Strategies for Sharing Literature with Young Children

Children have different characteristics and different interests that attract them. A well-designed literacy environment should engage and attract children on at least two different modalities (Edwards & Willis, 2000). This is so because, as the authors note, "it is natural for young children to seek to master and use many alternative 'literacies,' or avenues of symbolic representation offered by

Children are encouraged to communicate their needs, feelings and thoughts. They are given opportunities to choose and use reading materials.

Books are some of the best teachers we have “they teach us vocabulary social skills and new ways of thinking”(leigh). It’s also true that textbooks could teach a child this, but not in the way they would learn from a story. When a child is really engaged in a story they will learn a lot more than they think. “Books teach us history ”(leigh). and many books are based on certain time periods or cover certain events. When a child reads these stories, they will retain the

My love of reading blossomed when I was a child, because my parents showed me how wonderful reading is. There were countless nights when I remember myself as a little girl refusing to go to sleep before ‘tucking dad into bed’ by reading him a picture book. Not only did I uphold that tradition though, but my mother is a preschool teacher, so she gets really into reading out loud, and she would help me read books such as The Boxcar Children set, The Secret of NIMH and The Chronicles of Narnia weekly until I didn’t need help anymore.

Book-sharing experiences expose children to new concepts and vocabulary that they may not encounter in informal conversations. Children may use this new knowledge in their creative writing, “trying out” the words they have heard used in the books. When storybooks containing figurative language are shared and discusses, children are able to develop an understanding of the similes and metaphors.

Literacy is a vital part of all later learning. Because of this, the children will engage in hands on activities that relates to what they have read and give them opportunities to make up their own versions, as well as make up their own stories. They will have a large group story time and a partner reading time. An ample variety of books will be available at all times. Signs with words and pictures will be posted around the classroom showing, daily activities, objects that are used daily, and the placement of toys and

In my setting we make sure that all resources are available for all the children to reach. Also all display boards are regularly made/created with the children’s own work and are at a level where the children can read them and look at them. Its important for children to be able to access their own resources so then they can explore with their minds and draw/write whatever they like. We also have a story corner for the children to sit quietly with their friends and read books, and freely communicate with each other. We have a story rack placed on the wall, which is where all the different books from fiction to non-fiction are kept at the children’s height.

For this project, we worked with Eloise Leatham. She is a kindergartener, 5 years old, from St. Paul. She attends Saint Paul Academy, a secular private school in St. Paul. She is exposed to books on a regular basis, as she has an 8-year-old sister who loves to read. Her parents, who are both working professionals with a relatively high income, read to Eloise and her sister every night before bed. Both parents enjoy reading, and have instilled a value for reading in their girls. Eloise attended preschool for 3 years, and was exposed to reading and writing there as well. She speaks fondly of her preschool experience, and continues to enjoy going to school now that she is in kindergarten.

I believe that reading is an important way for children to learn. However, there has to be a combination of everything. The primary goal of language and literacy during the infant and toddler years is to help children hear and distinguish the sounds of language in their environment (p.44). I believe that children need to play in order to develop their fine, gross, and other skills. The need to explore and the experience will help them to self-regulate their emotions. According to the article, the most effective ways to prepare your baby for reading involve playing games and sharing book, and repeating words.

Reading is the beginning of every child’s learning. The basis of education begins with learning to read. Short (2010) explained that literature acts as “an inquiry to life” and a “way of knowing” (p. 50). However, in order to support children’s learning, it is essential to show children that learning is interesting from a young age. When Short first began teaching using worksheets and a basal reading program, she wrote, “I often felt that children were learning to read in spite of me” (p. 49). The students were not learning to think critically. However, when she began introducing literature circles to her students, she saw them “critically exploring their understandings with each other” (p. 49).

Through the course, I learned that there are many benefits of reading books to children. Children would improve their communicative skills by talking about their favorite part of the story. Children would respect each other by taking turns. They would improve their cognitive skills by predicting the events of a story. Moreover, reading books would expand children’s vocabularies by introducing new words.

All the story times that you have had with your child are starting to pay off. They are easily catching the rhythm that comes when hearing certain lullabies and reading certain books. With this type training a child can start to understand more than twice as many words that have been spoken to them. As a caregiver or a parent you need to start nurturing that type of growth. You should still read books to your child because now at this age it is seen somewhat as more beneficial. It is probably seen that way be the toddler is now ready to take a more active role. You might have a child on your lap and you start reading to them and instead of being in awe of what you are reading they are able to make comments. They are able to describe to you what is happening on a page. They are able to gather thoughts and ask questions on what they see accordingly. A child is more active when reading so a whole book might not get read to the child. Don’t shut the child down but instead encourage them to talk go along with their flow of

The best picture books, are warm, humorous, and can be read again and again. There must be something new to take away each time you read it. It has to hold up to multiple readings. There must be substance, depth, and layering.

“Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.”, said Tomie DePaola. Some book may have thing in them that someone people may think that it is not appropriate for some kids. Books and novels teach important lessons to kids even if they might have some bad content. Kids are able to access the internet wherever they go and they could be exposed to many things that are far worse than bad words written on a page. When someone reads a book they might not be appropriate, like they might be too depressing or too sexual but if you look at the main points of the book and really look and understand what they are trying to say you see that at the end they always have a lesson and

Literature if used correctly can enhance a child’s life. It can become a valuable tool in helping children to understand their home, communities and the world in which they live. Through literature children’s vocabulary, imaginations, and self understanding is built. Children should be exposed to literature that is age appropriate and within the context of learning respect for themselves and others by the diversity of the books. My literature plan is based upon multicultural diversity which reinforces reading readiness, read-along that emphasis multicultural songs and rhymes, build self esteem through art, music and movement and responses to literature.