i kan reading programme (1)

‘i kan’ read Programme The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go…. Dr. Seuss When toddlers first start to read, it is essential that they are able to sound out letters and letter combinations. Being able to sound out words is an essential skill for beginning readers. The challenge in continuing with the sound-it-out approach to reading is that it slows down the reading process. At some point one has to dispense with sound if you want to be a speed reader. The purpose of reading is to comprehend what you read. How well you comprehend what you read is determined by your reading speed, the breadth of your vocabulary, and your degree of familiarity with the subject matter. Speed reading actually increases reading comprehension. Because you read several words at a time when you speed read, you can grasp the meaning of words in context. It also has a snowball effect on the size of your vocabulary and general knowledge. Sounding out letters, words and then processing them for meaning takes time. 50% of words in the English language are spelt phonetically so having a reading programme based only on phonics does not make logical sense. The act of reading fluently with speed, heightens overall brain function, increases memory and retention. It also helps us to read the ever increasing amount of information being generated (more information has been created in the past 2 years than in the previous history of the human race). A rich vocabulary allows us to think, reason and create. The reading programme at Kangaroo Kids is a blend of: a) Sight reading (whole language approach which caters to visual learners) b) Phonics (which refers to the sounds made by individual letters and letter combinations and caters to auditory learners) c) Kinaesthetic (tactile) activities that involve movement such as finger tracing and physical games. Why ‘i kan Read’? Research states that there is absolutely no difference between the way the brain interprets spoken or written words. If the child HEARS the spoken word ant, the nerve pathways from his/her ears��� lash that sound to the part of the brain which translates speech. If he/she SEES the word ant, then two nerve pathways from his/her eyes transmit that message to the vision part of the brain. The brain decodes both the signals equally well. Since the visual pathways are still immature, the best way to decode words is using the colour red and a large font size. About ‘i kan Read’ Programme Most preschoolers learn to speak the first 3000 words between 0-6 years. There are only 44 sounds in the English language. The���‘i���kan���Read’���programme���has���been���designed���to���develop���reading skills in Preschoolers 1

(Preschool Year 1 and Preschool Year 2 ) throughout the academic year. There are 2 components for PSY1 and PSY2 as���part���of���the���‘i���kan’���reading���programme 1. Part of the Student kit (Learning tool) – to implement the reading programme at home by parents. 2. Part of Centre kit (Teaching aid) – to conduct the reading programme at school by facilitators. 1. Part of Student kit - to be given to each child at the beginning of the AY to implement the programme at home. a. Preschool Year 1 box contains:-  Two sets of 26 naming word cards (nouns): 52 + 26 picture cards = 78 cards (i.e. ant + ant + picture of ant). •���For���each���letter,���we���introduce���1���naming���word���(noun)���along���with���the���picture���card���(e.g.��� ant and the picture). •���In���Preschool���Year���1,���we���start���with���naming���words���(nouns)���because���these���are���‘concrete’ words that a child can see, feel and touch. •���We���have���selected���words���that���a���child���will���directly���experience���and���can���identify/read. b. The Preschool Year 2 box contains:- •���Two���sets���of���52���naming���word���cards���(nouns)���two���words/letter: 102���(*except���letter���‘Xx’-that has one noun card) + 51 picture cards = 153 cards (e.g. ant + ant + picture of ant, apple + apple + picture of apple). •���25���action���word���cards���(verbs)���+���25���picture���cards���=���50 (e.g. act word card+ picture of ‘act’) Total = 203 cards For each letter, we introduce 2 naming words (nouns) along with their picture card and 1 action word (verb) and its image. e.g.: ant, apple and act. 2. Centre kit – in order to have synergy between the reading programme to be conducted at home and school we have reworked on the sight word cards to be used in class.  Each centre needs to have minimum 1 set for each level - PSY 1 and PSY 2. Depending on the number of children the centre should procure additional set/s from KKEL Central Office. a. PSY 1 Centre kit consists of 2

Two sets of 26 naming word cards (nouns): 52 + 26 picture cards = 78 cards (i.e. ant + ant + picture of ant). •���For���each���letter,���we���introduce���1���naming���word���(noun)���along with the picture card (e.g. ant and the picture). b. Preschool Year 2 centre kit contains:- •���Two���sets���of���52���naming���word���cards���(nouns)���two���words/letter: 102���(*except���letter���‘Xx’-that has one noun card) + 51 picture cards = 153 cards (e.g. ant + ant + picture of ant, apple + apple + picture of apple). •���25���action���word���cards���(verbs)���+���25���picture���cards���=���50���(e.g.���act word card+ picture of ‘act’) Total = 203 cards How to use ‘i kan Read’? 1. Student Kit – For parents to implement the reading programme and the activities at home there is a sheet in the box which has the details. 2. Centre Kit – The details to implement how to use these cards in class will be mentioned in the plans every month. 3