Can Rhyme Teach Literacy?
Last year about this time I was working on Tadeo and his friends – painting the pictures that were going into my new book. I wasn’t even sure at that time where all this would lead.
It took more prayer, more painting, editing and friends’ support before I could decide to publish it.
Today I read a great post called How Rhyming Teaches Children Literacy – about the benefits of rhyming books for children. Here are a few of the gems I pulled out:
“the best way to develop language and reading skills is through the love of conversation and books. In this way, rhyming books promote reading skills.”
“Rhyming familiarizes children with sound structures, not just letters.”
“Rhymes also incorporate language devices such as alliteration”
Another post called The benefit of Rhymes states:
“Research in recent decades has provided a wealth of knowledge on how sensitivity to rhyme helps children progress with reading.”
“studies have demonstrated that the better children are at detecting rhymes the quicker and more successful they will be at learning to read (Bradley, 1988c, Bradley & Bryant, 1983, Ellis & Large, 1987).”
Tadeo Turtle starts this way:
TADEO loved to laugh and play
…until he met SAM SQUIRREL one day.
SAMMY loved to climb the trees,
cross the lawns and jump in leaves.
TADEO couldn’t run like that
because a shell was on his back.
I love rhyme and always incorporated it into my primary classroom teaching.
What are you thoughts? Which books do you remember from your childhood? I would guess most of them have rhyme.
Other interesting posts:
The Benefits of Rhyme in Literacy
Songs and Rhymes a Springboard to Literacy
I just sent this book to my grand niece for her 3rd birthday today!!!
Marijo,
That is wonderful. I would love to hear her reaction and will post any pictures or crafts that she does about Tadeo.
Thanks and blessings,
Janis
Will send your request to her mama (my niece by marriage)!