Another month begins and hopefully spring weather has found you where you live. April is traditionally a month of rainy weather, which then leads into May, a month of flowers hence the saying “April showers bring May flowers.” It is a time when the earth seems to come back to life or become re-born and is the month of Easter (this year at least) as well as Earth Day and Arbor Day. It is also another month where reading is brought to the forefront. Not only is it a month-long celebration of D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read), but it is also Poetry and School Library Month. Research shows that there is a direct positive correlation between schools that have a library and certified librarians and student achievement. School libraries are the central point in a school for reading, cultural activities, access to information, knowledge building, open discussions with collaboration and deeper thinking. It is a shame to realize that not all states require schools to fund libraries so celebrate if your school has a funded library with a certified librarian. This month we also recognize the importance of nature and the need to be good stewards with Earth Day and Arbor Day. Combat “Nature Deficit Disorder” by taking a walk in the woods and experiencing the wonders of nature.
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
Experience and share the positive impact of nature and books this month!
2nd: International Children’s Book Day - Celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books from all around the world. For some wonderful international books, check out Kane Miller's titles. Kane Miller is a division of Usborne Books & More.
Hans Christian Andersen’s Birthday - Once again we can celebrate the lessons presented in fairy tales. Consider reading one of his popular tales such as The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, The Snow Queen and The Ugly Duckling.
3rd: Author Sandra Boynton’s Birthday - Boynton’s books are a must for the infant and toddler set. They are humorous, simple rhyming books with whimsical illustrations that children and adults alike find amusing. Many are board books along with several CD illustrated songbooks. A few of our favorites are Hippos Go Berserk!, But Not the Hippopotamus, Frog Trouble…and Eleven Other Pretty Serious Songs and Happy Hippo, Angry Duck.
12th: Author Beverly Cleary’s Birthday & D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read) - A month long celebration of reading honoring Beverly Cleary’s birthday since Cleary first wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby. It is to remind people that reading is important and to take time to just drop everything and read! Have some D.E.A.R. moments with your family not only this month, but every month, all year long.
22nd: Earth Day - Celebrated in more than 192 countries, help your child to learn their role as a steward of the earth. Titles to consider are Earth Day: An Alphabet Book by Gary Kowalski and Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter Series book It’s Earth Day! Search your local library and bookstore for additional titles that celebrate the wonders of our planet and take a look at our previous blog Let's Celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day!.
23rd: Playwright William Shakespeare’s Birthday – Don’t wait until your child is in high school to introduce the beautiful turns of phrase and poetic descriptions of the world famous works of William Shakespeare. Look for biographies of the famous bard as well as the wide range of books containing his plays available for many different age groups, including illustrated stories and graphic novels. Ask your librarian or local book seller to help you choose the right one for your child.
“April, dressed in all its trim, hath put a spirit of youth in everything”
24th: Library of Congress Established in 1800 - Celebrate the largest library in the world by getting to know your local library. Great books to read before visiting the library include The Library by Sarah Stewart, Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, But Excuse Me That is My Book by Lauren Child, The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy, That Book Woman by Heather Henson and "No Pirates Allowed!" said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene.
For additional library related and bookish titles take a look at our Stories about Books & Reading list.
Also remember that the:
Fourth Thursday is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day - Share your life with your child and give them real world experiences along with ideas and dreams for their future. Wonderful books to read include Iggy Peck, Architect, Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty as well as When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic.
Last Friday is Arbor Day - Celebrate by reading under or even to a tree! Titles to consider
include: As An Oak Tree Grows by Brian Karas, Mr. Tamarin’s Trees by Kathryn F. Ernst and The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins. Don’t forget to plant a tree as well!
For more information about Arbor Day and ways to celebrate, visit the Arbor Day Foundation’s website.
Take the time each month to enjoy the simple moments of life that will become your child’s memories. Be sure to include snuggle time with books for not only do they become warm memories as well but will build the background knowledge that is essential to reading and life!
Happy reading! -Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest editions, a daughter for Kate (now 3) and a son for Amanda (now 1.) We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
0 Comments
*Note: this page contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
Nursery rhymes originated as part of a long oral tradition of storytelling and remain an ever-present part of children’s literature today. Though nursery rhymes vary, most are noted for their use of rhyme and rhythm, which makes them easy to remember and so continue to be passed from one generation to the next. Experts agree that hearing nursery rhymes aids in language acquisition and also with speech development. Nursery rhymes also help children to develop auditory skills, discriminating between the different sounds and patterns as well as developing an ear for the music of words. Hearing, reading and singing nursery rhymes inspires natural learning as children sing along and learn the rhymes, committing them to memory.
*Disclaimer: Usborne Publishing Ltd. (UK) has no connection with these pages and does not sponsor or support their content.
I am an Independent Consultant with Usborne Books & More. To purchase UBAM books visit: https://s7598.myubam.com/
Introducing the repetition and rhythm of nursery rhymes can aid in:
For those of you who don’t know the rhyme I’m referring to, this is the version I learned as a child:
Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? (Child's name) stole the cookies from the cookie jar. Who me? Yes you! Couldn’t be! Then who? (repeat with name of next person) 
I also want to note that there may be several versions of a rhyme and no one is correct. Whichever one you learned and wish to pass on to your child is the correct one for you. If you are feeling nursery rhyme challenged, we recommend the book Humpty Who? by Jennifer Griffin. It is billed as “a crash course in 80 nursery rhymes for clueless moms and dads” complete with a sing-along CD.
