The families with whom I work do not read and write Spanish or English
and speak a Mayan language which is unwritten. They do speak some
Spanish and know some of the rhymes "by heart" in Spanish. We work on
helping them learn these rhymes in English.  While they learn the rhymes
in English, the parents are able to better pronounce the rhymes in
Spanish which helps their child to hear rhyme more distinctly.  

 

I have nothing against learning Nursery Rhymes in English , just not as
a first step in transitioning from Spanish to English.  I believe that
children need to hear their parents adding a more rich vocabulary to
everyday life and as our parents are not able to read and write in
Spanish or English, the richness in vocabulary must come from words,
rhymes, and environmental print with which they are familiar. 

 

I would not have a problem using Nursery Rhymes for more advanced
learners and take the opportunity to explain some of the history and
symbolism of the rhymes.  

 

I guess that I look at a book such as "Arroz con Leche" as a transition
from and one which the families find a familiarity and comfort.  

 

Books change life for the better-ReadOn!

 

Susan L. Perez

Early Literacy Specialist

Center for Reading & Literacy

Martin County Library System

 

Office: 772-221-1401

Cell: 772- 263-0480

 

The Blake Library

2351 SE Monterey Road

Stuart, FL 34996

 

From: familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of ktgm4 at aim.com
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 11:13 AM
To: familyliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 1537] Re: Last Day With Guest Moderators

 


But isn't that part of it - learning about the country they are now
living in?  Learninf their customs and history, adding to their world
knowledge.  what in the world is wrong with that?
katie m,
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Perez <sperez at martin.fl.us>
To: The Family Literacy Discussion List <familyliteracy at nifl.gov>
Sent: Fri, Aug 14, 2009 4:15 pm
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 1537] Re: Last Day With Guest Moderators

I have used a children's book of Latin American nursery rhymes, "Arroz
con Leche" with all rhymes in English and Spanish.  The families like
them because the pictures are from countries where the rhymes originated
and many remember the rhymes from their own childhood. They do want to
learn the English for the rhymes.  Also, the pictures depict people and
scenery more familiar than the typical English (U.K.) nursery rhymes
originally and may not make sense to ELLs, even if they can read all the
words.  There is also the notion that the people and places in those
pictures are quite foreign to them.

 

I agree that the Big Dreams booklet is quite good. I do wish that it had
been translated into a low reading level in Spanish.  I find it
difficult to find such high quality materials for our low literacy
Spanish speaking parents. They do not read Spanish at a high enough
level to find the typical brochures helpful. 

 

~~~slp~~~

Books and libraries change life for the better-ReadOn!

 

Susan L. Perez

Early Childhood Literacy Specialist

Center for Reading and Literacy

Martin County Library System

Teaching parents and providers to help their children to love reading

 

Office:   (772) 221-1401

Mobile:  (772) 263-0480

Fax:       (772) 219-4959

 

2351 SE Monterey Road

Stuart, FL 34996

 

 

________________________________

From: carroche at optimum.net
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 4:26 PM
To: The Family Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 1535] Re: Last Day With Guest Moderators

Having joined the list in preparation for initiating a family literacy
program at a nursery school in Asbury Park, NJ this September, I have
found the discussion worthwhile.  The program will be a joint venture
between the Literacy Volunteers and the Acelero Learning Head Start
Program of Monmouth County, NJ.  Right now, we are working on a
curriculum for the program.

As a retired school administrator (K-12), I am familiar with early
childhood literacy training, and, used (and liked)  "Put Reading First"
as part of a professional development program for teachers about seven
or eight years ago. Since retiring, I have been a literacy volunteer
teaching skills to limited English speakers.  Family literacy is a
perfect blend of both interests, or more aptly, passions.

Some comments:

I don't think it's helpful to be overly technical about what's truly
authentic or not.  What is more important is the relevance of the topic
to the learner's life or interests.  Discovering that several of my
adult learners from Mexico were working either as landscapers or
farmhands at a nearby racetrack, we spent several lessons on words
related to both topics. They enjoyed these lessons (the challenge for me
was finding pictures to do with horses, gardening, etc.)  I have also
found language experience charts to be effective.

I loved the suggestion of using nursery rhymes, songs, and simple,
classic fairytales and wonder if anyone can suggest specific materials
containing this content at a very easy reading level.  I would like to
be able to distribute some of this material to the parents to take home,
to share with their children, and to begin to build a home library.

Finally, as to the Shining Stars materials, I think they are excellent
parent education resources for parents who already read. Even teachers
would appreciated the Checklists in them. Big Dreams is the only one
that I can forsee using with the parents in our program. 

Thanks to the person on the list who suggested the parent handouts from
the Illinois State BOE.  I plan to use them as ideas for activities. 


Carol Roche




----- Original Message -----
From: Gail Price 
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 8:02 am
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 1527] Last Day With Guest Moderators
To: The Family Literacy Discussion List 


> Today is our last day with our guest moderators, Dianna Baycich and

> Barbara Van Horn. I appreciate their giving up their valuable 

> time to

> monitor posts to our list. If you have further questions, 

> comments or

> concerns about the use of authentic materials or the definition of

> authentic materials, please voice them today. 

> 

> 

> 

> Thanks to all.

> 

> 

> 

> Gail J. Price

> 

> Multimedia Specialist

> 

> National Center for Family Literacy

> 

> 325 W. Main Street, Suite 300

> 

> Louisville, KY 40202

> 

> gprice at famlit.org

> 

> 502 584-1133, ext. 112

> 

> 

> 

> 


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