Monday, December 29, 2014

Sneezes and Sniffles!

It's that time of year!  Everyone is sneezing and sniffling.  Here are some titles to enjoy with your little one that help explain that it happens to all of us.

Books:
Product Details

"Stand Back, " Said the Elephant,  "I'm Going to Sneeze!", by Patricia Thomas

Told in rhyming verse all the animals are in a panic because elephant is about to sneeze!  Children will delight in the anticipation of the BIG SNEEZE!

Tissue, please!
Tissue Please!, by Lisa Kopelke

For those kids who refuse to use a tissue, this title will encourage them.  Frog's runny nose is disgusting to others, what's worse is he wipes it on his arms!  Finally Frog discovers tissues but what will he do when he's in the middle of a dance recital and there are no tissues to be found!


The flea's sneeze
The Flea's Sneeze, by Lynn Downey.
Another fun sneezing book told in rhyming text.  This time it's the flea that sneezes.

Barn sneeze

Barn Sneeze, by Karen B. Winnick.
When a pig sneezes does it sound like Aah-choo or Oink-choo?  Another fun rhyming book that will also help your little one learn animal sounds.

Fingerplay:


Five little fingers playing all day

Getting really dirty

Wash the germs away

 
Four little fingers catching a sneeze

Needing some gel soap

Just a squeeze please

 
Three little fingers staying pretty clean

Sneeze into your shoulder

See what I mean


Five little fingers happy to say

We’re clean and healthy

Hip, Hop Hooray!




Friday, December 19, 2014

Book Review:

Three bears in a boat

Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman.


This beautifully illustrated picture book will be read time and time again.  Theo, Dash and Charlie decide to climb up the mantle to get some honey while their Mother is not around.  While in pursuit of the honey their Mother's favorite blue shell falls and shatters.  The bears decide it would be best to find another shell just like their mother's so she won't even miss it.  They set out on their boat on an adventure to find a blue shell.  They encounter other boats with bears but alas no luck.  Finally they meet up with salty old bear and he tells them just where they'll find it.  Each watercolor spread evokes the mood during their adventure.  They pass islands that look like fun, and islands that look pretty scary.  When they finally find the island they hope has the blue shell they are left disappointed.  They venture back and are caught in the midst of a wild thunderstorm on the sea, but just as fast as the storm appeared they are sailing on water as clear as glass.  When they finally make it home they are delighted to find a blue shell just like their Mother's.  Their mother comforts them and reassures them of her love.  However, after a meal they are still not allowed dessert.

Soman's watercolors align so beautifully with the story that any child will immediately relate to the bears' dilemmas.  This picture book will be enjoyed on so many levels.  Each page with its fine detail will be examined and absorbed.  Three Bears in a Boat succeeds in sharing an adventure while also managing to sneak in a lesson on taking responsibility.

Monday, December 15, 2014

SNOW!

We just had a big snowstorm so I planned this hoping to excite everyone about the snow!

BOOKS:


The snowy day

The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats-
This classic Caldecott winner captures the sheer joy of waking up after a snowfall.

Snow on snow on snow

Snow On Snow On Snow, by Cheryl Chapman
A young boy wakes up underneath blankets on blankets and blankets.  He ventures outside with his dog Clancy and enjoys the snow on snow on snow.  Help him find Clancy who's disappeared.

All you need for a snowman

All You Need for a Snowman, by Alice Schertle.
It starts with just one snowflake but soon you have enough to build the perfect snowman!  Enjoy finding all that you need and then all that you need for the snowman's friend!

Shhhhh! Everybody's sleeping

Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping, by Julie Markes
After all the fun in the snow it's time to rest.  This picture book takes a whimsical look at the different people in the community and how they sleep.


