Literature Program for Preschool
Literature Program for Preschool
Mary Nations
ECE 335: Children’s Literature
La’Toya Thomas-Dixon
January 31, 2011
A successful literature program focuses on creating a positive attitude towards literature. Children form positive attitudes toward literature through experiences with books. Part of an effective literature program includes developmentally appropriate approaches to teaching and learning; having a criterion for selecting literature titles and media; identifying developmental goals; and planning activities and teaching strategies to help support these developmental goals. Appropriately selected literature will support the developmental goals of early childhood education. These developmental goals are: language, intellectual, personality, social, moral, aesthetic and creative development of preschool age children. “At the center of any literature program for children is the literature itself and its contribution to the development of children’s imaginations” (Giorgis & Glazer, 2008, pg. 27). Reading to children in activities strengthens the developments of these goals.
When choosing literature to read to young children, there is a criterion for selecting appropriate literature titles and media. As educators “select books to use with children it is important to keep quality issues in mind” (Crosser, 2007, para.14). Following are some of the issues: story- can the child relate to the story; plot- does the plot involve circumstances that the child can relate to; characters- are the characters memorable; theme- does the theme have the potential to interest children of preschool age; high literary merit- is the message important to young children; illustrations- are the illustrations interesting and easy to understand and literacy skills- does the book teach literacy skills. “When children grow in a nurturing environment where teachers read to them regularly and use good quality literature to teach reading, children gain skills that will
Mary Nations
ECE 335: Children’s Literature
La’Toya Thomas-Dixon
January 31, 2011
A successful literature program focuses on creating a positive attitude towards literature. Children form positive attitudes toward literature through experiences with books. Part of an effective literature program includes developmentally appropriate approaches to teaching and learning; having a criterion for selecting literature titles and media; identifying developmental goals; and planning activities and teaching strategies to help support these developmental goals. Appropriately selected literature will support the developmental goals of early childhood education. These developmental goals are: language, intellectual, personality, social, moral, aesthetic and creative development of preschool age children. “At the center of any literature program for children is the literature itself and its contribution to the development of children’s imaginations” (Giorgis & Glazer, 2008, pg. 27). Reading to children in activities strengthens the developments of these goals.
When choosing literature to read to young children, there is a criterion for selecting appropriate literature titles and media. As educators “select books to use with children it is important to keep quality issues in mind” (Crosser, 2007, para.14). Following are some of the issues: story- can the child relate to the story; plot- does the plot involve circumstances that the child can relate to; characters- are the characters memorable; theme- does the theme have the potential to interest children of preschool age; high literary merit- is the message important to young children; illustrations- are the illustrations interesting and easy to understand and literacy skills- does the book teach literacy skills. “When children grow in a nurturing environment where teachers read to them regularly and use good quality literature to teach reading, children gain skills that will
References: Baurain, K., J. (2009). The Best DVDs for Preschoolers. Retrieved January 28, 2011 from http://www.associatedcontent.com Crosser, Sandra, (2007). Using literature to teach emergent readers. Retrieved January 27, 2011 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com Giorgis, C., & Glazer, J. (2008). Literature for Young Children: Supporting Emergent Literacy, Ages 0-8. (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. Schlick Noe, K.,L. & Johnson, N. (1999). Getting Started With Literature Circles. Retrieved January 29, 2011 from http://www.litcircles.org Smith-Trawick, J. (1995). Early Childhood Development: A Multicultural Perspective. (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.