LATEST STORIES
Early Literacy at BestStart Napier Central
This term, our focus has been on early literacy (reading and writing). This was inspired by the aroha (love) for pukapuka (books) our tamariki had been expressing. As a way of strengthening a sense of belonging for tamariki within the centre, kaiako created individual photo books.
Whanau were invited to provide photos from home and these books have enabled tamariki to sit and revisit at any time of the day either by themselves or with their friends. Lots of conversations (both verbal and non-verbal) have emerged as tamariki share things, people, and places that are familiar and special to them. Our tamariki have also been really enjoying coming together for spontaneous group times throughout the day.
This involves either reading books together or listening to stories (generally tuakana) and the teina have been loving the musical experiences. During this term, there has been an emphasis on action and rhyming songs such as 'Wibbily Wobbily Woo' and 'Roly-Poly'. Tunes like these require tamariki to listen closely to different sounds, then match them together and follow actions to songs.
Both of these creative rhyming songs invite akonga to have fun and enjoyment with language. Our group times are designed to intentionally foster language learning which is closely related to literacy learning and supports the innate drive to communicate that our akonga are born with. Conversation is the most powerful tool for communicating our understandings and ideas.