Emergent Storybook Reading

Literacy instruction in kindergarten takes many different forms. We learn about words, letters, and sounds during phonics time. We also spend time explore phonological awareness concepts, including rhyming, syllables, and onsets and rimes. Reader's Workshop is time during our day when we practice the habits of good readers, learn about early literacy concepts, and practice beginning reading strategies. One way that we begin to be "readers" is by practicing with emergent storybooks. These emergent storybooks are well-loved children's books that are familiar narrative stories. I choose a book to read every day for the week, in the hopes that, by the end of the week, children are very familiar with the story sequence and language. At this point, most children can retell the story in their own words, remembering key details and story-specific language. Children are always so proud of themselves, and, although they are not actually
"reading" the words, they are developing important understandings of story structure and oral retelling. Some of the emergent storybooks we've read so far this year are: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, I Lost My Bear, Lucky Leaf, Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come, and Mouse Paint. Please enjoy the video of Kaleb "reading" Mouse Paint and remember to ask your child if he or she can "read" some of his or her favorites at bedtime to you!