Why Nursery Rhymes?

Many of our kindergarten homework packets includes a nursery rhyme to practice reciting.  I call this a LUCKY LISTENER activity. The following are the directions which are sent home with our first reciting to learn.

Reciting Nursery Rhymes or other “Lucky Listener” rhymes.

Who can be the Lucky Listener?

Anyone who is older than your child, such as: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Big Brother, Big Sister, Babysitter, Cousin, or Neighbor 

What do we do?

If your child does not know the rhyme, try some of these ways to learn it.

Remember to check off after each practice.  If your child needs more practice don’t limit to 3 practice recitations.

Even if your child “knows” the rhyme, vary the ways to recite.

ü  Say a line and have your child repeat the line

ü  You say the rhyme but leave out a word and your child will have to say the missing word.     For example:  Baa, baa, black _________ (sheep)

ü  You say a line and your child says the next line

ü  Have your child say it in different ways:

v  Sing it

v  Whisper it

v  Say it like you’re crying, laughing

v  Use your imagination

ü  Have your child act out the rhyme while reciting

ADVANCED reciting (after your child can say the rhyme clearly and correctly)

Ø  POINT to the words of the rhyme

Ø  Tell what words rhyme (in the rhyme “Jack and Jill” Jill, hill rhyme)

Ø  Explain the vocabulary of the rhyme (in the rhyme “Jack and Jill” the word fetch means to go get and bring it back)

Remember to check off on the “Lucky Listener” each time your child recites the weekly rhyme.

Sign your name as the lucky listener.

Learning these rhymes help your child learn new vocabulary, rhyming skills, memorization of short stories and many other benefits. 

“One of the best indicators of how well children will learn to read is their ability to recite nursery rhymes when they walk into kindergarten!”

Day	1st reciting	2nd reciting	3rd reciting	Who was the Lucky Listener?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

This is the chart that is on the homework cover page which parents need to record by checking off each time they practice.

Why Nursery Rhymes?

Repeating Nursery Rhymes is a very important pre-reading experience for young children.  

 

•  The ability to repeat short rhymes strengthens auditory memory

•      Sequencing skills

•      The ability to express ideas orally

•      The understanding and play of rhyming words

•      Speaking in rhythm

•      The use of expressive speech (intonation)

•      The building of vocabulary

•      Comprehension skills

•     An understanding of varied literary form (poetry, limericks)

•    Self-confidence (self-esteem)

•   The ability to enunciate words (speech clarity)

•   A basis for future grade levels in learning to read, using context clues, learning comparisons and contrast skills

•   A special time for the parent and child together.

I suggest that parents vary their ways to practice the rhymes.   

Say the rhymes when driving in the car, 

while giving your child a bath, 

sing the rhyme, 

take turns saying a line and your child saying the next line, 

act out the rhyme, 

say the rhyme together.   

Read other rhymes at bedtime.  

 Encourage all children at home to participate in learning the rhymes.  

 MAKE THESE PRACTICE TIMES FUN!!

Extend nursery rhyme practice:

*ask comprehension questions about the rhyme (who, what, when, where, why, how)

*answer the questions by reciting the phrase in the rhyme

*discuss the vocabulary meaning of words in the rhymes (fetch means to go get and bring it back)

*point to the words while reciting (ask where is the word  “____”)

Spending time with your child is very important.  
Make it special.

In the homework packets there are also other activities to connect with the nursery rhyme theme.  There is always a simple coloring task to do.  I have adapted many ideas to make sequencing, writing numerals, sequencing letters and numbers, counting sets, reading phrases and matching to what line comes next, matching same words,  finding sight words to circle, etc.

 It is also a practice for many parents who may have never learned or have forgotten these rhymes.