Fingerplay:

  Source: ticklethepress.wordpress.com

Five snowmen all in a row (put five fingers up)
With a big black hat and a pretty red bow (tap head and make bow around neck)
Out came the sun and it stayed all day(raise both arms for the sun)
One of the snowmen melted away (put one of the fingers down)

Four snowmen all in a row (put four fingers up)
With a big black hat and a pretty red bow (tap head and make bow around neck)
Out came the sun and it stayed all day (raise both arms for the sun)
One of the snowmen melted away (put one of the fingers down)

Countdown to One.....

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Storytime!- Rhyming Books

Books:


Duck on a bike
Duck On a Bike, by David Shannon
                             A duck on bike?  This is a winner!  The bold illustrations along with the rhyming text make for an excellent read-aloud.  Kids will love looking at all the farm animals and laugh along with you as they ride along with duck and friends.
                          
Sheep in a jeep
Sheep in a Jeep, by Nancy Shaw
                            Another great rhyming read-aloud.  The only problem is that the jeep won't go, oh no!  Little ones will once again laugh along as they watch the sheep try to get their jeep to go.

How do Dinosaurs say good night?

How do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?  by Jane Yolen
                             When it's time for bed do little dinosaurs jump and shout?  Your little one will love sharing this over and over again as they hear that little dinosaurs have to say good night too!

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow
                             This familiar rhyme is loads of fun as a read-aloud.  The illustrations capture the monkeys bedtime antics and the ending leaves everyone laughing!


Fingerplay:

Fingerplay: “Baby’s Nap”
This is a baby ready for a nap. (hold up index finger)
Lay him down in his mother’s lap. (place finger on open palm of other hand)
Cover him up so he won’t peep. (wrap fingers around finger)
Rock him till he’s fast asleep. (rock hands back and forth)
Credit:  Storytime Katie

Song:

Shake Your Sillies Out, by Raffi

                                                         








Thursday, November 6, 2014

BOOKS FOR BABIES

When selecting books for babies it's important to understand that the primary purpose is to model reading techniques. 
  • Book sharing with babies is more about interaction than reading.
  • Babies are stimulated more by books that encourage an activity like bouncing, or moving. 
  • Don't expect to read a book from beginning to end. 
  • Babies are interested in grabbing and holding the book themselves. 
  • Make sure it's a pleasurable experience, if the baby is upset don't force it.

Pajama time!
Pajama Time, by Sandra Boynton
It's bedtime and different kinds of animals put on their pajamas to get ready for bed.

All of baby nose to toes
All of Baby Nose to Toes, by Victoria Adler.
A rhyming book that celebrates all of baby, from nose to toes.


A child's good morning book
A Child's Good Morning Book, by Margaret Wise Brown
Colorful illustrations celebrate the beginning of another day with birds, bees, rabbits and flowers.

Me baby, you baby
Me Baby, You Baby, by Ashley Wolff
Simple rhyming text describes a day in the life of two babies.  They go to the zoo with their mothers and return home at night.


Monday, November 3, 2014

BABIES!

In previous posts I've emphasized the need for the parent/caregiver to take seriously their role as the child's first teacher.  Baby's learn through their relationships with the adults in their lives.  They learn through their senses.  It is critical that the adults in their lives take full advantage of the brain development that is taking place.

Why Read to Babies?

Babies can't understand what you're saying, they can't hold a book, so why read to your baby?
Because it introduces your baby to the connection between what you say and the written word.  More importantly it's an opportunity for your baby to hear your voice and make a connection with books.  When you read to your maybe you're using emotion which helps the baby develop social connections.  Your baby hears many words.  They may not understand them but they are hearing them and eventually they will.  The more you read to them the more they'll understand.  Babies who are read to frequently before the age of 2 are introduced to far more words than those who are not.

My personal experience with my granddaughter has proven to me that as soon as you start reading to your baby your baby is making connections to you, your voice, the book, the pictures and the words.  When she was just weeks old we would open a book and read it.  Of course she did not seem to respond, but she was looking at the pictures, responding to our voices and learning how it all fits in her little world.  We never stopped reading to her.  Now at 22 mos. she pulls her favorites, points to the pictures we name, tries to tell the story herself, even in "made-up" words.  Most importantly she LOVES the experience.  Her brain is ALWAYS developing.




