This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.
/Shay Kraley
Pictures and other visuals are extremely effective when it comes to learning English. Use wordless children’s books when tutoring someone in learning English and help them invent the storyline. Or, you could create your own Pictionary cards from vocabulary words, and play Pictionary!
/Shay Kraley
To play their version of Pictionary, they divided into teams. One member from each team selected a card which contained an easy, intermediate, or difficult English word to try to draw. The team whose members guessed their words the fastest was crowned the Pictionary champions of the night.
Afterward, families took home gift bags containing the bilingual book A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy at Home, along with word cards, drawing paper, and colored pencils, so that the Pictionary fun can continue at home.
The Family Literacy Program participants also learned about the impact that playing games like Pictionary has on a child’s development. Play is the most effective way for preschoolers to learn, and drawing games help develop hand-eye coordination, and also helps children to create mental images (they hear a word and then have to visualize it in order to draw it). These are the skills needed to develop future writing skills.
The Family Literacy Program is free and available to any parent/caregiver of a child enrolled in participating Kent County Head Start programs. Parents/caregivers are provided with weekly tutoring for two hours. Tutoring sessions can take place throughout the day in public locations, such as libraries, churches and office buildings. Also, participating families enjoy complimentary dinners, reading activities and early literacy education.
To learn more about the Family Literacy Program contact the Literacy Center of West Michigan at (616)459-5151.
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