My SALE at Teachers Pay Teachers!

CHECK OUT MY SALE HERE AT TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kathy-Stemke

 

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

Free ezine by guardian Angel Kids!

Check out my article about the benefits of volunteerism for children: http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/11-012-3Dflipbook/index.html

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

Please check out my friend's reading ofher recent release! She's a wond author and an exceptional story teller. Let me know what you think. Have a great day!

http://youtu.be/sLA1vr8b09Y


Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

Tips for Nurturing Reading in Young Children

by Kathy Stemke

Reading is a fundamental lifetime skill that will bring a child immeasurable enjoyment over the years. By singing, talking, reciting rhymes and reading to young children we help their brains to form the links that are essential to learning all language skills. In fact, it is in the
first three years, when the brain grows to 90% of its adult weight that children have the greatest capacity to learn to read.

During this time it is important to form the habit of reading daily to your children. Be dramatic and animated to hold their attention. Use unique and funny voices for each character.

Point to the words you read so that your child associates the pictures and sounds of the book with the letters on each page. Sound out a few simple words. As you read, point out the similarities in the words. Act amazed, as if you found a beautiful jewel. Enthusiasm is contagious.

If you make reading a priority, children will consider it important as well. Create a warm, cozy corner of their room just for reading. Include a bookcase full of great fiction and nonfiction books as well as periodicals. Decorate this corner with pictures that they draw of the books they read. You could even make a caterpillar and add a segment each month
with the book titles they read that month.

Be aware of reading levels and choose books with appropriate levels for your child. One of the biggest turn-offs for children is the frustration they feel when they struggle to read a book which is above their level of reading.

Children feel so grownup when they get mail. Why not sign them up for an age appropriate magazine that comes in the mail monthly.

"O Say Can You Say" by Dr. Seuss teaches a child the silliness of words and rhymes. As you falter over the words, do it with laughter so children will learn that if you read a word incorrectly, it's not time to quit.

Keeping children engaged in the stories, and including fun activities in their reading experience are also important keys to nurturing a love of reading in young children.

Since play is how children learn, play with letters, sounds and words. Play games with sight words too. For instance, draw a road with sight words printed on it. Use a toy car to drive to each word. Have them repeat the word after you so they can drive on to the finish line. Give them an award. When children master many sight words, reading becomes easier.

Use puppets to create interest. Make your own puppets inexpensively. Buy stuffed animals at a thrift store or yard sale, remove some stuffing and add a sock to the inside. Allow the child to act out the story with the puppet.

Take a trip to the local library. Get involved in a story time for children. The librarians introduce fun games and activities associated with books. Encourage your child to explore the children's section of the library.

Make personalized books. Allowing children to become the main character or a hero in the book will definitely keep them hooked to it. Photograph them during their daily activities and create a wordless book. Foster creativity by permitting them to tell their own story.

Make books on fruits and vegetables. Plan a trip to the supermarket. Have your child take pictures of different fruits and vegetables. Children love to touch, feel and smell the different fruits and vegetables. They can also compare the size and weight.

There are an infinite number of ways that you can make books come alive for young children. Once they get the book bug, they will always want to read.



Moving Through all Seven Days link:
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

Creating a Home Library for your Children

www.ReadingRockets.org/books/aboutkids

Article adapted from "Helping Your Child Become a Reader." U.S. Department of Education. 2005.

Starting a home library for your child shows him/her how important books are. Having books of his/hers’ own in a special place boosts the chance that your child will want to read even more. Here are some ideas for creating your own home library.

Finding books

1. Become a treasure hunter! Browse book store sales, garage sales, flea markets, used book stores, and sales at your local library.

2. Organize a children's book swap with friends, community groups, or your school.

3.Encourage family and friends to give books as gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations.

4. Don't forget quality nonfiction and children's magazines!

Building your library

1. A cardboard box or small wooden packing crate that you can decorate together might make a good bookcase. Or you might clear one of the family bookshelves.

2. Pick a special place for your child's books so that she knows where to look for them – in a cozy corner of your child's bedroom, or close to where the rest of the family gathers and reads if your child is very social.

