Tiny Reader

Emergent Storybook Reading

2012-01-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what kids do for "reading" in school if they haven't yet learned how to read conventionally? Well, I will tell you!

In schools across the country where I work, kindergarten teachers read and re-read special storybooks that we call "emergent storybooks." This is based on the work of Elizabeth Sulzby, a renowned researcher. To support emergent readers, teachers read aloud a few stories again and again. The children get to know the stories really well, and soon will begin to talk about the pictures and even tell the story to go with the pages. Some children will even point to the words and "read." All of this fosters a love of reading along with an emerging understanding of how reading works.

In classrooms, teachers will scour the classroom library for books that:

1. Have characters, a problem, and a solution

2. Have pictures that closely match what the text says on each page

3. Are highly engaging. The kind of books children love to hear again and again.

4. Are memorable - often there is a refrain or repeated phrase that helps kids remember how the story goes.

5. Contain rich, beautiful, literary language (think fairytales or folktales as examples)

Some examples of emergent storybooks that you might know:

Caps for Sale

Three Billy Goats Gruff

The Gingerbread Man

Three Little Pigs

Once you have some books, all you need to do is read them again and again. Soon, your child will know the story so well that she'll start to chime in with you. Then she'll start to tell the story to go with the pictures herself. Sometimes, she'll even start recognizing some of the words in the book!

A few tips for reading in a way that is especially supportive:

1. Make your voice as EXPRESSIVE as possible!

2. Point to the PICTURES as you read.

3. Use GESTURES and act things out with your hands and your body as you read.

Emergent storybook reading isn't just for classroom teachers or researchers. Parents and caregivers can support their wee readers at home by reading and reading and reading these books!

ABCs

2011-09-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

(Almost two)

Counting to Ten

2011-09-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

This summer we read a lot of counting books and sang a lot of counting songs!

(22 months old)

Why Are We So Afraid Of A Little Paint?

2011-09-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Seriously moms, teachers, grandparents, caregivers...what gives? Is it really so scary to let your toddler wield a paintbrush? Next time you're tempted to hide the new paint set that your tiny artist received as a gift (usually from someone without kids), keep these few things in mind.

Number 1: Washable paint really is washable. We've washed it out of clothes, towels, furniture, dog fur, everything. Never had a problem.

Number 2: Set it up so it's okay to be messy. Put a big old beach towel down and train your child to stay on it when paint is being used--or else no more paint. If the rules are broken, paint goes away. Trust me when I say that after the first time, your child won't step off the towel. Stick to it and it works!

Number 3: Clean as you go. Stick a small (snack-sized) bowl of sudsy water along side the paintbrush water and show your child how to dip her fingers in it. She'll wash her own little hands as she goes. Little L. has just as much fun with the water as she does with the paint! (Evidence: See the patch of paper that we taped over part of her original work, where the paper got soaked and ripped. Not a problem!)

Number 4: Too much of a good thing can get ugly. Ever heard the saying, "A good Kindergarten teacher knows when to take the crayons away."? Step in the moment your child becomes a teeny bit bored, too silly, or destructive. Put new paper up just before he's quite done with the first painting. Aim for the "I want to do another one!" feeling, rather than the "I am completely totally utter DONE with this and I don't like it anymore!"

Our Little Musicians

2011-09-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Corner Library

2011-09-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Literally. A library. On the street corner.

Summer 2011, aka "The Summer of Libraries"

2011-09-04T18:34:00.001-07:00

This was definitely the summer of libraries for us! We went to our neighborhood library at least once or twice a week to escape the heat, see some other kiddos, and read lots of books. This is at the NYC Main Branch (the one with the statues of lions that you see in lots of movies). Have you ever seen so many picture books in one place in your life?

Scribbling: Circular Stage

2011-09-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Little L. said: "Circles!"

Little L. said: "This is rain. This is Pooh Bear. This Mommy. Daddy... Mimi... Grandpa..."

Yes, there are stages to scribbling! Little L. is in the late Circular stage, early Naming stage!

Click here if you want to find out the stage of your own tiny artist or writer.

Try these handy tips:

1. Compliment your child's work by naming what you see, reinforcing her newfound skills as well as vocabulary. If you can name it, she can learn what it is called. Try saying things like,"I see straight/curvy/zig zag lines!" or "I see circles/dots/curves!" or "I see lots of blue on your page, and even a little bit of yellow!" After a short amount of time, you'll hear her naming her own work!

2. Keep materials easily accessible. If you have to dig out the paper and crayons from the bottom of a closet or a drawer, you and your child will be less likely to spend 5-10 minutes drawing. Try an easel or large notebook set up with not-too-messy materials. Tape the paper down so she's less likely to rip it apart. A few washable crayons are pretty easy to manage and pose little danger to your furniture and walls--they really are washable--trust me! (Hint: The fatter the marker or crayon, the harder it can be for your child to use a three-finger grip. Really fat crayons and markers force your child to fist it rather than pinch it. Try having a variety of art materials, both fat and skinny, for fine motor skills, and also just for fun!)

3. Make time every day. While I'm making my coffee in the morning is one of Little L.'s favorite easel times. She hunkers down with markers and crayons for just the right amount of time for me to pour it, add milk and sugar, down half of it while I still have a chance!

