Your role

Look for and use opportunities throughout the day to play with words and the sounds in words, making rhymes and alliterations.
Separate words into syllables to model how words are formed. In rhymes and chants, use a clapping rhythm to help children recognize syllables.
Read books that contain rhyming and alliteration to help children hear the sounds of language. Sing songs and recite rhymes and chants, both familiar and new. Share rhymes and chants with other teachers to broaden the variety you use in the classroom.
Clap or otherwise create rhythms to accompany the rhymes and chants. Create new verses to songs or chants and encourage the children to do the same.