Early Literacy Fun!

Here are five simple, seasonal activities to do with your child to help him get ready to read.

1. Talk about holiday or seasonal traditions in your family.  What is your child's favorite tradition and why? 
2. Sing holiday songs together.
3. Read a holiday or winter book with your child.  Then, ask him to tell you what happens in the book.
4. Help your child write a card or letter, or draw a picture, for a family member or friend.  
5. Play a fun memory game together!  Select five seasonal objects (tree ornament, mitten, cookie cutter, etc.) and place them on the floor.  Have your child close his eyes while you remove one of the objects and hide it behind your back.  Then, ask him to open his eyes and guess which one is missing.  Take turns hiding and guessing. 

  

Walk and Learn!

Neighborhood walks with your toddler or preschooler are wonderful learning opportunities.  Here are a few fun ideas to get you started -

For your toddler

What Comes Next?  As your child becomes familiar with your neighborhood, play a simple memory game.  For example, as you pass a house where a big dog lives, say, "Where does that big, black dog live?"  After your child answers, point to the house and say, "He lives right there in that grey house!  I wonder where he is today?"  After you've played this game on a few different occasions, ask the same question before or after you've passed the house.

Walk Around the Block.  Enjoy the sights and sounds on a walk.  As you pass people and places, name them for your child.  "Look, there's the mom with her baby."  Then add more details.  "Her baby is riding in a stroller."  After a few walks, ask your child to make simple predictions on what and whom you'll see.  "Do you think we'll see that big, black dog today?"

For Your Preschooler

Sound Walk.  Play a fun sound game in your neighborhood.  Look for people and things that begin with the same sound.  Ask your child to close his eyes.  As he opens them, tell him to name the first thing he sees - "A butterfly!"  Tell him that the letter "b" begins the word butterfly.  Help him find and name other things that start with the same sound - branch, bike, boy, etc.

Guessing Game.  Give your child a clue about something you notice outside and see if he can guess what you are thinking of.  For example, "I am thinking of something green that you can walk on." After he guesses "Grass!" let him have a turn.

Five reasons you should read aloud to your children - and pick their favorite book

Parents and caregivers know that young children love to have their favorite books read to them over and over again.  Although this may seem painful to some adults, children benefit greatly from frequently hearing the same books read aloud to them.  Research shows that this activity can:

• Improve reading fluency when good reading is modelled.  To help your child hear themselves as a fluent reader, choose a favorite book, and take turns reading a sentence or a repeated phrase.  You might read a sentence first, then your child repeats the same part.  
• Expand vocabulary knowledge.  Try flipping through the pages of a book and look for any interesting words that your child might not have heard before.  Talk about their meaning.
• Aid comprehension.  Having a conversation about a book or details in it can clarify what you just read with your child.
• Involve family members.  Moms, dads, grandparents, and older siblings can read to a younger child.  And don't forget to include younger siblings in the read aloud fun too!
• Make reading enjoyable!  Snuggling up with a good book and sharing this experience with your child is a valuable way to get them on the path to loving books.

Adapted from an article written by Ryan Spencer (Clinical Teaching Specialist) and published at The Conversation. Click on the link to read the full article.

Using Songs and Books to Boost Your Child's Pre-Literacy Skills

In early childhood, the brain is uniquely receptive to learning new sounds.  Long before they speak, children understand.  They learn by hearing lots and lots of repetition.  Engaging your little one through songs is a fun way to expose them to new sounds and words, and to boost their language skills.  Here are some ways that a parent or caregiver can do that: 

