[Notice how the fonts for what the boy says and what the father says are different.]
Read the book. Point to some of the words that are in large type (gorilla, robot, Mars)
Aside: I pointed to some of the words in the book, the ones with larger type, as I read them. This helps children understand that it is the words we are reading, which develops print awareness.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting
Say to all: In our next book, there is a mother hen and her three chicks, one is a Big Chick, one the Middle Chick, and lastly the Little Chick. The Little Chick likes to run on tiptoes, very quickly. Everyone stand up. Let me see you run in place, just where you are standing. Great! Now let me see you stand on tiptoe. That’s right you don’t touchyour heel to the floor. Now run in place again, but on tiptoe–that’s how Little Chick runs. Everyone sit down and let’s see what happens. In this book there are sounds like RUFF-RUFF that the dog makes. Let me hear you say that. Great! For Little Chick the sound is tippy-toe, tippy-toe, tippy-toe. Let me hear you say that. Great!
OK, ready?! As I read the book you’ll be making these sounds. Listen to the story too and see how smart Little Chick is.
Read the story.
Aside: Having your children make the sounds of animals and other sounds helps them develop phonological awareness, being able to hear the smaller sounds in words. This is so important when they later try to sound out words.
Aside: Letting your children know when you really enjoy a book helps them see your own enjoyment. Even doing this small thing helps develop print motivation, a child’s interest and enjoyment of books and reading.
Our next book is funny and clever. I enjoy this book because the little chick is the one who is so smart! Listen to what happens.
Read the book.
[For more participation, which also supports print motivation, have the participants chime in for RUFF-RUFF and tippy-toe, tippy-toe.]
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting
Say to all: Our next book is Don’t Worry Bear by Greg Foley. [Run your finger under the title.] In this book the caterpillar says the words “Don’t worry bear” over and over again. Let’s practice saying that–”Don’t worry bear.” Good! . . .
As I read the book, I’ll point to you all and you’ll know to say, “Don’t worry bear.” [As you read the book run your finger under the words don’t worry bear, as they say these words.]
Aside: You noticed that I ran my finger under the words don’t worry bear each time you all said those words. This helps develop your children’s print awareness, knowing that print has meaning and that it is the words we read. You can do this with any book you read!
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting
Before reading the book, talk about the process of how a caterpillar grows and then goes into a chrysallis or cocoon and then emerges as a butterfly or moth.
Aside: Talking about what you know, even if it is not in the book, helps your children understand the world around them. Use words that your child may not already know, just explain them. This is how you build their vocabulary.
Read the book.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting
Before reading the book talk about caterpillars and how they grow. Ask questions to see what the children already know.
Read the title, Don’t Worry Bear, and tell the group that these words are repeated throughout the book. Let’s say them all together, “Don’t worry, bear.” The caterpillar keeps saying “Don’t worry, bear,” and you will say it each time. Let’s try it.
Read the book.
Aside: Having the children repeat a phrase in the book is the beginning of developing your children’s narrative skills. The next step is to have your child retell the story to you. This later helps with your child understanding what he will read when he gets to school.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting
Introductory Aside: Narrative skills can be developed by having your children tell stories. This is easier for some children when they recognize patters so that they can predict what will happen next.
Book Aside: Before reading the book–AS we read the book we want to encourage them to recognize the pattern and to repeat “buzz, buzz, buzz” and “buzz off.”
Read Buzz, Buzz, Buzz! Went Bumble-bee by Colin West
Fingerplay: Here is the Beehive
Here is the beehive. Where are the bees? (Hold up fist.)
Hidden away where nobody sees. (Move other hand around fist.)
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive. (Bend head close to fist.)
One, two, three, four, five. (Hold fingers up one at a time.)
Bzzzzzzzz… all fly away! (Wave fingers.)
Closing Aside: Children enjoy repeating phrases as they did in our book and song. Please help your children look for patterns in the books and songs you do at home. This helps foster narrative skills.
Introductory Aside: Rhyming is one way that children learn to hear that words are made up of smaller parts. By doing rhymes with them you are supporting phonological awareness. This skill helps them when they later try to sound out words. And it’s fun, too!
Read Who’s There on Halloween? by Pamela Beall
Song: Do a rhyming song to the tune of Are You Sleeping?
We are rhyming; we are rhyming.
Rhyme with me; rhyme with me.
Nose rhymes with toes; nose rhymes with toes. (substitute other words from story)
Rhyme with me; rhyme with me.
Closing Aside: Take advantage of lots of opportunities to play rhyming games with your children.
Submitted by participants in Saskatchewan Library Association Conference 2008
Aside: As we read this book listen for words that rhyme, words that sound similar. Even the title of the book Move Over Rover has two words that rhyme.
Read Move Over Rover
Repeat the story using stuffed characters and a doghouse and let the children tell the story, using rhyming phrases from the book.
Submitted by participants of Saskatchewan Library Association Conference 2008
Introductory Aside: Researchers have found that one of the six early literacy skills is phonological awareness. This is the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words, like rhyming and hearing the beginning sounds of words.
Aside before reading the book Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter: This is a book that we can sing. Listen to all the rhymes in this book. Singing and rhyming help with phonological awareness. You can also think of other words that rhyme, or add extra verses at the end.