Summer Reading

As I mentioned in my last post, it is super important to keep those literacy skills fresh over the summer. The best way to do this is to keep on reading daily with your child. Here's an easy way to do just that. Check out the summer reading program at the Mill Valley Library. This year it's called Chill Out and Read. As usual it is chock full of fun programs and activities. Program sign-ups start for Mill Valley residents on June 11th, and you can pick up your summer reading log on June 18th. Kids who read or listen to read-alouds for 3 hours per week can collect prizes and stamps all summer long. Happy summer reading everyone!

Summer Packets

It really is hard to believe that summer is almost here and that kindergarten is coming to an end. First grade will be here before you know it, and it is important to keep those literacy and math skills fresh over the summer. I have put together a packet for your child to work on this summer. Look for it in those backpacks this week. Please help your child complete the packet over the summer. Then sign the front cover and return just the front cover to me in the fall. Happy summer everyone -- I look forward to seeing you in the September!

Word Chain

You can play this game anywhere -- all you need is your voice. You and your child can create a chain of words that are linked together by their beginning and ending sounds. Start with one syllable words and move on to longer words when you feel ready. It's just like the name game...

1. Say a word and ask your child to repeat it slowly and identify the ending sound. For example, cat ends with /t/.
2. Ask your child to think of a word that begins with the ending sound of the first word. For example, top starts with /t/. Now say this word and identify the ending sound, top ends with /p/.
3. Continue adding words to your word chain, having your child say each word aloud and identify beginning and ending sounds.

If you happen to be at home, extend the game by writing the words down as you go. An easy way to link the words by their beginning and ending sounds is to write the first word horizontally, the second word vertically, the third word horizontally and so on. Think of a crossword puzzle!

Article on Reading Aloud

I just read this great article on PBS by Pam Allyn, Raise a Lifelong Reader by Reading Aloud. Check it out -- I think you'll like it!

Starfall

Here's a great website for your kindergartens: starfall.com. They can work on their letters, letter sounds, numbers and phonemic awareness. Check out the sections titled "ABCs" and "Learn to Read," and let me know what you think.

Tell Me a Word

Here's a game you can play just about anywhere, anytime. It's called "Tell Me a Word," and you can play with categories of words like animals, types of foods or any other category that your child might like. For example, ask your child to tell you an animal that starts with the sound /m/. They might respond with monkey, mouse, mountain lion or any other /m/ animal.

Next ask some follow up questions:
What other sounds do you hear in the word monkey?
How many syllables are in the word monkey?
How many sounds do you hear in the word monkey?
Can you think of any words that rhyme with monkey?

Continue on with more questions. Use the same category and a new sound or switch it up and try a new category.

More Number Sense

So here are some more ideas to help kids develop their number sense:

1. Count objects when you are out and about. Count the number of driveways, yellow houses or red cars while you are on a walk. Count the number of stop signs you see on your way to school. The possibilities for counting are endless!

2. Read number books. Be sure to talk about the numbers as you read, and count the objects in the pictures. I've added a new list to this blog with some of my favorite number books -- it's over on the right, just under the list of ABC books.

3. Count items around the house. How many apples are left in the fruit bowl? How many forks do we need to set the table?

You can extend these counting activities by asking additional questions. What if we saw one more stop sign, how many would we have seen then? What if I ate one of the apples, how many would be left? There are lots of things to count out there and lots of questions to ask. Have fun with it!