Families Storytimes -Week of November 6, 2010

This week at storytime we talked about our families.

Our Toddler Storytime included:
Song - Fingerpopping from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Introduction to the letter F for Family
Introduce My Family Book made from ziplock bags
Book - Hello Lulu by Caroline Uff
Rhyme - Grandma's Glasses
Song - If You're Happy and You Know It from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - Mommy, Carry Me Please by Jane Cabrera
Flannel Story - Five Little Ducks in a Big White Tub
Song - Jumping and Counting from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Book - I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun


Our Preschool Storytime included:
Song - Can't Wait to Celebrate from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Introduction the the letter F for Family
Book - Where's My Mommy by Jo Brown
Action Rhyme -
Grandma's Glasses
Book - What! Cried Granny by Kate Lum
Song -
Shake Your Sillies Out from Raffi's More Singable Songs
Flannel Story -
Picky Paul
Book - The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee




Ready to Read Skill: Print Awareness (Using Books)
Print Awareness means noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page. Some great ways to practice this skill with your child include letting your child hold the book and showing them which way to turn the page, using your finger to follow along with the text on the page, and
pointing out words and letters on signs when you are out and about. Another fun way to encourage print awareness is making your own books. This can be as easy as stapling a few ziplock bags together and putting in pages that you've decorated with drawings, photos, or magazine cut-outs. Write a few simple words and change the pages out as often as you like! Check out my example below to get started!

Transportation Storytimes - Week of November 1, 2010

This week at Storytime we talked about things that go!

Our Toddler Storytime included:
Song - Fingerpopping from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Introducation to the letter C for car
Book - Maisy's Book of Things That Go by Lucy Cousins
Flannel Story - Giraffe in a Car
Song - Row, Row, Row Your Boat from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia
Action Rhyme/StopLight - Driving My Car
Song - The Wheels On the Bus from Sing Along with Bob #1
Puppets - The Animals on the Bus (from The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort)


Our Preschool Storytime included:
Book - Duck On a Bike by David Shannon
Flannel Story - Transportation
Book - The Bridge is Up by Babs Bell
Book - Duck In the Truck by Jez Alborough





Ready to Read Skill: Vocabulary (Words)
Vocabulary means knowing the names of things. Knowing many words will help your child recognize written words and understand what he or she reads. Some great ways to work on this skill include talking to your child about what is going on around you, speaking clearly and using short sentences, and pointing out pictures in books when you say certain words. This week, we learned words like autumn, acorn, ant, root, and stalk. Maisy's Book of Things That Go is full of new vocabulary (pedals, pistons, anchor- to name a few), and it is super fun because it has pop-ups and movable parts! This book is great for toddlers and preschoolers, and it also covers two Ready to Read skills- Print Motivation (Loving Books) and Vocabulary (Words).

Music Storytimes - Week of October 24, 2010

This week our storytimes have been all about music.

Our Family Storytime lineup included:
Song - Hands Are For Clapping from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Introduce the Letter 'B' for Bell
Book -I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Song - Silly Dance Contest from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Book -Soon Baboon Soon by Dave Horowitz
Flannel Story - Boom Boom Boom! Oom-pah-pah!
Action Ryme/Props - Rhythm Instruments/Marching Band
Book -Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Steve Scott


Our Toddler Storytime lineup included:
Song - Fingerpopping from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Introduce Rhythm Instruments and the Letter 'B' for Bell
Book - Jazz Baby by Carole Boston Weatherford
Flannel Story - Boom Boom Boom! Oom-pah-pah!
Song - Hands Are For Clapping from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Action Rhyme - Clap Your Hands
Book - Dance With Me by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Song - Happy and You Know It from Songs For Wiggleworms




Our Preschool Storytime lineup included:
Song- Can't Wait to Celebrate from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Book - Jazz Baby by Carole Boston Weatherford
Action Rhyme - Clap Your Hands
Book - Tanka Tanka Skunk by Steve Webb
Flannel Story - Boom Boom Boom! Oom-pah-pah!



Ready to Read Skill : Phonological Awareness (Sounds)
Phonological Awareness means being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words. Working on this skill will help your child sound out words when they start reading. Ways to improve phonological awareness include saying rhymes and singing songs (like the ones in the books above) and emphasizing the rhyming words. Doing motions with the rhymes also helps your child break the words into smaller parts. Singing songs is another great way to work on this skill while having fun! Tanka Tanka Skunk is great for practicing phonological awareness because it has a great rhythm and breaks the words on the page into smaller parts that your child can see while reading.