3. Help your child to arrange his/her books in some order – his/her favorite books, books about animals, or holiday books. Use whatever method will help him/her most easily find the book they are looking for.

4. "This book belongs to..." Bookplates give your child a sense of ownership and can add "newness" to a used book. You can make your own or download and print these colorful designs by children's book illustrators:

http://www.myhomelibrary.org/bookplates.html

5. If you and your child make your own books together, you can add those to your home library, too.

6. Borrow books from your local library. Go to the children's section and spend time with your child reading and selecting books to take home and put in his/hers’ special spot. You might even have a box or space just for library books, so that they don't get mixed up with your child's own books.

When collecting and reading books are a part of family life, you send your child a message that books are important, enjoyable, and full of new things to learn.

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

Ten Ways to Sell Books On Amazon By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books says,
"You can use Amazon to improve your ratings and your ratings don’t get better until you sell books."

So, telling you how to get better ratings on Amazon is tantamount to telling you how to sell books. Many of you know that I rarely talk sales when I can talk more important things like cross promotion and branding. You may know that I believe if you network well, you won’t have to sell anything, ever. Not in the traditional sense. That is my disclaimer. I’m going to tell you how to let Amazon help you sell more books anyway!

A promotional drop in the bucket can move Amazon ratings drastically! Especially if you keep dripping promotion into the pail. Use the perks that Amazon provides for you (see the list below), and you’ll find your book selling. Especially if you don’t give up. Just keep dribbling little bits of information into these Amazon tools. It’s about frequency and longevity. Here they are. Pick one(or more) and keep at it:

1. Use Listmanias on Amazon and, along with your own book, sprinkle in the titles of your authorfriends. Let these authors know you did it. That’s a way to make a new promotion friend. There is a chapter in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't that tells you how to use this free promotional perk along with a lot of other free tools on Amazon.

2. When you read a book by an author you know (or even one you don’t) do yourself and them a favor by adding a review to Amazon. It takes but a minute and YOU and your book get exposed too, if you use a promotion-savvy signature. Simply type in a couple of dashes and then add "Reviewed by xxxxx and your book title." You can even make your title a link to the sales page of your book on Amazon.

3. Tell other people about what you’re doing, how your book relates to current events and more by posting on your Amazon plog. Another name for it is AuthorConnect ™, and it’s really a blog provided by Amazon. You do have one don’t you? Spread the word about your fellow authors’ books, too, and then ask them to pass on the word about your plog, complete with URL. This is known as viral marketing and it works.

4.. Check out my co-produced audio classes including the free one: A Do-It-Yourself Guide To Promoting Easy And Cheap! by Carolyn Howard-Johnson which includes other Amazon tips. They are at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/search.asp.

5. Flesh out your book’s page on Amazon. Use the Wiki (or Amapedia) to add information on your awards or other publishing you’ve done.

6. Ask your friends and professional associates to review your book on Amazon. See that word "ask?" They will be happy to do it. They just need a nudge!

7. If you have a book suited to it, you can add pictures to your book’s page. Check out my "Promote or Perish" picture on The Frugal Book Promoter page. Here’s the URL:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/.

8. Don’t get caught up in the idea of trying to sell your book yourself to increase your profits per book. If you do, you’ll find your overall promotion suffers. Read that word "promotion" as "readership." Read it as "exposure." Read it as "credibility." You and your book need to be seen more than you need a couple of extra dollars profit on any given book. Yes, you may make less per Amazon-sold book, but the Amazon publicity is invaluable.

9. Look into the So You’d Like Tos . . . on Amazon. They will allow you to rant or write essays to your hearts content and gather readers as you do it. They work similarly to Listmanias.

10. Make friends. When someone adds a review to your page, invite them to be an Amazon Friend. Include a thank you in the message. Nose around a bit. You’ll find all kinds of ways to let Amazon Friends know about your next book . . . and your next.