We also recommend considering the following books to share with your youngster:
For even more recommendations take a look at our Nursery Rhymes & Poetry book list.
So, embrace the rhymes of Mother Goose to share with your little one but remember to keep it organic and fun and resist making it academic. Your little one will naturally come to know these rhymes and their rhythms and the benefits will be numerous with the rhymes staying with them for a lifetime waiting to be shared with yet another generation.
Happy rhyming! -Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest editions, a daughter for Kate (now 3) and a son for Amanda (now 1.) We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children. "Those things you learn without joy you will forget easily." - Finnish saying
*Note: this post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
With my sister and I growing up in the 90’s and now having two young children (3 and 1) heading toward formal education, and our mother having attended kindergarten in the 60’s, we are truly worried about the changing tide in education and placing our children in the midst of what we can only deem an ineffective mess.
My mother experienced half day kindergarten complete with naps, milk and cookies, music, songs and art, and of course that forbidden word, recess. My siblings and I also attended kindergarten for half a day and though we were expected to know our ABC’s and count to 100, we had opportunities to engage in pretend play and participated in gym, music, songs, arts & crafts and yes, recess. Today, kindergartners attend a full day of school where all the focus is on academics with play becoming a negative word and recess non-existent. Our educational system is sacrificing play for earlier reading and writing, more homework, more testing and longer school hours and more school days and when children don’t achieve the goals that have been set forth, they are held back. As academics have increased, education has decreased leaving the United States performing dismally in worldwide academic rankings and yet we continue down the same path expecting different results.
Photo courtesy of Pixels.com
Lately, we’ve noticed a growing trend of parents and educators advocating for the return to play based learning or in other words, getting back to basics. Research shows that young children need play and as Fred Rogers said, “play is the work of children.” Most important though is to realize that children NEED unstructured play and NOT play led by an adult. That is not to say that children shouldn’t be provided with objects for pretend play, but the children themselves need to be allowed to decide HOW to utilize them and for what purpose. Children will often create a game or play from what they have seen or participated in with adults but they need to be free to direct the play, which facilitates their own learning and understanding. Unstructured play allows the freedom to explore, create and discover. It specifically helps build creativity and imagination along with building problem-solving and social skills, which leads us to Finland.
Photo courtesy of Kai Pfaffenbach via The Atlantic
Finland often garners educational attention and for good reason. Finland’s high school students consistently rank among the highest performers on international tests like the PISA, but their youngest students focus on play. Finland seems to understand that a child can only learn what their cognitive abilities allow and takes a more natural approach to learning. Kindergarten doesn’t start until age 6 and reading isn’t formally taught until first grade though many of their students learn to read in kindergarten. Books are a part of a kindergartner’s day where the groundwork for literacy development is laid, but as one Finnish kindergarten teacher puts it, “we don’t push them but they learn just because they are ready for it.” Finnish educational expert Pasi Sahlberg states that “kindergarten in Finland doesn’t focus on preparing children for school academically, instead the main goal is to make sure that the children are happy and responsible individuals.”
Creating a strong foundation gives one something to build upon otherwise the gaps can weaken the structure. This is also true with building strong educated minds. Gaps in education can weaken a child’s comprehension and understanding, which will further place the child at a disadvantage because the foundation is not strong enough to make sense of new information. In building the foundation though we must be certain that a child is cognitively ready to receive the educational training that is imposed upon them. Not all children are ready for the academics that are required today in kindergarten and by not allowing children to develop naturally through play and exploration using their own curiosity and imagination to fuel learning, we not only short-change our children but also our nation, leading us to our own state.
Currently in the state of Michigan, kindergarten is not mandatory though 95 percent of Michigan children already attend kindergarten. Legislation has been introduced to make kindergarten mandatory, which then seems to point to eventual mandatory preschool. The premise behind this legislation seems to come from the idea that making kindergarten mandatory, less children will be held back in the third grade because of low reading scores. It is stated that though 95 percent attend, records show attendance is “spotty” leading us to wonder if the representative in question has considered that this may be due to the fact that many children entering kindergarten may not be emotionally or cognitively ready for a full day of academics. We know many children who at five years of age still need a nap to regenerate and wholeheartedly agree with the Finnish system of play and natural learning especially when we observe my own three-year-old at play and the skills and knowledge she is gaining.
The fact is, children are naturally curious and we as parents and educators need to find ways to use this curiosity to fuel imaginations and to facilitate learning in a natural way. We need to remember that each child is a unique individual and that play is a child’s way of learning and is essential to child development. We also need to recognize that one size does NOT fit all and that interests will vary and we should foster these individual interests to have well-rounded contributing members of society. Play based learning should be embraced as other countries have to compete in the global marketplace and to build stronger, healthier, smarter children to become our future leaders.
-Kate @ BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest editions, a daughter for Kate (now 3) and a son for Amanda (now 1.) We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children. |
AuthorWe are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children. Archives
June 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed