focusing on the task at hand, or are they simply discouraged? If there is a chapter book in front of this reader, consider replacing it with an alternative that may adhere to their interests more.

In today’s society, there is a general stigma against picture books as we develop academically. Parents and educators often push children away from them as they age in order to set value on their maturity. “Picture books are for early readers.”

False.

In fact, picture books are great for all ages! They are often that key, or solution, that opens the door of opportunities and enthusiasm for the reader. Whether it be picture books, magazines,or even instruction manuals, let the child explore.

Encourage exploration early.

A Lovely Visit To The Library

Greetings, Parents!

Happy Friday!

As I'm sure you have heard, today our class took an exciting trip to the public library. The kids' excitement began with our bus ride and only escalated throughout our experience. We began our trip by entering the cozy theatre room for Story Time. Story Time is a well thought-out activity that the leaders of the library conduct specifically for the interest of the child--it is child-based. The theme that our class attended was animals and the zoo. We learned that there are so many different ways to tell a story in even the short amount of time that a young child's attention can hold!

We sang songs, listened to the art of oral storytelling and reenactment, building on a story through the use of big drawings, and more!

Although this trip proved to be an exciting trip for all, it was also quite effective. Effective library programs directly contribute to higher student achievement--even at birth! Our community is very fortunate to have an abundance of programs readily available. For examples, this is in fact a program explicitly designed for newborns.

Essentially, when teachers, families, and library media specialists collaborate to co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess various learning experiences, higher student achievement will be reached. There are more opportunities than just media check-outs at the library for the public to use. Just some of these opportunities include (but are not limited to):

*Community Outreach

-Book mobile services

-Homebound services

*Homework help for grades K-12

*Family seminars

-"Balancing Wants & Needs With Smart Budgeting"

-Homeschooling and parenting resources

-"Adorable Adoptables": Bloomington Animal Care and Control houses adoptable cats and dogs waiting for good homes. Stop by the library to meet pets that are up for adoption.

......All free of charge!!

So parents, please keep in mind the community and its resources it has to offer. If you ever need guidance, please let me know.

Very sincerely,

Miss Emily