Life-to-Text Connections

2011-07-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Real life always reminds us of life-to-text connections! (Yes, "life-to-text.")

This picture is from one of our many trips to the Bronx Zoo. It reminds us of so many great books!

This reminds me of...

... Llama Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney

... Is Your Mama a Llama?

... Zoo Looking, by Mem Fox

What does it remind you of?

Check Out the We Teach Summertime Learning eBook

2011-07-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Over at We Teach, the amazing leaders put together this beautiful eBook filled with fun ideas for summer learning. Check it out! Baby L and I contributed to it!

Experimenting with Magic Markers and Ice

2011-06-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

This post is especially for teachers I work with. Next year we will all be trying out a new unit of study in science and writing workshop. We'll teach the kids how to design their own experiments, and how to write up their results. Baby L and I tried it out the other day, and here's how it went. (You could use the same materials for experiments with your kids, or you could use our "lab report" as a mentor text for their writing.)

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or caregiver reading this, have fun doing experiments with your tiny scientist! If you know some great links to other fun easy experiments, please share!

Baby L's Lab Report

The questions we had:

What happens when you color on ice with magic markers?

What happens when you stir water with a magic marker?

What happens when you mix the colors?

What happens to soap suds when you add color?

What we used:

1. bowls of water

2. ice cubes

3. markers (nontoxic, washable)

4. some bubble soap

5. spoons and cups

What we did:

1. We had a giant chunk of ice-cubes that had melted together in the ice-tray in the freezer, so we took that out and put it in the big wooden bowl.

2. We poured some water on it to see what would happen. Not much. It made the ice chunk look shiny and slippery.

3. We colored on the ice chunk with magic markers. It was so cool! The ice turned different colors!

4. We poured some more water on the ice chunk, so now there was lots of water in the bowl. The water changed to the color of the magic markers!

5. We moved some of the ice into a new bowl. The ice was clean! No colors when we moved it!

6. We colored the clean ice and poured water on it. The same thing happened- the water changed colors again!

7. Then we poured a little water with no ice into a third bowl and stirred it with a marker. The water changed colors!

8. Last, we stuck in some hand soap to see what would happen. We made lots of suds, but the suds didn't really change color even when we stirred in more magic marker!

New Words for Baby L:

Melt

Drip

Suds

Mix

Stir

Frozen

Pour

Slippery

Dolls Need Books Too!

2011-06-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

Alphabet Song!

2011-05-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading and Writing Kits!

2011-04-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Now that spring has (FINALLY) arrived, Baby L and I are already thinking ahead to summer! With all the traveling we plan to do, we need some portable drawing and writing materials to keep Baby L's writing life alive and strong!

Here's what we did.

First I gathered up materials to make a box to hold all of Baby L's fun summer writing materials: 1) a cereal box decorated with catalog clippings, 2) some stapled booklets of blank paper, and 3) some crayons, markers, tiny notepads, stickers, envelopes, and post-its:

Then I put it all together, so that Baby L has one transportable, totally fun, totally awesome SUMMER WRITING KIT! I even added in the mini-clipboard that the Easter Bunny brought her.

In the classroom, I love ending the school year by making reading kits and writing kits for the kids to take home for their summer reading and writing lives. You can spend the last week or two of reading workshop or writing workshop teaching the kids how to take care of and use their special summer kits so that by the time they leave for summer vacation, they've had plenty of practice with taking things out and putting them back, coming up with their own ideas for reading and writing projects, and dreaming up the kind of reading and writing they hope to do.

Here are some ideas that many teachers (and parents and caregivers) love!

For a container you could use:

A giant zip-loc baggy
Cloth bags ordered from Oriental Trading or other catalogue
If you're a classroom teacher, sometimes parent volunteers are willing and able to sew beautiful bags for reading or writing kits. Thanks parents!
Blank aluminum lunchboxes (available at some craft stores and websites) for children to decorate
A typical pencil box
Children could decorate whatever the container is with glued on pictures, stickers, or paint to personalize the kits

Some possibilities for tools to put in the Writing Kit:

A notebook or notepad with blank paper (unlined for young children)
“Special” summer writing paper with a place to sketch, and lines to write on just like writing workshop at school (photocopied onto colored paper to make it special; stapled or hole-punched and stuck on a ring to turn it into a notepad)
Consider various paper sizes, decorating the paper with a stamp, photocopy a border or design onto it or placing a sticker at the top to turn it into “stationery”
Colorful post-its, or post-its cut into shapes (stars, hearts, clouds, or other)
Special glittery or colorfully designed pencils, pens or markers
Envelopes and stamps, include a card with an address where children can to write to you and their new teacher(s) over the summer
Post cards, greeting cards, notecards, etc.
Poetry object(s) (seashells, stones, feathers, leaves, dried flowers, other)
Recipe cards, list paper, How-To paper, mini-calendar
Mini-staplers, tape, and/or glue sticks
Personal Word Wall, Alphabet Chart, Blends Chart

Some idea for reading kits:

Collect favorite books to put in the reading kit
Include books written by the child, other children, or by the teacher or parents or caregivers and friends
Special book marks with reminders for things to think about while you read ("I'm wondering..." "This makes me think..." "I notice..."
A tiny flashlight for reading under the covers
Special post-its (of course!!)
A tiny notebook for making a wish list of books, or for jotting or sketching ideas about the books
A tiny calendar for tallying up how many books you read each day or how many pages you read (if you are an older kid who reads chapter books)

Whatever you do this summer, have fun doing it! If you decide to make a summer reading or writing kit let us know, we'd love to hear about it!

