Literacy: The Basic Tool
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." — Frederick Douglass
Even though this blog entry is geared towards our incoming kindergartners all will find it useful for early literacy learners and primary literacy learners.
Next Wednesday, February 23rd is our kindergarten registration. We are so excited to meet our incoming students and share with them Glacier Ridge greatness. For some parents, this is their first experience with public school and, like their child, they may be nervous and uncertain what to expect.
We are here to help and will be there next Wednesday to answer questions and provide guidance. One of the things that we are doing differently this year is providing the students with a Polar Bear Starter Kit. Our awesome PTA generously provided the funds to put these kits together, and we are excited! The kit is a school supply box filled with tools to help students and parents practice and promote early literacy from now until they arrive in August. The kit includes:
Fountas and Pinnell alphabet book
Alphabet sound chart
Parent resources
GRS pencil
Crayola Crayons
GRS and GRS PTA information
Parents are our children's first teacher and this kit is a great way to help and bridge the home/school connection. Besides the kit, there is a plethora of online resources to help guide parents as they prepare their child for early literacy in kindergarten. Here are a few of our favorites:
On this link, literacy expert, Dr. Shanahan shares wonderful ways to guide children in the learning to read process. This Reading Rockets site is also filled with may other wonderful resources for reading and literacy.
This site is hosted by a parent who provides a straightforward, easy to understand approach to guiding your young child through the reading process. Here you will find many tips and techniques to help your child become a successful reader.
On this site Michael Breeden M. Ed. shares very useful techniques to help you help your child to read and stay motivated. Of particular interest is the 3 P’s page and the video links at the bottom.
Reading is the key that will open many doors for our students. We look forward to meeting our newest ones and beginning the journey with them to a lifetime of learning, success and freedom!