The Letter Friend Training Programme Millicent 21.3.12

Millicent Nargis Bawany Master of Education, Monash University Experience: Teacher, Principal, Trainer, Manager and Lecturer. Held the position of Principal for 20 years, Involved in curriculum development, administration and management of program, staff -training, mentoring, parental counselling leading workshops, action research and writing of learner’s and facilitator’s guidebooks. Millicent 21.3.12

Can You Read This? Introduction: To make P take on the child’s perspective of learning ABC. Millicent 21.3.12

Video on Alphabet Song Watching video and discussing the importance of learning letter in sequence.   Use the Alphabet master copy and individual laminated letter to demonstrate the letter in and out of sequence strategy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75p-N9YKqNo&feature=related Millicent 21.3.12

Learning Objectives At the end of this session, Participants will be able to: Help students to recognize, match letter to sound and form letters Understand how reading and writing develop Gain knowledge of teaching alphabet in a fun, creative and holistic manner Millicent 21.3.12

Activity In small groups Discuss and Present Millicent 21.3.12

Group Activity: Reflection Can you recall how you learned to read and write? When was the first time you learned to read and write? Was it a pleasant and fun experience? Who taught you to read and write? How do you think reading and writing develop? Millicent 21.3.12

Video on Reading and Writing Development Watching video and discussing the importance of learning letter in sequence.   Use the Alphabet master copy and individual laminated letter to demonstrate the letter in and out of sequence strategy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-9uF-NAig Millicent 21.3.12

1. Understand how reading and writing develop How is this sign link to reading? Millicent 21.3.12

Reading and Writing Development Learning to read and write (literacy) does not usually happen in isolation, It is contextual, for example environmental print, labels, names, street names etc. Preferably a balance of explicit teaching and incidental learning V need to understand that learning to read and write (literacy) does not usually happen in isolation, it should be contextual, for example environmental print, labels, names, street names etc. Millicent 21.3.12

Emergent Literacy Builds on literacy concept Learnt naturally at home Occurs gradually over time Day long immersion in purposeful literacy activities Skill learned while reading And writing Millicent 21.3.12

2. To recognize letter, match letter to sound and form letters Ants on the apple  a, a, a  Ants on the apple  a, a, a  Ants on the apple  a, a, a  "a" is the sound of "A" Phonics Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFFyS3PrjZk Millicent 21.3.12

To recognize and match letter to sound Base our teaching on their prior knowledge, in other words, on what they already know. Use child’s name as a starting point to teach them to recognize the letter. Start with the initial letter and letter sound of their name, for example: Annie. One of ways to teach children anything is to base it on their prior knowledge, in other words, on what they already know. Hence we will be using their names as a starting point to teach them to recognize the letter. Sing the song as above and write it on a paper to model writing and to show children what they say (spoken language) can be written in words. Millicent 21.3.12

Demonstration Use child’s name and sing a song Write child’s name on a paper to model writing and to show the child what they say (spoken language) can be written in words. As you write, say out the letter one by one, Then point to each letter and then sweep your finger under the word as you slowly read the word : A..nee (two syllables and according to sound). Next use hand claps for them to hear the two syllables A (one clap and stretch) and Nee (one clap). Millicent 21.3.12

Demonstration Trace the letter on their palm. Use tape to show formation of letter. Any more suggestion to teach letter recognition, matching letter to sound and forming letters? Millicent 21.3.12

Video on How to hold a Pencil… Watching video and discussing the importance of learning letter in sequence.   Use the Alphabet master copy and individual laminated letter to demonstrate the letter in and out of sequence strategy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXSwKqj6as&feature=related Millicent 21.3.12

Video on Reading and Writing Development Next use the alphabet book to demonstrate letter recognition and letter sound. Remind students that at each visit they will repeat the previously taught letters using the compiled book before starting on the next letter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eldP9qW4sdg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXSwKqj6as&feature=related Millicent 21.3.12

Activity V will discuss and present how they would teach a letter. Get V to demonstrate. Get V to choose a letter that they would like to teach. They can come up with other ideas of teaching the letter apart from using the compiled book.   Millicent 21.3.12

3. Gain knowledge of teaching in a fun, creative and holistic manner Presenting Stimulus Material A tray with flour, zip-blocks of different sizes with ketchup or mayonnaise sealed in, a pail of water and paint brushes Show V all these and get them to think how might all these be used to teach children in a fun, creative and holistic manner. 3. Gain knowledge of teaching in a fun, creative and holistic manner Millicent 21.3.12

Activity Distribute one type of material to each group. V will explore and suggest ways of using these materials to help children learn about the reading and writing (literacy) Present and share ideas. Millicent 21.3.12

Teaching in a fun, creative and holistic manner We need to teach children in a fun, creative and holistic manner so that they in turn can learn in a fun, creative and holistic manner. Learning should be pleasant and interactive. Children must be involved in their learning: hands-on and interactive.   Millicent 21.3.12

PUPPET THEATRE Millicent 21.3.12

Cardboard finger puppet Sock puppet Paper Bag Puppet Stick and Foam Puppet Cloth Puppet Millicent 21.3.12

Activity: Alphabet Puppet In small groups, V can choose to create a story with their puppets; dramatize and tell their story. Use drawing block, glitter, pipe cleaner, sticker, marker, crayons, buttons, scrap materials to make alphabet puppets and create a story about the alphabet.  Puppets created by V and a puppet theatre made from a box/crate will be used to present the story. Millicent 21.3.12

Review Share one strategy that you have learned today and describe how you would use this strategy to teach children to recognize, match letter to sound, read and write. Millicent 21.3.12

Review… Share one strategy that you have learned today and describe how you would use this strategy to teach children to recognize letter, match letter to sound, read and write. Paired Activity. How can you apply all that you have learned today when teaching your students? Millicent 21.3.12

End of Session and Thank You! Millicent 21.3.12