file · Web viewLiteracy Activities for Teacher-Librarians. The following activities are designed for Teacher-Librarians to use with literacy learners as extracurricular activities

Literacy Activities for Teacher-Librarians

The following activities are designed for Teacher-Librarians to use with literacy learners as extracurricular activities in combination with formal literacy classes. They are meant to: 1) reinforce concepts learned in class; 2) provide opportunities to practice what students are learning in a less structured environment; 3) demonstrate the value and relevance of reading and writing in everyday life; 4) promote family literacy; 5) introduce teachers to different reading activities; and 6) make reading fun.

Guidelines for Using These Activities

When selecting activities to use with the students, consider such factors as:

● the time available

● the literacy level of the students

● the age of the students

● if they have children, their children’s ages

● the type of community: rural/urban, size, cultural and security environment

● whether the class is mixed with men and women together, or separate

The activities can generally be adapted to fit the learners’ skill level, and the local community and culture, as well as the time available. For example, different writing topics can be substituted or added, such as

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focusing on an upcoming event or holiday. For students who have less confidence, rather than having them read aloud to the whole class, have them work with a partner or in small groups. When time is limited, rather than have all students read their work, call upon just a few, or ask for volunteers. The key is to make the activities interesting, relevant, fun and motivating, and to fit them into manageable times that won’t interfere with other demands. The activities should be challenging enough so that the students are improving their understanding and skills, but not so difficult that they become overwhelmed or frustrated.

The activity lesson plans are arranged from Level 1 through Level 3 skills:

1 – Beginning Literacy: contains activities to meet the needs of adults with minimal reading skills, including little or no aural or sight recognition of the alphabet.

2 - Beginning Adult Basic Skills Literacy: contains activities to meet the survival needs of adults who read letters and words containing no more than two syllables and understand simple signs and messages.

3 - Intermediate Adult Basic Skills Literacy: activities for adults who can read multisyllabic words, construct knowledge by associating prior with new information, and respond to materials found in the home, at work, and in the community, such as handbooks, directions, and bank statements.

#1 Children’s Story Reading HourGoal Students will expose their children to books

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and reading

Level All

Preparation/Materials

Comfortable room for mothers and children to sit Selection of children’s booksPaper, colour pencils, crayons

Procedure1. Have students bring their children to a

scheduled story time. 2. Teacher reads stories, then asks the

mothers and children questions, such as the names of the characters, what happened in the story, what they liked about it.

3. Have the parents and children illustrate a scene from the story. Variation: have the parents and children make a bookmark together that illustrates a scene or character from the story.Variation: have the parents and children role-play a scene from the story

#2 Reading ClubGoal Students will read and comprehend simple books

Level All


Make a variety of books available at all levels

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Procedure1. Select a book that the whole class will

read, or let each student choose their own book to read.

2. Activities may include:

● Have students select favorite passages of their book to read out loud to the class.

● Students read a book, then write a book report about it, which they read out loud to the class.

● Teacher reads the book then leads a discussion about it. Students write a short book report about it and read out loud to the class.

3. Have students keep a list of books that they have read, or that the class has read together. They can write down additional information about each book, such as which was their favorite.

#3 Family Reading Game

Goal Students and their children will make a reading game

Level AllPaper marked in quarter sections, or index

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cards; pens, coloured pens or pencils, crayons, scissors

Procedure1. Set up tables with paper, scissors,

crayons or coloured pencils or markers. Have the parent cut the paper into six pieces to make index cards, or give each parent six index cards.

2. Have parents ask their children for suggestions of words that they would like to write and illustrate. These should be simple words, like names of animals, fruits or vegetables; the sun, stars and moon; flowers, trees …

3. Have the child draw and colour the picture on an index card, and have the parent write the corresponding word on another index card. If the child is very young, the parent can help them draw the picture. If the child is older, they can try writing the words themself.

4. Mix up the index cards, then ask the child to find the word that matches each picture.

5. If time allows, have the children make up simple stories using the words on the cards.

#4 Creating a Children’s Book

Goal Students and their children will make a

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children’s book

Level All


Paper, pens, coloured pens or pencils, crayons, tape

Procedure1. Set up tables with paper, scissors,

crayons or coloured pencils or markers. Have the parents fold two pieces of paper in half, and tape them together to make a book of 8 pages.

2. Have parents ask their children to tell a story that they can use to make a book.

3. Have the child draw and colour the pictures that help tell their story, and have the parent write the words of the story. If the child is very young, the parent can help them draw the pictures. If the child is older, they can try writing the words themselves, or together with their parent.

4. Tell the parent to ask the child the name of their story, and have them write it on the front page of the book. Have them also write down their name and their child’s name as authors of the story.

