July 14, 2024

Part 2: Teaching Reading in the First Year of School

35 minutes

Welcome back to Part 2 of our podcast series on “Teaching Reading in the First Year of School" with literacy expert, Diane Snowball. In this episode, we delve into the vital components of building a strong foundation in literacy for young learners. Diane emphasises the importance of creating a rich linguistic environment through Read-Aloud, Shared Reading, and exposing children to a variety of texts, both fiction and non-fiction.

Diane explains that a deep well of language, vocabulary, and grammar is essential for comprehension. This is achieved not through simple texts but through rich, diverse literature that provides children with background knowledge and different text structures. She highlights the significance of exposing children to various genres, including poetry, folktales, historical fiction, realistic fiction, and science fiction, to enhance their understanding and appreciation of language.

A central theme of the discussion is the role of read-alouds in early literacy development. Diane stresses that read-alouds should not be an occasional activity but an integral part of daily teaching. Teachers should carefully plan the fiction and non-fiction materials they will read to ensure a wide range of content and text types. This approach not only builds children's knowledge but also their motivation and enjoyment of reading. Motivation, Diane notes, is a crucial factor in learning to read, and providing access to books that children love can make a significant difference.

The conversation moves to the importance of a rich classroom library. Diane underscores the need for multiple copies of beloved books to ensure that all children have access to them. She shares anecdotes about children enthusiastically re-reading their favourite books, following the teacher's expression and pace, and gaining fluency and comprehension skills. She also discusses the concept of cohesive ties and the importance of teaching children to use pronouns and other language structures to connect ideas and understand texts deeply.

Diane and her co-host Phil explore the power of Shared Reading, where children see, hear, and join in with the text, enhancing their comprehension and enjoyment. They highlight the importance of choosing texts that are worth reading multiple times, as these texts enable children to perceive themselves as readers and develop their fluency and expression. They also touch on the role of Reader's Theatre in improving fluency, comparing it to a musician practising a piece of music to perfect their performance.

In the final segment, Diane encourages teachers to create their own class texts using blank chart paper, modelling various print concepts and sound-letter relationships as they write. This approach not only reinforces the learning objectives but also engages children in the process of creating and reading their own stories, further strengthening their literacy skills.

Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive guide for teachers on how to foster a love of reading and build essential literacy skills in the first year of school through thoughtful selection of texts, daily Read-Aloud, Shared Reading, and interactive literacy activities.

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