Why Teachers Should Read Children's Books

Teachers who read for pleasure have better book knowledge...thus are stress-free in the classroom. There is value in teachers becoming reading role models. Teachers' knowledge of children's literature contributes to a child's enjoyment of reading.
In order for reading to become"bibliotherapy" readers should identify with characters met in a strory and form emotional connections with them...via writing-in-role, hot-seating activities.
Reading can induce well-being and a sense of joy. But our teachers need support. They need knowledge on good books available, know how to access these books, have indepth knowledge of various reading skills and strategies, and informal sharing sessions via book clubs.
This is a movement that needs immediate attention by policy makers, educators and community members.

Adapted from Jo Bowers and Dr Susan Davis, 2013

Teaching of Phonics

Reflections on the training session attended at ELTC  on The Teaching of Phonics

Phonic Segmentation Skills
- ability to break words down into individual sounds
- an example of a phonological awareness skills
- supports the aqcuisition of literacy skills

Sample goal for phoneme segmentation skills
The learner will
- listen to a target sound (phoneme) presented orally
- determine the word that begins with the target phoneme
- indicate the word by saying it out loud, signing it, and selecting the appropriate picture.

Instructional Task

* The teacher says
                              the sound /m/ (only the sound)

* The learner
                      Listens to the sound
                      Looks at each picture / symbol
                      Segments the initial sound of the words
                      Determines the word that starts with the target sound
                      Says the word out loud, signs it and selects the correct picture.

Instructional Procedure
                       - model
                       - guided practice
                       - independent practice

Andragogy - Man-leading

Six Principles of Adult Learning

1. Adults are internally motivated and self-directed.
2. They bring life experiences and knowledge to learning experiences.
3. They are goal-oriented.
4. They are practical - relevancy -oriented.
5. They like to be respected.

This is what I learned during my training in Teaching Phonics at ELTC Bandar Enstek.