Little Notes

 

Around here, we've had a recent explosion into reading and writing. That's how it is with these things. You're just plugging along, doing the same stuff you always do (reading many, many, many books; playing alphabet games; rhyming; pointing out all kinds of print; play-writing... you know the drill) and then POW! all the pieces start coming together. That's where we're at right now. It's an exciting (and exhausting!) time full of many discoveries, some frustrations, and far more questions than I can possibly answer. All of a sudden, the world is a code that my son is trying to crack. And boy does he have an insatiable appetite for challenge!

He gets a great big kick out of the little notes that I am leaving for him around the house. My favorite spot to leave a message for him is on a little chalkboard I put right where he washes his hands (and hey, if it makes handwashing ever-so-slightly more appealing, then it's twice as nice). Every time he visits the sink he is greeted with a cheery note. After he washes his hands, he erases the message with a tiny rag, leaving me a "clean slate" on which to leave my next Mommy-memo.

   

We also started writing lunchbox love notes to Daddy. This is such a sweet ritual. It is so motivating and a great way for him to communicate to his father that he is thinking about him when he is at work.

So there you have it, the news from our house. Mommy-memos and lunchbox love notes. Short and oh-so-very sweet.

Do you have any little reading and writing rituals to share?

Comments

[Lynnie]

I just posted about this explosion of writing too! It's funny, I thought talking was the bomb, now this! I guess my favorite thing is when I crawl into bed and hear something crinkle under my head. I reach under my pillow and discover a love note! Totally legible! Well, legible in that kind of way that I happen to know "Iwonttooredwithyoo" means "I want to read with you!" Sometimes these notes are accompanied by other things, like a pile of gravel or several ribbons.

By the way, are you a saver or a throw-away-er?

[Jennifer]

Thanks so much for your comment! You are so right... just when you think your kid's new developments are as good as it gets, they get even better. And now I'm re-living them over again with my baby daughter (just when i thought there was nothing more delicious than her sweet smile, she busts out with the belly laughs. Irresistible!) And, since you asked, I am most definitely a compulsive keeper when it comes to my son's art and writing. Just about every mark he's made on a page has been squirreled away. I suppose I'll have to weed out some eventually... But we couldn't save those first steps and first words, could we? So, at least for now, I'm not tossing any of it!

[Abbie]

So interesting to read your post. I'm a former classroom teacher--sahm right now. I've absolutely loved seeing the process that you described unfold in our own home lately.

"pow" suddenly all the pieces are coming together---that is just what is happening with our 6 yr old right now. What fun!

Happy reading together. :-)

[Maria Rose]

What precious ideas!

[molly]

i too have a six year old who just suddenly started reading and writing - it is just so exciting for all of us! he read your chalkboard sign right now and told me i could do that for him :) thanks for the idea!

[brooke]

I love this.. I'm going to have to find a tiny little chalkboard for my kids too. Lovely little blog you've got going here..

[Aparna]

This is very good idea, for learning all the things.