A note to say thank you for visiting my blog and posting comments. It took some time for me to get this blog up and going. But, I must say, it has been an adventure. I have figured out how to move around a little more than when I first started. I will continue to visit other blogs from the classroom. Do not stop posting.
Yvette T.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Module 4
This week I had the opportunity to assess a student in letter knowledge and phonics. This student has been in Head Start for two years and the mother wanted him to be tested for kindergarten. The teacher asked me to assess and I was surprised that this student only knew four letters. He did not any recognition of sounds of the alphabet. I asked the student to tell me the letters in his name. He was only able to recognize two letters in his name. I was totally shocked. This student writes his name everyday. The teacher does the ABC Word Wall everyday, along with the morning chart. I can honestly say that this student has no concept of what the letter are.
Now when I go into the classroom, I search out this student and work with him. If this student does not grasp the letter/sound correspondence, he will have some serious problems in the beginning months of kindergarten.
I have asked the mother to work with him at home. She was surprised that he did not know his letters. I asked if she worked with him at home and she said that his siblings did. I suggested to her to read books to him. Environmental print from fast food restaurants, familiar foods or books that he likes she can point out the letters to him.
I would like to advocate for programs that will help familes incorporate reading into everyday activities. This could be in the form of creating shopping lists for groceries, a list of chores, types of foods they like or a learning how to keep a journal.
Early childhood professionals could support this effort by donating books or helping familes to choose websites that will teach phonics and letter recognition.
Yvette T.
Now when I go into the classroom, I search out this student and work with him. If this student does not grasp the letter/sound correspondence, he will have some serious problems in the beginning months of kindergarten.
I have asked the mother to work with him at home. She was surprised that he did not know his letters. I asked if she worked with him at home and she said that his siblings did. I suggested to her to read books to him. Environmental print from fast food restaurants, familiar foods or books that he likes she can point out the letters to him.
I would like to advocate for programs that will help familes incorporate reading into everyday activities. This could be in the form of creating shopping lists for groceries, a list of chores, types of foods they like or a learning how to keep a journal.
Early childhood professionals could support this effort by donating books or helping familes to choose websites that will teach phonics and letter recognition.
Yvette T.
Interactive with Program Director
Module 3
I had the opportunity to spend some time with the program's director this week. She express that she was hopeful that with the new creative arts after school programs, children will get a better grasp of social emotional skills, creative arts and an immersion in language. There are many children in the school who are ELL and this can be a difficult time for these students and parents. Parents are trying to adjust to a new neighborhood and children are adjusting to a new school, friends and teachers.
It is helpful when after school programs are created where students can slowly become a community of learners. "We have included many after school programs such as cooking, music, drama and dance for our students at the school". Many teachers have volunteered their time to help these students to develop social emotional skills while creating opportunities for an emersion in language. "We did an International Night that was very successful with familes and children who performed from grades Pre-K to 5th grade".
How would you address the advocacy issue with professionals in your setting?
I would address this issue by advocating for more school and community events where children and families have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and be exposed to more language.
The director expressed a need for more teachers to find time to give back to the students and was hopeful that it will be a successful year next year with the new afterschool programs. The children and the community expressed an interest in participating in these afterschool events.
What kind of difference would I make in this community or my field?
I would like to make a difference by inviting guests to come to afterschool programs in order for students to learn more from experts in their fields. It does make a difference when you involve children, families, schools and the community to events. It makes the setting feel more like a family
Yvette T.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with the program's director this week. She express that she was hopeful that with the new creative arts after school programs, children will get a better grasp of social emotional skills, creative arts and an immersion in language. There are many children in the school who are ELL and this can be a difficult time for these students and parents. Parents are trying to adjust to a new neighborhood and children are adjusting to a new school, friends and teachers.
It is helpful when after school programs are created where students can slowly become a community of learners. "We have included many after school programs such as cooking, music, drama and dance for our students at the school". Many teachers have volunteered their time to help these students to develop social emotional skills while creating opportunities for an emersion in language. "We did an International Night that was very successful with familes and children who performed from grades Pre-K to 5th grade".
How would you address the advocacy issue with professionals in your setting?
I would address this issue by advocating for more school and community events where children and families have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and be exposed to more language.
The director expressed a need for more teachers to find time to give back to the students and was hopeful that it will be a successful year next year with the new afterschool programs. The children and the community expressed an interest in participating in these afterschool events.
What kind of difference would I make in this community or my field?
I would like to make a difference by inviting guests to come to afterschool programs in order for students to learn more from experts in their fields. It does make a difference when you involve children, families, schools and the community to events. It makes the setting feel more like a family
Yvette T.
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