• Read singalong books.  These types of books enable younger children to learn with visuals, and older children to make the connection between sounds and printed words.  By learning the song first, children will begin reading the words on the page.  Try to choose singalong books and songs that are relevant to your child's daily experience, such as I Love My Hat or Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. 
• Find songs that use repetition.  The Wheels on the Bus is an excellent choice - it has a repeating structure, and refers to moms, dads, and babies.
• Notice how your child responds to different types of music and follow his lead.  Try something different too!
• Take advantage of your child's innate ability to learn an additional language.  You don't need to be multi-lingual yourself - learn together!  This is a great gift you can give your child - it is much easier to learn a new language at an early age.  Some suggestions are Oh, the Colors or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (English and Spanish) 
• Encourage your child to make hand and body movements to represent lyrics.  When we move our bodies while learning, we put the learning into long-term memory.  For example, when singing Mr. Sun, making a big sun with arms overhead will help connect the word "sun" to something big and circular.  Plus, it's fun! 
• Sing, sing, sing with your child!  Singing releases stress, brings people together, and is a powerful learning tool.  Don't worry whether you're a good singer or not, kids don't care if you're off-key.  Just sing!

Gail Borden Public Library is a wonderful resource for singalong books.  Ask at the desk in the Early Learning Center if you'd like help selecting some.

Adapted from an article written by Stefanie Paige Grossman, M.S. Ed at BarefootBooks.com

Online Educational Fun For Preschoolers

If you've never taken a look at TumbleBooks, we highly recommend it. TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joys of reading in a format that they'll love.  In addition to picture books, you will also find chapter books, nonfiction books, videos, puzzles and games.  Just click on the TumbleBooks link in the left hand sidebar of our Home Page, sign in with your Gail Borden Public Library card and you are good to go!  You can access TumbleBooks without a card when you are at the library.

Also, new on the internet computers in the Early Learning Center and Youth Room is
DK Find Out!
This is a visually appealing website to help you and your child see, learn, and explore almost everything.  Topics covered include, but are not limited to, animals, nature, dinosaurs, science, space, music, art, and many more!

Storytime Programs - Week 8, Winter 2015

Welcome to the eighth and final week of our winter storytime programs.  We hope you and your child have enjoyed spending time with us.  We are all looking forward to spring and some better weather! The spring session of storytimes begins March 16 (registration opens March 2 for any of our storytimes which require pre-registration).  Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Baby Rhyme Time (For babies 0-11 months and a caregiver)

Books
Baby Day! -  Wallace 

How Do I Put It On? - Watanabe

Rhyme - I'm Going To Wear  A Jacket
I'm going to wear a jacket, a jacket, a jacket,
I'm going to wear a jacket when I go out today.
When I go out today, when I go out today,
I'm going to wear a jacket when I go out today.
(Hat, Scarf, Boots)

Narrative skills include being able to understand and tell stories.  When you narrate events in your child's day, you help him build this skill, and many others.  It is never too early to start.  Talk, talk, talk to your child!

Wonderful Ones (For babies 12-23 months and a caregiver) 

Books
Overboard - Weeks 

Bunny And Me - Greenspun

Rhyme: Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a pea pod pressed, (Hold up one fist)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest. (Open fist one finger at a time)
They grew and they grew and they never stopped,
(Put both hands together and move them apart on each "grew")
They grew so big that the pea pod popped! (Clap hands on "pop")

This simple rhyme is just plain fun for your toddler!  He is sure to enjoy listening for and anticipating the loud "pop" at the end!

Terrific Twos (For toddlers 2-3 years and a caregiver) 

Books
Winter Is The Warmest Season - Stringer 

Winter Blanket - Brimner
Snowballs - Ehlert

Action Rhyme: This Is The Way 
This is the way we put on snowpants,
Put on snowpants, put on snowpants,
This is the way we put on snowpants on a cold and snowy morning.
(Boots/Coat/Hat/Mittens)

Just like with the babies in Baby Rhyme Time this week, this rhyme is an effective way of developing your child's narrative skills - the ability to understand and recount stories.  A great skill builder!

1, 2, 3, Go! (For children 1, 2, and 3 years and a caregiver)

Books 
Aliens Love Underpants - Freedman and Cort 
What Color Is Your Underwear? - Lloyd

Action Rhyme: Once There Was A Snowman
Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman,
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall.
In the sun he melted, melted, melted,
In the sun he melted, small, small, small.

