Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

How to Display Predictable/Emergent Reader Books for Whole Class Reading

It is important that during shared reading time that all the students are able to see the print and pictures. The following methods could be used for this purpose.

1. The readers are copied onto an overhead transparency and shared in this manner.

2. Made into a predictable chart.

3. Many schools are now investing in smartboards or other whiteboard software. If the books are in downloadable formats you can share them directly from the computer to the board.

Shared Reading Procedures

1. Relate the story to the student's background experiences. Have students talk about their own experiences related to the book topic.

2. Ask students to predict what the story will be about based on the title and cover picture of the emergent/predictable book.

3. Read the story to the students, pointing to the words as you are reading (modeling the reading process).

4. As you read, encourage the students to begin to "chime in" on the sentences, phrases or words that repeat themselves. Complete the interactive components of the readers together (if the reader has one).

5. You may want to pause as you read in order to encourage students to predict the word(s) that comes next. This is especially valuable if you are working with rhyming words.

6. Discuss any new or unusual vocabulary with students as you read those words in the story.

7. After or during reading, encourage students to confirm or disconfirm predictions.

8. Read the story again. Encourage students to read the repetitive parts of the story with you or alone.

9. Pause for students to predict words - give a glue by saying the initial sound of the word.

10. Extend the presentation by acting out the text.

11. Have children complete the interactive component (if there is one) of the reader and share it with other students.

Click on the link below for more information on shared reading:

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

Below you will find suggested game activities for reinforcing the alphabet and sight words.

Please Participate!

Please feel free to add your ideas, just click on the comments button at the end of this posting, type your comment. I will add your suggestion when I receive notification that a comment has been added.

1. Alphabet and Sight Word Bingo
Children really enjoy playing alphabet or sight word bingo. This is a really worthwhile activity in reinforcing letters or words they have previously learned. The link below provides a free software to make bingo cards. It allows you to shuffle the letters and words to different locations.

Bingo Card Software

2. Alphabet or Sight Word Musical Chairs
This would be a great activity to do during gym time. Post letters or words on chairs or just taped to the floor. Play music and once the music stops children must find a letter or word. They must say the name of the letter or identify an object that begins with the same letter sound or sight word.

3. Easter Egg Hunt
Purchase a large container of different colored plastic eggs. Place letters or words in each egg. Hide them around the classroom or in a center. Children must hunt and find them. Once they find the egg they open it and say the name of the letter or something that begins with that letter sound or the focus sight word. If they are correct they can keep the egg. The one with the most eggs wins the game.

4. The Prize Egg (played similar to hot potato). Have different colored plastic eggs (enough for each child). Again, put a letter or word in each egg. The children assemble in a circle. As music is playing the eggs are being passed around in a circle. When the music stops, the children discontinue passing the eggs. Call out a certain color of egg as being the "prize egg". The children holding the prize eggs must open it and say the name of the letter or an object that begins with that letter sound or focus sight word(s).

5. Rolling the Dice
Make your own dice or purchase wooden ones. Print the alphabet letters or words you would like the children to practice. Children roll the dice and say the letter or word printed on it.

6. Alphabet or Sight Word Concentration
Display a few alphabet letters or sight words for all the children view. Have children practice identifying them. Have children close their eyes and take one away. The children determine which one was taken away. This would be a good game to place in a center.

7. Alphabet or Sight Word Board Game
Make a game board (chart) with the words or alphabet letters you have been working on. Make cards with these letters or words and extra cards that do not contain these. Children pick a card. If they have one that is on the game board they can color it (the board can be laminated and the children can use washable markers). The child that has the game board completed will be the winner.

Another Version - More Difficult
You can use alphabet picture cards and the children eliminate the letter that the picture begins with. They must not only identify the letter but they must also be familiar with the sound it makes. The alphabet pictures found in the members area of our sister site could be used (sister site)

8. Alphabet or Sight Word Race
Place the alphabet letters or sight words you wish the children to identify on the floor at the end of the room (this would work even better in the gym). Line children up in two rows. Call out a letter or sight word. The first two children race to find it. The one who picks it up first takes it back to his/her group. The race continues until all the children have had a chance to race. The group that has the most, wins the game.

9. Playdough and Glitter Sight Words
When I was teaching, I had my students form the sight words out of Play Dough. They loved, it, of course. It is also very effective for tactile learners or very active kids.

My son, age 5, and I are making a sight word game right now. I write a sight word with pencil, and he writes over it with glitter glue pens. I am going to have him trace over his finished cards with his finger once dry, while he says the word out loud.
THANKS CARRIE!

More Sight Word Activities
1. Children make the focus sight words by using alphabet stamps.
2. Give children the sight word with the letters cut out. They must rearrange the letters to make the focus sight word(s).

More ideas can be found in the follow links:

Literacy Center Ideas

More Literacy Center Ideas

Five Senses Theme Books

Below you will find a list of books that can be used in conjunction with introducing the theme "Five Senses". Click on the titles if you wish to read the reviews and purchase.
Library - Some Suggested Books:

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Eric Carle
2. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
3. Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
4. My Five Senses by Aliki
5. You Can’t Taste a Pickle With Your Ear by Harriet Ziefert
6. You Can’t Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Joanna Cole
7. The 5 Senses by Nuria Roca
8. Smell by Maria Rius
9. Touch by Maria Rius
10. Hearing by Maria Rius
11. Taste by Maria Rius
12. Sight by Maria Rius
13. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

CHRISTMAS CENTER IDEAS

Christmas Center Ideas
These center ideas are related to the kinderplans.com website. Photographs of these suggestions can be found on that site under the heading "Christmas Theme" and "Christmas Crafts".

Literacy Center Ideas
1. The children will be completing the interactive component in the chosen emergent reader
(related to using their five senses).

2. Match the lower-case letter Christmas trees to the upper-case letters. Younger children can match the letters that are the same. Templates found on the "Christmas" theme website page in the member's area.

3. Play "Alphabet Review" game, "Vowel Fun" game, "What's Missing" game found in the ALL ABOUT ME theme unit found in the link below:

All About Me

4. Sort alphabet pictures beginning with the same sounds. Alphabet pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures".

Writing Center
Children can be writing a letter to Santa or how they experience Christmas using their five senses. This activity will vary according to the age of the children you are working with. They will likely need to dictate what they want printed and an adult assistant scribes it for them. A writing template (children print on Santa's beard) can be found in the theme unit.

Math Center
1. Children can be working in their number booklet found on page 23 in Week 2 Plans in the theme unit. They will be adding the correct amount of stars (sticky stars) to correspond with the number.

2. The children can add the correct amount of decorations to the number tree templates found on the theme unit web page.

3. Children can be counting and sorting Christmas tree decorations according to common characteristics.

Science Center
Children can test small musical instruments and experience sound and vibrations.

Craft Center
Activities displayed on the website.

Dramatic Play Center
Santa's Workshop as outlined in the theme unit.

Listening Center
A copy of the suggested Christmas books would be placed at this center.

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Christmas" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.

1. If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff
2. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Sueuss
4. The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland
5. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg
6. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
7. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
8. Mrs. Wishy Washy's Christmas by Joy Cowley and Elizabeth Fuller
9. Christmas Trolls Eve by Jan Brett
10. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center

Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities related to the Christmas theme.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas

More Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas

CENTER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY AND PETS THEME

CENTER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY AND PETS THEME

The activities below compliment the "FAMILY AND PETS" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader "The Perfect Pet" would be compiled, colored and the children would draw their perfect pet on the last page of the book. They could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Sorting pictures that begin with the "i" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Matching rhyming picture cards (found in the theme unit).

4. Practice printing the letter "i" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Visual Discrimination - children could be matching the pet words with those on the picture cards (found in theme unit).

6. Children are reviewing previous sounds introduced by matching the clothespin with the letter printed on it to the corresponding picture. This activity is displayed on the website and the picture templates found in the theme unit

7. Word family activity - have two dice, the word families that have been previously introduced are printed on one and the initial consonants on the other. The children shake the dice and determine what word is made. This could be further extended to determine if it makes a real or nonsense word. A photograph of this activity can be found on the web site.

7. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced words) using game outlined on the website.

Writing Center
The children will be completing the activity displayed on the website. How this is completed would vary according to ability. The teacher might need to scribe what the child dictates to them or another child can complete this independently using a model. The children can print what their favorite pet is or information on what they have learned about pets.

Math Center - Introduction to Money
1. Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
2. Matching the correct number with the number of spots displayed on the dogs (found in the theme unit).

Craft Center
1. The letter "i" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Activities displayed on the website,

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Science
Simple information books about pets could be placed in this center.

Dramatic Play Center
Pet Store - place a cash register and stuffed pet supplies in here. Each item could have small stickers or numbers placed on them. This is how many pennies it will take to purchase the item.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "I Wanna Iguana" (or another pet book) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Family and Pets" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
2. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
4. Oh, The Pets you Can Get: All About Our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe
5. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
6. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
7. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
8. My Family Book by Todd Parr
9. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
10. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
11. My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
7. Read Around the Room - Pictures of pets with their names are posted and children point to them using a special pointing tool. They read the name posted on the picture. Other print in the classroom could also be read. (there are pictures found on the theme page)

Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

CENTER ACTIVITIES
All the activities below relate to the ALL ABOUT ME theme found on the kinderplans.com website.

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader retelling of the "Queen's Feet" would be compiled and colored. The children could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Picture sorting - the children can sort the pictures that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Playing the games "Vowel Fun" or "Alphabet Review" games displayed in the link below.

Literacy Games

4. Practice printing the letter "q" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Word family activity - displayed on the website.

6. Each child has an envelope with the letters of their name in it. These letters are in mixed-up order in boxes. They must cut the boxes and place the letters in order to make their name on a strip of construction paper (their picture could also be placed here). They can use the name printed on the envelope to guide them. Older students can also print the name below it.

7. The children could practice stamping their name using alphabet stamp letters.

8. The children could be making their name using alphabet magnetic letters.

9. As a review of letters previously learned, the children could be making letter patterns using the alphabet stamps or magnetic letters. Example: c, a, q c,a,q c,a,q. Older children could print this pattern.

10. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using game displayed on the site.

These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.

Writing Center
The children would be drawing a picture of themselves and writing a sentence. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence.

Math Center
Traced and cut foot outlines will be placed in this center. The children will arrange them from smallest to biggest or shortest to longest. They must estimate how long each foot is using an assigned measurement tool (I like using snap cubes because they are easier to work with). They would measure the foot to see how close their estimation was. This would be demonstrated in class prior to going to the center.

Craft Center
1. The letter "q" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Choose one of the activities displayed on the site.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

All About Me Theme

Social Studies
Simple board games where children learn about cooperation and taking turns.

Dramatic Play Center
The children will be preparing for "About Me" party as outlined in the theme unit. You could also place dress-up clothes in this center.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "The Queen's Feet" (or another book on self-control) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "About Me" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. Queen's Feet by Sarah Ellis
2. The Nose Book Al Perkins
3. My Hands by Aliki
4. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
5. My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
6. Adventures of a Nose by Viviane Schwartz
7. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes by Judy Hindley
8. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
9. I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
10. My Feet by Aliki
11. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
12. This is My Body by Mercer Mayer

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center (could be making their names).

Literature Books

Literature Connections
In the links below you will find where you can purchase and read reviews on the literature books that are suggested to be used for the "Colors" and "Pumpkins" themes on the companion website http://www.kinderplans.com. These are only suggestions but other books can be used that relate to these themes. Libraries are an inexpensive means of attaining books.

Colors Theme
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Pumpkin Theme
The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffat
Pumpkin People by Sandra and Ron Lightburn
Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara

Teaching Printing in Preschool??
In the previous blog I was asked about teaching printing in Preschool. Personally, I believe this is too young to formally teach printing. The alphabet can be introduced but I would not be teaching printing. The children can attempt to print the letters but this would be without formal instruction.