 


Friday, October 31, 2014

STORYTIME - CONSTRUCTION

BOOKS:



Machines at work
Machines at Work, by Byron Barton

Simple text and pictures show workers on different construction vehicles.

Construction countdown
Construction Countdown, by K.C. Olson

Count down from 10 and see what important job each kind of truck has.

Digger man
Digger Man, by Andrea Zimmerman.

Come along for ride on a great big digger!

Mighty dads

Mighty Dads, by Joan Holub.

Simple rhyming text tell the story of Mighty Dads building something new!

Fingerplays:

The backhoe digs a big big hole
The dump truck hauls the dirt
The grader scrapes the ground so smooth
While all the workers work


 (sung to the tune of "twinkle twinkle little star)
See the dump truck drive so slow
It must have a heavy load
Full of dirt or maybe rocks
Working hard it never stops
See the dump truck drive so slow
It must have a heavy load


FARMS

Books:

Wazdot?

Wazdot?  by Michael Slack

An alien visits a farm on earth.  With the help of his decoder beam he's able to identify the strange things he finds.  Kids will have fun decoding as well!


Down by the barn
Down by the Barn, by Will Hillenbrand

The tractor is picking up all kinds of animals but where are they going?  The kids will love making the sounds along with this story!

Old MacDonald had a woodshop

Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop, by Lisa Shulman

What is Old MacDonald making in his woodshop?  This story is a twist on a classic story and the kids will love making the noises of all the tools used.



Old MacDonald Had a Farm, by Nancy Hellen

The traditional story that kids will love reading along with you!

Fingerplays:

The cow in the barn goes moo, moo, moo
moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo
repeat
All around the farm
The pig in the barn goes oink, oink, oink,
oink, oink, oink...oink, oink, oink
repeat
All around the farm
The hens in the coop go cluck, cluck, cluck
cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck
 repeat
All around the farm
The lambs on the hill go baa, baa, baa,
baa, baa, baa, ...baa, baa, baa
repeat
All around the farm
The ducks on the pond go quack, quack, quack
quack, quack, quack...quack, quack, quack
repeat
All around the farm

STORYTIME - ELEPHANTS!

BOOKS:

My Bibi always remembers


My Bibi Always Remembers, by Toni Buzzeo

Little Tempo sometimes falls behind the herd but when Bibi calls everyone comes.  A heartwarming story set in Africa that portrays the care the elephants have for one another.

Elmer and the monster

Elmer and the Monster, by David McKee

Everyone in the jungle is warning Elmer not to go near the roar of the monster.  Brave Elmer forges on and discovers that sometimes monsters are very scary after all.

My elephant

My Elephant, by Petr Horacek

Grandma and Grandpa can't play, so why not ask your elephant to play?  Grandma and Grandpa won't mind if he squashes the flower bed and breaks a few things around the house.  A fun intergenerational story with lots of imagination!

What to do if an elephant stands on your foot

What to do if an Elephant Stands on Your Foot, by Michelle Robinson

Advice is given on what to do when you meet various animals in the jungle.  The trouble is while avoiding one you may very well invite another one nearby.

Fingerplay:

One elephant went out to play (pointer finger indicating one)
In a Spider's Web one day
He had such ENORMOUS fun
That he called for more elephants to come
HEY ELEPHANT (have children shout with you, they love it!)
                                (now show two fingers)
Two elephants went out to play (fingers indicating two)
In a Spider's Web one day
They had such ENORMOUS fun
That they called for more elephants to come
HEY ELEPHANT! (be sure children shout with you)
                                  (now show three fingers)
Repeat for numbers 4 & 5.

