HELPING CHILDREN WITH LITERACY
THE IMPORTANCE OF
RHYTHMIC AND RHYMING POETRY
By Josie Whitehead
www.whiteheadm.co.uk
READ. TALK AND LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD
Even before your child starts school you can do so much to help them with literacy. Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time, if possible. This may not always be possible, so don’t be discouraged if you miss a day, or you can’t keep to the scheduled time. Just read to your child as often as you possibly can. Children love to hear their parents’ voices and they are familiar with them before they are even born because we are told that they can hear them when they are still in the womb. It is also important that you give children time to use their language for themselves, whilst you correct any mispronunciations and help them. Listen to what they are trying to say and help them to say it.
FILL THEIR DAYS WITH RHYME AND RHYTHM
Stimulate them with songs, poems, books with pictures. Fill their days with rhyme and rhythm using the simplicity of nursery rhymes from an early age. Even rhymes which seem to have no relevance to their day to day activities still bring fun. Do you remember nursery rhymes such as: “Three Blind Mice”? “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary?” “Little Miss Muffet”? Have you examined these poems and asked yourself why children like such absurd rhymes? They like the sound of the rhyming words and they love the rhythm that accompanies them. They may not know what a “tuffet” is – and you probably don’t either, but they like the sound of the word because it rhymes with “Muffet”. Then ask yourself this question: Why did Jack and Jill go UP a hill to fetch a pail of water? Had no-one told them that water runs down to the bottom of the hill? But children are not concerned with things like that and neither do they mind that a pail is called a bucket nowadays. Nursery rhymes appeal to children because they love their repetition and their silliness. The rhythm of the lines is soothing to a young mind and that is why rhythmic rhymes can help children to get off to sleep at night.
This love of words that rhyme and the love of rhythm is still important to children as they start school and learn to read. Poetry is so important in language development because rhyming words help children to remember new words. Children will pay attention to the sounds of the words. Good rhythm in poems is important to children because children will pay attention to the different sounds and syllables that make up the words. This is called “phonemic awareness” and is a necessary literacy skill.
NOT ALL RHYMING WORDS ARE SPELT THE SAME
You will notice notice how enjoyable rhymes are and children will be eager to join in, supplying the rhyming word. Repetition is important when learning a language, and a poem should not just be read once, forgotten and then the child moved onto the next one as soon as possible. Children like to repeat things several times, and rhyming and rhythmic poetry is the ideal tool. Starting to read a long story when a child is tired may not be ideal either. There is always the question of where and when to stop, with the accompanying argument. A short poem – especially one with a story – is just the thing. You can afford to spend time reading it more than once, or talking about the story, but above all, encourage your children to talk about it using the new words which they have learnt. When older children are learning to read, you can point out that in the English language, what you hear is not necessarily what is written, so that words that sound the same can and do have completely different spellings. Also words that are spelt in a similar way are not always pronounced in the same way, e.g. bought, though, cough, rough etc. You might write some simple sentences using these words, and follow it up another day. When children meet these words when they are reading, remind them of what you have already said.
TEACHING RHYTHM
Children will have to learn about rhythm in poetry at school. It is a necessary part of the National Curriculum. You can involve them in this in a very simple way and at an early age. Get the children to clap their hands when you come to strong rhythms in poetry. Here is an example from one of my poems which has a particular good rhythm and, in fact is called “Just Listen to that Rhythm”. The refrain goes:
Tick Tock (1 clap)
Tick Tock (1 clap)
Military (1 clap)
Precision (1 clap)
Tick Tock (1 clap)
Tick Tock (1 clap)
Just listen to (1 clap)
that rhythm (1 clap)
I hope that you will find that in many of my poems I have tried to capture a playful approach to words which will serve as a useful tool, to encourage children to love their language, but also as a means of expanding and developing children’s use of language. For example, in Tragedy at Mini-Beastie Hall, I have used double meanings which relate both to spiders and to the internet. Modern children will appreciate this: eg. "I'll teach you how to crawl the web"; "I don't want you to bug it or to introduce a worm" - (mini-beasts). Children will understand why I chose the name of the Mini-Beastie Park as "Beasts-R-You" because they will all know "Toys-R-Us". It's just an element of fun in this modern age.
