ECHO May 2020 May Newsletter | Page 4

RAZ-Kids Victories We are so very proud to partner with our at home learning tool for families, the RAZ kids app. Parents have mentioned how motivating the program is to engage their learner with a read aloud interaction or an independent activity.  SPOTLIGHT FOR OUR PRESCHOOLERS This month’s STEM activities will give young learners the opportunity to make predictions, analyze, and participate in scientific experiments. If you have not logged on and made it a part of your home routine, please come see a member of management so that we can assist you with this process. Ms Gwen, our AP Kinder Teacher, shares that the program “allows your learner to practice reading/listening skills, builds vocabulary, prolongs attention span, builds confidence in their abilities!” Our vocabulary includes 000 000 She goes on to say that parents who take an active role in their student’s learning, see that victories and self esteem abound.    Some practical fun ways to take action for these benefits in your child, include: 1. Read a book aloud to your child. 2. Have your child read a book to you. 3. Try choral reading (together.) 4. Try reading in different voices. 5. Do a buddy read, taking turns on each page. 6. For older students – Practice the glossary or words to know. Find words in the text and discuss how they are used. Review the meaning of each word.   Ms Gwen recommends the following questions for families to discuss a book as she would in her classroom. Your child may even want to play classroom with you!   Before a story, ask who is the author and what is the author’s job, illustrator too. Predict what the book will be about based on the cover. MEASURE ARRANGE ESTIMATE SEPARATE OR DISPERSE Literacy Corner by Carol Lawson Educator for Private Pre-K Classroom 600 Our classroom enjoys reading From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. This book has become a classroom favorite because the children enjoy the movements that engage their comprehension as they “get their wiggles out!” It is a wonderful expression of their sense of self when the children chant the repeated text, “I can do it! Can you do it?” During the story, ask what do you think about the story so far? Who are the characters and what is the problem? Predict the resolution. The children enjoy the rhythm and asking one another the patterned text. I have seen it impact our learning the sight words in the story as the children enjoy pointing them out, too. Because of the repetition and colorful pictures, the children enjoy reading and being successful with print. After the story, what did you like about the story or didn’t like. Do you remember something from the story that was a new idea that you may want to learn more about? Does your child have a favorite book that rhymes? Please tell us about it so we can feature your family in our next Literacy Corner. [email protected] How would you have done it differently or solved the problem?   So, families, let’s keep reading and building our children’s future up! [ 4 ] “I like the penguin because I like turning my head.” -Mackenzie [ 5 ] “I like what the monkey looks like with his silly arms.” -Milo