From the Principal's Pen
Raising lifelong learners
presented by Jen Bencivengo
The Beginning
I have long said my first teacher and best teacher is my mother. Using everyday tools we had at home, she reinforced every skill formally taught in the hallowed halls of my schools. Struggling with equivalent fractions? We whipped up a batch of cookies with only a ¼ and ½ cup measuring tools and she reinforced what a worksheet of odd problems never could. Letters, magnetized and left on the refrigerator, beckoned me to change consonants and vowels opening a world of new words while she patiently stirred Sunday sauce. Learning was everywhere and lessons occurred on car rides, in grocery stores, on beaches and shores. The love of learning she fostered was lifelong and now pours from this Principal's Pen.
The Investment
1.
Stories, like a favorite dessert and meant to be savored and shared
- Lifelong learning begins with the earliest sharing of books and stories between a parent/caregiver and child
- Reading to a child is not a passive task - It is an actively engaged experience sharing words, illustrations, and memories
- Early literacy skills begin long before children can recognize letters and sounds
2.
Investing in today, pays dividends tomorrow
- Early emphasis on social, emotional and academic learning fosters children willing to take risks and face challenges
- Establish routines and structures to model executive functioning skills
- Encourage questioning and risk taking while reinforcing consequences and outcomes
- Model empathy, compassion and selflessness through actions not words
The Experience
Recognizing Letters and Sounds
Playing with letters and words using alphabet pasta, shaving cream, magnetic letters, even a stick in the sand provides children joyful exposure to letters and sounds
Rhyme and Word Play
Creating games with rhyme and word play allows children to practice exploring phonemic awareness and sound skill practice
Shared Experience
the benefit of reading to your children not only results in significant increases in word exposure, but also reinforces social emotional learning and executive functioning skills
Report to Parents
National Association for Elementary School Principals
- Do You Hear What I Hear, Why the Music of Reading Aloud Matters for Kids
- How to Start Reading Chapter Books With Your Preschooler or Kindergartner
- Why Reading Childhood Favorites to Your Kids Is Honestly the Best
- Beyond Bedtime: How to Integrate Reading Throughout the Day
- Simple Ways to Build a Reading Routine Your Busy Family Can Enjoy
Websites Worth Visiting
Read Brightly - Raise Kids Who Love to Read
Greenwich Book Barn at Holly Hill Recycling Center
National Center on Improving Literacy
StorylineOnline - Enjoy children’s books read aloud by known actors
The Week Junior - Weekly News Magazine for Kids
Kellogg’s Feeding Reading - Buy Kelloggs products and receive free books
Read to Grow Connecticut - discounted and free books available for CT families who qualify
Epic - Favorite Childrens’ Books on a digital platform
Raising Lifelong Learners Presentation Part 1
Shared Read Aloud
Raising Lifelong Learners Presentation Part 2
What Is Dialogic Reading?
Strategies for Dialogic Reading At Home
P
Prompt Your Child to Say Something about the Book
E
Evaluate Their Response
E
Expand on Their Response
R
Repeat the Prompt and See If They Understand
C
R
O
W
D
Completed Prompt
Fill in the Blank
Recall Prompt
Can you tell me what happened
Open Ended
Tell me what is happening in the picture
WH Questions
Who, What, When,
Where, Why
Distancing
Remember when we... how can you connect
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....
No matter what you celebrate book giving over the holidays is a great way to grow your Home Learning Environments! Scholastic Books has extensive collections on sale this time of year, and most schools offer a holiday book fair. Discounted book sales can be found at these book wholesale websites as well: Bookoutlet.com
Holiday Book Gifting by the Numbers
Celebrate Hanukkah with 8 books; one for each night
Make an Advent Calendar with 24 books to open while you wait for the arrival of Santa
Honor the 12 days of Christmas with 12 books
Jennifer Bencivengo
Happy Reading!
Sharing a love of learning for over 25 years!
