Focus on language acquisition, not just letters...
Sending kindergartners...to work on phonemic awareness or sounds in isolation when they are missing a read-aloud or shared reading or rich reading/writing experiences in the classroom makes no sense.
YES! My reading curriculum focuses so much on the mechanics of reading- skill and drill. I have to remember to find time to actually read with my students. After all, the majority of them have language delays, so they need to hear and experience language before they can become literate. We all know children who can call words, but cannot understand a word of what they read. I don't want my students to end up in that category.
You're exactly right . . . and a read aloud not only allows them to hear fluent reading, it gives them an opportunity to enjoy reading for meaning. Using a read aloud for mini-lessons is a good way to fit it in. Or, many teachers do read alouds at the very end of the day while they wait for buses to be called, etc. Fun times ahead!
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