Each month in our Exploratorium™ we feature a different genre of Children’s Literature. This is an awesome way to strengthen every muscle in our students’ minds as they are growing in their alphabetic awareness, communication, and emerging literacy skills!
In June, we feature Pattern Books. Here’s a sneak peek at our investigations:
WHAT ARE PATTERN BOOKS?
The books we are choosing this month contain brief text and follow a predictable, strongly repetitive pattern.
WHY ARE PATTERN BOOKS IMPORTANT?
Young children are drawn to the memorable nature of pattern books. They are empowered to role play as fluent readers by quickly learning and following along with the repetitive text and imagery in pattern books. Their response to this kind of literature is often called “magical memory reading”… and it makes them feel powerful and proficient!
CRACK THE READING CODE: PATTERN BOOKS JUMP START EARLY READING!
We’re taking a page straight from the experts. Listen to what Early Education Expert and University of Utah Professor John Funk has to say about Pattern Books:
“When children are pre-readers and beginning readers, adults should continually model for the future reader how the reading process works. Predictable books can be a vital part of this modeling, without necessarily instructing the child in these skills. Predictable books are excellent examples and provide support in many ways.”*
- The text and illustrations enable children to anticipate words, phrases or events.
- Predictable books can be stepping stones in the reading developmental process because they are engaging and interesting to young children. The listener can also participate in the reading.
- Repetitive phrases can help children follow storylines and more fully understand the sequence in a story.
- Predictable books have wonderful story patterns that help the reader deliver the story with fluency and rhythm.
Can you guess what comes next? Grab a predictable pattern book and have a blast with your early reader!
*John Funk, M.ED, Manager of Educational Programs, Excelligence Learning Corporation University Clinical Instructor
