We often think of knowing the names of individual
letters as a necessary first step in reading. Did you know that most
reading/literacy specialists think phonemic awareness can be just as important,
if not more important? That means you should play many sound games with preschoolers.
Encourage phonemic awareness with rhyming words. One way to do this is to share
silly poems and songs with children.
Read poems like this:
Is a llama an animal you have
met?
It has long legs and a neck
you can pet.
If people need help, a llama
will do
Because this animal will work
for you.
Going a long way? It will
carry your pack.
A llama walks far with this
on its back.
Need a warm coat from llama
hair?
Just like a sheep, it is
happy to share.
A llama likes grass and
carrots to eat.
It chows down plants, but never
meat!
A llama is fast when it goes
on a run,
And it thinks a swim is a lot
of fun.
So look for a llama when you
go to the zoo.
It may bat its long eyelashes
right at you!
Leave out the italicized words in bold. See if
children can get in the rhythm by supplying the, missing word. When you are all
done, read the words back:
met/pet
do/you
pack/back
hair/share
eat/meat
run/fun
zoo/you
During the next few days, make up real or silly
rhyming words.
Stay tuned for more information about why this
is important and more steps in developing phonemic awareness.
Poem by Kathy Hart Smith, Ph.D. Maggie’s Earth
Adventures, www.missmaggie.org, Parent company of Maggie’s Big Home
