“During a workshop we held recently for the African Storybook project we brainstormed some of the things that we think children need when they are learning to read (in addition to the 7 steps). These would probably apply to most children and in different ways. They may be worth bearing in mind while we are writing? Does anyone have any comments about them. What you think about them?
What children need when they are learning to read:
- Enjoyable stories
- Authentic contexts, not contrived by adults
- Rich visual images that make sense and can support the reading of the text
- Play with words and sounds
- Not necessarily ‘real’, but logically developed – 'nonsense that makes sense'
- Text that has visual qualities
- 'Matching relations’ – rhyme, rhythm, repetition, similar elements, different elements, setting rules and breaking them etc. ( see also ‘On the importance of matching relations in the analysis and translation of literary texts’, Malcolm Coulthard, University of Birmingham, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 1992.)
- Suspense and danger (can be frightened / take risks within the safety of the story)
- Beginning, middle and end … always?”
I have added a few examples of online titles that could appeal Foundation Phase learners. Do you know of any others? Just take a look at some of these links to get an idea of the type of titles that appeal to children. Sometimes just looking at a title sparks an idea in your own mind. (As time goes by I’ll add to this list).
Beatrice Murila
ReplyDeleteI agree that children who are learning to read like stories that have illustrations since these help them to visualize what they may not understand by the written words. It is also important for the stories to have a beginning and an ending.