Finish the Rhyme
What you need
- a nursery rhyme picture book, or rhymes you know by heart
How to do it
- Sing or say a rhyme they know well, like Humpty Dumpty or Twinkle Twinkle.
- Stop just before the last word of a line and look at them.
- Wait. Let them fill in the word.
- Do the next line the same way, and try stopping earlier in the line as they get it.
Why it matters
A pause in a rhyme they know is hard to resist filling, and the rhyme does half the remembering for them.
What they're learning
- Rhyme
- Hearing which word fits the sound of the line.
- Remembering words
- Filling the gap is recalling a word on their own.
- Joining in
- A pause made just for them is a turn in the song.
What to look for
Watch for them saying the word before you even pause.
A tip
Wait longer than feels natural. A few seconds of quiet gives them time to find the word.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: only pause on the very last word of the whole rhyme
Harder: say a wrong word on purpose and let them correct you
