Something to do!

I came across this awesome book by David Lucas:

Niamh and I love it! (Maybe I love it more :)
David Lucas is an amazing Author.  His pictures are simple yet he conveys such meaning.

This is a classic book especially at this time of the year when kids are on school holidays and complaining about being bored.

I believe it's a good reminder to myself that I don't always have to think things up or construct things for Niamh to do.

It's so important for the development of their imagination that they think up things to do for themselves.

I have only shown a couple of pages from the book......It's beautiful!!

So let's encourage our children to have a bit of "Nothing to Do" time these holidays so that their imaginations may soar!

Happy Holidays!!

Yoga

Yoga is something I aspire to do more of!! It's on my list of  40 Things .  The practice of  Yoga gives mental peace at the same time as a consciousness of one's own body. I believe it has tremendous benefits for children. I use it with my students at school when I can.

Niamh and I had a combined Yoga session yesterday.  I put on a DVD and off we went.
Guess who was the most flexible!?  ;)

I highly recommend the book Like a Fish in water by Isabelle Koch.  It's recommended for children aged five years and up.
It's full of colourful pictures with gentle Yoga sequences.  And it uses a language children can understand.

Fi x

Towards learning to draw......

Firemen and a Fire truck

My friends and family are often amazed at my three year old's drawing ability.  I believe it's mainly the result of her wanting to participate in any activity I'm involved in.  I usually have a pen or brush in hand and of course she has to have one too!! 


Lil Miss Three has been mark making for as long as she's been able to hold something in her hand. 


I rememember buying her a small magnetic board when she was eighteen months old. She used it:

*In the pram.
*In the car.
*In the shopping trolley.
*And in her cot.

I found a big princess one at a local garage sale. $5 well spent! She still uses it regularly today!  It's wonderful because it creates no mess and can be used over and over again.






I bought some bath crayons which Lil Miss One used:
*On the bath.
*On the shower screen.
*On herself
*And on me!!
When we showered together she used her hands and fingers to draw marks on the fogged up shower screens.

I set up a permanent art and craft table.  On it I had

*Paper
*Cardboard
*Pencils.
*Crayons

And with each stage of development I added more things:

*Glue
*Textas
*scissors
*stickers

I pre cut shapes from cheap coloured paper and she loved putting them together to make houses, trees, cars and trains.





When we were outside I'd put water in a bucket and give Niamh a big paintbrush.  I encouraged her to make marks on:
*The pavement
*The walls
*The rocks
*The cubby house

I think providing the opportunity for regular (supervised) exploration with a variety of tools has enabled Miss Three to colour and draw.
This exploration was very messy at times.  I kept her away from walls and out of precious clothing during the early days.

I'm a big believer in providing these opportunities on a consistent basis.  Mark making and learning to draw is a wonderful basis from which they can then learn to write.

More Ideas Towards Learning to Read

Have a bookshelf in most rooms.
This will show you value books. 
Have a special one in the main living area with a combination of adult and children's books.  Fiction and non-fiction.

Let your kids see you reading regularly.

Join your local library.

*Ask your librarian to help select age appropriate books.

*Join in story sessions.

*Keep selected books in a special bag.

*Keep the bag in a visible space.
On their bedroom door.







 

HAVE YOUR CHILD'S NAME:

 

 

On the wall above their bed.

Written with magnetic letters on the fridge.

On their artworks.

On their day bags.

CREATE YOUR OWN BOOKS

You could include:

*The family pet

*Friends and family

*Your baby's art works

*Special occasions

*Loved objects

*Pictures from magazines, newspapers and old books.

Buy or borrow  puzzles and blocks with letters on them.

Towards Learning to Read

Fabulous books for babies and toddlers.
*Bears in the night by Stan and Jan Berenstain
*Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
*Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle & Bill Martin Jr
*The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle
*Are you my mother? by P.D.Eastman*Boo to a Goose by Mem Fox*Who sank the boat? by Pamela Allen
*Hairy Maclary from Donaldson Dairy by Lynley Dodd
*Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgenson and Patricia Mullens
*Spot goes to the Park by Eric Hill
A MUST read for Mums and Dads, Grannys and Pops.  *Reading Magic by Mem Fox


My daughters' favourite Authors:
 *Dr Seuss

*Eric Carle

*Eric Hill

*Lynley Dodd

*Mem Fox

*Pamela Allen

*Pat Hutchins

*P.D.Eastman

*Rod Cambell

*Stan and Jack Berenstein

*Sascha Hutchinson

*Trace Moroney

 If anyone has any other authors that they highly recommend please share :)

5 tips towards encouraging your youngster to read:

HAVE BOOKS EVERYWHERE!

*In the car.

*In the playcorner.

*In his/her bedroom.

*In the bath.

*At Granny's'.

ALLOW ACCESS TO ALL TYPES OF READING MATERIALS

*Cardboard books. Great for in the car.

*Cloth books. Great for chewing on.

*Plastic books.  Great for in the bath or shower.

*Paperbacks.  Great anywhere and anytime.

*Pamphlets, Newspapers and Catalogues.

READ BOOKS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY

*At breakfast.

*After lunch.

*During a free moment.

*Before dinner.

*Before bed.

CHOOSE BOOKS THOUGHTFULLY

READ BOOKS WITH:

*BIG pictures

*Simple story lines

*Rhymes

*Animal noises

*Repetitive text

Read favourite books


over

&
over

again!!

Take it in turns.

Let Baby read to you.

(Doesn't matter if it's gibberish)

& use lots of Expression!!

An introduction

The main purpose of this blog is to share some basic IDEAS and STRATEGIES teachers use with their own children long before they go to school. I believe they help build a strong foundation for literacy.

My knowledge of children and how they best learn is the result of my years as a junior primary teacher. I have been able to use the strategies with my own daughter and share them with friends and family.

Some students begin school without an adequate foundation to build on.  They are disadvantaged and learning to read and write becomes a difficult challenge.  In an overburdened education system the consequences are far reaching.

I believe we all share the same desire for our children to become independent and successful learners.  The birth of my child has made me realize the responsibility largely lies with me before she even gets to school.

 You may be a parent who also has a wealth of experience and ideas that contribute to children learning. Feel free to use this blog as a forum in which to share them :)