Peeking In On Poetry: 7 Tips for Using Poetry with Young Children

1. According to Debbie Levy, author of Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub and Other Funny Bedtime Poems, "poems are short enough to hold the attention of even the most distractible child. Read one, take a break to talk about it or explore the illustration. Read another, do the same. Stop with a few poems, or read the whole book--either way, you have a satisfying reading experience.
2. Read a short silly poem and have the children illustrate it. This helps children listen to the text and show their comprehension and interpretation.
3. Encourage children to make up silly rhymes. Who cares if the words are made-up and will never be found in a dictionary? Where would Dr. Seuss be if he wasn't making up words? Would we ever know about the wocket in my pocket or the quimeny in the chimney? Having children make up rhymes encourages them to experiment with phonemic awareness which will form the groundwork for future reading skills.
4. Record yourself reading poems on a CD. If you are a classroom teacher, enlist parents to help with this and have them each record one poem. All you need is a computer with a microphone and audio recording software such as Audacity and then burn the files to a CD. Place the CDs in your classroom listening area, in your car, or play them at naptime!
5. Have Poetry Theater where children act out short poems.
6. Write Rebus Rhymes on chart paper and encourage children to make up their own Rebus Rhymes.
7. Create simple poetry starters for young children to complete. For example, children can start with the words, "Mothers are..." and finish by making a list of characteristics. Here is an example:

Mothers are

kind,

sweet,

loving,

busy.

That's what mothers are.

More Poetry Resources

• Mother Goose on the Loose
• Scholastic - Shared Poetry
• Poetry 4 Kids
• Preschool Poems
• Preschool Fingerplays, Action Poems, Nursery Rhymes, and Songs
  

Great Poetry Books for Young Children

Reverse, Backward, and Upside Down: When to Worry When About Your Child's Writing

Some parents may worry when their preschoolers begin to reverse letters, write words from right to left, or confuse letters like b, d, and p in their writing. Even preschoolers who previously "got it right" might begin to reverse letters and words. But not to worry! This is a normal stage in learning to write. Between the ages of three and seven, it is quite common for children to write some or all of their letters and words backwards. Sometimes called mirror writing, research shows that this phenomenon is not only normal, but is likely the result of normal brain development.
As a former preschool and kindergarten teacher, I can tell you that such writing does not worry me and in fact it lets me know that often children have moved on to the next stage in their literacy development. Often, children "get it right" in the beginning because they have learned to write by copying something that a grown-up has written for them. When children start to write on their own without an example, they will make more errors. They are using their brains to figure things out and that is a good thing! When you watch a preschooler write, you can often see a level of concentration that says, "My brain is working OVERTIME over here!"


What should parents of preschoolers do?

1. Avoid making a big deal and correcting your child. Over corrections may discourage your child from future attempts at writing.
2. Model writing for your child. For example, when he or she asks you to write their name or a sentence on their artwork, start in the upper left corner so children see the direction of print.
3. Sometimes (but not always) point to the words books that you are reading so children learn that text is read from left to write and from top to bottom
4. Relax and don't worry! This is an awesome stage in your child's development and if they are taking an interest in writing, NURTURE it rather than over-analyzing it!

What if my child is in Kindergarten and is still writing backwards?

The same rules apply. Up until age seven or eight, children may continue to display mirror writing. Most of the time, children will learn the correct way with lots of practice that they are likely to get when they enter elementary school. If you are still concerned, speak to your child's teacher and your child's pediatrician.

Two Great Resources for Parents and Teachers

• Reading Checkup List
• Tips for Parents To Encourage Writing

Recommended Reading for Parents and Teachers

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Supporting Research

Cornell, J.M. (1985). Spontaneous mirror writing in children. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 39(1), 174-179.

Cubelli, R. (2009). Mirror writing in preschool - A pilot study. Cognitive Processing, 10 (2), 101-104.

7 Lessons for Future Conservationists

1. Don't liter.


2. Make a bird-feeder.


3. Reduce, reuse, and recycle.


4. Take a nature walk.


5. Plant a garden.


6. Plant a tree.



7. Learn about local conservation efforts.

What's More Important Than The Health of Your Child?

I found this video to be very thought-provoking. But I am more anxious to hear what YOU think. Please share your comments here and I will retweet them on Twitter.

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

A Wake-Up Story is a must-see video for every parent and anyone that cares about the health and development of children. Watch it. Share it. Join the movement. www.Awakeupstory.org

My Favorite Preschool Olympic Links

I often get excited about the world around me and current events; it is during those times that I miss teaching the most. That's why this blog is such a labor of love for me. It's my own little outlet for sharing all of the teaching ideas swirling around my head! In a previous post, I talk about choosing children's books that you, as an adult, would enjoy reading. Children pick up on our excitement and it spills over into their learning. I have always loved the Olympics and every two years I looked forward to doing an Olympic theme in my classroom. It's a fun way to cover many topics. Not only can children learn about sports (that's far from the main purpose of the theme), but they can learn about various countries around the world, ancient history, and get a good dose of gender equity sprinkled on top. So, indulge me for a moment as I share some of the great links and books that I found that may inspire you to use the Winter Games as a learning theme in your classroom!

Everything Preschool has books, art activities, and games that you can use for an Olympic theme.


ABC Teach contains Olympic facts, a coloring page, and certificates. You will also find links for Summer and Winter Olympics

Visit the Official Website of the Vancouver Olympics to Meet the Mascots, Miga, Quatchi, and Sumi!

Enchanted Learning has templates for flags around the world, a special Olympic section with tons of printables & information, and information on Canada, the host of this year's Winter Olympics.


Preschool Education has a few additional Olympic-related links and activities.


National Geographic Kids and Canadian Geographic Kids are great places to learn information about Canada.


Reading Rockets has a great list of Winter Olympic Books.

What current events do you use in your home or classroom as a springboard for learning?

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Book for Your Preschooler

Choosing books for preschoolers can be a daunting task. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you search for books for young children. To read the entire article, read my guest blog on the Play Activities website! Below you will find some of my favorite examples of children's books. Feel free to comment and add your own favorites.

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

Are the illustrations appropriate, engaging, and relevant? Remember that you want your little one to pick up that book even if you are not reading it to them. In order to encourage them to look at books independently, choose books that have pictures that will tell the story. One of my favorite books is Officer Buckle and Gloria. In this Caldecott winning book, Gloria's antics in the background engage children and adults alike!

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Are the text and the illustrations bias-free? You want to be careful not to choose books that perpetuate stereotypes based on gender, religion, ability, race, or ethnicity. InTime has a great list of evaluation criteria for children's books. One of my favorites, Amazing Grace tells the story of a young African American girl who wants to be the lead in her classroom performance of Peter Pan. A bonus is that Grace grows older in the books Boundless Grace and Princess Grace!

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw

Is the text appropriate for my child’s developmental level? Text with rhymes and repetition are often favorites for young children. Children are able to remember the text patterns and "read" the books independently. One example is, It Looked Like Spilt Milk. Because of the predictable pattern, most children can pick up this book and "read" it over and over again. Now, don't always go for books with the super-simple text. Choose books that also challenge your child's vocabulary to grow. Books such as Caps for Sale, Owl Moon, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day are also great preschool choices.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Does the story inspire the imagination? Some of my favorite children's books have been turned into movies for their very ability to inspire the imagination: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Polar Express, Jumanji, and Where the Wild Things Are, have all topped my favorites lists at one time or another. The problem is, now that they've been adapted for movies, it's hard for children who've seen the movies to use their own imaginations when reading these books. Try The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. It tells the story of The Three Little Pigs from the wolf's point of view (poor wolf, just had a nasty cold). This story may encourage your preschooler to come up with their own versions of other stories!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffee Numeroff

Do you, as an adult, find the book interesting? Often, children pick up our adult vibes so choose books that you will enjoy reading aloud. Children will sense your excitement, but be forewarned, these may be the books that your child will want you to read over and over again! And THAT is a GOOD thing! One of my favorite read-alouds in Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! I know it by heart and my kindergarten students did too! I also love If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. When you get into reading it with expression, the children will love it too!

Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Alan Ahlberg

The Jolly Postman by Alan Ahlberg

Does the book encourage interaction? Some of the books that children love are those that have a participation component. The I Spy series are fun for preschoolers. Another one of my favorite interactive books is Each Peach Pear Plumb by Janet and Alan Ahlberg! All of the Mother Goose characters are hiding in the illustrations. Another of my favorite interactive books is The Jolly Postman by Alan Ahlberg - the postman delivers letters to some familiar fairy tale characters - Baby Bear gets a party invitation from Goldilocks! Each page is shaped like an envelope and the mail is cleverly tucked inside! GREAT book.

Ocean Dorling Kindersly (DK) Eyewitness Book

Is this a non-fiction book, and if so, is it accurate? Preschoolers love to ask WHY so provide opportunities for them to learn new information. I enjoy the Eyewitness books for kids. Although they are written for slightly older children, the photographs and information is interesting enough to grasp the attention of curious preschooler and kindergarten aged children! Most young children will not want to read them from cover-to-cover but you can choose to read 1-2 pages each day or use them for reference books when those WHY questions pop up!

The Napping House by Audrey Wood

Will my child want to read this book more than once? The books that your child want to read over and over again will do more to inspire a love of literacy than you can imagine! There are many that come to mind: The Napping House by Audrey Wood, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by by Bill Martin, Jr. are other preschool favorites... but the list is endless! What are YOUR favorites?

