NEWS DATES EVENTSSCHOOL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
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January, 2006
Ready for Prep What can I do at home to help my children with literacy and numeracy? So many parents ask this question at our Prep information evenings. To help support the three R's perhaps we should think of the three I's – independence, interest and involvement. Independence develops a positive sense of self. Independence is cultivated when children are given simple responsibilities and shown appreciation when these are completed. It is fostered in day to day routines such as involving children in simple household chores, collecting the mail, putting clothes in the laundry or carrying containers to the recycle bin. Encourage your children to take care of their own belongings, to carry their own bag, to dress themselves. Praise your children when they attempt to do things for themselves. The fundamental tool required when learning to read is an interest in print. From the moment you place your children on your knee and read to them, the process has begun. Through these interactions children learn the language of books, the concepts about print which are essential before more formal reading instruction can take place. Reading and rereading a favourite book teaches children about the consistency of print, that the print carries the message and the illustrations support it. From the earliest age share your love of books. Talk about books and make them an integral part of your children’s world. Develop an awareness of the value of reading, show your children that you read every day, point out the supermarket aisle signs, the street names, the daily mail and emails you receive, the signs in your local environment. Involve your child in reading every day. Writing begins when children see it as a valuable tool for communication. Leave pencils and paper around so that children can move through the early experimental stages of writing. Involve children in writing letters and cards to loved ones and value their attempts to write their own name. Writing is a physical task and little fingers need lots of exercise to develop fine motor skills. Cutting, pasting, threading, hammering etc are wonderful activities to involve children in at home. Numbers are everywhere in our environment. We see them in our kitchens, in our cars, on our phones and computers. Rote counting, learning the number sequence is very important and can be made fun through simple number rhymes and songs. Recognising numerals that are an immediate part of your children’s world, such as house numbers, is a good starting point. Number plates are a wonderful way for children to practice number recognition. Children develop one to one correspondence through simple daily tasks such as setting the table, ensuring there are plates and cups for each member of the family. These real life experiences are the foundation stones that Prep teachers build on. Independence, interest and involvement are the keys that unlock the doors to learning that leads to understanding. 
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