Research shows that children who have memorized nursery rhymes become better readers because they develop an early sensitivity to the sounds of language. (Marie Clay) They can be used to teach many important emergent literacy skills.
Why teach using Nursery Rhymes?
They naturally help young children develop phonemic awareness skills, which are the necessary building blocks that children need to develop before they can begin to read.
Nursery Rhyme Skills
Here are the skills you can teach:
- Rhyming words
- Sound/Word Discrimination (syllable sounds
- Blending
- Word segmentation (syllables (first and last syllables))
- Phoneme manipulation
Nursery Rhymes
The following are all benefits:
- Enrich young children’s vocabulary
- Provide opportunities for oral language development
- Introduce children to basic story structure such as problem and solution, cause and effect
- Are easily integrated into already existing themes
- Can be FUN and engaging for young children
For specific activities see the list below:
Teaching Trailblazers
Teaching with nursery rhymes is important, but it’s only one small piece of the literacy puzzle. If you really want to be the best teacher you can be, the best place to learn current best teaching practices and get the support you need is in the Teaching Trailblazers. We have many printable lessons and on-demand video trainings to help you become the best teacher you can be! If you want to get on the waiting list for the Teaching Trailblazers, do it soon so you don’t miss the next open enrollment period!
Nursery Rhyme Activities
Nursery Rhyme Songs For Preschoolers
These fun nursery rhyme songs and videos can support the skills you’re already teaching in your early childhood classroom.
Printable Nursery Rhyme Books, Charts, and Songs from Dr. Jean
Download the free Jack and Jill printable book in black and white and color, song chart with picture support for emergent readers, and the mp3 song by Dr. Jean!
Free Nursery Rhymes Printables
Nursery Rhyme Notebook Cover- FREE
Nursery Rhymes Tracking Chart- FREE
Printable Nursery Rhyme Fluency Sticks- FREE
Nursery Rhyme Bingo- FREE
I Know My Nursery Rhymes Certificate- FREE
Nursery Rhyme Diploma- FREE
Nursery Rhyme Resources
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Hi Vanessa,
I have been looking for pictures for a Nursery Rhymes theme at the Playgroup I attend with my Grandson. I cannot believe how hard it has been trying to find pictures on this theme.
Thank you for your web page
Maree
Hello! What part of the day do you incorporate Nursery Rhymes? Do you do it during circle time in place of the story? Or do you have another set time? Would you do it during your literacy centers? What is your pace – one a week? I have threes for half a day, 2 days a week, so I’m thinking one a month might be best. Also, do you have an example of how you introduce the rhymes and what those follow up lessons look like? I am enjoying your page tremendously and appreciate how well researched and supportive you are with our young learners and those of us lucky enough to help teach them each day.
Great questions! You can incorporate nursery rhymes a number of different ways. In a two day a week 3yo program, you might consider doing the rhymes separate from circle time due to attention spans. One rhyme a month in your situation sounds ideal. We have many 3yo teachers who use our nursery rhyme bundle as their curriculum for the entire school year. The bundle includes an introduction sequence, complete lesson plans for each rhyme, activities, and supplemental printables to help you infuse your classroom with language rich experiences all year long. https://www.pre-kpages.com/products/nursery-rhyme-bundle/