At the East Wing Communication Center, popular laminated phrases are kept in a box to provoke writing. Some children start with a drawing that inspires words.
Roen: It’s me picking flowers. All the A’s are the joy of my heart. My mom is so nice and I love her sooo much. My heart beats so big for her!
Remy, requesting a word from the phrase box: Which one says happy birthday? It was my momma’s birthday.
After writing happy birthday, Roen began to pick phrases at random: What does this say?
Teacher Silvana: I love you.
Roen: I’m going to write that because I love my mom and dad!. What does this say?
Teacher Silvana: To.
Roen: What does this say?
Teacher Silvana: Uncle.
Roen: I have an Uncle Daniel! He is so much fun!
Teacher Silvana: You wrote o-t. O-t together sounds like ‘ot’.
Roen adds a T in front of ot.
Teacher Silvana: With the T added, t-o-t sounds like ‘tot’.
Roen, with a big laugh: Everybody, I wrote tot!
I could have asked Roen what message she wanted to write. I could have said, ‘This is how you spell, “to”’, and she would have had that literacy experience which is important when thinking about kindergarten readiness. In preschool, we promote the joy of wanting to learn. Roen made meaning from each word she pulled. She invited those around her to experience joy when she made a connection to how adding letters to a word can transform them. I feel so fortunate working in a learning environment where I can follow a child’s lead and experience the richness that unfolds. -Silvana