Action Rhyme: “Big Gray Elephant” (from Storytime Katie)
The big gray elephant slowly walks.
She doesn’t make a sound.
She swings her trunk from left to right.
When she puts her feet on the ground.
Swing, swing, left and right,
She doesn’t make a sound.


Early Literacy Tip:  Ask your child what they think the word ENORMOUS means?  This helps build their vocabulary.


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Halloween Storytime!

Books:


Room on the broom

Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson-
A witch and her cat are happily flying about on her broom when the wind suddenly takes her hat and wand.  Some helpful animals help out asking for a ride on her broom in return.  Is there enough room on the broom?  How do the save the witch from the dragon?

Click, clack, boo! : a tricky treat

Click, Clack, Boo!, by Doreen Cronin
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween.  He leaves candy outside and goes behind locked doors.  The Halloween Party has just begun in the barn and Farmer Brown is in for some BIG surprises!

A creepy countdown

A Creepy Countdown by Charlotte Huck
Count to 10 then back again to 1.  Be ready to shiver, shake and laugh you're way through this countdown!

Pumpkin eye

Pumpkin Eye, by Denise Fleming
It's Halloween Night, be ready for a spooky celebration!

Fingerplays:

The Ghost 
I saw a ghost (fingers circle eyes)
He saw me too (point to yourself)
I waved at him (wave your hand)
But he said, “Boo!” (try to scare the person next to you)

Pumpkin A pumpkin is big ( circle hands over head)
A pumpkin is round ( circle hands in front)
A pumpkin has a great big smile ( outline smile on mouth)
But doesn’t make a sound ( Put finger over lips)

Early Literacy Tip:

Talk to your preschooler about the costume they're wearing.  Ask about the colors and what they're pretending to be.  Ask a lot of open ended questions to encourage him/her to describe things.





Tuesday, October 28, 2014

STORYTIME - COUNTING!

One two that's my shoe!


One, Two, That's My Shoe!  by Alison Murray

The long, long line

The Long, Long, Line, by Tomoko Ohmura


Soup for one

Soup for One, by Ethan Long.

Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, by Eric Litwin


Fingerplay:

I have 10 fingers and they all belong to me
I can do things do you want to see?
I can make them go high. (reach up towards sky)
I can make them go low.  (bring hands down towards floor)
I can shake them very fast.  (shake hands very fast)
I can shake them very slow. (shake hands very slow)
I can hide them behind my back.  (hide them behind your back)
I can put them at my side (put hands at your side)
I can close them up tight (close hands into fists)
I can open them up wide (open them up wide)
I can go clap, clap, clap.
fold them and put them on my lap.

Storytime App with laptop:

My Very First App  Eric Carle's My Very First App

This is a beautiful interactive app for preschoolers.  It has six different games for preschoolers identifying colors, animal homes, numbers, shapes, animal sounds and food.  They are also leveled, easy, medium and hard.  I played the numbers game at the easy level with the kids today.  This was still quite challenging for them.  They do enjoy when I bring the laptop out.  I am careful to select well reviewed apps that are interactive.  I think it gives the children exposure to the new technology available as well as teaching them their early literacy skills. 

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Storytime - FISH!!


Opening Song:  These Are My Glasses, by Laurie Berkner

Books:

Fish eyes : a book you can count on


Fish Eyes:  A Book you Can Count On by Lois Ehlert


Rub-a-dub sub

Rub-a-Dub Sub, by Linda Ashman


I'm a shark!
I'm a Shark by Bob Shea


Hooray for fish!

Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins.