And keep in mind that The author is Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T, winner of USA Book News' "Best Professional Book 2004", #1 Bestselling E-book at: http://starpublish.com/starbooks.htm and Book Publicists of Southern California’s Irwin Award winner. its sister book, THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS. when someone is your friend, your book or picture may show up on their profile page. Their friends buy books, too!
-----

Learn more at: http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

Her complimentary newsletter Sharing with Writers is always full of promotion tips, craft and publishing news. Send an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com.

Kathy Stemke websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

NEW INTERACTIVE EZINE FOR KIDS!

The first issue of the new interactive ezine Guardian Angel Kids is now available online. http://guardian-angel-kids.com/ Children will the love the mascot, an adorable angel gecko named GAK. Stories, games, puzzles, activities, videos and more to entertain and delight your youngsters. This is a site you and your children will want to return to again and again.


This angel gecko, GAK, is drawn by Kim Sponaugle.


This first issue contains one of the stories from the book The Misadventures of Rooter and Snuffle for you to read. Listen to The Sister Exchange or read Tracking the Twitchy Itch. There are drawing instructions and drawing boards where you can draw your own pictures.

Oh yes, you will also find articles for parents and teachers.

This is only the first issue and it promises to get better and better and better. http://guardian-angel-kids.com/

Now...I hope you'll visit the next site on the blog chain sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center. That site is http://ireneroth.wordpress.com/ For a list of all the links on the chain, go to www.writingforchildrencenter.com


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY FIRST BOOK TRAILER!

I actually put this trailer together myself. It was so much fun. Please let me know what you think. Does it tell you what the book's about? Is there anything missing? Did you enjoy seeing it? Thanks so much for your help. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Moving Through All Seven Days is finally available for purchase on Lulu for just $3.00! Just click on this link:
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#
This book inspires movement as children learn about the days of the week. The lyrical rhymes also teach them how to spell each day! The activities at the end of the book are designed to reinforce the concepts as well as give impetus to movement exploration.
Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

REBEKAH REDEEMED BY DIANNE SAGAN

Today, I am pleased to have a writer with us whose talents know no bounds. Dianne Sagan is a ghostwriter, a guest editorialist writing Op-Ed pieces for the Amarillo Globe-News, a writer of short stories and flash fiction, and she is also a book reviewer. She joins us today to talk about her diverse experience in the industry and to give us a glimpse into what she’s working on right now.

I honored to introduce you to my readers, Dianne.

Thank you Kathy, it’s nice to be here.

I have to admit I am really interested in finding out more about your ghostwriting work. How did you get involved in this aspect of writing? What types of subjects do you cover?

A writer-acquaintance of mine who is a member of Panhandle Professional Writers was doing ghostwriting and started getting so much work that she put out a call for freelance editors and ghostwriters. I talked to her about it and decided to give it a try, and I discovered that I not only enjoyed the process but that I also had some talent for it. The books I’m writing at this time are nonfiction “business success and leadership” books concerning issues of human performance, which happens to align neatly with the consulting that my husband and I do. My clients are entrepreneurs, dentists, corporate executives, speakers, men and women in a wide array of professions. I would love to expand into ghostwriting Christian nonfiction.

Do people ever ask you why you have chosen to be a ghostwriter instead of writing your own books?

Yes, I get that question a lot. My goal has been to be a freelance writer and to be able to live well from my work. That isn’t always easy to do when selling my own work. When this opportunity came along, it was a perfect fit. Ghostwriting provides a good income on a steady basis, and although I have less time to work on books under my own byline, it is well worth it. It also gives me experience and a track record for being able to complete books and make deadlines. It has also helped me prove to myself that, yes, I really can write a first draft of a two hundred-page manuscript in four weeks!

Speaking of your own books, what book is published and available to our readers right now?

My current projects include a series of Christian fiction novellas. The series is called Touched by the Savior. Each book is the story of a little known woman who met Jesus during his ministry.

The first is titled, Rebekah Redeemed. It's about an orphaned Rebekah who becomes a servant in her uncle’s house in Bethany. Traded from relative to relative, she suffers neglect and abuse. When a Roman soldier assaults her, she flees in fear of her life and hides. Rebekah is discovered and Lazarus becomes her kinsman redeemer. Can Jesus redeem her soul? Can she forgive or break the chains of her past?

