We have a little author on our hands...

It happens about this time every year. One of the kinders starts writing. And, I mean really writing. It's magical how the lightbulb just suddenly switches on -- like they finally realized, "Hey! I can do this!" 

[SIDE NOTE]... In my opinion, many pre-schools nowadays are REALLY overdoing it with letters and letter sounds. Read the research. Most three- and four-year-olds are not developmentally ready nor cognitively mature enough to handle all that knowledge. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with exposure to letters and sounds, especially the ones in a child's name. In addition, it is perfectly acceptable for a little one to come to kindergarten being able to identify all the uppercase and lowercase letters. No problem -- that's a great knowledge base! 

However, so many pre-schools are trying to overdo it with teaching little ones how to read and write. Even teaching formal handwriting! Let the pre-schoolers play! Let them learn how to get along with each other, share, solve problems, accept differences, wait their turn, zip their coats, etc. 

It's amazing how the "magic switch" happens in kindergarten. They finally understand -- Oh! This is how you put sounds together to read. This is how you take sounds apart to write. I have so many little ones come every year with so much letter and sound knowledge, but no idea how to use it. They just weren't developmentally ready until they got here.

[BACK TO THE POINT]... One little one always sticks out as the first author of the class. Well, we have a little author on a our hands in my room...

I don't know how many of you know this book -- Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni -- but it's a sweet little story about two colors (yes, the characters are actually just colors).

 

The two colors and are best friends, but when they're playing one day, they hug and turn into green! They go home to their respective color families who, of course, do not recognize them. Don't worry... it's a happy ending. :) I love the simple torn paper illustrations, and the kids love this sweet little story.

Well, my little author wrote a book at home. She brought it to school to share with the class, and I about died. It is the cutest little book ever. I was simply amazed not only by her writing, but by her concept development and complex illustrations. I just had to share it here. If you have read Little Blue and Little Yellow before, this will be even better for you!!

[As always... "kinder translation" is provided for those of you who do not read invented, phonetic spelling all day long!]

I present to you...

Little Red and Little White

Little Red and Little White lived across the street from each other.

Everyday, they would play with each other. And somedays, they would play hide and go seek.

And Little Red was lost!

And Little White came looking for Little Red.

And they hugged. And they hugged. And then they turned into pink!

And they went home. Little White's mom and dad said, "You are not our Little White."

And then they went home again and Little White's mom and dad said, "You ARE Little White!"

The End.

 Adorable. I might just have to e-mail Leo Lionni.