Easter Egg Hunt=Grammar Lesson?

2011-04-19T17:58:00.001-07:00

Baby L, Daddy B, and I went to our first Easter Egg Hunt this weekend at McCarren Park! It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and Baby L filled a shopping bag full of eggs. We put lots of them back for other kids to find, and still had a ton to take home.

Later that night, after Baby L went to bed, I emptied out all the eggs and cleaned them up so L could play with them in her play kitchen. As I popped open each egg and removed whatever candy or toys were inside it dawned on me that we could hide the eggs all over again in the house--why wait until Easter? What a fun game to play!

So that night I filled the eggs back up with stickers and hid them all over the house. Since L is only 1.5 years old, I hid them in plain sight. I didn't want her to lose interest after finding the first egg.

The next morning, Baby L found the first few "hidden" eggs immediately. It's easy to see why:

After she found the eggs on the stools, we started giving her clues to find the rest. "Look under the baby doll.... next to the wagon... on top of the coffee table..."

L totally understood that we were telling her generally where to look, but the prepositions-- under, over, in, on... those were tricky for her. We coached her with gestures, we pointed, we restated, we repeated and emphasized certain words. What great practice with grammar! said the teacher-voice inside my head. Oh just have fun...don't ruin it with grammar! said the non-teacher voice inside my head...as usual.

Either way, L loves our new game!

Note:
Teachers are constantly asking me for ideas for how to teach grammar. A really great resource for teachers of older children is The Power of Grammar, by Mary Ehrenworth and Vicki Vinton. You'll find lots of smart ways to teach grammar in a way that calls upon children's abilities to think creatively and meaningfully, rather than memorizing a bunch of grammar rules for a test, or filling out worksheets.

Taking Our Tiny Scientist to the New York Aquarium

2011-04-17T16:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we braved the pouring rain and howling wind and packed up Baby L and drove to the New York Aquarium. We brought along with all the books we could find about sea life, and read them on the way!

One great thing about this book...

...and this book....

are the audio recordings of the books on the CDs that come with them. We have four or five books from this series and all of them are equally as beautiful. Baby L, Daddy B, and I loved listening to the the CDs all the way to the aquarium, and we felt like experts on sea life by the time we arrived!

And then, one of the first things we saw when we got there...

He (or she?) looked just like the turtles in our book!

But Baby L's (and Mommy and Daddy's) FAVORITE thing of all at the aquarium was this guy:

I nearly bought a stuffed animal version of the walrus, but it was Baby L who said, "Put back!"(One of her favorite things to say these days--especially if it's a food she doesn't want to eat). I listened to her and I put back the toy walrus... we really do not need any more stuffed animals... but I kind of wish I had brought him home to cuddle with!

Make a Special Reading Spot in Your House

2011-04-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

Kids love having their own special spot for reading. Having a favorite place to read helps children build their identity as readers - they can think of themselves as "readers" before they even know the alphabet!

Here are some ideas:

1. Set up a corner with a basket of books, some pillows and some post-its.

2. You could set aside a child-sized rocking chair with a tote-bag full of books resting in it.

3. Keep a basket of books next to your child's bed with a mini-flashlight for reading under the covers.

Here's Baby L's fave reading spot right now:

Use your imagination!

Does your tiny reader have a favorite place to read? Leave a comment and share!

Mark it With a B! For Baby and Me!

2011-04-03T19:59:00.001-07:00

It started a few nights ago, in the tub, actually. Baby L pointed to the red foam letter B and said, "Baby."

I really thought it was just a coincidence, but just to check, I said, "Where's the B? B for Baby?" and she pointed to it again. Then she turned her attention to her beloved ducky and the moment had passed.

But the next night, in the tub, it happened again. This time I was singing the ABC song and writing the letters of the alphabet on the wall of tub with L's tub crayons. When I came to the end of the alphabet, I said, "L. where's B for Baby and me?" Again! She did it again! She scanned all the letters - starting at Z and moving backward very methodically, until she came to the letter B. She immediately smiled, pointed, and said, "Baby!"

Still, I thought, maybe just another coincidence. So, just casually, over the next few days, I started asking her to find the letter B. When reading a book with really big print I asked, "L do you see a B for Baby?" When playing with her ABC blocks. When walking down the street. She totally knows the letter B now! AMAZING!! (At least, I think so, anyway...)

Yesterday, I wrote all the letters of the alphabet on a big piece of paper taped on her easel, and she's been going back to it again and again with her crayons and markers, "writing" the letters. She colors and scribbles very deliberately, right on top of each letter. So cute!

She can also tell you where "D for Daddy" is, and "M for Mommy."

Next thing you know, she'll be writing her first book!

I do feel a little bit like I'm playing with fire, here. It is so tempting to go totally overboard. I could start asking her all day everywhere we go to find letters and numbers. Or pull out flashcards or something crazy like that. But obviously she's learning the letters without any particular drill or practice. So I think it's best if I just keep reading aloud lots of great books, talking about books and writing, and giving her lots of opportunity to see letters and numbers in her environment.

Do you have a story or idea to share about learning the alphabet? Please leave a comment and share!

