Reading: Ages 4-6

Phonemic Awareness - Echo Reading

 

            Today's Snack: Today we're going to concentrate on sound, and how important sound is in reading. So let's make a snack that reminds us of sound. What is a louder sound than a rocket? Nothing! So let's make Banana Rockets! To make 4 servings:

 

1.      In a small bowl, stir ½ C. vanilla or plain yogurt plus 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

2.      Cut four large squares of plastic wrap. Put ¼ C. of cereal on each square.

3.      Peel four small bananas. Stick a craft stick (or clean, recycled popsicle stick) in one end of each banana.

4.      Spread each banana with the yogurt mixture.

5.      Lay on the cereal. Turn to coat evenly.

6.      Wrap each banana in the plastic wrap square. Twist the ends so it'll stay together.

7.      Freeze or refrigerate until it sets up and is ready to eat.

 

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Supplies:

A Dr. Seuss book, such as Oh Say Can You Say?

 

 

 

 

Note to adults or teen leaders: "phonemic awareness" (fo NEE mik) is an important literacy skill. It relates to the phonemes (FO neems) - the sounds that the alphabet letters make, when you read them aloud.

 

Non-readers get a big boost in decoding words in print if they have a lot of practicing listening to, and speaking, the phonemes in stories first. That's why speaking, listening and singing with kids are so important before we ask kids to read text.

 

Now ask your child or student:

 

Have you ever heard of "enunciation"? It's pronounced "EE nun see A shun." It means how well you can pronounce the sounds that make up words. Another word for "pronounce" is "enunciate."

 

Saying words aloud correctly is really important in everything from understanding what you are reading, to building a big vocabulary. It means you have to listen carefully to how words are pronounced, and later, you'll be able to read them correctly.

 

            So let's read a funny book together, and concentrate on how well we are forming the sounds that the letters make when we read words aloud.

 

            (Note to adult or teen: you might want to read the book to a non-reader first, pronouncing each syllable just as beautifully as you can, and enjoy it together.)

 

            Read the book out loud. Then go back and try "echo reading." First, the adult or teen reads a sentence out loud, with great enunciation.

 

            Then the child or non-reader "echoes" it back by repeating the sentence, also with great enunciation.

 

            Try it with several sentences from this book, or do the whole book if you'd like.