1 ELA Speaking and Listening: I Can

I-CANyons Parent Toolkit for First Grade Language Arts (ELA)

Speaking and Listening: I CAN...

Standard

Engage effectively in discussions by following discussion rules, building upon other's ideas, and asking for clarification.

Core Standard

SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

In Other Words

Students will be able to have conversations with peers and adults about age appropriate topics following agreed-upon rules of speaking and listening.

If Mastered

Play conversation starters at the dinner table: http://rocklandsteps.org/files/conversation_starters_for_parents_and_small_children.pdf.

If Not Yet Mastered

For students struggling in this area, they could:
• Sing songs, say poems & read out loud
• Participate in dialogue (question/answer, telephone game)
• Orally share ideas/feelings about themselves and the world around them. 10 tips from http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/top10/question/dinnertime-conversation-starters

1. ASK ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY: Open-ended questions encourage conversation. Asking "What was your favorite part of school today?" will elicit a better response than the yes-or-no type of question like "Did you have a good day?" Some more open-ended questions: "What books did your teacher read you today? Which one was your favorite? Why? What are you learning about in math?

2. ASK ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS: It's important to know who your child's friends are, so ask. Who did you play with at recess and what did you do? Who did you sit with on the bus? In the cafeteria? Ask by name about Jane or Billy or any of the kids your child hangs around with or talks about.

3. ASK ABOUT THE STAND-OUT MOMENTS OF THE DAY: Change it up every day and ask about something different: What was the funniest thing that happened today? The most surprising? The worst? The best thing that happened? Taking turns around the table makes these questions a lot of fun.

4. ASK ABOUT WORLD EVENTS: A discussion about current events doesn't have to feel like a social studies lesson. Young children can chime in about Tai-Shan and the Olympics, and older kids can debate politics, war or the economy. Kids of any age can answer questions like "What would you do if you were the President?" You may be surprised by how enlightened your children are.

5. ASK ABOUT POP CULTURE: Kids are immersed in laptops. They're tuned into iPods and tuned out to their parents. Find out what they're listening to, watching and reading. What's your favorite song? Who's your favorite band/singer? What did you think about [the last book you read]? What movie character would you want to be? What good movies are coming out soon?

6. SHARE A FUNNY STORY: Share a funny story from your own childhood, especially if grandma or grandpa were involved. This helps kids related to you. Realizing that you were a kid once, too, may make it easier for them to open up to you without feeling silly or embarrassed.

7. ASK ABOUT PAYING IT FORWARD: Teaching kids to be kind may be as easy as making them aware of the kindnesses around them. What was the nicest thing someone did for you today? What was the nicest thing you did for someone else today? As children perform good deeds, they'll look forward to sharing them with you at the dinner table. Before long, kindness will be second nature.

8. ASK ABOUT TOMORROW: This is a great way not only for you to stay on top of your kids' schedules but to keep them accountable as well. What homework assignments are due tomorrow? What projects/book reports/presentations are due soon and how are they coming along?

9. ASK PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS: There are so many! If you won a million dollars, what would you do? What famous person (past or present) do you want to meet and why? What is one place in the world you most want to visit? Add your own answers to these questions to help your kids better understand your beliefs and values.

10. LISTEN & TALK: Give your kids a chance to initiate the conversation. They may find the family dinner table a safe place to talk about school bullies and disloyal friends. They may take this time to share news about a new friend, a great invention they've imagined or just about anything that's on their mind. Turn off the TV, set aside cell phones and sit down to dinner together as often as possible. Establishing this routine gives your family time to bond and provides rich oral vocabulary which will positively impact your child's writing and reading comprehension!