Ms. Holzman's Kindergarten 1997-1999
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Our kindergarten literacy program is based on Cherry Valley School's literacy philosophy and guidelines developed over the last five years. The basic belief underlying our practice is that children learn to read and write by reading and writing.
An important part of a child's literacy development is language, both speaking and listening. Kindergarten provides many different opportunities for language activities. The classroom is a busy, active place, with children engaged in hands-on learning and socialization.
Most kindergarten children are what we call "emergent" readers. These children are just becoming aware of the basics of reading and writing. These readers need patterned, predictable books. Emergent level books have rhyme, repetition, natural language flow and illustrations that match the text.
My classroom has a large collection of emergent trade books that the children check out every day to take home and read to or with their families. They also take turns bringing home a class-generated Traveling Book to share. The students write their own little stories in a draft writing book. These stories are published by the teacher, illustrated by the kindergarten author, shared with the rest of the class and then the tiny texts are taken home. Parent support for our kindergarten literacy program is reinforced by sending home a variety of appropriate texts for children to share with their families.
High quality books for children will stand many rereadings by the child. Initially, young children tend to memorize familiar text. It is important to understand that emergent readers gain confidence and begin to practice reading strategies through the memorization of familiar books. Much valuable learning takes place when a child reads memorized text: experience with reading expression, vocabulary, language rhythm and patterns. Continued exposure to text eventually leads to recognition of high-frequency words or "sight" words.
Kindergarten children are also emergent writers. Early writing is very important. It supports reading development by connecting letters and sounds. Writing is modeled in the classroom for the children every day and frequent opportunities are given for children to express themselves in writing.
I like to encourage the children to understand, "What I can say, I can write. What I can write I can read". Most importantly, all attempts at writing are valued as part of the child's development as a writer; whether it is random letters, initial sounds, words or sentences.
The goal of literacy in kindergarten is to help build children's confidence in themselves as readers and writers, whatever stage they might be in developmentally. Good first teaching is the key to getting kindergarten children off to a successful start in literacy. By laying a solid foundation for literacy in kindergarten, Cherry Valley School is working to build competent, independent readers and writers.
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