Hello Farm! Miles on the Tongue Oral Language Practice Reader

Hello Farm! Miles on the Tongue Oral Language Practice Predictable Reader for Second Language (& all!) Little Learners

The very first step in literacy learning is language learning!

“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” ~Ludwig Wittgenstein

Our classrooms are becoming more and more global and cosmopolitan.

All learners must have multiple opportunities to speak: talking, singing, reading,

saying, telling ---- all contributing means to “miles on the tongue” also known as fluency when speaking.

The ability to speak fluently cannot be underestimated in its pre-requisite value both before and as learning to become a fluent reader. It is estimated that children need exposure to approximately 30,000 words a day by the time they begin school to be fully ready to learn. (Both quantity and quality of words matter).You can imagine how different households offer different opportunities for language, or not so much. A second language learner who has been exposed to rich language interactions at home, in his native tongue is much more prepared for school, and for learning a new language.

Fluency in the first language equals preparedness to learn a second language

successfully at school. We have all known every kind of learner in our classrooms, with every kind of background. It is staggering to think of the vast differences our students come equipped with. Language skills that have developed enriched vocabularies, critical thinking skills, and abilities to relate to others, or alternatively, depravation that cannot revel in any of these competencies.

All of that being said, good instruction for second language learners

is good instruction for all. Making sure that little learners have multiple opportunities

at school to become fluent with their oral language is just as, or possibly more

important than all other instruction. It is sometimes forgotten, sometimes assumed they already have it, and sometimes just misunderstood, but it truly is the foundation to which all other learning can occur. It is imperative to deliberately plan for and provide

opportunity, time and resources to help bridge the gap for many of our little ones.

It is my sincere hope that your students can put many “miles on their tongues” with

my Oral Language Practice Predictable Readers. I wrote them with every little learner

in mind! In my nearly 30 years of teaching both English speaking and second

language learners, there is no greater joy I have found in the classroom than

observing students achieve more oral language proficiency than they started with. The comfort,the repetition, the oral language proficiency, fluency, and confidence that is gained and then realized again at home when practicing their little books is truly priceless!(Not to mention the valuable literacy skills!)

Suggestions for use: These little books are intended to be read many times over! I teach my kids to practice pointing to the words (and looking at the pictures for clues, wink, wink!) every time they read, so they are always practicing good reading behaviors. After reading at school several times, (whole group, small group, partners, to self) they take their book home to share. I recommend to them that they put a little star (asterisk style) on the back every time they read it, and try to fill it up with dozens of little stars! I place extra copies of each predictable reader in our Browse Box for students to pick up and read in the classroom when they are finished with work or at centers etc. They love it!

If you are lucky enough to have students come and visit you when they are in third grade, you will be so glad you spent the time it took to intentionally plan oral language activities!

There is no greater reward than hearing a hesitant kid become a proficient speaker!

Included in this resource:

Hello Farm! Black & white student readers (Clean design, easy to read font,

fun, engaging, repetitive text, predictable, picture clues on every page

for greater fluency and confidence!)

•Black and white student books (EASY PREP ready to go in 5 minutes or less!)

•Writing prompt with words and pictures from book (open ended)

❤ Thanks!

Pam Davidson

Little Bird Kindergarten

©2016 Pam Davidson Little Bird Kindergarten All Rights Reserved

Not for sharing physically, digitally or for public display, single classroom use only.

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