Literacy Lessons for Little Learners:"I Am Enough" by Grace Byers

Welcome to our latest post in the Early Excellence Project blog series, where we dive into fun, engaging, and educational activities for our young readers. Today, we're exploring the beautiful book "I Am Enough" by Grace Byers. This book is not just a story; it's a powerful message of self-love, acceptance, and respect that resonates with both children and adults. Let's make reading this book an interactive and enriching experience for your little ones with no-prep, easy activities.

Questions to Ask After Reading

After you've read "I Am Enough" with your child, it's great to talk about the story to help them understand and connect with the book on a deeper level. Here are some simple questions you can ask:

• What does 'I am enough' mean to you?

• How did the book make you feel?

• Can you remember a time when you felt like the girl in the story?

• What is one way you can show kindness to others?

• Why is it important to love ourselves just as we are?

These questions encourage your child to think critically about the book's themes and how they apply to their own lives, promoting empathy and self-esteem.

Sight Word Activity

Sight words are common words that young readers should learn to recognize on sight. "I Am Enough" is filled with simple, repetitive sight words that are perfect for practice. Here are a few to look for: I, am, we,

can, love, and are.

As you read, point these words out and encourage your child to spot them throughout the book. This activity helps with word recognition, a key component of the science of reading, which emphasizes the importance of understanding and recognizing words quickly and accurately for reading fluency.

Drawing Activity: Connect with the Book in a Creative Way

Let's get creative and connect with "I Am Enough" through art. This drawing activity requires no prep and uses materials you likely have at home.

Materials Needed:

• Paper

• Crayons, markers, or pencils

Activity Instructions:

• Self-Portrait: After reading the book, ask your child to draw a self-portrait. Encourage them to think about what makes them unique and special, just like the girl in the story.

• Favorite Scene: Have your child draw their favorite scene or message from the book. It could be a moment of kindness, friendship, or self-love.

• Words of Affirmation: Around the drawing, ask your child to write or dictate words that describe them positively, such as "kind," "smart," "enough." If they're too young to write, you can write these words for them.
  

This activity not only reinforces the book's message but also allows children to express themselves creatively and build their self-esteem.

Wrapping Up

"I Am Enough" by Grace Byers is more than just a book; it's a lesson in self-love and acceptance. By engaging with your child through thoughtful questions, sight word hunts, and creative drawing activities, you're not only enhancing their literacy skills, but also their emotional intelligence. Remember, the goal is to make reading fun and meaningful, using simple materials and activities that bring stories to life.

Stay tuned for more literacy lessons for our little learners, and happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners:"Ada Twist, Scientist" by Andrea Beaty

Welcome back to our Early Excellence Project blog series, where we aim to turn reading into an adventure for our youngest scholars. Today, we're spotlighting "Ada Twist, Scientist" by Andrea Beaty, a delightful story that follows Ada, a curious girl who embarks on a quest for answers through science. This book not only entertains but also inspires children to ask questions and explore the world around them. Let's dive into some engaging activities to accompany this read.

Questions to Ask After Reading

Discussing "Ada Twist, Scientist" with your child can deepen their understanding and appreciation of the story. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

• What makes Ada a good scientist?

• Why is it important to ask questions?

• Can you think of a time when you were curious about something like Ada? What did you do?

• What did Ada learn by the end of the book?

• How can you be a scientist in your everyday life?

These questions encourage children to reflect on the value of curiosity, perseverance, and the scientific method in discovering the world around them.

Sight Words to Search For Within the Book

"Sight words" are frequently used words that young readers should recognize by sight. "Ada Twist, Scientist" offers a great opportunity to practice these. Here are some sight words found in the book: ask, why, how, what, when, where, who.

As you read the book with your child, make a game of finding these words. This activity supports the development of reading fluency, a key principle in the science of reading, by enhancing word recognition skills.

Drawing Activity: Connect with the Book in a Creative Way

Engage your child's imagination and reinforce the story's themes with a simple drawing activity. You'll need only basic supplies and a little creativity.

Materials Needed:

• Paper

• Crayons, markers, or pencils

Activity Instructions:

• Invent Something: Inspired by Ada's love for science, ask your child to draw an invention they dream of creating. It could be anything from a robot that cleans their room to a machine that makes candy.

• Science Experiment: Have your child draw a picture of themselves doing a science experiment. Encourage them to think about what they would study and how they would do it.

• Ada Twist, Scientist Portrait: Invite your child to draw Ada Twist in her lab, surrounded by all the tools and gadgets a scientist might need.

This drawing activity not only taps into your child's creative side but also encourages them to think like scientists, fostering curiosity and imagination.

"Ada Twist, Scientist" by Andrea Beaty is a celebration of curiosity, a love for science, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. By engaging with your child through thoughtful questions, sight word identification, and creative drawing activities, you're not only supporting their literacy development but also encouraging them to think critically and creatively about the world around them. These activities are designed to be simple, requiring no prep and using materials you likely have at home, making learning both fun and accessible.

Stay tuned for more engaging literacy lessons for our little learners. Happy exploring!

Introducing the Early Excellence Project: Literacy Lessons for Little Learners

The Early Excellence Project is excited to launch a monthly blog series where we share lessons to help guide you through the exciting journey of introducing your child to the world of books and teaching your child how to read. If you ever searched on Google: how to teach my child to read,  how to make reading fun for my kid, or how to help my child learn to read, then you are in the right place!  Our approach is simple and fun, tailored to help you foster a love of reading in your little learner. Before you get started, consider these tips for inspiring a love of reading in your little learner! 

Tip 1: Explore the Book

The first tip seems really simple but is often overlooked. As you start on your journey of helping your child fall in love with reading and teaching your child how to read, begin by showing your child a book. Let them feel the cover, turn the pages, and look at the pictures. Explain the parts of the book: the front cover, back cover, and spine. Make the experience interactive by asking your child to point to each part as you name it.

Tip 2: Inspire Storytelling

The next tip is to introduce your child to the creators of the book, the author and the illustrator. Use your favorite book as an example, and explain how the author writes the story and the illustrator creates the pictures. Encourage your child to imagine creating their own story or drawings. Help your child envision themself as storyteller by encouraging them to take on the role of an author or illustrator. Even if they are just scribbling on paper, inspiring a love for storytelling will serve them well in their journey to developing a love for reading. 

Tip 3: Create a Fun Space to Read

This next tip is another simple one, that makes a huge impact on your learning to read journey with your little learner. Try setting up a cozy reading space together. It can be a corner of the living room with cushions or a special chair. The key is to make it inviting and comfortable, a place where your child looks forward to spending time with books. 

Tip 4: Engage in the Story

Choose a book together. Use funny voices for different characters to make the story come alive. Ask your child questions about the story as you read, and let them turn the pages. This engagement turns reading into a playful and interactive experience. Act it out and get silly to create a real love for reading for your child. 

Tip 5: Review What you Read

Here is another tip that you probably already do,  after reading, discuss the story. Ask questions like: who are the characters in the story, what happened in the story, and what was your favorite part of the story. Encourage your child to imagine a different ending to the story. This conversation deepens their understanding and enjoyment of the story.

We hope you found these tips helpful as you navigate the journey of introducing your child to the wonderful world of reading and work to teach them how to read. Join us each month for more tips on turning reading into a joyful and enriching experience for your child. Together, let's ignite a passion for reading in our littlest learners!