It's Time for Holi! Author Interview

2011-03-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Amita Roy Shah is the author of It’s Time for Holi! Amita is also a consultant for several educational publishing companies, a researcher studying South Asian American women who become teachers, and is the mother of one super-smart kid!

Luckily for me, she was willing to take time out of her hectic schedule to answer some questions about her new book:

Tiny Reader: It’s Time for Holi! is your first children’s book. What inspired you to write a book about Holi?

Amita: The idea of Holi came to me when I was designing a Pre-K curriculum and realized that many Pre-K themes have to do with colors, seasons, and multicultural celebrations. Holi is the Indian festival of colors! People celebrate spring by throwing colors on one another…so I thought to myself, what child wouldn’t want to celebrate spring by throwing colors on their family and friends?!?

Tiny Reader: What’s a common question that children have for you about Indian culture, and how do you address it?

Amita: It’s not really a question but I think children are sometimes confused about the term “Indian." And in the United States the term is used to talk about Native American Indians the most. I think this term causes a lot of confusion, so I always make it a point to say that Holi is a celebration that started in the country of India but is now celebrated everywhere. I think it is also important for children to say “India” out loud and I hope the images from my book will help them develop a better understanding of Indians who are from the country of India.

Tiny Reader: What is your writing process?

Amita: My writing process has always been to write down whatever I am thinking at the moment and develop the structure, format, and language later! This has definitely worked for me. The first couple drafts of this book don’t really have a rhyme or rhythm and are just some ideas about roses, butterflies, birds, colors, and spring. It is funny to look back and see it all now.

Tiny Reader: What do you hope children will learn from reading your book?

Amita: I hope that all children get more exposure to the Indian culture. Throughout the book you will notice subtle images of the culture--such as the jewelry, the dress, the wall hangings, the containers with the colored powders, names of characters, etc. I also hope that children get really excited about spring and celebrating Holi at school or at home. Holi is about getting messy with colors so children can really do any activity that allows for them to make a mess with colors. I am going to have my son make colorful handprints or footprints with paint and throw some colored confetti on us at home. He will also go to a couple Holi celebrations that are taking place in the bay area. The other thing I hope for is that it helps validate the experiences of Indian children living in the United States. I think it is really important for children to see people like them and their families in books.

Tiny Reader: What does your son think about all this?

Amita: This is a great question! So let me give you a little more background. I needed the illustrations to look as realistic as possible--so my illustrator referenced our online family albums to create the characters. The boy in the book looks exactly like my son! So my son is absolutely ecstatic when he sees the book. He says, “Look! It’s the Deven book!” every time he sees it!

Tiny Reader: You are a busy lady—a researcher, a consultant, a mom, a children’s book author. What other projects do you have going on right now?

Amita: I think I thrive on multiple projects, so it’s actually a good thing that I have a lot going on. But I am also fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule that allows for me to prioritize projects so that my son always comes first. So with that, I do what I can when I can. Many people have already expressed an interest in a Diwali book... and I do have some ideas for that, so that might be next! I am also talking to a university about teaching part-time. But again, it all depends on time and scheduling!

Tiny Reader: What are your plans for the book now that it is published?

Amita: I have created a Facebook page, “It’s Time for Holi,” to write about all the latest happenings. But just to give you a couple highlights, I plan to do read-alouds at schools or community centers to get the word out. I just did a reading for children at Teachers College and will be at the Indian Community Center (ICC) this week. In the future, I hope to make a more interactive website for children to play virtual Holi game so children can virtually throw colors and get points! I also want to host a coloring contest during Holi and have children color some of the pages from my book. Those are just some ideas in the works to get children more involved in Holi activities 

Celebrating 100 Followers Today!

2011-03-22T17:38:00.001-07:00

Yippee! Tiny Reader officially has 100 followers on Google! Thank you so much, dear readers!

Thank you also to all the Tiny Reader followers on Twitter, Networked Blogs, and Facebook!

Three Finger Grip!

2011-03-18T18:39:00.001-07:00

At seventeen months old, she's a writer already!

Make March Music in Your House Month

2011-03-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

I just learned from another blogger that March is Music in Our Schools Month. Yippee!

Baby L. comes from a musical family - Daddy plays guitar, and so does Grandpa J. (You can hear a clip of Grandpa J. here!) Great Grandpa E. plays the clarinet, and her Great Uncle T. plays drums. There's even a family band and a few albums that Grandpa J. made in his recording studio! Mommy was a band geek in high school and college, and her Grandpa K. knows every piece of trivia you ever could imagine about every jazz, blues, soul, and rock and roll artist ever.

So it's in Baby L.'s blood and it shows. She LOVES music.

To foster her love of music, Baby L. has a box of her own instruments that she often goes to. We always have music on in our house, and she'll often start dancing in the middle of doing something else when she hears a good tune! She'll even pick up her instruments and play along, sometimes she'll even "sing."

Here are some tips for supporting musical kids in your family or classroom:

1. Have music on whenever you can

2. Play lots of different kinds of music, even if they aren't your personal preferences

3. Talk about the music. Name and talk about the instruments you hear if you can

4. Clap, dance, and sing along with the music

5. Make a box of instruments - it's easy! (see below)

6. If you can, seek out music classes in your neighborhood or town. Often the local library, school, or YMCA offers music classes or sing-a-longs for free, or for low cost. It's great for your child to see other kids and grown-ups who like to sing and dance as much as they do.

