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Supporting Literacy Over the Summer Part 2: Emergent Readers

 In the first part of this post I described what to consider when developing or recommending summer support for early or pre-readers.....


This advice still stands for the support of emergent readers.  All of the advice regarding prioritizing remains.  The difference is in the amount of "you do" practice that is encouraged.  

Emergent readers have started to "crack the code" of simple phonics patterns.  We want to let them flex their new reading muscles!  However, we want them to WANT to practice and that is the balance for summer practice.


Here are some examples of activities that can answer "Yes" to those three main questions for each type of activity.

1. "We do" and "You do" Activities to Try: **Remember MOSTLY "You do" because Emergent Readers need to flex their new reading muscles (scroll to the bottom for sample resources)

  • rhyming games with the written word- Name a word that rhymes with ____ (use words with short vowels)
  • word play games with letter tiles/magnets/cards- The word is "cat", change the /t/ to /p/ and what is the new word?
  • tap the sounds game- the word is "dog", tap each sound /d/ /o/ /g/ and write each sound
  • word hunt games (especially good for highly frequent or irregular words)- 
    • show a word or say a word and have your kiddo find that word in their environment or in books
    • find the word ___ 
  • making words- (all of these are free or can be done with items found at the dollar store)
    • sidewalk chalk writing (the bigger the better)
    • shaving cream (works well in the bathtub or on the shower door)
    • tracing in rice or sand on a tray
    • making words with found items around the house or outside
    • make words with playdough
    • make words with pool noodles
    • sky write words with bubble wands
    • toss a ball back and forth spelling words
  • making sentences- 
    • use word cards to make simple sentences
    • students dictates a sentence and adult scribes the sentence for student to reread

2. "I do" and "We do" Activities to Try: **Remember mostly "We do" activities for guided practice (scroll to the bottom for sample resources)

  • Family story time
    • read books from your home library or the local library and just have FUN
    • play audio books in the car
    • play books being read aloud on youtube 
    • join Epic books for FREE and listen to books together
    • start a simple chapter book together (Mercy Watson, Charlotte's Web, Magic Treehouse, etc.)
  • plan a project and use books or periodicals to make plans, write a "to do" list, and carry out the project (make literacy functional)
  • write a story together and then reread it to a family member
  • write a shopping list
  • make a packing list for a trip (even just a road trip)
  • write a summer bucket list
  • write a family Summer Newsletter to share 
  • take pictures and write captions for them
Again, with any practice over the summer it must first address those three simple questions:
Is it meaningful?
Is it memorable?
Is it fun?

Reading is a lifelong pursuit, so let's give our children a reason to want to do it!  Pin this blog post or share it with a friend.  Leave a comment sharing other ways to make literacy practice engaging for emergent readers.

Here are some simple and engaging resources to help you support an emergent reader this summer...

Real or Not Real Games (21 total games)

CVC Decodable Books with Lesson Plans & Activities

CVC Decodable Sentences with Sound Cards and Word Cards


Thank You!
Kristin

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