Using KIDWARE to support literacy pg. 1

The following three sections provide an overview to using KIDWARE to support literacy.

Section 1- Presents background information about KIDWARE and the reading/writing process.
Section 2- Identifies skills that are necessary for successful literacy experiences.
Section 3- Highlights specific examples of using KIDWARE to support young learners as they develop and apply literacy skills in reading, writing, and across content areas.

Section 1: What research says about literacy acquisition

The design and development of KIDWARE reflect what the research advocates about the complex processes involved in becoming literate (learning to read and write). When children are becoming fluent readers they must learn two different kinds of skills: (1) how to comprehend written material and (2) how to identify words in their printed form. A major challenge for children is to learn how to identify printed words accurately and fluently.

KIDWARE helps parents as their child's first teacher assist children in developing basic reading and writing skills. Basic requirements of the reading process that are highlighted in KIDWARE include:

an awareness that print carries a message
understanding that oral language is made up of separate sounds
knowing that written words are composed of letters
understanding that letters correspond to sounds in spoken words
being able to sound out words
connecting letters to sounds
developing phonics skills
recognizing and identifying words
applying these skills in various writing and reading activities

Section 2: Skills required for becoming literate

KIDWARE software is designed for teachers and young learners working together to build the bonds of literacy. KIDWARE incorporates computer-based and hands-on activities that focus on the following reading and writing skills:

telling stories
sequencing, creating and reading stories
spelling words with picture prompts
recognizing sight words
identifying upper and lower case letters
recognizing letter names
connecting letters to sounds
listening for sounds in words
identifying rhyming words
recognizing blends
sounding out words
printing letters
using basic writing skills
spelling simple words
using letter sounds to spell words

Learning how letters of the alphabet represent sounds in words (phonics) is very important in the development of early reading skills. When children understand, and can use letter/sound correspondences to "sound out" new words, they are on their way to becoming fluent, efficient and independent readers.