Our incredibly popular Alphabet Blocks, are reduced to $49.90.  Practical Parenting chose to feature these blocks in their April 2007 issue, in one of their unpaid editorials.

 

 

Literacy is amazing!  Don’t ignore this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the human mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh? 

  Once again Lucy Vanheck, the C&K early childhood consultant for Rockhampton (to find out all about C&K, visit www.candk.asn.au)  has contributed another interesting article for us — this month, some useful advice to parents about the development of Literacy. 
This year has been a fascinating journey!  Our daughter, Victoria is now 6 years old, and in Year 1.   I have watched, enthralled , as Victoria and her little friends have moved from perhaps knowing some sounds of the alphabet, and writing their names … to  knowing a whole swag of sight words, and phonics sounds.  I watch in quiet amazement as they actually read!  I see how they mouth the sounds as they sound-out a new word.  I read the little “On the weekend … “ stories posted on the window of the school room, all written in their endearing awkward font.
I remember stressing out because Victoria couldn’t “read” before she started school.  I had myself labeled as a failure because I had not read to her each and every night before bed!   But now I realize, that it was not all about this … it was all the incidental day-to-day interactions, the street signs, toys, Victoria’s endless “scribble lists” and home-made cards, a house groaning under the weight of books, and my own love of reading, games, conversations … all these are the foundations of reading!

To my great relief, it DOES all finally come together in the end!  I wish I hadn’t stressed out, and just enjoyed all the fleeting moments in time.

Article:  

As promised, in last issue I have chosen to share with you regarding children’s literacy learning. So what does the word literacy mean?

The word literacy describes a range of abilities in reading, writing, spelling, listening, speaking and critical thinking.
Young children receive information in a number of ways, for example, watching television, talking with and listening to others, listening to stories and music, reading books and observing art.  From birth children start to ‘read’ the symbols presented on television or in advertising messages, understand the spoken language of songs and stories that are told or read to them and try out their ideas about what they are learning in their play.

From the above description it is obvious that literacy is more than a kindergarten child being able to write their name, recite the alphabet and identify some letter sounds.  It is not wrong to teach your child these skills however it is important to understand that children must have pre-requisite skills to truly understand these concepts.  Because a child can recite this information does not mean they have a full understanding of its meaning.  As parents it is important that we introduce these skills to a child when they are developmentally ready.

Please take the opportunity to talk with your child’s teacher.  They will be able to explain to you what skills are developmentally appropriate to teach your child.

As per my last newsletter may I remind you that we as parents need to be resourceful with our time?  We need to find opportunities within our daily routine to encourage our children’s literacy learning.  Remember it is not about sitting for half an hour drilling letters and forcing our children to copy their names.  Children will learn best when they are enjoying themselves and when they are developmentally ready.

The list below identifies some of the behaviours we as early childhood educators would encourage your children to develop and explore as early literacy learners.

• enjoy listening to stories
• copy adult reading behaviours, like holding books the right way up, turning pages appropriately and showing interest in print and pictures
• be aware of environmental print through advertising and multi-media
• experiment with a range of drawing materials as they copy adult writing
• make up games that have rules

Our 2 and a bit year old is progressing just nicely along the literacy learning path.  Some days we feel she is progressing too well as she is now able to negotiate, express her feelings (very clearly and often most embarrassingly in aisle 4 at Woolworths), she can explain differences between people (old nanny verses nanny Gwen who is 15 years younger), sings songs and recites rhymes, she clearly identifies McDonalds by the golden arches and announces ‘m’ for McDonalds.  She talks continuously (even wakes us up at night as she talks in her sleep), recites numerous stories and reads to her dolls, makes us play games in the lounge room which she is copying from either day care or television programs she has watched.

Her latest trick which we find just fascinating and extremely humorous is when her 4 month old sister makes noises she asks, ‘What is Laine saying?’  We use to reply to her saying things like, ‘She’s asking for more milk’, ‘She wants a cuddle from her big sister’.  Now Paige responds herself telling us things like, ‘Laine wants to go to bed’ (just on cue when Paige wants some mummy time alone) or ‘Laine thinks Paige needs a chocolate’.  How creative is this?  Here Paige is predicting, creating, imagining, and substituting text.  Have you stopped to think that this is a pre-requisite skill to creating and writing stories?  Story writing is a long time away but still a skill that can continue to be developed until the time comes that she is able to express herself in writing.

Stop for a moment and consider how your child is progressing along the literacy path and ways in which you can encourage development in this area.

All material in bold print is copyright to "Hand in Hand" - an early literacy and numeracy package for parents.  An initiative of the Queensland School Curriculum Council.

Just Wood Toys has been pleased to help the Sunny Days Flood Relief Toy Drive.
Sunny Days are hosting a Family fun day, and toy giveaways for flood affected families of the Hunter and Central Coast.
For more information, see sunnydays.org.au