What Young Children Teach Us About Literacy Learning.

Reflection

             After an exhaustive reading of the chapter, I conclude that the author is trying to explain what would be the best role that educators should take: “kidwatchers”. There is infinity of considerations to learn from the kids, and the author refers to them as “informants”.

Children themselves can guide us to their own better education, but this will only happen if we are attentive to their actions. In my understanding every children action has its own meaning.

When I personally observe a 3-years old class, and watch the kids “signing in” for attendance, I see all sorts of letters and/or figures printed on the paper. I can remember seeing their faces of satisfaction when they assume they are writing their name. And when the school year finishes and we as educators compare the “Attendance sheets” from beginning versus the final ones, it is amazing how they improve over the time.

The author also explains five "Literacy Lessons" that proves what young children know about literacy and they become to know it:

Some kids have a passion for a certain object, animal or theme, therefore they relate everything that the educator is teaching him to his/her passion. In my center there was a 3 years old in the pre-k class which was passionate about dolls, and the books that she brings from home are related to dolls, when the teacher request for kids to draw about any theme, she would draw about her doll. That is to say she would connect everything to her passion. But she was happy, and even better she was learning.

At certain age kids start learning how to separate the word in syllables, and that is how they write their symbols in paper. One symbol per syllable.

Personally I haven’t been able to determine if some kids learn from the teacher the syllabication, or they learn it on their on and when educator start teaching it, (by clapping each syllable) they already knew how to do it.

Children also, use their personal experiences and interests in their literacy events. I recalled two of the kids that attend to church on a weekly basis, therefore all their drawings, and intents of writing are related to God.

Author demonstrates that children are readers and writers long before they enter school; we just need to be attentive to their way of learning it. Educators must watch and learn from children engaged in literacy.

            References:

Maderazo, Catherine & Martens, Prisca. (2008). What Research Really Says about Teaching and Learning to Read. NTLE.