7. Encourage your child to make up songs! (Even those "songs" that you don't think really sound like songs).

Some instruments you can make:

1. Fill an old plastic bottle with beads, pasta, beans, or coins to make a shaker. Use a drop of glue to seal the cap on so that your baby or toddler can't get it open.

2. Save the tubes from your paper towels. We call them Der-Der Tubes in our house because you can hold them up to your mouth and sing "Der der der der!" An instant trumpet!

3. Cookie tins make great drums - so do oatmeal containers!

4.Good ol' pots and pans are always fun to bang on!

5. You can clap two blocks together to make a great sound along with the beat of a fun song.

6. Your child's baby rattles can go into their instrument box as they get older.

All this music is great for a budding reader or writer, believe it or not. Lyrics to songs build vocabulary, as well as oral language fluency and expression. Clapping, dancing, and playing instruments along to the beat of a song supports phonological awareness - hearing the sounds in language. Just google "music and baby brain development" and a zillion academic research articles appear. Whether you buy into the "Mozart effect" or not, music is a great way to engage your little one in the world of language, words, communication, and fun!

***

Note: (I personal feel that the catch phrase "Mozart effect" it is a bit oversimplified - though it sounds wonderful, and there are some intriguing studies on the short and long term effects of listening to classical music. Some researchers explain that simply playing Mozart to your baby is not going to make her smarter. However, families who provide music, singing, a love of those kinds of things, are likely to be the kinds of families who provide lots of other great support too - books, language, stories, and lots more.)

Text to Food Connection

2011-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Tonight we're having Pete's A Pizza!

First we'll read the book. Then we'll turn Baby L. into a pizza, just like the boy in William Steig's book. After that, we'll eat a real Pete's A Pizza!

xoxoxo

Baby L. and Mommy

Wee Wee Wee!

2011-03-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite games with Baby L is the one where we say "Where's your ______?" and she points to the body part and says it. She's only 16 months old, so it sounds like this:

Me: "Baby L, where's your head?"

Baby L: "Het. Het. Het." (taps her head)

Me: "Where are your eyes?"

Baby L: "Eyes!" (She blinks really fast.)

Me: "Where are your ears?"

Baby L: (She responds by tugging her cute little ear lobes.)

Me: "Where are your hands?"

Baby L: "Heh. Heh." (She waves.)

Me: "Fingers?"

Baby L: (She wiggles her fingers.)

Me: "Belly button?"

Baby L: (She points to her neck--which seems odd, but it's because in the book Where's Baby's Belly Button, Baby L lifts the flap on the belly button page, and the baby in the illustration has her hands pointing to her neck! Click on the link to see what I mean. It's adorable.)

Her cutest response of all?

Me: "Baby L, where are your toes?"

Baby L: Grabs her toes and says, "Wee wee wee!"

Note: The reading teacher in me is very proud of the text-self connections my baby girl is making here. Usually we think of readers bringing what they know from personal experience to help them understand books. Strong readers read a text and stop and think, "What does this remind me of?" But here, it's the other way around. It's as if Baby L is looking about her body, and thinking, "Hmm... what book does this remind me of?"

Love at First Read

2011-02-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

At the library today, Baby L fell in love with this book! I've never seen her become so attached, so quickly, to a book.

She pulled it out of the board book section completely on her own and brought it over to me saying "Book! Book!" Then she demanded that I read it to her multiple times!

Has your child ever fallen in love with a book at first sight? Post a comment and tell us about it!

March is the Month for Text Sets

2011-02-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

In first grade classrooms from New York City to Seattle, teachers are about to launch the March Unit of Study for Reading Workshop: Putting Texts Together: Reading Across Genres To Learn About a Topic and

Build Your Vocabulary.

And guess what, you can do the same at home!

Just collect up a whole bunch of books about a topic you and your little ones are interested in. Stick them in a box or a basket and have fun reading!

Baby L and I have been reading our winter books all season long. We've got stories, poems, board books, lift-the-flap books, nonfiction books, you name it. It's so much fun to watch Baby L make a connection from one book to another!

Winter is almost over (hopefully), so soon we'll be busting out a bunch of books about spring! Yippee!

Comments From the Peanut Gallery

2011-02-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

Baby L is learning more and more words by the minute! Her newest craze is to chime in to conversations, books, songs, anything with her own "comments." Usually "Dooooo!" or "Deeda deeda deeda" or something like that, but she sounds like she's really adding to the conversation! We respond with all due seriousness, "Yes, Baby L., of course. What else would you like to say?" And she responds!

Adorable!

Add that to her fascinating "self conversations" that she has nightly in her crib before she drops off to sleep, and each morning when she awakes. She can be heard listing off the words she knows, cooing, and babbling. It's the best alarm clock ever!

So cute!

She can also be heard "talking" to Indigo, our dog, and Baby L's best bud. "Dee! Dee! Heh heh heh." She smiles, and pats him, or waves to him from across the living room and says as clear as day, "Hi!"

Too bad Indigo can't talk. Maybe with enough reading aloud, modeling conversations, responding to his attempts at conversation...

The Writing On the Bathtub Wall

2011-01-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

Bath time has turned into a splishy-splashy writers workshop!

