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Literacy Lessons That Make Sense
How did you modify this unit for use in your own classroom?: I simplified Ms. Flanagan's kindergarten lessons to suit my Pre-K students, who are mostly ELL students. Since my kids are in Pre-K, we spent more time with each letter that was introduced. I tried to link the unit that we were learning with a letter so the students have a connection. For example, I incorporated the letter "T" with the unit on teeth.
List your primary instructional objectives for your students.
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Identify and reinforce letter names. |
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Identify letter sounds. |
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Create a positive attitude within students toward reading and writing. |
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Create individual picture dictionaries. |
What role did technology play in this curriculum unit?: We used different software programs to reinforce letter names and letter sounds.
Some titles are:
1. Elmo Preschool, 2000 Mattel, Inc-The Learning Company
2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, 1996 Simon & Schuster, Viacom, Inc. and Davidson & Assoc., Inc.
3. Blue's ABC Time Activities, 1999 Humongous Entertainment, Inc.
As students become more proficient using the computer mouse, they will go onto web sites to reinforce identifying letter names and letter sounds. These web sites include:
www.starfall.com
www.everythingpreschool.com
www.preschooleducation.com
www.echantedlearning.com
How did you assess and evaluate student performance?: Teacher will observe students informally, take monthly anecdotal records, and use teacher created letter name/letter sound assessment to evaluate student progress.
Please tell us briefly about your background & teaching experience: Melissa Moy has been teaching for 18 years at Yung Wing Public School 124, all at the early childhood level. This is her third year in Pre-K. Ms. Moy wants to incorporate a literacy program that will get all her students ready for kindergarten.
What are your recommendations for other teachers interested in adapting this unit?: I recommend that you assess your students first so you know how to group them. Once you group the students, you can help them according to their knowledge of the letters/sound. Some students might even need individual lessons.
Samples of Student Projects
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I have students work on making letters with playdough. |
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We incorporated the letter "T" with the unit on teeth. We focused on the words: teeth, tongue, toothbrush and toothpaste, all beginning with the letter "T". This will also serve as the "T" page in their dictionaries. |
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We play the "Marching Around the Alphabet" song by Hap Palmer and the student reinforce letter recognition. |
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