Do you wish you could teach your religion curriculum more throughout your day? In early childhood classrooms, easy readers are a simple way to revisit Catholic concepts throughout your week while working on literacy, fine motor skills, and even math skills at the same time!
Below is a sample schedule to show how you can use easy readers with your students. The great part about emergent readers is how flexible they are!
When I was teaching Catholic preschool, I would incorporate them into circle and center time. Students can easily continue coloring and read them on their own later in the week during morning work. Then, during the weekly religion block, I would plan a lesson that touched on the same theme in a different way.
Monday:
- Morning work – leave one or two of the booklet printouts for students to write their name on the first page and color as they wait to begin the day.
- Circle time – introduce topic, asking students about the pictures they colored. Consider bringing in a related object to discuss, such as a rosary or bible if you are talking about prayer. Make a connection with their home lives, for example, when does your family pray together?
- Center time – If appropriate, students can cut apart booklet pages, working on scissor skills.
Tuesday:
- Circle time – Read an already-completed easy reader aloud to your class. Model how to point to the black dots beneath each word as you read.
- Center time – During their math centers, work with students to find the page numbers of their booklet, sequence the pages in the correct order, and staple together. Continue coloring if time remains.
Wednesday:
- Center time – During literacy centers, lead small groups to read the booklet together, pointing to the black dots, reinforcing literacy concepts of text moving left to right and words being separated by spaces.
Thursday:
- Center time – During literacy centers, go through their booklet with a yellow crayon or highlighter and help students underline or shade any sight words that they have already learned this year.
Friday:
- Circle time – Read your finish booklets as a class. Send them home and encourage students to share their books with their families!
