Relax and Teach: First Steps

The second grader got started reading the sentence aloud to the tutor, and the letters flowed into words one after another. He had read his first sentence aloud! His heart was beating hard and his smile radiantly communicated his success. He was reading! Two happy people:  learner and tutor!

I remember that day and that little boy. I was a new teacher and beginning to know that teaching means preparation, relentless application, and the joy of success for learner and teacher. This blog hopes to lay out simple concepts of teaching, and at times, specific information that may help a fellow teacher create a learning success, especially recognizing each learner is unique, and one-size-fits-all instruction won't always work.

First learning takes place at home. Families, being the first teachers, model for children how to acquire skills and information. Literacy curiosity leads to literacy. Is the child watching a member of the family reading a recipe?  A family member is at the computer looking at script. What does that mean?  Does big brother or sister learn the video game by reading instructions? Best of all, does a family member read a story to the child, in a climate of comradery and  interest?  Here are the first seeds of literacy, and curiosity about literacy.

A child learns letters mean her name. Letters can label, order and identify her world. Letters can say, 'Happy Birthday!' on a cake,  or 'Stay out!' --probably a sign on older sibling's door. A first start toward literacy can be labeling common household items. As a toddler approaches early childhood, learning the alphabet in song and identifying the letters is a start to understanding the power of those letters for forming words, and her ideas! And then there is writing her ideas! 

My next post will include suggestions for early childhood books for the family to read to the younger child; and insightful links to help understand that little one's learning patterns.