Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community:
Emerging Literacy: Linking Social Competence to Learning
Module 3
|
| Contents | Preface
| Introduction
| Module 1
| Module 2
| Module 3
| Module 4 | | Professional Development | Resources | Training Guides | |
The Magic World of Reading: Opening Doors for Children
Handout 16: Portrait of an Emergent Reader
| Name: Katherine | Age: Four-and-a-half | Home Language(s): English and French |
Describe this child's family members and how they support his or her emerging literacy.
Katherine lives with her mother, older sister (nine years), grandmother, and two uncles who attend high school. Katherine and her sister were born in the United States; the older family members immigrated to the United States from Senegal, a French-speaking country in West Africa. They have many relatives living in Senegal. Katherine's father died when she was a baby. Her mother works on the midnight shift at a hospital. She reads aloud with Katherine at bedtime and eats breakfast with her in the morning. Her grandmother, who speaks French at home, looks at books with Katherine, too. The books are written in French and have African characters. Katherine sees her sister and uncles reading for pleasure and while doing school work. The family has lively mealtime conversations. Katherine and the other children are encouraged to talk about their interests and express their ideas.
What makes this child unique (for example, interests, challenges, changes in home life, fears)?
Katherine likes painting, drawing, and making junk sculptures and collages. She spends a lot of time playing in the house corner where she is usually the leader. She tells the others what to do, and sometimes the other children call her bossy. She is very scared of spiders.
What does this child do when looking at books on his or her own?
Katherine holds books right-side up and turns the pages carefully. She retells familiar stories to other children and turns the book around to show them the pictures. Sometimes she chooses new books to explore. She looks at them on her own and then asks an adult to read to her.
What kinds of books does this child enjoy?
Katherine likes folk tales, fantasy storybooks, books about real-life experiences, and poetry.
What are three books you think this child would enjoy? Why?
The Very Busy Spider, by Eric Carle, because it may help Katherine feel less afraid of spiders.
By the Dawn's Early Light, by Karen Ackerman, because it is about a mother who works on the midnight shift.
Africa Dream, by Eloise Greenfield, because it is about a young girl who dreams about visiting her relatives in Africa and Katherine has relatives in Africa.
Handouts
Copyright © 1999 Head Start Publications Management Center. All rights reserved.
Last Modified: