Pages

Recent Posts

Archives

Sponsors

Archive for May, 2010

May
25

Creating A Reading Environment

Posted by: childrensgst | Comments (0)

As parents, how vital is our attitude about reading? We need to be engaged and provide continuous opportunities and encouragement to read and continuing to read.

It is critical that reading practice start before beginning school. Many students struggling in school, had limited access to books. So how do you “kick start” reading skills?

Make it a game– read the cereal box, menus, marks on everything. We used to play the alphabet game– when as were driving in the car, the children would try to spot each letter of the alphabet on road signs, billboards, company signs, etc. Sometimes we would make it simpler by allowing car license plates.

Take turns reading a simple book like those by Dr. Seuss or for something new Lunchpail Books http://www.lunchpailbooks.com

These type of books use a controlled or restrictive vocabulary making it simpler for young readers to read. So grab an early reader book and take turns, page by page, etc. Discuss the tale to encourage comprehension. Question a teacher– they know which students have had practice at home.

So you read? Many adults stop reading after school. Do you read to learn or for fun? I have a terrible habit of only reading non-fiction… so much to learn. I can only name at the most about a dozen fiction books that I have read… and that was over two years ago!

Reading Must Be Taught

Language development is natural, reading not so much. Parents must spend some time teaching reading. There is a plethora of methodologies for this. I started my children out with site reading, putting simple sight reading words, like see, run, go– and of course proper nouns including the child’s name, sibling names, pets, etc. We would assemble the cards into sentences. Some of the kids learned quick and very young (under 3)… others we closer to six before their reading skill took off. Use books to help the child explore the world.

Children who already know about their world and the purpose of language will be better prepared to learn how to read when they enter school. Parents can help their children prepare by providing a print-rich environment in the home. Magazines, newspapers, and a collection of high-quality children’ books provide material that parents can read aloud to their children.

Emergent Reading

Let children pretend to read… it’s sort of like an air guitar. They will develop a positive attitude regarding reading this way. This is known as emergent reading. Children are not really reading from the books, but reciting the tales as they remember them. Encourage this retelling since it promotes the value of reading as a highly desired skill. Certain toys are also useful in promoting literacy skills such as alphabet blocks and magnetic letters that can be manipulated to make words. Children become familiar with the letters of the alphabet and with their shapes and sounds through these activities. Dolls and puppets can be used to act out tales.

Using Neighborhood to Foster Skills
The local neighborhood is a print-rich environment that offers many opportunities to expose children to words, symbols, and logos, which will increase their general knowledge. Supermarkets are particularly excellent for increasing literacy skills. Parents can have their children help in making a shopping list, looking at coupons from flyers and talking about the letters and signs in the store that often are paired with a picture. Parents can also help children make selections from restaurant menus, point out words on signs and read the schedules of buses, subways, and trains.
These are just a few of the ways that parents provide the foundation for building their children’s literacy skills. Providing print-rich environments, engaging children in meaningful discussions with proving questions, and teaching children about letters and words will better prepare the to learn how to read when they enter school. Perhaps most vital of all is modeling that reading is fun and is part of the everyday activities that the whole family enjoys.

Find out realistic advice about working with children – make sure to go through this publication. The time has come when concise information is really within your reach, use this chance.

A Childrens Book Blog

Categories : Buy Kids Books
Comments (0)
May
14

More On Rhyming Books

Posted by: childrensgst | Comments (0)

Young children like the sounds of rhythms and rhymes, from Mother Goose and other traditional rhymes to recently written rhymes. When the rhymes are coupled with engaging illustrations, children tend to delight in hearing (and seeing) them again and again. A nice side benefit is that rhymes, alliteration, and other word play are fantastic ways to start to prepare children to learn to read. (From About.com:Children’s Books)
1. Excellent for You

Subtitled Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times, Stephanie Calmenson’s entertaining book celebrates all that toddlers can do, from playing on the playground to using the potty. Other topics include colors, manners, counting, the alphabet, animals, travel, families, and friends. The two dozen poems feature the bright and lively artwork of Melissa Sweet. (HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN: 0688177379)

2. Four in All

Both the poetry and the artwork in Four in All are unusual and affecting. Written by poet Nina Payne and illustrated by her son, Adam Payne, the text features just 56 common nouns set in verses that are surrounded by dramatic cut-paper collages. The tale of a young child’s adventure is told in such verses as “oats wheat corn rye / sun moon stars sky.” (Front Street, 2001. ISBN: 1886910162)

3. Playtime Rhymes for Small People
Clare Beaton’s book features her imaginative fabric and trim collages and 40 well-loved rhymes and finger plays. Many, like “I’m a Small Teapot,” will be familiar to you; others may be new to you. The finger play instructions that accompany each rhyme are particularly helpful and ensure that you and your child will get the maximum enjoyment from the book.(Barefoot Books, 2001. ISBN: 1841484253)

4. Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose
This delightful book contains 200 rhymes, ranging from such familiar Mother Goose rhymes as “Ancient Mother Hubbard”, “Simple Simon,” and “Small Miss Muffet” to “Yankee Doodle” and other traditional rhymes. The folkart-style illustrations from the talented dePaola are full of excellent cheer and include a diverse group of children, adults, and farm animals. (Penguin Putnam, 1985. ISBN: 0399212582)

5. The House That Jack Built
The constant repetition in this traditional rhyme is particularly appealing to young children. Diana Mayo’s large and vivid illustrations cover the pages, bringing life to each verse. There are a lot of details in the pictures that children will have fun identifying. This rhyme is one that three- to five-year-olds will delight in learning to recite. (Barefoot Books, 2001. ISBN: 9781846860768)

Do you like books that rhyme? We do at Lunchpail Books… I want to add-
6. Peep Peep Finds a Friend
In this adventure our favorite duckling makes a new friend named Gua Gua . Gua Gua is also a young duckling, but doesn’t look anything like Peep Peep. In spite of their differences they become quick friends and experience an adventure all their own. Lunchpail Books are carefully crafted to encourage successful independent reading with a comforting message of like and acceptance.

Find out vital tips about pepper spray – please make sure to go through this web site. The time has come when proper information is really at your fingertips, use this possibility.

A Childrens Book Blog

Categories : Kids Reading
Comments (0)
May
14

Diversity For Children?

Posted by: childrensgst | Comments (0)

What is diversity? In the corporate world this usually refers to race– Sometimes to physical abilities. Isn’t diversity much deeper than that? Isn’t the surface differences, color, size, abilities, etc…just that- superficial? Isn’t background, perspective, personality, background add much more to the interaction? How do children approach diversity?

During preschool years, children start to notice physical aspects of identity. At about age 2, children become increasingly aware of gender. This is followed by curiosity about skin color, hair color and texture, eye shape and color, and other physical attributes. Awareness of disabilities tends to come later; but, some toddlers start noticing more obvious disabilities, such as a person using a wheelchair. Usually between the ages of 2 and 3, children will start to notice cultural aspects of gender influence. For example, they may take note of the fact that girls tend to play with dolls while boys play with trucks. They may also start to recognize ethnic differences, noticing that children eat different foods and celebrate different holidays or, conversely, do not celebrate or recognize certain holidays. As they start to notice differences, 2-year olds may show signs of “pre-prejudice”-they may act worried or uncomfortable. Not necessarily possessing the vocabulary to express their concerns, they may avoid or ignore a child they perceive to be different.

Or perhaps, they really don’t care. As adults we tend to look and judge things based on our world view. That person is different… that is excellent or that is terrible. I don’t believe young children look at the world that way… we just project our adult perspective on them. I reckon it is more like puppies… some are black, some are brown, some are white, some spotted, etc. Don’t you reckon children view others like puppies? They may learn from their environment to attach some judgment to individuals, but they pretty much start with a clean slate.

In “Peep Peep Finds a Friend”, I take that child-like perspective on diversity. Oh, look at you… you look different than me… cool let’s play! This is the third book in the series and Peep Peep’s new friend “Gua Gua” is an odd duck! Literally, we never learn what kind of duck Gua Gua is or even if it is a male or female. When you are a duckling, it doesn’t really matter. Well, in reality baby ducks are imprinted on recognizing like kind, but for our tale it doesn’t really matter. A friend is friend. Of course there are exceptions, but deep down, I feel we are a blank slate.

Have you ever had a discussion with a child about diversity? What were the circumstances and how did it go? How do you introduce the thought? Do you feel it is even necessary?

Are there children’s books that can help start an appropriate level discussion. A topic for reading time?
Johnnie

Shortcut to useful tips in the sphere of working with children – please make sure to read this web site. The times have come when proper information is really only one click of your mouse, use this possibility.

A Childrens Book Blog

Categories : Kids Reading
Comments (0)
May
13

What Was Your Favorite Children’s Book?

Posted by: childrensgst | Comments (0)

What was your favorite book, say when you were about 5? All of us were about 5 at one point in our lives, some a lot longer than others. I was 5 in a much different time than today. Although, I originally struggled with reading, there was a thrill of accomplishment whenever I completed a book “all by myself!”

But then I learned the beloved “Dr. Seuss” (Ted Geisel). Reading became fun, a gateway to fantastic adventure—even a rhythmic and rhyming adventure. I learned words are cool! You can paint pictures with words.