Fingerplays:

1-2-3-4-5 Once I Caught a Fish

One, two, three, four, five!  (count with your fingers)
Once I caught a fish alive: (place palms together to make a swimming fish)
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.  (count with your fingers)
Then I let it go again. (throw hands in the air)
Why did you let it go?  (shrug shoulders)
Because it bit my finger so.  (one had bite pinkie finger on right hand)
Which finger di it bite?  (shrug shoulders)
This little finger on my right.  (wiggle pinkie finger on right hand)

This is my right hand
I raise it up high
This is my left hand
I'll touch the sky
Right hand
Left hand
Whirl them around
Right hand
Left hand
Pound, pound, pound
Early Literacy Tips of the Day:

  1. When changing your baby's diapers, talk to him/her.  Respond to their babbles.
  2. When doing the laundry name each item as you fold it
  3. When preparing dinner name the food items
  4. Talk, Talk, Talk!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Five little pumpkinsFall leaves fall!

FALL STORYTIME

Five Little Pumpkins by Van Rynbach




Fall Leaves Fall , by Zoe Hall





Plumply, dumply pumpkinPlumply, Dumply, Pumpkin, by Mary Serfozo


Apples and pumpkinsApples and Pumpkins, by Anne Rockwell





Fingerplay:

Way up high, in a tree (point up)
Two little apples looking down at me (two fists up in the air)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could (two fists shake 'trunk')
Down fell the apples (fists fall to ground)
Mmmm! Were they good!(rub tummy)

Five little pumpkins sitting on gate
The first one said, "oh my it's getting late!"
The second one said "there are witches in the air!'
The third one said" but we don't care"
The fourth one said" let's run and run and run"
The fifth one said" let's have some Halloween fun!"
oooo-ooooo went the wind
OUT went the lights
and five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Early Literacy Tips:

  • When reading Apples and Pumpkins ask the children the colors of apples and pumpkins?
  • When reading Fall Leaves Fall talk about green leaves in the summer and colorful leaves in the fall.
  • When reading Plumply, Dumply, Pumpkin ask the children what they think Peter's going to do with the pumpkin once he gets it home
  • When reading Five Little Pumpkins ask them to find the black cat on each page.




catalog.onlib.orgApples and Pumpkins

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Parent as the first teacher

From the moment your child is born his/her brain is developing at a rapid rate.  80% of total brain development occurs in the first 3 years of life!  It is essential that we take advantage of this rapid development and ensure that our children have the best start possible.  Learning does not begin in Kindergarten,  it begins at birth.  This blog is going to provide tips, practices, sample storytimes, fingerplays and anything else that you can do at home to give your child the best start possible. 

The five early practices that children must do in order to become successful readers are:  READING, PLAYING, SINGING, TALKING, and WRITING.*  You can practice all of these from birth! 

READING:
  • Reading together with your children is the most important way to help them get ready to read.
  • Make book sharing time a special time.
  • Let your child see you reading and enjoying books.
  • Give books as gifts.
  • Visit your public library often.
  • Children who enjoy being read to are more likely to want to learn to read themselves.
  • Read together and talk about what you read.

TALKING:
  •  Talk to your child about what your are doing.
  •  Tell your child stories
  •  Talk in the language you're most comfortable speaking
  •  Ask questions even if you child does not have the words to answer
  •  Respond to your babies babbles
  •  Add more words to what your child says

SINGING: 
  • Songs are a natural way to learn about language
  • Songs help children recognize the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language
  • Songs help children break down language into separate words.
  • Singing can also slow down language for children to clearly hear.
  • Clapping along with a song helps children sense the rhythm of words.
  • Singing helps children learn new words.
PLAYING:
  • Play is one of the primary ways young children learn about the world and language.
  • Play helps children practice putting their thoughts into words.
  • Playing should include talking with your child.  Ask them what they're doing.
  • Play is how children practice becoming adults.
  • Play allows children to practice sharing and taking turns.
WRITING:
  • Writing and Reading go together!
  • Scribbling and drawing are forms of writing.
  • Scribbling and drawing help children learn the control they need to hold a pencil.
  • Writing your child's name lets them see letters in something familiar.
  • Writing doesn't always have to be writing- it can be tracing in sand, playing with clay or play dough, or crinkling up newspaper to help strengthen finger muscles.
*from Every Child Ready to Read, ALSC, PLA 2011