BOOK CLUB - Chalk

The newsletter this month is focused on literacy, and wordless picture books like Chalk are great for developing early literacy skills. Picture books also give children a sense of pride that they can actually "read" a book. Wordless picture books help children craft a story, and "there's a direct connection between a child's ability to tell a story and their ability to be a good writer later in life," says Jill Cordon, Fay's Speech and Language Therapist. Click here to learn more about the benefits of wordless picture books and for more book suggestions.

LITERACY & NUMERACY - Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words, and it is essential for early reading. An easy way to practice phonological awareness with your child is through rhyming activities. You can do this through reading rhyming books (click here for a book list), singing or listening to nursery rhymes, or by playing rhyming games (click here to see a puzzle that helps build rhyming skills).

Another way to build phonological awareness is through alliterations. When letter sounds are grouped together through alliterations like "sally sells seashells by the seashore", young children pay closer attention to them, which can help them sound out words more easily in the future. Click here for a list of books that feature alliteration. 

ARTS & CRAFTS - Sidewalk Chalk Mosaic

Inspired by Chalk and the start of spring, this month's arts and crafts project is a sidewalk chalk mosaic.

Materials Needed:

Sidewalk Chalk  • Painter's Tape • Scissors 

Directions:

Gather the materials above. Create a square outline on your driveway or walkway with your painter's tape by cutting four equal strips with your scissors (a 5x5 foot square is a good size to start with). 

Once the outline is made, make connecting lines within the square to form various sized shapes. 

When all your tape is down, you and your child can begin coloring the shapes in different colors. 

Once every shape is colored, remove the tape to reveal your mosaic!

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE - Reading

Reading anxiety can be common in early childhood. Some parents wonder if their child is meeting benchmarks, and some kids do, too. Fay Kindergarten teacher Lee Bogaert remembers one student at the beginning of the year exclaiming in a panic, “I’m the only one in my family that doesn’t know how to read!” At Fay, Primary School teachers address those concerns by emphasizing that reading is an individual journey. Reading groups are frequently reshuffled, leveled book bins are labeled by color and animal to discourage comparison, and every student works on specific skills in a program that meets them where they are. “Reading is as much a developmental milestone as an academic one,” says Lee. “The literacy pieces fall into place at different times for every child.”

FIELD TRIP - Fay's Early Literacy and Language Workshop

In support of this month's theme of literacy, our field trip suggestion is actually for parents! On Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 PM, Fay School is hosting a free early literacy and language workshop for parents. During the workshop, you will learn about typical speech and language development and how these skills form the foundation for reading and writing, the building blocks of academic success. You’ll also learn specific strategies for fostering language and literacy skills at home, and you’ll walk away with a “toolbox” of progress checklists, teaching tools, activity ideas, and literacy games to use with your child. 

PARENTING ADVICE - Too Busy to Read Tonight? Three Tips for Building Literacy Skills in Busy Families

Reading aloud with young children is critical for brain development, language acquisition, and early literacy skills like storytelling and comprehension. However, we've all had days when the best intentions to curl up and read with your child are derailed. So what do you do on those days when it feels like there's no time to read? Fay's Speech and Language Therapist Jill Cordon and Reading Specialist Leslie Overbye share three simple tips for incorporating literacy-building activities into your family's busy schedule

Kindergarten at Fay School

Kindergarten lays the foundation for a child's entire learning experience. At Fay, our small class sizes and differentiated approach help each kindergartener establish the skills they will need for a successful educational journey. Our teachers focus on each child’s literacy, numeracy, science understanding, and social-emotional development, supported by a team of expert specialists who coordinate instruction in art, music, French, and Spanish, and P.E. Our teacher also focus on fostering a love of learning, and they know that when students believe that their learning matters, they give their all.