Sing the rhyme at home with your toddler making sure he understands the concept of  "tall" and "small".  Can he find other things/people at home that are tall or small?  

Story Mix For 3 to 6 (For children 3-6 years without caregiver)

Books  

Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond - Quattlebaum 
Whose Chick Are You? - Tafuri
Little Lumpty - Imai

Rhyme: Down At The Pond

Down at the pond

What do you hear?

Ribbit, ribbit

What do you think it is?

A frog must be near!

(quack, quack - duck/buzz, buzz - bee/tweet, tweet - bird)

This week Story Mix is all about ovals, like eggs and ponds!  In the book Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond, we sing the Old MacDonald song but with different words to fit the story.  "Jo MacDonald saw a pond, E-I-E-I-O, And in that pond she saw some ducks, E-I-E-I-O.  With a quack-quack here and a quack-quack there..."  Make up your own verses using this familiar song!  Did you know singing and rhyming increases children's awareness to sounds in words.  This helps prepare children to decode written language.    

Storytime Programs - Week Two, Winter 2015

Welcome to the second week of our winter storytime programs.  If you are looking for something fun to do with your child, there are still a few openings.  Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Baby Rhyme Time (For babies 0-11 months and a caregiver)

Books
Choo Choo - Horacek
That's Not My Tractor - Watt

Action Rhyme
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town!
(People - up and down/Horn - beep, beep) 

Did you know that when you bounce your baby on your lap while singing a song with a strong beat,  such as The Wheels on the Bus, your child both hears and feels the rhythm of spoken language?

Wonderful Ones (For babies 12-23 months and a caregiver)

Books
Mommy's Best Kisses - Anastas

Books Always Everywhere - Blatt

Rhyme: All Kinds of Kisses
Butterfly kisses are soft, gentle things.  Flutter your lashes like butterfly wings.
Eskimo kisses come down from the north.  Place nose to nose and move back and forth.
A kiss on the hand is welcomed by all and works very well when someone is tall.
Whiskery kisses tickle your chin.  You wiggle and laugh 'cause you can't hold it in.
Goodbye kisses are shared when you put a kiss in your hand, and then gently blow.

Storytimes at the library and at home are the perfect opportunity for some closeness and cuddling with your child.  Reading together at home is also a soothing and calming routine to enjoy before naptime or bedtime.

Terrific Twos (For toddlers 2-3 years and a caregiver)

Books
Snow Party - Ziefert
Mouse's First Snow - Thompson

Action Rhyme: If You're Happy When It Snows
If you're happy when it snows, clap your hands,
If you're happy when it snows, clap your hands.
Oh, it's fluffy and it's white,
Such a lovely, snowy sight,
If you're happy when it snows, clap your hands.
(Stomp your feet/Nod head/Shout hurray)

Get creative, add more verses to the rhyme!  Ask your child to think of different actions and sing the rhyme again. 

1, 2, 3, Go! (For children 1, 2, and 3 years and a caregiver)

Book
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed - Chodos-Irvine 

Action Rhyme: Penguin Shuffle
Penguins shuffle, shuffle to the left, left, left
Penguins shuffle, shuffle to the right, right, right
Give a little wiggle,
Give a little hop,
Waddle around the iceberg,
Never want to stop.

Some fun penguin rhymes are being introduced at storytime this week. Why not check out some fiction or nonfiction books about penguins or other favorite animals?  Ask us at the Early Learning Center Help Desk if you need some recommendations. Storytimes are always full of fun, learning opportunities for your child!   

StoryMix For 3 to 6 (For children 3-6 years without caregiver)

Books 
The Line Up - Russo
Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House - Gleeson

Action Rhyme: Block Play (Using puppets and blocks)
One little friend came to school one day,
He went to the blocks and began to play.
A second little friend said, "Can I play too?"
The first little friend said, "I'll share with you!"
So they worked together and built a big town.
Then when they were finished, they knocked it all down!

