Your Child is Developing..Their Writing Skills

To me, the word 'education' is synonymous with 'family.' In order to ensure a child's success in the classroom, we must ensure cooperation that extends beyond the classroom. How can we help a child feel confident and ready, particularly in their literacy skills?

Two words: Educate. Family.

These two words are both valuable on their own, but together, they are mighty and powerful. In the article, 'Every Mark on the Page: Educating Family and Community Members about Young Children's Writing,' Kate Cusumano discusses why and how we educate families on the "development of early writing, teaching them to view writing in a positive light, rather than from a deficit viewpoint"(9). This a great article as a reference to teach families of what to appropriately expect from their child and teachers in terms of literacy development.

Just as a child needs nurturing to develop physically and emotionally, it is important to keep in mind that the development of their literacy skills can be recognized at different levels as well.

Such signs of growth include knowing and practicing the following:

-Writing from left to right

-Letters have flexible shapes

-Symbols can be used interchangeably

-Spaces are to be left between words

-There are various possible spellings

-A special mark goes at the end

These are just some of the few literacy benchmarks that should not go unrecognized by any members involved in the academic success of the child. Simply put: this can be accomplished through communication! Talk! Discuss! Teach! Learn! :)

Our Good-will Goodwill Project

Throughout my life, I have been to Goodwill many times for many different reasons:

-Find a costume for a themed party

-Cheap materials/books for the classroom

-Home décor for my college home

-Or just to spice up my wardrobe!

THIS visit, however, added a new reason for my visit to this not-for-profit organization.

This visit was to go on a Literacy Dig for the classroom. Here, I observed and took notes of the physical environment, the people, their actions, and the language that surrounded me (both vocal and visual).

Here is a list of some of the vocabulary and phrases I noticed:

“Wow,

Cheap,

Look at these

I don’t know,

Do you really need that?,

These are hilarious!

Thank you,

Please,

Who cares?,

Gross,

Wash,

How much it cost?

You don’t need that

Goodwill

How much?

Not worth it.”

This list of vocabulary helps one understand the essence of this not-for-profit organization that “serves people with mental and physical disabilities, the unemployed, new immigrants, ex-offenders, mature workers and underserved youth” (Goodwill.com).

Essentially, Goodwill is about service.

Therefore, this community store is a fantastic place for our classroom to visit!

After we take a fieldtrip to Goodwill, we will simulate our own version within the classroom!

-We will teach and learn how to participate and contribute.

-We will teach and learn to be leaders and individuals.

-We will teach and learn how to live sustainably be reusing and recycling.

I look forward to this project-based journey with you and your child. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or desire to volunteer, I’d love to listen!

What is Literacy?

What is Literacy?

Prior to reading, or should I say, watching The Arrival, by Shaun Tan. I had already composed a preconceived notion of what literacy means...

Literacy means....."Quality reading is the ability to read with fluidity while still grasping a firm understanding of the text." (Definition 1)

What does literacy mean to YOU?

After watching Youtube's illustration of Shaun Tan's, The Arrival: , my definition of literacy was challenged.

...Does literacy have to involve text?

...Can you watch literacy?

...What makes a person literate?

While watching this young-adult picture book, the main character needs to be literate to have a meaningful connection with the new society he was placed in. In this new society, he was a second-language learner. To his new peers, he may have seemed illiterate, but there were sure-tell signs that he is actually literate...such as:

He wrote letters to his family, made meaning with his surroundings, and physically communicated with others.

Thus, after watching this Youtube clip, I have a new-found definition of literacy!

Literacy means....."Creating interactions and offering opportunities to communicate by sending/receiving a message. Literacy is meaning-making; simply put, it is a way for people to get things done." (Definition 2)