Language & Literacy

Students engage in a wide variety of hands-on experiences, independent explorations, shared learning opportunities, classroom conversations and listening experiences.  Students practice skills of speaking, listening and responding to one another in the context of a class discussion. They are surrounded with literature and words. Classroom objects are named and labeled, journal work is done, stories are told and recorded, and literary discussions occur.  Students regularly share their work and appreciate the work of their peers.  The consistent engagement in discussion helps students build their vocabulary, expressive language skills and conceptual understanding. The work of writing builds the foundation for early literacy skills. Integrated language and literacy skills include: recognition of upper and lowercase letters, utilization of kid writing, name recognition and writing, and the ability to express wants and needs.

 Jona is quite verbally fluent, and is able speak descriptively and often poetically. He expresses himself with wonderful affect - frequently adding sound effects and facial expressions to make his point. He is able to ask for what he wants and needs and, increasingly, to negotiate through problems with friends. He eagerly contributes to group discussions and readily offers ideas and opinions.

Jona has a considerable excitement about reading and writing. This is especially evident when he signs in each morning; he writes his name with practiced care. But he does not only sign his name. He will often sign in as different characters, such as "Jake" or "Allosaurus," thus expanding his interest in learning to write new words. But he does not stop there: each of his written letters is often decorated with an artistic flair!

Jona loves books. When he is looking through the pages of a new library book, he is completely absorbed. Jona is able to recognize an increasing number of sight words. With accompanying illustrations, he can read the classroom Choice Time cards and can recognize most of his friends' names.