5. Have the students take turns reading their books to the class.

#5 Reading Poster/Display

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Goal Students will make a themed display on the classroom wall about a story

Level All levels


Poster board or paper, colour markersMake a variety of books available at all levels

Procedure1. Teacher and students select a book or

story that they like2. Have the students discuss elements of

the story, such as characters, setting and plot.

3. Mount a large poster paper or board on the wall, and have the students create a display about the book, for example, a collage of pictures of the characters and location, and favorite quotes from the story; or a storyboard that illustrates what happens in the book.

#6 Reading ChallengeGoal Students will read and comprehend simple books

Level All levels


Make a variety of books available at all levels.Paper, pens, coloured pens or pencilsHave prizes available, such as books, certificates, bookmarks.Create a chart with each student’s name to record the books they have read.

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Procedure1. Create a class reading chart that includes

the name of each student and places to enter the names of the books they have read, and the date completed.

2. Have the students make a logbook to record the books that they read. The logbook can include the name of the book, the author, and a few sentences describing what it is about, and what the student liked or didn’t like about it.

3. Have the students choose books that interest them at their reading level.

4. Once they have read a book, have the student fill in the details on their own logbook, and the Teacher will record the title o f the book next to the student’s name on the class chart.

5. Once a student has read three books, the Teacher will put a star next to their name on the class chart. Once they have read five books, they will receive a prize of a book. An additional book prize may be given to the student who reads the most books in a specified time period.

#7 BookmarkGoal Students will practice writing words and phrases

Level 1


Paper, scissors, colour pencils or markers

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Procedure1. Cut pieces of paper into strips

approximately 5cm by 20cm.2. Have students write their names, simple

words or phrases, or lines of poetry on their bookmark. They may also wish to decorate it with drawings.

3. Have students read aloud what they wrote on their bookmarks.

#8 Greeting CardsGoal Students will compose and write a simple

message

Level 1


Paper, colour pencils or markers

Procedure1. Fold a piece of paper in half to make a

card.2. Have students write a message in the

card, and decorate it with drawings. The card may be for holidays like Eid or Ramadan, or for personal celebrations like someone’s birthday or graduation.

3. Have students read their message aloud.

#9 Familiar AnimalsGoal Students will identify and write the words for

familiar animals

Level 1

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Paper, pens, colour pens or pencils

Procedure1. Have students draw a picture of all of the

animals they have ever seen.2. Have them write the name of the animal

next to the picture.3. Ask students to read their list aloud to the

class.4. Discuss characteristics of each animal,

such as where they live and what they eat5. Record the name of the animals and their

characteristics on the board in front of the class.

#10 Local PlantsGoal Students will identify and write the words for

familiar plants

Level 1



Procedure1. Have students draw a picture of the

plants that grow in the area.2. Have them write the name of the plant

next to the picture.3. Ask students to read their list aloud to the

class.4. Discuss characteristics of each plant,

such as what they are used for, how large they grow, whether they need lots of sun

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or water.5. Record the name of the plants and their

characteristics on the board in front of the class.

#11 Family CalendarGoal Students will identify and write names of months

and events

Level 1


Calendar or calendar templatePaper, colour pencils or pens

Procedure1. Show students a sample calendar.2. Have them make their own calendar and

copy the months and dates. 3. Have students fill in their calendar with family and community events (such as holidays, birthdays, weddings, harvest days, first day of school for a child, etc)

#12 Village MapGoal Students will learn to read and write place names

by creating a map of their village or neighbourhood

Level 1


Paper, colour pens or pencils

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Procedure1. Have the students draw a map of the

village or their neighbourhood, and include streets, buildings and landmarks such as markets, wells, rivers, mountains.

2. Have them mark where they live, and label the landmarks and facilities such as the school, library, and health clinic.

3. Have the students show their map to the class and point out their home, landmarks and facilities.

#13 FFavorite Recipe

Goal Students will write sequential directions to be used by others

Level 2


Paper, pens

Procedure1. 1. Have students think of a special dish they like

to prepare for their family, and write down the ingredients. 2. Ask them to write simple directions for preparing the dish.3. Have the students exchange their recipe with another student in the class.

#14 Community Bulletin BoardGoal Students learn to identify and write words and

phrases about news and activities in their

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community

Level 2


Large piece of paper or cardboard, colour pens or pencils, sticky notes

Procedure1. Make a bulletin board by having students decorate a large piece of paper and taping it to the wall.2. Discuss with students the kinds of information that can be shared by neighbours, for example: events, items they want to sell, trade or give away, local news3. Ask students to write a local event or activity on a piece of paper, and then stick it on the bulletin board.4. Have students read the postings out loud.

#15 Two Sentence StoriesGoal Students will write a story

Level 2


Paper, pens or pencils

Procedure1. Discuss with the students what makes a

story, for example, character, plot and setting

2. Have the students tell a story from their own experience, for example, what they did the day before, or something unusual

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that has happened recently.3. Ask them to write down a two-sentence

story.4. Have them read their story out loud to the

class.

