Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Teaching Rhyming

"Does table and chair rhyme mommy?" My four-year-old has this thing lately with trying to rhyme. I have decided I am horrible at teaching this concept. I think he got this fetish when the "Horton Hears a Who?" movie promotions started showing up. We now have six to 10 Dr. Seuss books.

Today he asked me if blanket and Cranky rhymes. Well, at least that's a little closer. I am not sure if he's catching on or just gets lucky once in a while like when he said, "box and fox-that rhymes, right?" (That's probably from a Dr. Seuss book)

I found this teacher's forum that looks at how to teach rhyming to preschool/kindergarten age kids. The teacher mentions that her "bright" kids are having a hard time understanding the concept.

Here are some tips they mention:


  1. Read stories that rhyme.
  2. Give a word such as "cat" and start naming words that rhyme with it.
  3. Use Note cards: "Sometimes I write an ending on a card (for Sheep in a Jeep I would write -eep). Then I make other cards with sh, j, b, and st. Then we make the words from the book with the index cards. (sheep, jeep, beep, steep). This has helped some of the kids that weren't getting the idea."
  4. Sing the name game. "News, news bo bews, banana fanna fo fews Me my mo mews, News!"
  5. Use picture cards of things that rhyme like cat, bat and rat.

Some of these things I am already doing. I think I will try the index cards and pictures with the words written at the bottom. I did read a study on how rhyming is closely connected with learning to read. Therefore, it makes sense to me that teaching him his letters will help him rhyme!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

2 comments:

Rixblix said...

It's important to teach what rhyming actually means. Give examples of words that DON'T rhyme as well as words that rhyme. Kids can sometimes pick up on words that don't rhyme before they can internalize what rhyming means. Say "sock and blanket don't sound the same, but sock and rock do!"

Jen Christensen said...

I got this message via email and thought some of you would like a copy of her poems too. They are cute!

"I am a grandmother of a beautiful grandson who is on the Autism spectrum. His teachers believe he has Asperger's. Andrew "Drew Bear" is five years old, in mainstream kindergarten, and is making a lot of progress. He had two years of early intervention and that really helped him tremendously. I was searching for Autism Awareness articles and came across your "blogspot" and enjoyed reading your recent blog about your child and rhyming. I just had to write and tell you that 'I have a mind that rhymes a million times'. I love to write poetry, children's books, song lyrics, etc. As of yet, I have not tried to get any of my works published, but that is my goal this month. I have some free time now because Drew Bear's little sister who I have been helping care for is starting day school today and the report is in already...Newsflash! She LOVES it! We knew she was so ready as she is our little social butterfly and she loves to learn new things.

I want to commend you on how you are encouraging your child on this "rhyme time" endeavor. I personally began reading at an early age and in first grade the teacher had me assist other children in reading. So yes, I think there is some connection between rhyming and reading. Besides rhyming is fun. Once I start though, I can't seem to stop! People are amazed at how fast I can write a children's book, poem, limerick, song lyrics, etc.

Here are a couple of rhymes from my from my 'Silly Nilly Animal Alphabet Book'. My nephew who is an artist and a brain cancer survivor is working on the illustrations for this book. He is having as much fun as I truly believe are our God given gifts.

'Did you ever see an elephant dance
Pick up his little feet and then prance
Did you hear him giggle
When he did a little wiggle
Did you ever see an elephant dance

Did you ever see a Camel’s big hump

Did you think it was a great big bump

Did you knock on it with a thumpty-thump

Did you think that it was hollow

Or full of water that she swallowed

Did you ever see a camel’s big hump'



by: Samantha Z.



I have written hundreds of these type rhymes. Hope your little one enjoys these two. Keep up the great work, Mom! I can't wait to read the rest of your website."

 
Template by lollybloggerdesigns. Design by Taylor Johnston.