Literacy in Kindergarten

Morning sign-in

Handwrititng practice

In kindergarten, literacy (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are seen throughout each day as the children engage in meaningful and authentic learning experiences. We use the Handwriting Without Tears program to support letter formation and recognition. This handwriting program uses a variety of manipulatives such as wood pieces, magnetic boards and chalk boards to practice making upper and lower case letters before the children print the letters with pencils. Four basic lines are all that are needed to make the letters of the alphabet: big line, little line, big curve, little curve.

Kid writing

In kindergarten, kid writing is used to strengthen the ability to connect letters and sounds as budding authors stretch out the words and print the letters they hear and can identify. This process helps to develop and strengthen phonemic awareness- the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in words. Before a child can learn to read, they need to become aware of how sounds in words work. As we develop writers, we are also developing stronger readers! Throughout the year, kindergarten students engage in a variety of writing activities to reflect upon experiences, write letters and create classroom books. Already this year, the children have written in a variety of ways. Some of the inspirations have been: our hopes and dreams for kindergarten, our first field trip, a texture book as part of our five senses study, labeling our five senses posters, and adventures over a long weekend.

Book reading at choice time

Identifying the parts of a story, developing vocabulary and growing comprehension skills are strengthened every day during choice time reading, daily whole group read alouds and chapter book readings. Currently, we are reading the chapter book, My Father's Dragon. Be sure to ask your child about his/her favorite part of the adventure so far! We are moving through this book at lightening speed for we have daily requests to read "just one more chapter today, please?" A love of books is clearly evident! As the school year progresses, we will support developing reading skills as we practice sight words, explore word families, and  introduce strategies for decoding text, such as identifying beginning and ending letter sounds, rhyming, vowel patterns, along with contextual clues to scaffold reading skills. 

V.I.P. Sharing

Book Sharing

Listening and speaking activities are also abundant in kindergarten as the children are engaged in connecting and interacting with one another in informal and more structured experiences. The children are given opportunities to speak in front of their class during Morning Meetings, literary discussions, V.I.P. sharing and book sharing.  These activities also provide an opportunity to develop listening skills as the audience members asks questions and offers comments about books and items shared by individual children. Other favorite kindergarten activities that exercise our listening skills include an array of cooperative games we play to energize our brains, expend some physical energy and that are just plain fun. Some recent favorite listening games have included the "Laughing Scarf," "When the Warm Wind Blows" and "Toe to Toe." Be sure to ask your child which game is their favorite. Our listening game repertoire will grow as the year progresses!