How
a child’s literacy skills can be improved through
innovative, imaginative and educational ways
by
Beverley Smith
The
recently appointed Operations Manager at Primary Steps, Beverley
Smith NNEB, shares her ideas on improving and encouraging literacy
skills with pre-school children. Beverley, who brings with her over
20-years of both hands-on and managerial experience in the child-care
sector, is responsible for the day-to-day management of Primary
Steps’ 11 nursery schools. Primary Steps has one simple ambition
- to maximise the social and educational potential of each child
attending the nurseries.
To
start the day off positively and to provide each child with a certain
level of authority, children attending a nursery should be asked
to set the day’s agenda.
Children
can be asked to start planning their own activities – so they
have a say in what they are going to do. Ask the children, “What
shall we do today?” “What shall we do first?”
“What order shall we do the chosen activities in?” This
will give the children the opportunity to state their views openly
and confidently, thus helping with their literacy skills.
Creating
a happy and vibrant atmosphere at the child’s nursery is critical
for their literacy skills to develop. It’s important that
children consider nursery as an extension of their home life which
will naturally make them more interested in learning.
One
way to achieve this atmosphere and to encourage literacy is to discuss
what the children do when they are at home. For instance, it is
a good idea on a Monday to discuss what the children have done over
the weekend. Where did they go? Who did they visit? What did they
do? Such activity will ensure the children each have a chance to
discuss their life at home which aids their comfort with the nursery
environment.
In
addition, this allows children to talk openly and confidently in
front of others. And while they are talking, the other children
are listening – another crucial element to the development
of literacy skills.
It’s
also a good idea to ask the children to discuss their families.
Children love talking about their siblings, parents/carers or pets.
By speaking publicly about a topic they are very familiar and confident
with – that is their family members – a child’s
literacy can be enhanced naturally.
Encourage
children to be creative and use their imaginations by acting out
plays. Children with the inclination and desire to participate will
jump at the chance to demonstrate their ability whereas those who
are a little shyer can take a back seat without feeling self conscious
about participating.
As
the children are communicating with each other so they have to learn
to listen which helps their concentration. It will also give confidence
in speaking aloud and conversing with others.
Imaginative
games, such as going to the post office, shops and the supermarket,
will all help children’s literacy development. In many nurseries
they will create their own shops and practise on each other, buying
and selling. Such activity will also give them confidence to be
able to play a positive role in the community in adulthood.
A
good way to increase the child’s awareness of the real world
is to investigate a day in the life of people who help us, including
policemen, fire fighters, doctors and nurses. In many nurseries
guest speakers (normally parents) actually come into the nursery
to discuss their profession with the children.
Taking
the children for walks outside and collecting things like leaves,
conkers, spring flowers etc. can form another talking-point. By
first confronting the children with nature and then discussing the
items openly, one-by-one, afterwards in the classroom environment
is another good way to enhance a child’s literacy skills.
Celebrate
all key events throughout the year including Spring, Harvest Festival,
Easter, Summer etc. The children should celebrate these events through
writing, singing, drawing, painting and other communication media.
Reading
is obviously critical in the development of a child’s literacy
skills. Group reading will encourage children to take an active
part in the stories being told. It is always a good idea to have
the children sing, act, and dance and recite nursery rhymes at every
opportunity. Literacy skills will increase dramatically if the children
are energised by the programme they are following. If they enjoy
learning, this will aid their literacy development.
Using
books with no words is great. Children are invited to make up the
story themselves based on the pictures in the book. This too helps
children to relay what their imagination is conjuring up.
Spelling
goes hand in hand with reading. The trick here is to start with
a small number of frequently used words and have each child start
to learn how to spell each word. Children will also start to recognise
words themselves. It’s a good idea to write each child’s
name above their clothes peg. They will see the same label at the
lunch table - never put in the same place twice. With the children
that can read, ask them to call out the names of person sitting
next to them, and ask them to spell out the individual letters.
To
aid writing skills, children can trace and copy words, letters and
numbers either by using a finger on different types of textures,
such as rough, smooth, or silky surfaces, or can cover with tracing
paper and use a pencil. Use of pencils aids small manipulative and
concentration skills and tracing with the finger helps the child
to feel the letter or number, thus enhancing the child's power of
recall.
Most
of all, a happy and safe environment is essential to enable each
child to thrive and make the most of his or her abilities.
