Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Finding Your Voice with Ruby René Had So Much to Say by Ashley Iman

At the Early Excellence Project, we celebrate books that empower little learners to embrace their unique voices and share their thoughts with confidence. Ruby René Had So Much to Say by Ashley Iman is a heartwarming story that encourages children to find their voice, value self-expression, and speak their truth. Through its captivating narrative and relatable themes, this book helps young readers understand the importance of communication and being true to themselves.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with Ruby’s journey while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Exploring the Power of Words

Ruby René Had So Much to Say highlights the importance of expressing feelings and thoughts in ways that are meaningful and impactful. This theme is perfect for sparking conversations with your little learner about the power of their words.

Try These Activities:

• Feelings Chart: Create a chart with different emotions (happy, sad, excited, nervous) and discuss how Ruby might have felt in different parts of the story. Encourage your child to share times when they’ve felt the same way.

• Speaking Up Role Play: Practice scenarios where your child can use their voice, such as asking for help, sharing an idea, or inviting someone to play. This reinforces confidence in self-expression.

• Word Jar: Introduce new vocabulary from the book, such as "courage" and "expression." Add these words to a word jar, and revisit them in daily conversations.

Connecting Literacy with Self-Expression

Ruby’s story offers many opportunities to connect literacy skills with the theme of finding your voice. Use the book to foster reading comprehension and creative thinking.

Activities to Explore:

• Story Sequencing: After reading the book, ask your child to retell Ruby’s journey in their own words. What happened first? What did Ruby do next? This strengthens narrative skills.

• Character Reflection: Discuss what Ruby learned by the end of the story. Ask your child, “What did Ruby discover about her voice? How do you think she felt?”

• Personal Story Writing: Encourage your child to write (or dictate) a short story about a time they felt brave speaking up. This activity builds confidence and early writing skills.

Encouraging Self-Confidence

One of the key messages in Ruby René Had So Much to Say is the importance of believing in yourself. This theme provides a great opportunity to boost your little learner’s self-esteem.

Confidence-Boosting Questions:

• “What is something you’re really good at?”

• “When have you felt proud of yourself?”

• “What would you say if you wanted to share something important with others?”

  
  

Pair these conversations with positive affirmations. For example, “I am brave,” or “My voice matters.”

Creativity Through Art

Art is a wonderful way to help children process and express their thoughts. After reading the book, try a creative activity inspired by Ruby’s journey.

Activity: “My Voice Matters” Poster

• Provide art supplies like crayons, markers, and construction paper.

• Ask your child to draw or write about what makes their voice special. They can include phrases like, “I share kindness,” or “I ask questions.”

• Display the finished poster in a prominent place to remind your child of their unique strengths.

  
  

Reflection for Little Learners

Reflection helps children internalize what they’ve learned. After exploring Ruby’s story, ask your child to think about their own voice and how they use it.

Reflection Questions:

• “What did Ruby learn about herself?”

• “Why is it important to share how we feel?”

• “What would you like to say if you could tell the world one thing?”

  
  

Capture their reflections through a drawing, a short video, or a simple conversation.

Empowering Our Little Learners

Ruby René Had So Much to Say is more than a story—it’s an inspiring reminder that every voice matters, and every child has something valuable to share. By engaging with Ruby’s journey and the activities in this post, your little learner will build confidence in their self-expression while strengthening their literacy skills.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful moments of growth and connection. Stay tuned for more books and activities in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!