Horton Hears a Who is a Dr. Seuss classic, with revived interest from the younger generation thanks to Hollywood. This story is a great tale of the commitment and unselfishness of Horton, and the importance of cooperation and individual contribution from the Who’s.
Book+ Gifts! Literacy-Inspired Christmas Gifts Kids Will Love!
I love giving books as presents! It’s one gift my boys can count on for just about every holiday. But one of my favorite things to do is to pair a book with another gift. Each item is great on its own, but together they come to life! Here are a few of my favorites for this holiday season (includes affiliate links):
Teaching Kids Problem Solving with a Great Book!
I’ve got a thing for well-illustrated books that really capture the endearing quirkiness of kids. That’s the first thing that made me love Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy* by Jacky Davis and David Soman. But as I read it to my 4-year-old again tonight, I realized what a perfect book it is to illustrate the social problem-solving kids need to do almost every day. Something he had done today, in fact.
Just this afternoon, he and his brother were at odds about how to play together. As they got flustered and frustrated and began to grouch at each other, I stepped out to intervene. In a split second, I had to decide whether to intervene by settling it myself, or by taking the time to teach them to own their problems and problem solve together.
Book Activity: If You Give a Moose a Muffin (with an ABC Game)
I love Laura Numeroff’s stories, and the kids do too! In her predictable, yet amusing pattern, the characters begin with one activity, which inevitably leads to another, then another, then another, till you’re right back where you started again. Whether it’s the mouse with the cookie, the pig with the pancake, the moose with the muffin, or one of their many friends, kids learn to expect the unexpected!
Book Activity: Mouse Paint
I’m sharing a few old favorites while I’m away this week. This one was originally posted January 19, 2010.
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh is one of my very favorite books for teaching about primary and secondary colors. The children absolutely love it as well. In the story, three mice climb into three jars of paint (red, yellow, and blue) and then begin dancing, stirring and mixing with their feet as they blend the primary colors together to create secondary colors. (Incidently, White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker is also fantastic and follows a very similar format. Just in case one is easier for you to get your hands on than the other!)
Celebrating Good Books
My boys really enjoy a good read-aloud. And I enjoy any time my boys are getting into literature. In a desire to make literacy experiences a part of the memorable scenes of their childhood we’ve started celebrating each family read-aloud with activities that not only increase their comprehension and extend the learning, but also make the reading experience more fun and memorable.
Three Little Pigs
The next time you share the story of the Three Little Pigs, don’t just tell it, have the children be a part of it! These masks are inexpensive and easy to make. And the kiddos have a blast as they step into the story!
Dr. Seuss’ Birthday is on the Way!
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Dr. Seuss. Not only is his writing creative, humorous, poetic, and lovably quirky, but as an educator I’ve found it to be the perfect vehicle for promoting phonological awareness, a critical skill for building readers. With his birthday looming just around the corner (March 2), this is a popular time of year for all things Seuss!
Author Study: Robert Munsch
Robert Munsch grew up in Pennsylvania, in a big family with nine kids. Well, to be more accurate, Munsch specifies that he lived in Pennsylvania when he was young, and that he never really did grow up at all. The prolific author struggled through most of his schooling, but always had a passion for writing. He particularly enjoyed writing poetry, both the serious and silly varieties. But writing was his past time, not something he, or anyone else, really valued at the time.
Fast forward a few decades, and you find Robert Munsch working in day cares and preschools, captivating children with his storytelling. On his official website, Munsch recalls, “For ten years I did this without thinking I had any special skill. After all, while I made the best stories in the daycare centre, most of the other teachers made better play doh. I eventually got a long list of stories I told, but I never wrote them down.”
Too Many Toys
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