Mr. Geisel made The Cat In The Hat in reaction to a Life Magazine article by Pulitzer Prize winning author John Hersey, published in the May 24, 1954 issue, titled “Why Do Students Bog Down On First R? A LOCAL COMMITTEE SHEDS LIGHT ON A NATIONAL PROBLEM: READING.” In the article, Hersey was critical of the then current state of school primers,“In the classroom boys and girls are confronted with books that have insipid illustrations depicting the slicked-up lives of other children. [Existing primers] feature abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls.

In the classroom boys and girls are confronted with children’s books that have insipid illustrations depicting the slicked-up lives of other children. [Existing primers] feature abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls.” “In bookstores, anyone can buy brighter, livelier books featuring weird and wonderful animals and children who behave naturally, i.e., sometimes misbehave. Given incentive from school boards, publishers could do as well with primers.”

5 years ancient for me was also long enough ago to remember “Fun with Dick and Jane.” A basic primer (beginner book) with simple imperative sentence structure such as “Look!”, “See Dick run”, etc. The tales were really dull. Although, I never thought of the illustrations as insipid, they were nevertheless uninteresting. Anyway, Mr. Geisel (Suess) responded to this “challenge” by rigidly limiting himself to a small set of words from an elementary school vocabulary list, then crafted a tale based upon two randomly selected words—cat and hat. The results of this personal challenge are nothing small of incredible!

Childrens books were never the same! Which Dr. Seuss tale is your favorite? I loved “The Cat in the Hat”, but I reckon my favorite was “If I Ran the Zoo”.
“It is a pretty excellent zoo, said young Gerald McGrew and the fellow who runs it seems proud of it too!”
—This is from memory and perhaps I am a small off in my recollection—but it does speak to the power of the tale and especially a tale in rhyme.

Do you have another from when you were 5? How about classics like “Where the Wild Things Are”, “The Giving Tree” or “Excellent Night Moon” ? Reckon back to your early childhood—

For some fun books that kids want to read, you may find some fun kids books at Lunchpail Books.

Grab practical recommendations about the topic of self defense – make sure to read this web site. The times have come when proper info is really only one click away, use this opportunity.

A Childrens Book Blog

Categories : Kids Reading
Comments (0)
May
13

Ways To Create Interest In Reading

Posted by: childrensgst | Comments (0)

Top management CEOs have attributed their success to the reading habit which they have bought in the early ages. Once the children develop the habit of reading then it automatically drives them to a better brighter further. The parents play a very vital role in developing this reading habit and skill. Listed below are few guidelines which will kindle the fire for reading in your children.

1. Make your home a mini library :
This will help them to grab a book whenever they just relax.Children should have access to books at home not only on the book shelf but also places like the dining table, bath room, living rooms, near the beds, cars, kitchens etc. Books can be kept near the TV and computer also, so when they get a small break during a Tv programme and the time it takes to load a program on the computer may be enough for them to grab a book and read a few lines.

2. Parents reading habit will have a larger effect on the children’s reading habit.
Set aside daily 15 minutes to read and stick on the schedule, when the children come to know that you cannot be disturbed then they also take up some book and start reading.

3. Encourage them with honest praise
The children will be greatly motivated to read if we give them a small praise, a small gift, a hug, once they show a small improvement in their reading. Praise encourages our children to become voracious readers in the very near future.

4. Reading enhances test scores
Children who read books score high marks in schools tests and will improve their comprehension, spelling, retention and vocabulary.
5. Register you children in a children’s library
Enroll children in a Children’s Library and take them once in a week there and daily during vacations. This will help them build their interest in reading.

6. Computer games related to words.
Encourage them to play word games on the internet, which has become the richest source for all sorts of word games.

7. Identity problems that hinders their learning :
Children may have reading problems, because of poor eyesight, dyslexia etc. It becomes the responsibility of the parents to identify the problem and take corrective steps before it is too late.

8. Keep a log :
Keep a notebook and write every day what book you have read comment on the part you have read. Children should also be encouraged to fill up the log daily and may be once it a month it can be reviewed and duely rewarded.

9. Pay frequent visits to used books store :
Paying a visit to used books store will ensure that you get books for a discounted price and your money’s worth become more. Magazine are given at a greater discounted price than books.
Fantastic well-known people have quoted on the benefits of reading and you can find quotes on reading in my website quotes on reading

Fetch practical things to know about the topic of dog behavior problems – make sure to go through the site. The times have come when concise information is really within one click, use this chance.

A Childrens Book Blog

Categories : Kids Reading
Comments (0)
Next Page »