"Reading" Pictures

2011-01-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? At 14 months, Baby L is already READING!!!!

Seriously! She is!

What you don't believe me? (And NO-- I am not talking about "Your Baby Can Read." More on that some other time.)

It all depends on what your definition of what "reading" means. For many of us reading teachers out there, "reading" means making sense out of text. Literacy experts know that one of the first important steps into reading is when young children begin to understand that pictures and pages in books hold meaning.

L loves to turn the pages of her favorite books all by herself and name what she sees in the pictures. She even holds the book right side up... most of the time. When she "reads" it sounds like this:

Page 1: (pointing to a baby's face) Uh oh!

Page 2: (pointing to a baby hiding under a hat) Boo! (That's Baby L's word for peekaboo)

Page 3: (pointing to baby and woman) Mama!

Page 4: Nummy nummy nummy (points to a baby holding a spoon covered in yogurt)

She's totally reading!

Now I've started coaching her a little. I'll say, "L, what's this page say?" and I point to the picture. Then L says the closest "word" she knows (which is sometimes really just a sound effect like "vroom vroom" for car)-- but she is 100% making sense. She totally gets it.

What a great tiny reader she is!

New Year's Reading Resolutions!

2011-01-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

It's the time of year when we all think ahead to the coming year and make big plans and big promises for ourselves. We think back on what we were able to do (and not do) last year and we think about how things can be better in the year ahead.

I've been thinking a lot on how much Baby L has grown since last year and my head just spins! Last year she was just a tiny newborn. She'd sit in my lap and listen intently as I read book after book after book. Her fingers would "skritchy-skratch" across the pictures and she'd pull books into her mouth to suck on them. I remember how proud I was when around this time of year last year she started turning pages!

Now, one year later, Baby L has favorite books of her own. She picks them out of her stacks of books that we have all over the house and she "reads" them to herself, opening and closing them (not quite turning one page at a time on her own yet), pointing and talking. For the book Baby Talk she always says "Mama!" because she loves the page that says "Mama." For Jamberry she says "Boom boom!" because she loves the page that says "Moonberry, zoomberry, rockets shoot by!" As far as I'm concerned -- she's reading!!!!!

(Sidenote - Lately, she's actually been getting very upset when the Jamberry ends and always wants to read it again... and again... and again... sometimes grabbing the book in frustration because she wants to skip right to the good part with the "boom." What a passionate reader!)

This year Baby L and I have a few things we definitely plan to do as readers together. Here are our New Year's Reading Resolutions:

1) Go to the library every week (and maybe even return all of our books on time!).

2) Read a few books each night at bedtime, and every day at naptime.

3) Keep books all around the house, and bring books with us when we go on trips in the car or when we ride on the subway.

4) Make sure Baby L sees Mommy and Daddy reading.

What are your New Year's Reading Resolutions? Post a comment and share!

What We're Singing Right Now

2010-12-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Let it Snow!

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss good night
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

What songs are you singing right now? Post a comment and let us know!

Tips for Happy Bedtime Stories

2010-12-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Baby L loves her bedtime stories - but it wasn't always that way. From about 6 months old to 9 months old she went through a phase where she rolled around, pulled at my clothes, grabbed at anything nearby, and would just glance over her shoulder when I turned a page. Daddy B and I persisted though, and continued to read bedtime stories for every nap time and bedtime and our consistency, we think, has won her over! She's a huge fan of the bedtime story now! She snuggles in and helps turn pages, and points to parts of the picture, sometimes even "talking" about the pictures. When L talks, she gets the main sound of a word, like "tsss" for "necklace." If it's an animal she'll imitate the sound that it makes. Like "ack ack" for "duck/quack" or "ooo ooo" for owl (which she also says for "towel" - pretty cute).

Here are a few tips that my teacher and mommy friends have given me, to help out with bedtime stories. I've tested these out, and they work!

1. Find a quiet place. Turn off the radio, and the television. Close the door or do whatever you need to do to find a quiet spot to snuggle up and read a few books.

2. Be patient. Your child might not be a fan of bedtime stories tonight, but kids change quickly. Try to be consistent and read at least a few pages each night. You'll eventually establish a routine that will foster a love of books for the rest of your child's life!

3. Have fun! Use silly voices, gestures, tap the pictures with your fingers. Be goofy!

4. Try reading aloud books in themes. Reading books that connect by topic or by character is fun for kids. They love noticing when something is the same from one book to another. Baby L loves books that have animals in them. It's so exciting for her when we read her Baby Animals book and she has her Old MacDonald book with her that contains some of the same animals!

5. Act parts out. Baby L never gets tired of my sound effects and gestures for Goodnight Moon. We meow for the kittens, and pretend to put on mittens. We wave goodnight to each page, then wave goodnight to everything in her own bedroom.

6. Take turns with other grown-ups or read bedtime stories all together as a family, so it's not just mommy who reads.

7. Talk about books. Baby L often checks out books from the library that have beautiful pictures, but far too many words for us to get through in a bedtime read. So we talk about the book instead, by pointing to things in the pictures and naming them.

8. Try reading a favorite book many times so that it become familiar. Some babies like to have the same book each night because it becomes part of the routine, and routines help babies feel calm and safe. For a long time, Goodnight Moon was part of our routine, but recently Time for Bed has taken its place. Other babies enjoy more variety. Experiment to see what your child likes.

