Grade PreK • Foundational Skills

Grade PREK Language Arts

Foundational skills

Phonemic Awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in words. Children need to learn to hear individual sounds in words. Early reading skills in prekindergarten include recognizing rhyming words; recognizing that words are made up of letters and their sounds; recognizing name in print; recognizing some environmental symbols (e.g. STOP sign); isolating and pronouncing the first sound in spoken words; and counting syllables in spoken words. These early reading behaviors are the firm foundation for reading instruction in prekindergarten that continue to be developed through kindergarten. Phonics is one approach to reading instruction that teaches students the principles of letter-sound relationships, how to sound out words, and exceptions to the principles.

Exploration of these concepts must be meaningful, memorable, and intentionally fostered; it is a mistake to assume that children will take on literacy behaviors just because print and stories are all around them. Rhymes, songs, chants, language play, and other intentional activities support the development of this skills in young children. As they develop, they will learn to listen for rhymes and syllables, identify beginning sounds and word families, and identify sound placement and initial sounds. The primary goal is to develop children's ability to listen for word parts and sounds through reading, writing, and oral language activities- not drills.

Adapted from Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook
by: Gay Pinnell and Irene Fountas

Tips

• Play with magnetic letters:
• See how many your child can name.
• Sort the letters into groups: curves, straight lines, holes, etc.
• Help your child put them in alphabetical order while singing the alphabet song.
• Spell important names in your family.
• Read books that feature the alphabet, such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
• Help your child look at written materials around your house and at road signs to see if you can spot familiar letters.
• When you're reading a book with your child, point to a simple word. Can your child name the letter and make that letter's sound?
• Help your child learn the letters and sounds of their name. Slowly introduce other letters once they master their name.
• Occasionally point to letters and ask your child to name them.
• Help your child make connections between what he or she might see on a sign or in the newspaper and the letter and sound work he or she is doing in school.
• Use play-dough or clay to stamp or form letters.
• Spread shaving cream on the bathtub wall. Write letters and family member's names.
• Read books that have rhymes or play with sounds. Dr. Seuss and nursery rhymes are a great place to start!
• Sing silly songs such as "Willaby Wallaby Woo." (see video below)