We are continuing our shape theme with squares this week.  Can you and your child find any squares in your kitchen?  In your family room?  In your child's bedroom?  How many can you count?   

Fun Activities to Keep Your Preschooler Busy in the Early Learning Center

Even though we are on a break from our regular weekly storytimes, be sure to visit us over the holiday season. There are always plenty of fun activities to keep your preschooler occupied.  Some examples are:

• Themed "book bundles" 
• Books with activity sheets
• Literacy activity
• Science, or STEAM, activity

Also, do you ever sit at our craft counter with your child and help him complete the craft project of the week? This week's craft is an angel and involves tracing, cutting, coloring, and gluing.  In addition to the fun, quality time spent together, this involves many learning opportunities.  For example, learning to cut with scissors promotes fine motor development by exercising the muscles in the hands and honing hand-eye coordination.  

Just ask at the Help Desk in the Early Learning Center and we will be glad to give you more information.

Wonderful Ones: Clap, Pat, Stretch, Repeat!

Babies love to move their bodies by dancing, hopping, bopping and being silly.  These activities also help your baby learn motor skills, learn communication skills, and helps build self-confidence as he or she learns to do new motions.  Clap along or pat your hands on your knees to rhymes and songs you sing together, stretch your arms out wide or small to indicate sizes,  and use your facial expressions to share moods and thoughts.   Bending, stretching, and bouncing to rhythms also allows babies to not only hear, but feel the motion of syllables and sounds which allows for learning new words and speech.

Clap Your Hands Rhyme
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands with me.
Clap them fast,
Clap them slow,
Clap your hands with me.

Pat, pat, pat your knees,
Pat your knees with me.
Pat them fast,
Pat them slow,
Pat your hands with me.

Stretch, stretch, stretch your arms,
Stretch your arms with me.
Stretch them fast,
Stretch them slow,
Stretch your arms with me. 

Bright Sun Song
Bright sun shining down,
Shining on the ground.
What a lovely face you have,
Yellow, big, and round!


Me, Me, Me Rhyme
Me, me, me
Look at me
And you will see
Ten fingers, ten toes
Two arms, two legs
Two eyes, two ears
One head, one nose
All on me.

Me, me, me
Look at me
And you will see
Ten fingers, ten toes
Two arms, two legs
Two eyes, two ears
One head, one nose
All on me.

We read these fun books at this week's Wonderful Ones class:

This Little Baby Goes Out by Lynn Breeze
A toddler has an exciting adventure in the park with his mother. 
Check catalog availability

Baby Loves Visiting by Michael Lawrence
Baby and mother go out to do errands and see friends and then go back home again. 
Check catalog availability

Wonderful Ones: Fun Farm Animals

Babies love animals!  We are sharing animal themed songs, rhymes and stories we enjoyed at this week's class.  Singing and rhyming not only allows baby to hear and learn new words, it also assists in developing listening skills. By listening to the different sounds animals make, babies will be able to decipher syllables in spoken language.  Also, learning to identify different animals by name and sound increase baby's vocabulary!

What the Animals Say Rhyme
Little pup, little pup,
What do you say?
“Woof, woof, woof!
Let’s go and play.”

Kitty cat, kitty cat,
How about you?
“Meow, meow, meow!
And I purr too.”

Pretty bird, pretty bird,
Have you a song?
“Tweet, tweet, tweet!
The whole day long.”


Eight Baby Pigs Rhyme
Two little pigs lived in a pen, (use your thumbs to represent the pigs)
Each had four babies and that made ten. (use your fingers to represent the baby pigs)
These four babies were black and white,
These four babies were black as night.
All eight babies loved to play,
And they rolled and they rolled in the mud all day.

The Animals on the Farm (sung to tune of 'The Wheels on the Bus')
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo,
Moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo,
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo,
All day long.

The horses on the farm go neigh, neigh, neigh,
Neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh,
The horses on the farm go neigh, neigh, neigh,
All day long.