#16 List MakingGoal Students will compose a list of questions or

information

Level 2


Paper, pens

Procedure1. Discuss with students the value of

making lists to retain information, for example: a shopping list, a list of questions to ask a community health worker or doctor, a list of tasks to prepare for a party

2. Have the students prepare a list of something that would be useful to them.

#17 Family BudgetGoal Students will prepare a budget to track household

expenses

Level 2

Paper, pens

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Procedure1. Prepare a budget template that includes

categories such as: food, clothes, household maintenance, toiletries, school supplies, holidays and weddings, medical, electricity.

2. Have the students estimate how much they spend in each category every month, and enter it in the appropriate space.

3. Have the students discuss ideas for saving money, and make a list of their suggestions.

#18 Reading to ChildrenGoal Students will discuss the experience of reading

to a child

Level 2 or 3


Make a variety of books available that are suitable for reading to children

Procedure1. Have the students borrow a book to read

to a child at home. Tell them to have a conversation with the child about the story after they have read it.

2. Have the students report back to the class on the experience – how much of the story did the child seem to understand? What kinds of questions did the child ask? What did the child like

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about the story, or not like?

#19 Writing a Letter With ChildrenGoal Students and their children will write a letter

together

Level 2 or 3


Paper, pencils or pens

Procedure1. Have the students select a book to read

to their child. 2. Once they have read it, have them write

a letter together about the book. It might be a letter to a friend, telling them about the book. It could be a letter to the book’s author, telling them what the child liked about the book, and asking the author questions about their experience of writing the book. The children will talk about what they would like to say in the letter, and the parent will write down the words.

3. Have the students read their letters to the class, with their child’s help.

Variation: have the students and children write a letter to a character in the book.

#20 Product

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LabelsGoal Students will read information, directions and

warnings on product labels

Level 3


Make available a variety of household products with labels

Procedure1. Discuss the kind of information that is

included on product labels, such as ingredients, directions for use, safety warnings.

2. Have each student examine a product, and talk about what information is provided on its label.

3. Discuss why the information on labels might be important and how they would use the information. Also point out if any information might be missing from the label.

#21 Student InterviewsGoal Students take notes while interviewing a partner

Level 3


Paper, pens

Procedure1. Have students prepare a list of interview

questions on a topic such as reading,

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books, personal goals, or education.2. Divide the students into pairs.3. One student interviews their partner and

writes down the answers to their questions.

4. Students switch places and the other student asks their partner questions and writes down the answers.

5. Have the students introduce their partner to the rest of the class, and summarize their interview.

#22 Poetry ReadingsGoal Students practice copying and reading a literary

form

Level 3


Make available a variety of poems at each reading level.Paper, pens

Procedure1. Students select a short poem that they

would like to learn or that they know by heart.

2. Teacher reads the poem aloud to class.3. Students copy the poem on paper.4. Students read their poem to the class,

with expression, and describe what they like about the poem.

#23 Family Book

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Goal Students will write texts generated from their own life.

Level 3


Notebooks or paper, pens, colour pens or pencils

Procedure1. Have students make a booklet with

paper, or use their own notebook.2. Ask them to write headings such as

Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Daughters, Sons, and to record names of family members in appropriate places.

3. Ask them to write the heading “Important Dates” and to record the birthdates of family members, and other important occasions.

4. Have the students write a short story about their family, for example, where they are from or what do they do.

#24 Echo ReadingGoal Students improve phrasing, reading rate, and

expression when reading orally

Level 3


Make available a variety of texts at each reading level.

Procedure1. Read a phrase, sentence, or passage

aloud as students silently follow the text.

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2. Students imitate the reading. 3. Continue with the model/imitating

pattern. 4. Students work in pairs to model and

imitate reading fluency. 5. Instructor monitors the process to give

immediate feedback. 6. Students prepare a passage to read to the

class.

#25 Life Story Goal Students will read and write texts generated from

retelling life events

Level 3



Procedure1. Ask students to tell their life story. Guiding

questions may be used, such as: where they were born, how old they are, who are the members of their family, what they are interested in, memorable events…

2. Write the key elements of their story on a chart, using their exact words. Read it back to them, and allow them to make changes.

3. Introduce writing mechanics, such as punctuation, to make the words and

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phrases into full sentences.4. Read the stories out loud. Have the

students read the stories alone.5. Have the students copy the stories

on paper 6. Have the students illustrate their

stories with pictures.7. Compile the stories into a book.8. Discuss with the students the

elements of a book, such as Table of Contents, Title Page, etc.

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Documents

file · Web viewLiteracy Activities for Teacher-Librarians. The following activities are designed for Teacher-Librarians to use with literacy learners as extracurricular activities