Sharing Rhymes: ‘Molly, my sister, and I’

Molly, my sister, and I fell out,

And what you think it was all about?

She loved coffee and I loved tea,

And that was why we couldn’t agree.

Why rhymes matter

• Rhymes support children’s language and communication skills.
• They help children’s listening skills and also their speech sounds.
• They raise children’s ‘phonological awareness’ – a skill involved in reading. This is the ability to identify and use parts of spoken words, such as syllables (‘sis-ter’) and letters (‘c-u-p’), as well as sound patterns in words, such as rhymes (‘cat’, ‘mat’, ‘sat’) and alliteration (‘she sells seashells on the seashore’).
• Rhymes also build children’s social skills when they are said or sung with others.
  
  

Tips for sharing nursery rhymes

• Say or sing rhymes. And don’t be embarrassed about your singing!
• Emphasise the beat (pulse) and rhythm.
• Draw children’s attention to the various rhyming words.
• Vary the pace you say the rhyme.
• Slowing down will help children to hear rhymes more clearly.
• Have fun with the words. Change some of the words or pause before a word to see if the child can say it.
• Share rhymes with parents.
  
  

Suggestions for sharing this rhyme

• Explain to the children that this is a rhyme about two sisters, or a brother and sister.
• Say the rhyme slowly. Then repeat it and see if children can join in.
• Emphasise these rhymes - ‘out’ and ‘about’ and ‘tea’ and ‘agree’.
• Try missing out the ‘agree’ and see if children can fill it in.
• Talk about what ‘fell out’ and ‘agree’ mean.
• Record this rhyme and/or write the words down to share with parents.
  
  

Ideas for extending the learning

• Ask children about when they argue and who they argue with.
• Create a chart with two columns ‘I don’t like’ and ‘I like’ and record children’s comments.
• Find out which children have siblings (don’t forget step and half siblings).
• Visit a café with children.
• Create a role-play café complete with menus, teapots and different-sized cups.
• Encourage parents to show their children at home how they make tea and coffee.