3V0935.01 Reading About Letters (8/14/80)

In Richard Scary’s “Great Big School House,” an extended section is
developed around the alphabet. Peggy was reading this section quietly
to herself today when Robby’s friend Billy came for a visit. He joined
Peggy on the floor for a while, asked if she knew her letters or
numbers. Peggy later asked me to read that same section to her.

A few days later, Gretchen was drawn into read[ing] about those same letters.
Peggy must often work hard to amuse herself. She has no nearby or
coeval playmates. When she cannot persuade a more grown up person
to play with her, “reading” is often an activity of choice and her focus
is often on individual letters. Everybody she meets knows how to
“read” letters.