Emergent Readers
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  Kindergardener, Chris
Pre-K
Literature Approach In the 70’s it was called the “Top Down” Approach. Begin with literature emphasizing meaning. If a teacher begins with the “Bottom Up” Approach, decoding receives the emphasizes. A phonics based approach will hinder the students in making meaningful, lasting progress and in some cases cause harm. Children must get in the habit of thinking about their readings in lieu of concentrating on decoding. Enjoyment is one of the keys to success; phonetically based stories are dull and boring. Strategies, making connections, and developing concepts and other Higher Order thinking skills are keys to achieving. Through discussion, concepts and higher order thinking skills are developed. Instructing in small groups- no more then 5 to 7 in a group- is necessary. Use the structure of Reading Recovery with all emergent readers. Yes, teach phonics but only after the story or poem has been read. Then choose words that contain the phonetic element you want to teach. Poems are a great way to teach phonics. High light or frame all words with a phonetic element. Reread. Pull out the words and place them on a chart, a white board or chalkboard. Have the children listen to the particular sound as they reread the words then have them think of other words beginning with that sound. For more ideas to teach phonics, click on the word: Phonics. Open up: Letters & Sounds 1 -10  ideas compiled by Mary DeFalco. Use picture books that are very repetitive and where text and pictures are closely linked to give children the support they need. Give the emergent readers all the support they need so they can’t make a mistake- important to establish confidence. As a last resort, tell them the word if they can’t use any cues you give them. Children use their pointer finger to track words, 1 to 1 matching, until level 10. Use suggestions for Reading Recovery. Or use the following structure for guided reading:http://www.popet.com.au/pages/highorderthinking.htmlBalanced%20Reading%20Program.htmlhttp://connwww.iu5.org/cvelem/RR/index.htmlPhonics,%20.htmlhttp://www.embracingthechild.org/letters.htmlhttp://www.embracingthechild.org/letters.htmlhttp://connwww.iu5.org/cvelem/RR/index.htmlshapeimage_8_link_0shapeimage_8_link_1shapeimage_8_link_2shapeimage_8_link_3shapeimage_8_link_4shapeimage_8_link_5shapeimage_8_link_6
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Italicized words are links
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Note: There are districts in the US which will not accept govt. funding so that they can use their own successful approach in lieu of the approach anchored in phonics- the bottom-up approach. Phonics has its place but shouldn’t drive a literacy program.