We Love Big Books

Big Book Investigations

Typically in preschool, children are expected to sit still and listen to a story. Although some children may be interested, chances are there are many who are not paying attention, looking around aimlessly.

Our mission is to captivate children to actively engage in a book reading session. These are some of the steps we take:

• We start with a small group of children rather than a large group.
• Together with children we choose a Big Book that connects with their current learning and interests.
• We focus on bringing the book to life by being story tellers, using props and other visual aids
• We then participate in a shared reading experience rather than simply just being read to. Shared reading promotes children to collaborate and be part of the story.
• We encourage children to participate in sharing repetitive words and phrases

Over the course of the literacy book investigations children enrich their oral language development through modelled reading, risk-free participation by the children in subsequent readings and discussions, and through the meaningful teaching of skills within context.

WE LOVE BIG BOOKS

There’s something spectacular about Big Book versions of good children’s books. Neither adults nor children can resist the urge to touch and hold them, to savour the richness of their detail. Their visual appeal with large print and colourful illustrations is a sure hook into their content.

Our Literacy Experiences are tailored for the preschool aged children and then further adapted for each child within the small group.

The first stage is the book experience …

Read the Title and look at the front cover … we explore with the children what the book could be about based on the words in the title and the picture. Predicting what a book could be about is the first component for children to demonstrate their understanding of the book.

We then begin to read the story and captivate the children’s imagination as we use ‘storytelling techniques’ to read the story; through puppets, props, intonations and at time using technology that reads the story with 3D imagery.

Throughout the book investigation we will focus on skills required for children to become proficient readers, including;

• Story sequencing: where children practise putting the events of a story in the order in which they occurred. It is important because logical order of thinking is fundamental to reading and everyday life
• Book and print awareness: understanding that the print on the page represents words that have meaning and are related to the spoken language.
• Exploring vocabulary
• Skills needed for reading: together exploring word awareness, syllable awareness, rhyme awareness and phoneme (letter sound) awareness

EXTENSION IDEAS

We make books come to life in many ways that immerse children in a variety of learning opportunities including;

– Exploring different endings

– Drawing their interpretations of the book and making their own books with words and pictures

– Create dramatic play scenarios from their favourite scenes from the book

– Connecting the book’s story to children’s similar experiences and discuss their feelings

THE ADAPTIVE CURRICULUM:

During book investigations and subsequent activities the educator will continually adapt their teaching strategies to ensure they cater for each child’s learning and the activity enhances the child’s current knowledge.

If you would like to stop by and have a chat with one of our KC Educators we would love to meet with you and show you around. Simply call us on 9683 2770 or book online, click here