Children's Literacy
Statement of Purpose
We have found that offering free childcare during class hours makes our adult English language services more accessible to learners who otherwise, might not be able to attend class. Through the Children’s Literacy program, children are exposed to literacy, including reading and writing activities; art, including projects that allow for creative expression; and children from different backgrounds. The Children’s Literacy curriculum is intentionally flexible, thus allowing for volunteers to easily meet the needs of children based on their age, literacy level, and interests.
The Curriculum
At the core of FIRE's children's literature curriculum are books and reading. The level of learner involvement and the complexity of the lessons will vary greatly depending on the child’s age and skill-level. Nevertheless, every lesson will include:
- Reading to the children
- Reading by the children
- Choral reading out loud
Activities relating to literacy and reading are introduced in the context of age-appropriateness and skill-level. These activities include:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Puzzles
- Games
- Songs
- Rhymes
- Use of flash cards for letters, numbers, or words
Whenever possible, children's literacy tutors solicit learner and parent preferences and involvement, guiding, when necessary, to maintain a literacy theme.
FIRE maintains a library of books for learners in pre-K through third grade. These books include:
- Alphabet books,
- Counting/number books,
- Concept books (adjectives, shapes, colors, classifications: animals, families, etc),
- Nursery rhymes,
- Repetitious/pattern stories
- Traditional children's literature
- Wordless picture books