To improve reading and writing, give the ears and tongue a good workout first.

by Babs Hadjusiewicz May 27, 2009

It's Wacky Wednesday, so let's play some more (like we did on Funday Monday this week) with alliterative poems. I'm sure you found that your child, regardless of age, enjoyed this playful time with you and language. Before we begin to get all wacky with the repetition of sounds, let's remind ourselves that a tongue twister is only a tongue twister if you let it twist your tongue. And the other thing we hit on on Funday Monday is that immersing children's ears and tongues in a sound makes for an easier time when a letter of the alphabet is shown as representing that sound.

WOW! If it sounds like learning to read and write could be a whole lot easier when the ears and tongue get "worked out" first...you're absolutely right. Without fail, I've found it to be so. Even with ESL students (learning English as a second language), at-risk learners, and in adult literacy programs. First, immerse the ears...inviting the tongue to speak the sound. Then engage the eyes and hands to read and write the symbol(s) for that sound. WOW! Immersing ears in a fun-sounding poem also invites your eager listener to utter those 3 magic words: "Do it again!" Children say those words when they like what they've heard. They like it so much so that they want to be able to say it themselves. WOW! That's precisely why kids ask to hear a favorite poem, book, or song again and again. Repetition helps to learn it! So, as you read aloud, be sure to get all dramatic. Yeah! Be a "ham"...and your eager listener will soon say it alone...exactly as you've said it.

Phonics Through Poetry by Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz, Good Year Books, 1997; http://www.ilikeme.com/poetry.htm

FYI, we generally use the terms "phonological awareness" and "phonemic awareness" to describe learning of the sounds of language. Then comes "phonics" when we identify a letter or group of letters to denote a sound. Also FYI, reading instruction generally denotes a letter's sound like this: /p/ Okay, now that you've mastered that most-abbreviated-ever introduction to reading instruction, let's "exercise" your child's (and your own) ears and tongue! WOW! Your child will be learning to hear, recognize, and then say more language sounds with some alliterative poems included in my Phonics Through Poetry collections.

MORE Phonics Through Poetry by Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

You'll find these alliterative poems and tons more in my Phonics Through Poetry collections.

Growing...Graying...Gone! /gr/ as in green My sister groans, "My hair won't grow!" My mother groans, "It's gray!" My grandpa grins, "Be grateful, Folks. Mine grew and grayed . . . away." Copyright © 1999 Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

It's a Puzzle! /-le/ as in table When a buckle doesn't buckle, Or a handle doesn't turn, Or a tickle doesn't tickle, Or a candle doesn't burn, When a rattle doesn't rattle, Or a needle doesn't thread, There's a trickle of a puzzle In the middle of my head. Copyright © 1999 Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

Leaping Little Lilac Lizards! Let's tuck in this /l/ as in light poem for its first publication ever...since I'll be visiting the Lilac Lizards later this week! WOW! What a bunch of /l/ sounds we just said!

Little Lizard Little lizard likes to run up and down the hill. Little lizard likes to lie in the sun, so still. Little lizard likes to have a leaf or two to munch. Little lizard likes to find a shady spot for lunch. Copyright © 2007 Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

WOW! Go have a Wacky Wednesday with these sounds of language! Your child will love the sounds in the ears and on the tongue...and will be on the road toward becoming the best reader and writer imaginable! And tune in tomorrow with your THINKing cap on for THINKing Thursday! WOW!

Babs Hadjusiewicz

Author

Hey, thanks for stopping by. Check out our digital downloads right here in my store at www.babsyb.com. You'll also find many of my publications in my Bee with Babsy B store on Teachers Pay Teachers' site. Come back often!