This was the final week of the Reading and Writing Together class. Some of it was a sort of recap of previous activities, but they also included a handout for more suggested activities and resources.

One of the activities this week was for the kids to create word books. They went through magazines and grocery store ads for pictures to cut out, and then either write the word themselves or have a parent do it for them, depending on age. One idea was to theme it, such as favorite foods.

Another activity this week was to talk about emotions. The kids were asked to make faces showing various emotions - you know how much fun kids have hamming it up! Then they were able to draw masks for whichever emotion they wanted. Another activity was to cut out faces and match them to images of a particular emotion.

Finding writing activities was really encouraged. Kids can help with grocery lists, for example. You can have them write out what you need or look for pictures in the grocery store ads, and show them the words by the picture.

They also reminded us that simply recognizing signs is a step towards reading, even if the child is not actually reading yet. How many of you reading this have kids who recognize McDonald’s on sight, for example. Show of hands?

That’s what I thought. That is one of the ways children get ready to read. They learn to recognize favorite food packaging materials, restaurants and stores long before they can actually read.

Now for some of the resources. These look really interesting and I hope some of you will enjoy them. Nothing like free ideas for things to do with the kids.

Free copy of “Helping Your Preschool Child”
Write to:
ED Pubs
Education Publications Center
U.S. Department of Education
P.O. Box 1398
Jessup, MD 20794-1398
or email request to edpubs@inet.ed.gov

They also recommend these websites:
http://www.readytolearnproject.com
http://www.zerotothree.org
http://www.rif.org
http://www.naeyc.org
http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/beal/readiness/finemotoractivities.html

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