C is for cookie

This morning, we read Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten.  I love this book because each student is a different animal that represents every letter in the alphabet.  For example, there is Adam the alligator and Becky the beaver.  While reading this book, I stopped and asked what animal was being shown and what letter the name and animal name began with.  We made the sound that the letter makes.  We went through the entire alphabet and I was impressed by the knowledge each of my students possesses.  When heading in for snack, I was unaware that this particular lesson was not yet finished. 

One of my children brought in a snack of organic cookies.  The cookies were in the shapes of letters and numbers.  As soon as the children began snack time, there was talk of, "Here's an 'L' for your name!" or "Look, and 'R' for Miss Raina!"  I walked around the room, encouraging the children to find the letters from their name.  As I passed by one table, I noticed the word "zoom" spelled out as clear as day!  This being the fourth day of Pre-K, I was extremely excited!  I complimented him and asked him if he knew what he had spelled.  He sounded out the letters, "zzz-oooo-mmmm, zoom!"  He then went on to explain that he had written the word "zoom" because he likes fast cars and that is the sound they make when they drive by.  I was taken aback by this child relating a simple word like “zoom” to a passion of his. 

Ideally, I would want every child to leave my classroom appreciating words and letters and the beautiful ways they are put together for us in our everyday lives.  However, I feel that reading is something that comes when the child is ready; it can’t be forced.  Today, this little boy gave me a perfect example of how a child’s interest in reading “just happens.”  It is our job, as teachers, to nurture this interest and help it grow into a love for reading that will benefit them throughout their lives.