By Maureen Murphy, The Children’s School Head of School
The cluster of skills that we call “literacy”—the ability to speak clearly and listen with care, to write imaginatively, and to lose oneself in the magic of reading—is a fundamental area of learning in the early years. Learning to read, write, and speak expressively is the gateway to deep learning, success in work, and a meaningful life of relationships and community.
Visitors to our classrooms will observe children immersed in an environment rich with language and books, which encourages them to communicate effectively and develop a love of reading. The youngest students learn that active listening is a way to show respect for others. By hearing the teachers use affirmative, vocabulary-rich language, students become adept at expressing themselves orally.
Early reading begins as younger children discover the shapes and sounds of letters through multi-sensory materials. As their comprehension and vocabulary become stronger, students have access to a beautiful library and countless opportunities to explore books on their own and to be read aloud by their teachers.
They also develop their linguistic fluency by becoming writers themselves. The youngest students begin by exploring various writing instruments and having ample opportunities to practice their hand skills. Through engaging materials and exercises, children soon progress to creating and illustrating their own stories, which are bound as books and become treasured keepsakes for families.
The Children’s School takes pride in seeing its students travel the arc of growth and confidence as they learn to listen, speak, read and write. How could it be otherwise? A thoughtful approach to literacy allows children to step into the larger world of imagination, self-expression, and knowledge.
The Children’s School serves children ages 3 to 8 and is located at 118 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT. For more information, please call 203.329.8815 or visit www.childrensschool.org.
Tour the campus and meet teachers at an Open House on Friday, April 12, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.