The pigs on the farm go oink, oink, oink,
Oink, oink, oink, oink, oink, oink,
The pigs on the farm go oink, oink, oink,
All day long.

The sheep on the farm go baa, baa, baa
Baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa,
The sheep on the farm go baa, baa, baa
All day long. 

(Repeat using other farm animals such as chickens, goats, or ducks)

For more farm animal fun, try these books we read at Wonderful Ones this week:

Where Is My Mommy? by Julie Downing
Animal mothers, including a rabbit, cat, and human, care for their young by waking them up, washing their faces, and performing other activities. 
Check catalog availability

This Little Chick by John Lawrence
A little chick shows that he can make the sounds of the animals in his neighborhood. 
Check catalog availability

Story Mix for Three to Six: ZANY ZOO ANIMALS: Terrific Tigers

We start a new theme this week at our Spring Story Mix classes!  Our theme for the next several weeks is called ZANY ZOO ANIMALS and this week is all about those striped tigers!  Children will learn important concepts through repetition and singing, and making animal motions and movements. Sounds such as "roar" and "growl" will help children hear different syllables and learn new words and letters.  Movement and activity helps children develop their imagination during playtime. 

All Through the Zoo Song (Sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The tiger in the grass says roar, roar, roar
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar
The tiger in the grass says roar, roar, roar
All through the zoo

I'm a Little Tiger Rhyme (Sung to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)
I’m a little tiger in the zoo
Here are my stripes
And my swishy tail too.
When I get angry you will see
Just how loud my growl can be.

TIGER Song (Sung to the tune of Bingo)
There was a big cat that had some stripes
And Tiger was his name-o
T – I – G – E – R,   T – I – G – E – R,   T – I – G – E - R
And Tiger was his name-o    

If You Want to Be a Tiger Song (Sung to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It)
If you want to be a tiger, roar out loud!
If you want to be a tiger, roar out loud!
If you want to be a tiger, if you want to be a tiger,
If you want to be a tiger, roar out loud!

We read these Tiger themed books at our class today! 

Follow the Leader by Emma Chichester Clark
A boy and his animal friends play a game of follow the leader until a tiger shows up and wants to play too. 
Check catalog availability

Tiggy Tiger Brave Explorer by Claire Freedman
Tiggy Tiger plays brave explorer, knowing that if he needs her, his mother will save him from danger. 
Check catalog availability
 
The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr
A tiger comes to tea at Sophie's house and eats and drinks everything in sight, so that there is nothing left for Daddy's supper. 
Check catalog availability

1, 2, 3 Go! Elephants are Marching!

This week at 1, 2, 3 Go! we have rhymes and stories about zoo animals and elephants!  Children will learn important concepts through repetition and singing.  Learning new words as 'flopping' or about such animals as a tiger and lion, challenge children, as well as learn the motions and movements.  Singing about making animal sounds and motions like a swinging elephant trunk helps children make connections between actions and thoughts.  Incorporating such activity helps children put together ideas in order to make connections and understand words in print so they can get Ready to Read!

Jumbo the Elephant
Jumbo has a great big trunk,
And he has tiny eyes
That show him where to go.
His great big ears go flopping,
While his great big feel go stomping, stomping, stomping on the ground.

Jumbo has a great big trunk,
And he has tiny eyes
That show him where to go.
His great big ears go flopping,
While his great big feel go stomping, stomping, stomping on the ground.

I Came to the Zoo (sung to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
I came to the zoo to see lions, lions, lions
I came to the zoo to see lions, lions, lions
I love all the animals there!  ROAR!