It sounds like children will learn important spiritual principles and enjoy themselves too. Where can we buy this book?

Rebekah Redeemed ISBN: 978-0-937660-52-2
Now available online at AWOC.com or Amazon.com

How can we learn more about you and your books?

Your readers can visit me on the following websites:
http://dgsagan.tripod.com/
www.diannesagan.wordpress.com
http://www.authorsden.com/diannesagan

Thank you, Dianne, for your visit.

Your welcome, Kathy. I enjoyed it.

Everyone come back August 3rd for more about Dianne’s exciting book, Rebekah Redeemed. In fact, we're going to include an excerpt from the book.

Kathy Stemke's websites:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Author Marianne Berkes Books!

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you like marine life, music, or math, then this is the book for you! This is an incredible book with wonderful rhyme done to the tune of "Over the Meadow." Your children will want to read this book over and over again. Marianne has added some great activities and information at the end of the book.

She suggests some great finger play such as:

Octopuses "squirt": squeeze both hands
Parrotfish "grind": place thumbs under fingers and move back and forth grinding
Clownfish "dart": praying hands move quickly forward
Stingrays "stir": fists circle in a stir

I suggest you have the kids move around the room and imitate these great actions as well!

The illustrator gives lots of great techniques to use when working with clay. This book is a Benjamin Franklin Award Winner!


View all my reviews.

Going Around The Sun: Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a beautiful book with outstanding illustrations. Kids love it because there are lots of things to find on every page. Marianne cleaverly calls the sun, mother, and the planets her children as she rhythmically takes you on a journey through our solar system. Children will learn their numbers as they discover interesting facts about each planet. This book is an iParenting Media Award Winner!

There are four additional pages of information about our planets as well as teaching tips from Marianne and art tips from the illustrator. One suggestion is to create a play using the rhymes in the book. Children can remember the names and the order of the planets from the sun by memorizing a simple sentence. "My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas. Of course, that's if you want to include Pluto which has been downgraded.

Here's a great planetary art project:

The background of this book was created with a melted crayon project that you can duplicate in your classroom. Begin by sharpening crayons over a paper plate. Place the shavings between two sheets of wax paper and carefully set a warm iron on the wax paper for just an instant. The crayon will melt quickly between the two sheets of wax paper. When it cools, you can cut out shapes of the planets and tape them to a window or hang them from the ceiling with string.


View all my reviews.


Kathy Stemke's sites:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Free study guides and teacher resources from author Simon Rose

Author, Simon Rose, is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature of West Redding, CT and has been a prolific writer of children's fiction for many years.

HIS BOOKS:

The Heretic’s Tomb While exploring a medieval archaeological site containing the ruins of an ancient English abbey, Annie discovers the long-forgotten tomb of Lady Isabella Devereaux, who had been condemned to death as a heretic in 1349. When she examines a mysterious amulet, she is suddenly sent hurtling back to the Middle Ages, encountering sorcery, treachery, treason and the ghastly horrors of the Black Death.

The Clone Conspiracy At the dawn of the twenty-first century, governments around the world panicked as technology rapidly advanced. They didn't realize that cloneing genie was already out of the bag.

The Sorcerer’s Letterbox In a hidden drawer, Jack discovers a letter from a boy calling himself Edward. Penning a reply, Jack is astonished to be corresponding through time with the boy king Edward V. Travelling back in time, Jack attempts to rescue Edward V from death, but is soon fighting for his life in the terrifying London of 1483.

The Alchemist’s Portrait A school trip at the city museum leads Matthew into an eerie meeting with Peter Glimmer, imprisoned inside his own portrait by his villainous uncle in 1666. Matthew is sent hurtling over 300 years into the past to recover the one object that can save the world.

