Storytime Share

Super Duper 1, 2, 3

Super Duper 1, 2, 3
Can you say this word (or name) with me?
[volcano–or word/name of your choice]
Say it
[Children/adults repeat the word with you]
Clap it
[Children/adults clap the word with you, one clap per syllable]
Snap it [snap fingers]
[Children/adults snap fingers together with you, one snap per syllable]
Tap it [tap with foot]
[Children/adults tap feet with you, one tap per syllable]
Aside: You can do this little song with any word! Dividing words into sound parts, into syllables, helps children hear the smaller sounds in words, one part of phonological awareness, the ability to hear the smaller sounds in words.
Idea from Susan Bard, ECRR Trainer

This Is the Way We Wash Our Face

Song: This Is the Way We Wash Our Face (Sung to the tune of Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush)

Let’s sing this song and tell a little story about how we take a bath.

This is the way we        wash our face               (actions to words to all these)

                                    shampoo our hair

                                    scrub our skin

                                    dry with a towel, etc.

This song helps us learn different vocabulary words about bathtime, like shampoo and scrub. I hope you will talk about this when you take a bath tonight. What other words can you come up with? Talking about interesting, fun words like this will help your children recognize words later on when they read them.
Submitted by Stacey Harwood, Henrico County (VA) Public Library, Twin Hickory Branch

Bear Went Over the Mountain

Song: The Bear Went Over the Mountain 

The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain

The bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see.
And what do you think he saw? And what do you think he saw?
He saw a goat in a boat, he saw a goat in a boat.
He saw a goat in a boat, that is what he saw. Go through the song.

Aside: Rhyming is an important part of phonological awareness. It helps children break down words into smaller sounds and identify similar sounds in different words.
Re-sing the song putting up different felt figures (skunk in a trunk) and allow the children to tell you what they see.

Aside: You can sing this song with any rhyming words. Work together with your child to create another verse. Don’t be afraid to use nonsense words!
Submitted by Erin Rogers, Henrico County (VA) Public Library–Gayton Branch

Hickory Dickory Dock or Any Nursery Rhyme

Nursery rhymes are important to do with your children, not only here in storytime, but at home as well. The rhyming and repetition of words helps your child develop the awareness of different word sounds. This helps develop their phonological awareness which is important for later reading skills. Also, nursery rhymes are fun to sing and act out!
Submitted by Michelle Edwards, Gloucester Library (VA)

Roll Your Hands (song) from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett

Words:
Roll, roll, roll your hands
fast as fast can be.

Do it now, let me see

Do it now with me.

Tap, tap, tap your feet
Shake, shake, shake your hips
Roll, roll, roll your hands
[Repeat one or two times all together. Clap together when done.]

Adult Aside: This is a good rhyme to do as you are bathing or diapering your child. Use different parts of the body and words for different actions to help increase your child’s vocabulary. Even though your baby does not understand everything you say, it is important for her to hear you speak. The wider variety of words that your child hears, the larger her vocabulary will be, and the more easily they will later be able to read.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting

Five Little Ducks (song) from Rise and Shine by Raffi

Adult Aside: Saying animal sounds is the beginning of being able to hear the smaller sounds in words, the beginning of phonological awareness.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting

Eensy Weensy Spider (song) from Mainly Mother Goose by Sharon Lois & Bram

Adult Aside: This song does the eensy weensy spider and then next door there is a big, fat spider, and then a teensy weensy spider. Let’s listen to the song first and then we’ll act it out together. Adults, by using the movements can help children understand what the words mean. Here’s an example of opposites.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting