Mid-Prairie Preschool at Parkside: December 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Winter Party!

The winter party was so much fun! Thank you to all that came, helped and donated to make it happen.

Phonological awareness (rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration) is one of the best predictors of reading success. You grandmother didn’t know it, but those nursery rhymes she used to say to you were actually getting you ready to read!

1. Take advantage of little bits of time by saying nursery rhymes as you dress your child, buckle up her car seat, or take a walk.

2. Act out nursery rhymes with your child. Hold hands and be “Jack and Jill,” play follow the leader like “Mary and Her Little Lamb,” or jump over the moon and play your fiddle as in “Hey, Diddle, Diddle.”

3. Sing nursery rhymes to the tune of “100 Bottles of Pop on the Wall” or “Yankee Doodle.” (You’ll be amazed that most rhymes can be sung to those two tunes!)

4. Clap your hands or play patty cake to the rhythm of nursery rhymes.

5. Visit these websites to learn nursery rhymes and download some fun activities:

http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/nursery/index.html

enchantedlearning.com

6. Children love silly words and rhymes, so make up your own rhyming games. For
example, think of all the words that rhyme with your child’s name.

7. Encourage your child to pick out words that rhyme as you read books or sing songs.

Happy rhyming!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Sing, Sing, Sing!

Dear Parents,

You don’t have to be a rock star to enjoy singing with your child. Music is one of the most powerful ways to help children get ready to read.

1. What songs do you remember from your own childhood? Sing those to your child.

2. Ask your child to teach you a song that he has learned at school.

3. Check out children’s recordings from the library. These are great to listen to as you do chores around the house or travel in the car.

4. Make up motions for songs. You can dance, clap, jump, patty cake, or do other movements.

5. Can’t think of a song to sing? I bet you’ll remember some of these!

Skip to My Lou Twinkle Little Star If You’re Happy

BINGO London Bridge I’m a Little Teapot

This Old Man Lassie and Laddie Muffin Man

My Bonnie Three Blind Mice The Wheels on the Bus

Hush Little Baby Hickory Dickory Dock Coming Round the Mountain

Yankee Doodle Rain, Rain, Go Away Pop Goes the Weasel

Mulberry Bush Eensy Weensy Spider You Are My Sunshine

Old MacDonald The Farmer in the Dell Frere Jacques

Found a Peanut Jingle Bells Row Your Boat

Happy Birthday Alphabet Song Buffalo Gal

The Bear Went Ring Around Rose Working on the Railroad

over the Mountain

*If you don’t remember the tunes, you can probably find them on the internet.

Happy singing!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Talk, Talk, Talk!

Dear Parents,

Oral language is the foundation of literacy. Children with good verbal skills are generally better readers. Here are some simple things you can do to improve talking and listening at home.

1. TURN IT OFF! Turn off the radio or CD player in your car. Talk about your day or just listen.

2. TURN OFF THE TELEVISION AND THE COMPUTER! Limit screen time and watch programs with your child. Who is your favorite character? Is it real or pretend? What do you think will happen next?

3. Eat meals together. Try to eat at least one meal a day as a family. Turn off the radio, TV, and cell phone and you’ll be amazed at how talking will increase.

4. Be a good model for your child. If your child says something incorrectly, don’t reprimand your child. Simply repeat it correctly so your child hears how it should be said.

5. Talk about what you see as you drive down the road or what you are doing as you prepare a meal. The more your child hears you talk, the more your child will want to talk.

6. Listen, listen, listen! Stop what you are doing and look your child in the eyes when she talks to you. Demonstrate to your child that what she has to say is important to you.

Happy talking!