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Here at The British
International School, we place particular emphasis on learning good
communication and literacy skills and attitudes. We provide experiences that
make language come alive—dramatically, articulating and fluently modelling the
sounds of the English language. We invite kindergartners to rehearse language
as singers, actors and storytellers in any language. Lively discussion about
quality literature allows us to connect books with children’s lives and
provide the vehicle for explicit teaching of comprehension and understanding
of the world.
We teach children beautiful,
traditional songs in English and sometimes other languages of the world to
enhance literacy and build friendships, with the hope that these respectful
bonds will go with the children into the years beyond kindergarten. With
happy hearts we dance and sing! We want children to care and share and work
and play together because that creates healthier, happier lives for them. We
choose great books and stories, songs, poems, and rhymes to give our children,
because we know these language models are the seeds that grow powerful
writers, thinkers, and children who love using language. We want imaginative
thoughts and language to become a part of everyday life for our children.
The journey to
understanding the alphabetic code begins with musical, multisensory
activities, which we build on each year so that the children are happy to
read, speak and write in English confidently, and clearly by the end of their
Reception Year (the butterflies – aged 5). In the Reception Year these
strategies are accelerated to learn letter/sound knowledge by taking advantage
of how the young child’s brain learns best. As daily writing reinforces these
new skills, children learn how reading works.
Accomplished
teachers give children strategies to begin to perceive themselves as writers
and illustrators from the very first day of school. Within the context of
writing we systematically assess and reinforce phonics instruction so children
quickly learn to apply decoding skills. Drawing and writing experiences in a
stimulating environment are meaningful and motivating for the young child. We
give children challenging yet achievable literacy tasks, such as printing
their name efficiently, and encourage them to work diligently and form each
letter correctly. We know that accomplishing this relevant task will begin
building their confidence and ability to express their voice as a writer.
Instant recognition of a growing collection of high-frequency words is
explicitly taught and celebrated. We are amazed at the power of daily writing
to develop kindergartners who love to write – and writing teaches reading. |