DEVELOP THEIR IMAGINATIONS
The first poem I ever read to children was “Mickledy-Me” who is a very naughty invisible friend. I had carried this poem in my notebook for many years. Local children just love this little character and I have been told that many of them have invisible friends. I pleased them by writing this poem and they spurred me on to write sequels to this poem.
The children have inspired me also. One little boy repeatedly asked if I would write a poem about a donkey because he loved donkeys. I must admit that I was lost for words. I actually said a prayer in front of my computer and “The Best Donkey of Them All” was born. They loved that poem and it is a lovely poem to add to a Christmas concert or nativity play.
I have used storytelling quite a lot in my poems. It is a powerful medium. A good story can not only fuel their imaginations, but can help children to understand their world and how and why people behave as they do. The Little Sea Maiden may live in a carefree world, but youngsters need a little bit of escapism from the problems of the world in which many of them live. The Bear That Nobody Wanted can teach children that even when they may feel a bit upset about something, sometimes a good thing can come about as a result of it. Yes, children may fully realise that the Laugh-a-Lot Tree may not exist, but they can see clearly that the world would be a happier place if there was more fun in it, and that means everyone contributing to it. You can follow up a poem with a short discussion about these subjects, and give the children time to think of a story of their own which could bring about changes in people’s lives. eg. Perhaps the “Magic Coat” might be used not just to change someone into a swan but into a better person etc.
A boy at school was reading from his Magic Key Book. The youngster in the book asked his grandmother if the world had just been black and white when she was young because her photographs were black and white. He then asked me: “Were photographs black and white when you were a child?” “Did you have a motor car?” “Did you have television”. When I answered “No” to the last two questions, he said: “What did you do with yourselves then?” So I answered his questions by writing “Lessons from the Past.” I wrote of life as I had known it as a child brought up in the country during the Second World War. No, it didn’t talk about being evacuated, having our house bombed etc. Life for us was exactly as portrayed in the film “Goodnight Mr Tom.” We were aware of the war but we just got on with our lives as they were. I hope this poem will provide a talking point in classrooms.
Don’t always assume that some of the more difficult poems for children may not be understood by them or of no interest. “The Happiness Formula” is a good talking point, and a way of getting to know your own child. Happiness does not always come from asking for material possessions, for example. How does happiness come about as a result of things that don’t require money? How can the child make an older person happy? Let the children come up with ideas that they may be able to put into practice in their own lives.
LASTLY, SOME TIPS FOR PARENTS
· Observe young children when reading the poem. Are they enjoying it? Give them time to laugh and add things.
· Pause at the rhyming words and give them the chance to supply the missing word. If they find this difficult, supplying the first letter often helps. Remember this word and ask them afterwards if they have fully understood the meaning of it. If not, help them.
· Speak the words clearly and slowly, giving them time to think of the words and take in the story.
· Use voice variations, facial expressions, gestures and repetitive phrases to draw the children into the story. You can even add a little remark about what is happening within the poem, as you come to something particular, eg - Do you think he is happy or not? etc.
· When you see that a word is difficult for a child, you can immediately add a simpler word next to it yourself, so that the child can follow the story. The next time you read it you will be able to omit this as the child will have learnt the new word.
I haven't always used the simplest word in my poems because children need to expand their vocabularies.
· Follow up the poem with a little discussion with your child. This encourages them to talk and use, perhaps, some of the new words that they have learnt, and also develop their imaginations.
· Retell the same poems several times allowing the child to join in for fun. Children just love to learn poems. You can build up their confidence by allowing them to read the poem themselves to someone else.
· You can link poetry to other artistic areas. For example, why not print off the poem and allow your child to add his/her own picture to it to send to someone for their birthday? Good poems for grandparents are: “Such Fun on the Downhill Slope”; “Retirement – the Best Days of Your Life.” Your Dentist may appreciate the poem: “Dentists – God Bless Them Every One”.
· You can actually print off the poems for your children in the form of an verse insert for a birthday card, and adding To and From at the end. The children can then decorate the front of the card themselves. There are plenty of Christmas verses too.
Most of all and whatever you do, have lots of fun!
Copyright 2006