RATIONALE AND LEARNING CONTRACT Essays - Reading, Education

RATIONALE AND LEARNING CONTRACT Essays - Reading, Education RATIONALE AND LEARNING CONTRACT My rationale is to plan meeting the learning out comes listed below. I wish to explore through an investigative study how a foundation stage teacher may support development of children reading skills. My Rationale is meet the following Learning Outcomes and explore through an investigative study how a foundation stage teacher supports the development of children's reading skills. 1. TO OBSERVE AND DISCUSS WITH THE TEACHER THE CONCEPTS OF DEVELOPING READING SKILLS IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE. When considering concepts of developing reading skills in a foundation stage environment it is important to find out which method of reading, out of the following is used. (1)'phonics method' (in which letter sounds are used), (2)'whole word' method (where children are taught to recognise words by their shape or link the word with a picture), (3)or 'real book method' (in which children are encouraged to recognise words in the same way they recognise other familiar objects,) is used. It is also important to find out how the teacher considers children's existing reading skills and knowledge to build on when supporting them. Although children's early encounters with books are mainly sensorial, they gradually begin to show an interest in pictures and print in books. Whitehead (2004) The teacher should be aware of each child's prior knowledge and experiences in reading when they join the foundation stage. I also intend to learn how the teacher initially teaches them the concept of a word, how they learn letter sounds and how the teacher deliver the concept that print carries meaning. Learning to read is one of the major skills children acquire. It needs direct and planned support of adults. Therefore it is important to find out how the teacher as well as the TA or any other adult in the setting supports children's reading. For instance, do they read with the children at all times or do they help only with difficult words? When the teacher read a story to the whole class what strategies does she use? How does the teacher or other adults comply with a child's request to read his/her favourite book at a quiet or individual reading time? Reading skills involves not only the concepts of words and sounds but others such as holding the book the correct way up, turning pages and reading from left to right and top to bottom are also important skills to be developed. Another aspect I would like to discuss and observe is the time programmed or planned for children to engage in reading each day and during the week. I would also like to find out whether the teacher adopts other strategies as use of puppets and whether children are been encouraged to retell stories in order to support the development of reading skills in the foundation stage. 2. EVALUATE STRATEGIES WHICH SUPPORT FOUNDATION STAGE CHILDREN TO PROMOTE THEIR READING SKILLS. Here I would like to analyse the information I gather from the observation and discussions as well as from background reading in order to find out how practical my findings will be. The following strategies will also be evaluated after observations. A child's home as well as school environment plays a vital role in promoting his/her reading skills. Reading stories is an important early literacy event for children. It is initially up to the parents then teachers to support children's reading skills by providing appropriate resources and opportunities to read at an early stage. Through story reading children get the opportunity to recognise words in print. Using books with many colourful illustrations will inspire them to relate to the story and also try on their own to make connections with the words. Retelling or re-reading a story will enable them not only to recognise certain words but the characters and events of the story as well. Here they will also recall certain rhyming or familiar words. It is also important to learn the correct sounds of letters. Singing or reciting rhymes along with good listening skills will enable children to use correct sounds. This will help them when forming words. Another strategy which promotes children's reading is print seen in other contexts such as environmental print. Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.(2000) These enable children to recall familiar words. Teachers and other adults can support children's reading skills and develop an interest in books by reading to them and answering their various questions. According to the curriculum guidance the language skills for reading can be enhanced through story telling, or by using puppets when telling stories. Adults also act as role models by engaging in different reading activities such as reading newspapers