9. Spread out three or four books for your little one to choose from. Even the littlest babies will point to or pick up one book or another!

10. Respond to your child's cues. If she loves a particular book, read it again! If she's crying or upset, read as much as you can, but try again next time.

Good night everyone! Have fun reading!

How to Survive the Longest Car Ride Ever with a Toddler

2010-11-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Baby L, Daddy B, Indigo, and I just got home from a SEVEN hour drive, coming back to Brooklyn from northern Vermont, and man am I tired!

Baby L hasn't slept in the car for quite a while now, so we figured we'd make the drive during the day when the two grown-ups had a little more energy. It was a good plan, I think. Much better than the seven hour drive in the middle of the night earlier this week, when Baby L didn't sleep much more than the last forty-five minutes. I think we learned our lesson from that one!

How to Survive:
1. Read lots and lots and lots of books to your child.
2. If there are two grown-ups, one person can sit in the back to entertain the little person. It makes life better for everybody!
3. Pack lots and lots of snacks that aren't too messy, and several bottles and sippy cups.
4. Allow your child to feed the dog her snacks, even though you usually don't.
5. Allow your child to watch TV shows on your iPhone, even though you usually don't. In fact, you don't even have a TV.
6. Don't stop unless you absolutely have to. If you absolutely have to, stop as soon as possible.
7. Three words: Music. Together. CD. (If you don't know what I'm talking about click here.)
8. Bring a big blanket so you and baby can hide under it from time to time.
9. Don't bring toys that make annoying sounds!
10. Don't plan on your child sleeping. It's probably not going to happen. But it might. If you are lucky. Really really lucky.

Leaf Collecting With Your Tiny Scientist

2010-11-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

On your next walk outside, collect some leaves!

Try to gather up a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Your little one will have fun noticing the tiniest details.

Set up a box somewhere in the house where your tiny scientist can have fun taking leaves out and putting them back in. Babies love filling and emptying!

And for grown-ups here are some great sites for identifying trees! Once you look up your tree you can try using the name of the tree as you talk about leaves with your little munchkin:

What Tree Is It?

LEAF Tree ID Key

Tree ID App for iPhone

Make sure to use lots of descriptive vocabulary to talk about the size, color, shapes and textures while you're talking with your baby about the beautiful leaves you collected! Talking to your little guy or gal is a great way to keep them interested and immerse them in the world of language and words that scientists use.

Baby's Favorite Color!

2010-11-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

The next time your little one is playing with her blocks, watch closely. Does she rummage through the box, taking out only the blue ones?

That's what Baby L does! Blue is her fave right now!

If you pour all of her blocks out, you can see that the blue ones are scratched and banged up, while the red, green, and yellow blocks are practically new. Personally, I think it's just about the coolest thing I've ever seen! Early on, babies will sometimes start to develop preferences and favorites. And it's not limited to colors. Just a few examples include favorite sounds, favorite toys, and of course favorite foods!

At first I wasn't sure if L was choosing the blocks because of the color blue, or if it was because of the shapes. So I started watching her more closely, to see if there was a pattern.

At bathtime, Baby L digs through the foam letters in the bath tub to find the blue ones!

When she plays with her links, she gnaws on her blue links and carries them around with her, casting aside the others haphazardly!

Before dinner, we always read a couple books. Of these three books, guess which one she picks?

You guessed it. The blue one!! As a matter of fact, 123 New York is one of her all time favorite books. Right up there with Where's Baby's Belly Button and Good Night Moon.

Preferences are a sign that your baby is beginning to form categories for things. That is, L. recognizes "blue" as a category. She can discriminate non-blue things from blue things; an early and important step in her life as a learner. Just as a scientist observes, classifies, and sorts his or her specimens, Baby L is beginning to notice that not all blocks, links, or books are the same. Sorting and categorizing objects by color is just one step on her long journey toward developing an understanding of the world around her. Go Baby L!

So have fun watching closely and listening carefully to your little scientists. See what you notice. Post a comment and share!

Our Newest Game: "Where's the..."

2010-11-01T16:28:00.001-07:00

"L, where's the monkey?" I asked Baby L, pointing to her toys.

L grinned a big toothy smile and crawled over to her basket of stuffed animals.

"Aaah! Aaah! Aaah!" she shrieked (like a monkey).

"Yes! That's right! That's your monkey!" My heart swelled. My little baby was talking!

"L, where's the owl?" I asked. She turned immediately back to her stuffed animals, all business now.

Five seconds later she found what she was looking for.

"Oooh. Oooh. Ooooh," she hooted, pointing at her favorite stuffed owl--the one her babysitter made her for her birthday a few weeks ago.

"That's right!" I cried, "That's your owl that Ruby made for you! Can you find the other owl?"

L cocked her head at me, as if to say, "Huh?"

"The other owl, you know, the old one?" L dug through the stuffed animals. She cast aside a doll, a teddy bear, and two doggies. Finally, she held the owl she was looking for above her head and hooted, "Oooh! Oooh Oooh!"

"Oh, L, you are the smartest baby in the world!"

Where Is Baby's Pumpkin?

2010-10-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

October is almost over--can you believe it?!

For Halloween this year, Baby L is going as the baby from her favorite author's book, Where Is Baby's Pumpkin?

