Enhancing Early Literacy through Interactive Storytelling / Activity Analysis

Core Skills Analysis

Language & Communication

• AJ demonstrated understanding of book handling by holding the book right-side-up and turning pages correctly, which shows awareness of print concepts.
• He engaged in dialogue about the pictures and story, indicating his ability to express thoughts and derive meaning from illustrations.
• AJ’s comments on the story reflect his use of vocabulary and sentence structure, important for developing language skills.
• Through following the storyline and discussing events, he practiced listening skills and responding appropriately to visual cues.

Cognition & General Knowledge

• AJ's exploration of the book allowed him to make connections between the illustrations and the narrative, enhancing comprehension skills.
• His ability to analyze and comment on the pictures indicates the development of critical thinking as he interprets visual information.
• AJ exhibited curiosity about the content which fosters a love for reading and encourages further exploration of new ideas.
• Turning pages and observing the flow of a story helps him understand basic sequencing, an integral aspect of cognitive development.

Health & Physical

• AJ physically engaged with the book by reaching and turning pages, promoting coordination and fine motor skills.
• His relaxed position while interacting with the book demonstrates an understanding of comfort and self-regulation in a learning environment.
• The activity supports physical health and endurance as he moves to find a comfortable spot to read.
• AJ's control and manipulation of the book reflect growing strength and dexterity, essential components of early physical development.

Social & Emotional

• AJ's expression of ideas while engaging with the book shows an emerging self-awareness and confidence in sharing thoughts.
• Interacting around the shared space with peers encourages him to trust and build relationships, fostering social skills.
• His enjoyment and expressions during reading demonstrate a range of emotions, enhancing emotional literacy.
• The activity provides opportunities for him to learn about rules of social interaction as he navigates sharing space with others.

Tips

To further enhance AJ's learning experience, consider incorporating interactive storytelling sessions where he can take turns reading or acting out parts of the story. Use questions that promote critical thinking, such as asking AJ what he thinks will happen next or how a character might feel. Additionally, encourage play-based learning that connects themes from the books he reads, allowing him to explore concepts through imaginative play and hands-on activities.

Book Recommendations

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: A classic story about a boy named Max who travels to an island inhabited by wild creatures, fostering imagination and adventure.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: A beautifully illustrated tale of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly, perfect for learning about days of the week and healthy eating.
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle: A repetitive and rhythmic story that boosts vocabulary and comprehension through colorful illustrations and animals.

Learning Standards

• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.EL.1a Demonstrates behaviors to meet self-help and physical needs. Sleep
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.EL.1b Demonstrates behaviors to meet self-help and physical needs. Dressing
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.EL.1c Demonstrates behaviors to meet self-help and physical needs. Toileting
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.EL.1d Demonstrates behaviors to meet self-help and physical needs. Eating
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.E.L.2 Demonstrates behaviors to meet safety needs.
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL A.E.L.3 Demonstrates a healthy life style.
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL B.EL.1a Moves with strength, control, balance, coordination, locomotion, and endurance. Purpose and Coordination
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL B.EL.1b Moves with strength, control, balance, coordination, locomotion, and endurance. Balance and Strength
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL C.EL.2 Exhibits eye-hand coordination, strength, control, and object manipulation.
• I. HEALTH & PHYSICAL C.EL.1 Uses senses to take in, experience, integrate, and regulate responses to the environment.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL A.EL.1 Expresses a wide range of emotions.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL A.EL.2 Understands and responds to others’ emotions.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL B.EL.1 Develops positive self-esteem.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL B.EL.2 Demonstrates self-awareness.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL C.EL.1 Demonstrates attachment, trust, and autonomy.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL C.EL.2 Engages in social interaction and plays with others.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL C.EL.3 Demonstrates understanding of rules and social expectations.
• II. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL C.EL.4 Engages in social problem solving behavior and learns to resolve conflict.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION A.EL.1 Derives meaning through listening to communications of others and sounds in the environment.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION A.EL.2 Listens and responds to communications with others.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION A.EL.3 Follows directions of increasing complexity.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION B.EL.1 Uses gestures and movements (non-verbal) to communicate.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION B.EL.2a Uses vocalizations and spoken language to communicate. Language Form (Syntax: rule system for combining words, phrases, and sentences, includes parts of speech, word order, and sentence structure)
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION B.EL.2b Uses vocalizations and spoken language to communicate. Language Content (Semantics: rule system for establishing meaning of words, individually and in combination)
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION B.EL.2c Uses vocalizations and spoken language to communicate. Language Function (Pragmatics: rules governing the use of language in context)
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION C.EL.1 Develops ability to detect, manipulate, or analyze the auditory parts of spoken language.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION C.EL.2 Understands concept that the alphabet represents the sounds of spoken language and the letters of written language.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION C.EL.3 Shows appreciation of books and understands how print works.
• III. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION C.EL.4 Uses writing to represent thoughts or ideas.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING A.EL.1 Displays curiosity, risk-taking and willingness to engage in new experiences.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING A.EL.2 Engages in meaningful learning through attempting, repeating, experimenting, refining, and elaborating on experiences and activities.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING A.EL.3 Exhibits persistence and flexibility.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING B.EL.1 Engages in imaginative play and inventive thinking through interactions with people, materials and the environment.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING B.EL.2 Expresses self creatively through music, movement and art.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING C.EL.1 Experiences a variety of routines, practices and languages.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING C.EL.2 Learns within the context of his/her family and culture.
• IV. APPROACHES TO LEARNING C.EL.3 Uses various styles of learning including verbal/linguistic, bodily/kinesthetic, visual/spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE A.EL.1 Uses multi-sensory abilities to process information.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE A.EL.2 Understands new meanings as memory increases.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE A.EL.3 Applies problem solving skills.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE B.EL.1 Demonstrates an understanding of numbers and counting.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE B.EL.2 Understands number operations and relationships.
• V. COGNITION AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: B.EL.3 Explores, recognizes and describes, shapes and spatial relationships.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE B.EL.4 Uses the attributes of objects for comparison and patterning.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE B.EL.5 Understands the concept of measurement.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE B.EL.6 Collects, describes and records information using all senses.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE C.EL.1 Uses observation to gather information.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE C.EL.2 uses tools to gather information, compare observed objects, and seek answers to questions through active investigation.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE C.EL.3 Hypothesizes and makes predictions.
• V. COGNITION & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE C.EL.4 Forms explanations based on trial and error, observations, and explorations.