The Doomsday Mask In the destruction of Atlantis, the legendary mask of Kulkaan was thought to have been shattered and irretrievably lost. The mask’s crystal fragments have now been found and the mask of Kulkaan reassembled, with deadly consequences for all mankind. Josh and Erica must prevent the mask from falling into the hands of the shadowy Crystalline Order, in order to save the world from catastrophe.

FREE STUDY GUIDES AND TEACHER RESOURCES:

Each of the authors novels can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects in the classroom. The Fun Stuff and Puzzles page features word searches related to the text and character names in each novel, plus you can also access The Super Scavenger Search, where the answers to a series of mind boggling questions are hidden in different pages all over the author's website.

SAMPLE STUDY GUIDE FOR THE EMERALD CURSE: http://www.simon-rose.com/study_guides.htm

In The Emerald Curse, Sam had adventures inside a strange comic book universe, where the super heroes and villains are disturbingly real. The novel lends itself to numerous student projects related to the superhero genre.

Create Your Own Superhero

Students invent their very own hero, complete with a colourful costume, amazing powers, a secret identity, a hidden headquarters, friends, family and an archenemy, who has some kind of connection to the hero. Students could also craft detailed character synopses of their hero, along with all the supporting players, including their main adversary and even a sidekick.

The Beginning

Once they have invented their very own hero, the students create an exciting origin story, detailing how the hero got his or her powers in the first place.

Headline News

In the style of a traditional newspaper front page, students can write an exciting, dramatic story, describing an action packed battle between the hero and his arch-enemy, complete with an attention grabbing headline.

Comic Book

Students learn how to create their own comic book depicting the adventure of the
superhero they have created, complete with an eye catching cover and unique logo
designed especially for their hero.

Board Games

In the novel, Sam is propelled into the comic book universe and has adventures in a
number of different worlds, before his arrival in the realm ruled by the sinister Baron Midnight. Sam’s initial journey into the illustrations and subsequent travels elsewhere could form the basis of a board game that students could develop, once they are familiar with the storyline.

Throughout the school year, Simon Rose offers presentations, readings, author in residence programs and conducts workshops for children at schools and libraries all across Canada, the United States and around the world.

Websites for author Simon Rose: http://www.simon-rose.com/books.htm

KATHY STEMKE'S WEB ADDRESSES:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

TOPIC SENTENCE ACTIVITIES!

GUESS THE TOPIC!

This is a great way to introduce the paragraph and topic sentence. Write a paragraph that doesn't have a topic sentence and have the child guess the topic.

Example: You write with them. Sometimes they have erasers on the end. You can get them in different colors. When they guess pencils, ask them if it would have been easier to start the paragraph with , "I love pencils?"

TOPIC SENTENCE MATCH UP!

Understanding the main idea of a paragragh can be tough for beginning readers. Here's an exercise you can do to help them see the forest through the trees.

Write each topic sentence on a separate index card.

Topic: Dogs are loyal animals.
Topic: I love the summer.
Topic: Chocolate isn't good for you.

Write each detail on a separate index card.

Detail: They are always waiting for their owners to come home.
Detail: They want to sit with you.
Detail: There are a lot of fun things to do, like swimming and eating hamburgers.
Detail: We go on vacation.
Detail: Everytime I eat it, I get a stomach ache.
Detail: It's not good for my teeth.

Mix them all up, turn them face up, and match up a topic with two details.

You can have your child make a book with illustrations using one topic and two details.

http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

ACTION CLOCK POEM!

MY ACTION ACTIVITY "CLOCK BOOK" IS COMING SOON!

I’m in the clock club, I’m OK. (Arms overhead make a circle)
I tick all night, and tick all day. (Marching, hands on hips)


I have two hands, and have a ball, (Marching, two hands out)
Because I have no arms at all. (Marching, hands behind back)


My minute hand, moves with such power, (Standing, circle arm quickly)
with sixty minutes in every hour. (Standing, circle arm quickly)


My hour hand just isn't as fast, (Standing, circle arm slowly)
In a big race, it comes in last. (Standing, circle arm slowly)


Quarter past, half past, in there place (Point arm to the left, then down)
Quarter to, o'clock on the face. (arm right, then up)


Twenty-four hours makes just one day, (Arms overhead make a circle)
There’s always time for us to play! (jump in place)

Have Fun with Puppets!