Love, Peace, and Kindess in Preschool

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday and next month red & pink hearts will remind us to feel all warm and fuzzy for those that we love. So, I thought it was only fitting that this week we turn out attention to books that promote peace, love, and kindness. Children are naturally good-natured; choosing books that support healthy emotional development can help that good nature continue to blossom.

Often, we early childhood teachers turn their focus to the skills that look nice and neat on a checklist - recognizing letters and numbers, assembling a puzzle, pedaling a tricycle. It is often more challenging to assess a child's social and emotional development. Often, parents ask the preschool teacher, "Is my child ready for kindergarten?" And the discussion usually begins, and too often ends, with talking about STUFF the child "knows" - the cognitive aspect of development. But we know that being “ready” for school is so much more that letters, numbers, and shapes! We need to raise children who are NICE human beings – the kind who know how to get along with others. Here are a few books that will turn the classroom spotlight onto behaviors that promote love, peace, and kindness. Go hug somebody!

I Did It, I'm Sorry by Caralyn Buehner: This book has different behavioral scenarios followed by multiple choice answers. It’s a great book to read over time or teachers can read scenarios that relate to things that are happening in the classroom. A preschool teacher I work with reads one scenario each day and the children have the opportunity to discuss and illustrate the best choice. (Thanks to Ms. Renee for sharing this book and idea with me!)




It’s Mine! by Leo Lioni: Three frogs learn the value of sharing. Here’s a spin on “Show and Tell.” Instead of calling it Show and Tell, I called it Sharing Day. Depending on the number of children in your class, you can have Sharing Day 2-5 times a week. I assigned one day of the week to 3-5 children. For example, Billy, Monica, and Susanne might have Sharing Day on Monday; Kayla, Lauren, and David would be assigned to Tuesday, etc (I made a huge chart with the days of the week across the top and children’s names and pictures under each day – this way children and parents would remember their day). During Sharing Time, each child gets to sit in the rocking chair and tell us three things about their item. The rest of the students get to ask questions (learning to ask appropriate and relevant questions is a skill that children can learn in Pre-K and K – I used to tell the students, a question is something that you want to know about your friend’s item). After the children told us about the items, we would sit them on a special shelf for other children to actually play with. Sharing is a skill that children are just learning and sharing something that they brought from home is hard. So keep it short so that the child can return his item to his/her cubby. The other children learn how to be extra careful with an item that belongs to someone else. Of course, in the beginning of the year, I send home a note to parents about the goals and procedures of Sharing Time; this way, parents understand that it’s not wise to send something that is irreplaceable or extremely valuable. You can also visit my previous article for more ideas on It's Mine by Leo Lioni!



The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister: The most beautiful fish in the ocean won’t share his shiny scales which leaves him lonely. As a follow up art activity, give each child a few pre-cut fish scales (finger-paint paper works well since it’s shiny and flexible). Allow them to paint them various colors (“marbling” works well too) and sprinkle with glitter. When they are all dry, attach them to one big Rainbow Fish to hang in the classroom. Looking for more, fishy ideas?



Because of You by B.G. Hennessy: Children learn that they have can have a positive impact in the world. Even young children can learn the value of volunteer service. Children can (with the help of parents) collect hats/mittens for a local shelter, paint a mural for a local senior citizen’s building, sing songs at a nursing home, or help students in a younger classroom.

Swimmy by Leo Lioni: Swimmy and his friends learn that teamwork works! Make a bulletin board display entitled “Fishing for Teamwork” and post photographs (with captions) of children engaged in everyday teamwork activities. Examples: cleaning up block area together, carrying a tub of sand, sharing play-dough, etc. You’ll find that as you start to highlight teamwork, the children will bring instances of teamwork to your attention so that you can put it on the bulletin board.

Can You Say Peace? By Karen Katz and The Peace Book by Todd Parr are both books that help make an abstract concept, such as peace, meaningful to young children. Make a peace mobile or learn about the kindness campaign by visiting Celebrating Peace. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER: During this time of war, we have to be considerate and respectful of our troops. Be mindful if children begin to talk about war and/or soldiers. Regardless of our grown-up opinions of the war, we don’t want to suggest to children that our troops are not peaceful. It is hard for children to understand that soldiers, who children may associate with weapons, are peaceful. It is most important that you tread these waters carefully since some of your students may have family members who are in the Armed Forces.


Teaching Peace by Red Grammer OK, OK, OK.... so this one isn't really a book. But the songs on this CD will encourage and inspire! With songs such as Teaching Peace, Say Hi, and I Think You're Wonderful, you and your children will be singing these catchy lyrics in no time.

Join In and Play by Cheri Meiners: This book is part of a series that includes Talk and Work it Out, Share and Take Turns, Be Polite and Kind, and Understand and Care. They make a great addition to a classroom library since they can help children discuss real-case scenarios, feelings, and possible solutions. Of course, real-life situations are often the best teachable moments but these books can help children begin to think about their feelings and the feelings of others.