How do young children learn to read? Literacy is a process that begins very early in a child’s life with the development of language. This week we will explore the connections between early language development, oral literacy and written literacy. We will also discuss the importance of family culture in language and literacy development.
Review the Emergent Literacy powerpoint. Read each slide carefully and take notes.
Read:
- Baghban (2007) Immigration in Childhood: Using Picture Books to Cope
- Berkowitz (2011) Oral Storytelling: Building Community Through Dialogue, Engagement and Problem Solving.
- Curenton (2006) Oral Storytelling: A Cultural Art That Promotes School Readiness.
Watch these two Storyline Online read alouds:
Trombone Shorty, written by Troy Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier. Read by Angela Bassett.
The Empty Pot, written and illustrated by Demi. Read by Rami Malek.
Using what you have learned from all these resources, write a short essay that answers the following:
- How does oral storytelling support emergent literacy in a culturally responsive curriculum? Be specific. Explain how storytelling supports (a) understanding of words, (b) symbolic representation, and (c) pretend play.
- Describe two strategies you would use to incorporate oral storytelling into your classroom.
- Describe two components of an effective language arts program and explain how you would incorporate these strategies into your classroom.
Holly Squashic
ECE 211
Professory Reich-Shapiro
Emergent Literacy
Storytelling transports us to a world of wonder. whether it be fictional or based on real-life storytelling has been a way to connect, learn and explore for thousands of years. Where we come from shapes the stories we tell and the way that we tell them. Having stories that represent our culture and the culture of others; to understand and respect our differences, is important to have in the classroom and in life.
When we as adults read words that we are not familiar with, they can be understood based on context, studying the word, or prior knowledge. While reading to students in a classroom, some words may be confusing or not easily explained. With storytelling, using your hands to gesture, your facial expressions, and your ability to explain words in an age-appropriate way is supported. For students to not only see themselves in books we have around the classroom but to hear their stories told is a great opportunity to provide windows and mirrors with a culturally diverse lens.
While reading books in the classroom is fantastic for students to see visuals, it at times can be difficult for all of the children to see the book, and can be hard for them to sit for lengthier times. Storytelling creates another layer of imagination. Acting out stories with props, hand gestures, vocal character changes, and incorporating stories that give the children the opportunity to mimic or anticipate and participate in is essential in creating literacy in the classroom. Ensuring that stories shared are well-rounded representations of various cultures, with multiple emotions being explored and lessons to be learned is a wonderful way for children to explore their feelings and discuss emotions.
While some people may not be natural storytellers, there are ways that you can strengthen your ability to do so. To build confidence working your way up to the goal of being an oral storyteller, reading a book with a silly voice, interacting with the students, and asking questions is a great way to learn about interacting during this time. Using stories with fewer characters and with repeating themes or phrases that are easy for students to repeat and chime in on is also extremely helpful. Telling a story you know and love will make it enjoyable for yourself and your audience.
Through storytelling, we can have conversations with purpose about not only the story, but things that may be related to it. It also creates excitement and enthusiasm for reading or interest in reading (from younger students). This also creates the feeling of community, as it’s something the whole room can be a part of. I like to create an atmosphere when telling a story, and utilize vocal changes to separate each character. I also enjoy asking the students their feelings and ideas on what they are hearing and seeing.
Storytelling is an essential part of life, in passing along lessons, history, wonder, and inquiry.
Mariana Morales
September 24, 2021
Professor Shapiro
Storing telling creates imagination for children of all ages. Stories can be told at any time of the day. Reading books is a great strategy for children to improve their vocabulary and their critical thinking skills. Literacy events help children observe and participate in different settings within an environment. So, when reading books children memorize objects and symbols. Storying telling supports the understanding of words. Oral storying telling supports emerged literacy in a culturally responsive curriculum because stories support the different struggles and traditions people have. Children get to share experiences, communicate with one another, show emotions with teachers, and encourage each other. Storytelling also supports pretend play. When telling a story teachers can involve objects such as puppets or even create shapes with their hands. For example, in Building Community through Dialogue, Engagement, and Problem Solving it states “I invite them to hold the tiny bowl of porridge that Goldilocks finishes. They cup their palms to make the, blow at the steam, and take the porridge.” This helps children build character and role-playing.
Two Strategies I would involve in oral storying telling are to involve books with lots of pictures and involve pretend play after reading the book. Books with pictures can support the imagination and create better knowledge of the story. In pretend play children create their own scenarios with their own understanding of the story. Children also create stories of their own and act them out. When creating their own stories, they add their own emotions and expressions. Two components of effective language arts program are language experience and authentic writing. In my classroom, I would have a section full of books with different languages so children can read and learn how to read the books. I would also involve technology to help guide children that don’t know to read in a certain language. As a teacher, I would choose a language everyone wants to learn, and each day learn one word to keep children involve with the class. Authentic writing activities can include creating their own poems, stories, or timeline. Children will be given a them to write about and given a guide or example before writing.
1. Oral storytelling supports emergent literacy in a culturally responsive curriculum as it is one of the first steps a child learns when they begin their early literacy skills. Children begin learning the difference between a physical object and when a book is describing that same object on paper. Children absorb information given to them by adults and when we use descriptive language, it helps children understand the context in which to use them. This will then lead to them using it in their daily lives, where their parents and other adults may even be surprised in their use of vocabulary. Oral storytelling are the building blocks to continued growth in children’s reading and literary skills.
2. Two strategies I would use to incorporate oral storytelling into my classroom are by allowing read alouds and show tell. Group read alouds are great ways for children to feel engaged and for them to interact with their teacher and other students. Storytelling in this way is the best way to be able to reach the children, I especially like to use voices with different characters as it makes them laugh and stay interested in the story. Then, also asking questions to see if they understood keeps children eager to listen to the story. It keeps children excited to share their opinions and helps other children get the courage to share theirs too! As well as the teacher understanding how each child thinks. Now for show and tell that is just fun for each child! They get an opportunity to share something unique and special to them and encourages to storytell to their teachers and classmates.
3. Two components of an effective language arts program that I would incorporate into my classroom are read aloud and storytelling. I would incorporate these strategies in my classrooms in ways that I mentioned in the previous question. I think show and tell and group storytelling are the best ways to encourage students to develop new literary skills without them even noticing that they are learning.