Use your puppet station to teach reading, creative writing, math, geography, art, science and even proper behavior and social skills. Incorporate great books and creative activities to keep learning fun!

1.Little Red Hen

a. BEHAVIOR- Share stories about helping others- what are situations where you could help someone-how does it make you feel?

b. SCIENCE- (Book Idea- “Bread Comes to Life: A Garden of Wheat and a Loaf to Eat” by George Levenson) What do you need to grow wheat- how does it turn into bread? Grind up some wheat into flour. Draw a chart of the sequence from the planting of the seed to the baking of the bread. Make bread.

2. Baby Hippo

a. GEOGRAPHY/SCIENCE-Where is Africa- what kind of habitat does a hippo live in? How long do they live? What do hippos eat? (Book Idea- “One Hippo Hops” by Jane Yolen and “Fun with African Stencils” by Sue Brooks)

b. ART- Make a class book of African animals with stencils.

c. CREATIVE WRITNG/STORYTELLING- The baby hippo is coming to your house for the weekend. What will you do with her/him- what games will you teach her -what will you feed her- how does she make you laugh?

3. Pizza Pie

a. SCIENCE- You open up a pizzeria for a specific animal, keeping in mind, their behavior and habitats. Draw the pizzeria and the menu. What would an emperor penguin want on its pizza and what would the restaurant be made of? (Book Idea-“Tacky the Penguin” by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger) Use this read along book with its CD at your listening center before you have puppet time.

b. MATH-With a large poster board circle (the pizza) cut it in half - 2 semicircles, cut those in half 9great introduction to fractions)

4. Aquarium

a. Science -Fish- How do they breath? Why are they covered with scales? (Book Idea- “What is it Like to be a Fish?” By Wendy Pfeffer and “My Visit to the Aquarium” by Aliki)

b. creative writing/drawing- if you were a fish what part of the ocean would you swim in- would there be a shipwreck- would you have a hide-away in seaweed or a coral reef- what other sea creatures would you see- starfish -jellyfish- what would you dream of at night? (illustrate)

5. Norman

a. CREATIVE WRITING/DRAWING- Norman is expanding his mind, learning new things, and working on his circus act. Do you have a pet that you can imagine having a different life? Perhaps a cat, which could purr so beautifully she becomes an opera singer. Invent an animal if you don't have one, like a dog that loves to cook or a fish that does ballet. How about an iguana that stars in a SCI-Fi movie? Describe this creature’s daily activity from dawn to dusk.

b. MATH shapes can be found all over the circus. (Book Idea-“Circus Shapes” by Stuart Murphy and Edward Miller)

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Teaching Toddlers to Read

Children develop much of their capacity to read in the first three years of life, when their brains grow to 90% of their adult weight. Talking, singing and reading to your child develops and strengthens links between their brain cells which enable them to understand and develop language skills. Therefore, you should read to your toddler as often as possible. Teach him the alphabet, letter sounds, and some simple sight words. Then teach him to blend sounds together to make words. Because a toddler has a short attention span, you need to keep the practice sessions very short and full of fun.

Reading aloud to your child helps your child to learn the correct way to read. By hearing you read the words on the page and sound them out, he learns that letters make words, and words make sentences, and sentences are how we communicate with each other. Communication is very important in how a person relates to the rest of the world. Reading aloud to your child encourages interpersonal communication, which is vital to a child's development.

There are many activities that will make reading fun, and help to keep the toddler engaged in reading.

1. Use musical instruments to create suspense, or silliness. This can bring a story to life as well as keep each child engaged. You can even have them make simple shakers with beans or rice inside a can. They can use it at different times. For example: shake the shaker when you hear the word ______.

2. Have the children act out what you read. If the character walks to the store, they should be able to walk in place as they reach a door and open it and grab some groceries. This should be fun and can help on those days it's raining out and their energy levels are high.

3. Use a prop bag to illustrate parts of the story. If your reading “Miss Spider’s Tea Party,” you might have a rubber spider, silk butterflies, a tea cup, and a handkerchief to wipe the spider’s tears away.

4. Ask your child questions about the story. Reading comprehension is one of the hardest things to teach a child if it doesn't come naturally to him. In order to comprehend something, you must be paying attention to it. Help your child to develop his ability to comprehend stories by asking him questions either about what he thinks is about to happen or what has already happened. This develops critical thinking, which helps later in life in making major decisions.

5. Do a fun activity after you finish the book that relates to the book in some way. For instance, if the book is about a tall person, make your own stilts using metal cans. If you read a book about lions or the circus, you can have your child jump through a hoop like a lion at the circus. This activity may be done indoors or outdoors. Add words of encouragement such as, "Come my beautiful lion!" Continue raising the hoop, then alternate between high and low.

Reading to your child on a regular basis will give him an appreciation and respect for reading. If reading is important to you, it will become important to your child. A bookcase full of a variety of great books should be available. The "Dr. Seuss" and "Dick and Jane" books are wonderful, because they are full of repetition. This will enable your child to learn sight words such as: it, at, on, in, the, etc. Learning sight words will help keep the frustration level down when they start to read books.

Here’s a fun sight word game called, “Stinky Cheese.” Cut triangles out of yellow construction paper. On 20 triangles write sight words that you want to practice. On 5 triangles write “stinky cheese.” Put the triangles in a sack and shake them up. The toddler pulls out a triangle. The child reads the sight word on his cheese. If he chooses “stinky cheese,” he holds his nose and says, “Stinky cheese!” in a silly voice.

Most toddlers are physically active and love to move. Take advantage of this natural trait by moving to short rhymes that introduce letter sounds. An A-Z list of Action Animal Phonics Rhymes that promote lots of movement can be found on this blog in the blog archive. Introduce a new sound each week and have fun.

Toddlers learn quickly with hands on activities. Make clay out of flour, salt, and warm water. Form a large A, a, and apple out of the clay. After the letters and apple dry have fun painting them and practice the letter sounds by singing silly songs. Take turns thinking of a word that begins with that letter/ sound. For example: say "A is for a a a a aaaaligator." You’ll be surprised what words the toddler will come up with. Your toddler will be proud of the letters he makes and will want to show them to everyone.

Another great way to teach a toddler letter sounds is to make a personalized book. Take a photo of the toddler with food that starts with each letter and paste it on top of an 8”-11” piece of paper. Under each picture with large letters write, Aa – Brian eats an apple, Bb- Brian eats a banana, Cc- Brian eats a carrot, etc. He will certainly learn his name, learn the letter sounds, and enjoy seeing himself in his phonics book.

Once your toddler has learned the letter sounds, it's time to start blending them together to make words. Here, too, fun must be a vital ingredient. Plain Unifix cubes are a wonderful manipulative for the development of small motor movements in toddlers. By gluing uppercase and lowercase letters to each cube and cover with clear nail polish for durability you can use them to teach reading skills as well. Make several sets of each. Make sets of opposite words, rhyming words, and sight words.

1. These are great for practicing the alphabet. You can link them together using all uppercase, all lowercase or uppercase A-lowercase a.
2. Put each child’s name in a zip lock bag for name practice.
3. You can build words with them.
4. They are great for word families too. Have (a-t) linked together and ask what letter can go in front to make a word.
5. Link together word opposites like, big-small, or long-short.
6. Link together words that rhyme like red-bed, or tall-fall.
7. Practice reading sight words that are on the cubes. Make a tower of correct and incorrect words. Try again on the incorrect words. Try to make a giant tower with all the sight words correct.

By making reading fun with exciting books, games, and manipulatives, toddlers will learn to read naturally. Fill their world with letters and words by decorating their rooms with alphabet posters and shelves of colorful books. My daughter was eager to learn, and she was reading just before her third birthday. But, each child is an individual with their own interests and timetable. The key to teaching toddlers to read is to surround them with fun reading tools, and let them set the their own pace for exploration and reading.