Emotional Connections: Deepening Learning

A Literacy Learning Story, by Jess

Caeden recently we have been looking at the nursery rhyme posters, ebooks and little books. Caeden you have really enjoyed this and I've seen you getting into the music too. You really enjoy the  "Hey Diddle Diddle" ebook as the characters giggle at the end which makes you roar with laughter and stamp your feet. "Again" you would ask just so you could hear the giggle again. 
You noticed Humpty Dumpty and how "He break!" This caused you much distress. You were very concerned for Humpty Dumpty and the fact that he had broken. One day you even woke up from your sleep pointing to the Humpty dumpty poster and saying "He break" Over time we have talked you through that it is okay that Humpty is just an egg and its okay to break an egg. Caeden you are so caring, even for Humpty Dumpty.

Caeden we have noticed that you have connected to the nursery rhymes through your emotions. You really feel for the characters and what they might be going through, especially Humpty Dumpty. You have been able to identify other emotions and express them to your teachers. By using the nursery rhymes you have been able to communicate and connect to these emotions and through a range of media; books, posters, ebooks, music, dance, and  art, express these feelings. We have had such fun.


What is happening here?
The teachers recognise the significance of the importance emotional connection in learning to communicate and to become literate. The giggles of the children in "Hey Diddle Diddle", the sadness of Humpty Dumpty's demise, have an impact. This impact deepens the curiosity, the desire to relive the experience and to find out more about these powerful emotions.
The teachers here recognise this unfolding exploration. They recognise that the exploration is enabling the child to experience the fullness of communication and come to a place of deeper connection with literacy now and to search for it in text in the future.
Noeline Anderson
Director of Pixelhouse
www.pixelhouse.co.nz
www.pixelhouseonline.com