Ideas for Teaching and Documenting

Plan small group & whole group activities that provide opportunities for children to participate in discussions and respond to literature. 

Read often one-on-one, in small groups, and as a class and talk about stories.

Facilitate oral language through dramatic play by providing materials such as a telephone and by creating scenarios such as a grocery store.

Ask open-ended and thought-provoking questions to provide children the opportunities to elaborate and share details, “I see you built a tall structure with the blocks.  Tell me how you did that.”  “What did you do yesterday in the snow when school was closed?”

Provide story starters in the dramatic play or block area, “There are lots of dogs here.  Let’s see if we can create a dog grooming business.”

Introduce new vocabulary and listen for children to use it, “You’re using the rhythm sticks.  When you go from soft to loud like that it is called a crescendo.  What else can you do with that instrument?” 

Demonstrate connections between books or events & personal experiences or other books.  Share an experience of yours and connect it to what happens in the story.  Listen for connections they make to their lives.

Provide props to act out or retell stories. For example, after reading The Happy Farmer and His Dump Truck, put the book in the block area with dump trucks and plastic farm animals. Document what the children do and say.

This information is also available in the ELS Guide Book for future reference.