I came to the zoo to see tigers, tigers, tigers
I came to the zoo to see tigers, tigers, tigers
I love all the animals there!  GRRR! (make a grrr noise)

I came to the zoo to see snakes, snakes, snakes
I came to the zoo to see snakes, snakes, snakes
I love all the animals there!  HISS! (make a hissing noise)

I came to the zoo to see crocodiles, crocodiles, crocodiles
I came to the zoo to see crocodiles, crocodiles, crocodiles
I love all the animals there!  CHOMP! (make a chomping noise)

I came to the zoo to see elephants, elephants, elephants
I came to the zoo to see elephants, elephants, elephants
I love all the animals there!  TRUMPET HORN! (make a trumpet horn noise)
   
The Wiggles Rhyme
A wiggle wiggle here,
A wiggle wiggle there,
Wiggle your hands up in the air.
Wiggle your shoulders,
Wiggle your hips,
Wiggle your knees,
And move your lips.
Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle.
And wiggle some more!

Elephants on a String Song
One little elephant in the ring,
Walking on a piece of string.
My, my, what a stunt!
Let’s all clap for the elephant!

Two…  Three…  Four…

Five little elephants on a piece of string,
Do you think five is too many on that high, high thing?
Oh-oh!  BOOM!  A disastrous stunt!
But let’s all clap for the elephants!

Five Little Elephants Rhyme
5 little elephants rowing towards the shore, one fell in and that left 4.
4 little elephants climbing up a tree, one slid down and that left 3.
3 little elephants living at the zoo, one walked away and that left 2.
2 little elephants playing in the sun, one fell asleep and that left 1.
1 little elephant isn't any fun, he went home.
And then there were none!

Elephants in the Bathtub Song
One elephant in the bathtub
Going for a swim
Knock, knock (clap twice)
Splash, splash (slap knees twice)
Come on in! (motion with both hands to come in)
Five elephants in the bathtub
Going for a swim
Knock, knock (clap twice)
Splash, splash (slap knees twice)
They all fell in! (knock the felt pieces down)
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime //

Big Gray Elephant Rhyme
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.
Credit: Alphabet Soup – Zoo Poems, Songs, and Fingerplays // Used: “Wild Animals” Storytime 2010 & “Zoo” Storytime 2011


For More Elephant Fun, Check Out These Books:
   
If Elephants Wore Pants by Henriette Barkow
Rhyming text tells the story of a young boy who dreams about elephants wearing different colors of pants.
Check catalog availability     

I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh
A baby elephant describes how he and his mother spend their days together. 
Check catalog availability

I Dream of an Elephant by Amy Rubinger
Elephants of many colorful shades are described in couplets that invite the reader to complete the rhyme using color-themed clues. 
Check catalog availability

Ready to Listen at the Library

Look for the Ready to Listen section in the Early Learning Center.

Have you seen our special section in the Early Learning Center called "Ready to Listen"?  We've created this special area to designate books that are easy to read and share, with only one or two simple lines per page.  These books are also important because they help early learners get ready to listen to a book being read and teach the concepts of telling a story.

Why is it important to listen?  As children hear the story, they also hear new words and the sounds, speech and syllables those words make.  Learning new words helps children increase their vocabulary, language and communication skills. 

In today's post, we've pulled a selection of books from the Ready to Listen section to give you a sample of what you can find here.  All are available to check out at the library!


Can You Cuddle Like a Koala? by John Butler
Rhyming text describes how various animals move. 
Check catalog availability

Mice Squeak, We Speak by Tomie dePaola
Illustrations and simple text describe the ways various animals communicate, such as "Owls hoot," "Pigs squeal," and "Bees buzz." 
Check catalog availability

The Way the Storm Stops by Michelle Meadows
A mother soothes her child to sleep during a thunderstorm. 
Check catalog availability

Baby Day by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
In rhyming text, babies are described participating in activities, from laughing and crying to playing Pat-a-cake and Peek-a-boo. 
Check catalog availability

The One and Only Me by Marilyn Singer
A child gains a sense of individuality but also enjoys being part of a family. 
Check catalog availability

Red Light, Green Light by Anastasia Suen
A young boy creates an imaginary world filled with zooming cars, flashing traffic lights, and racing fire engines. 
Check catalog availability