The book:

The costume:

The pumpkin:

L. is participating in a family tradition of dressing as favorite characters, including the time I dressed as Harry Potter when I was teaching fifth grade, and when I dressed as Mrs. Wishy-Washy when I was teaching first grade, and the time I dressed in all orange, along with my whole fifth grade class so that we could all be the entire cast of Louis Sachar's Holes. There was one year when I dressed as the M, from MSV-- but that's another story (and only reading teachers will understand it!).

Are you dressing as a character from a book this Halloween? Post a comment and share your costume ideas!

Birthday Books!

2010-10-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe Baby L's first birthday is just a few days away! People always say ,"Seems like it was just yesterday..." but it REALLY seems like it was just yesterday that she was born.

As you can imagine, Baby L is definitely getting a couple books for her birthday. Daddy B and I are thinking of making it a tradition to get her some birthday books each year. We'll write a little note in each one so that as she gets older she'll have a birthday book collection. Here's this year's birthday book list:

Where's Baby's Pumpkin by Karen Katz

As you already know from previous posts, Karen Katz is L's favorite author, and has been since L was just a few weeks old! So it only makes sense that Where's Baby's Pumpkin is on our list. L already owns Where's Baby's Birthday Present, or that one would be on the list too! (Side note: L is going to dress up as the baby from WBP? for Halloween-- how cute is that!?)

Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton

Baby L also goes by the nickname L-Monster so it was perfect that we found Birthday Monsters for our own little monster!

The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli

Baby L and her nanny checked this book out at the library, and the more times we read it, the more L enjoys it. BUT... L really loves it because the baby in the book is wearing a party hat. She points to the pointy little hat and says "Doo doo..." (which is her "word" for "look, look" or "this...this...") Ever since L's neighborhood birthday party a few weeks ago, she had been obsessed with party hats. Funny, right? What a crazy thing to be obsessed with, but it's true. When she sees the party hat in the book, I say, "L, where are your party hats?" And she crawls over to her toy box and brings one back! (FYI: Where's Baby's Birthday Cake also has party hats).

Do you have some favorite birthday books? What are your birthday traditions? Post a comment and share!

Addendum:

Here are some of the other books Baby L got for her birthday:

On The Day You Were Born, by Debra Frasier, Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin, by Brooklyn Local Tad Hills, and My First Halloween Book published by my fave nonfiction publisher, DK.

Playing With Food Words!

2010-10-03T15:23:00.001-07:00

If one of my neighbors were to walk by our front door at breakfast time, this is what she might hear. "Ba-na-na! Ba-na-na! Ba-na-na! Yaaaay!"

Later at lunch, she might hear, "Zu-chi-ni! Zu-chi-ni! Zu-chi-ni! Yippeeeee!"

And at dinner, "Spa-ghet-ti! Spa-ghet-ti! Spa-ghet-ti! Woooo! Hoooo!"

It all started yesterday when Baby L was eating bananas for breakfast. She looked a little distracted, so to get her attention I started to "cheer" for bananas by tapping on her highchair tray for each syllable. Ba-na-na. Bang-bang-bang. L smiled in delight and banged her tray right along with me!

As I clapped and tapped the syllables to banana, the teacher part of my brain kicked in and realized that this is exactly what we do when we introduce new word wall words each week. We clap them, we tap them, we write them over and over, we say them over and over and cheer for them. The repetition of the clapping and cheering helps children develop phonological awareness (familiarity with units of speech that includes syllables, words, rhymes, and individual sounds)-- and it's fun! Give it a try. Go bananas!

Song for a Happy Rainy Day

2010-09-27T06:52:00.001-07:00

It's a rainy day here in Brooklyn. We haven't one in a while. It feels good!

If all of the raindrops

Were lemondrops and gumdrops

Oh what a rain that would be!

Standing outside with my mouth open wide,

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

If all of the raindrops

Were lemondrops and gumdrops

Oh what a rain that would be!

If all of the snowflakes

Were candy bars and milk shakes

Oh what a snow that would be!

Standing outside with my mouth open wide,

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

If all of the snowflakes

Were candy bars and milk shakes

Oh what a snow that would be!

If all of the sunbeams

Were bubblegum and ice cream

Oh what a sun that would be!

Standing outside with my mouth open wide,

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

If all of the sunbeams

Were bubblegum and ice cream

Oh what a sun that would be!

The Fingerpaint Debacle

2010-09-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

I should have know better, right from the start. Baby L had been grumpy all morning long. She protested getting her diaper changed, she refused her pieces of french toast, even when I dipped them in yogurt, and she arched her back and tried to escape when I bundled her into the baby carrier for a walk with her doggy, Indigo.

But then, while she took her nap, I discovered a grocery bag full of baby-friendly non-toxic finger paints hanging on our coat rack. This is the answer to Baby L's cranky mood I thought.

When L woke up, I plopped her in the high chair. "Guess what I have for you!" I announced gleefully. She didn't look very interested.

I squeezed a small dab of blue onto her highchair tray. She looked at it, stuck her finger in it and pushed it around a little, and then looked at me as if to say, "Yeah, so...?"

So I added some yellow. Still no big reaction.

So I added some more... and some more...

I don't know what I was thinking, really. She's only eleven months old, after all. I should have seen trouble coming... but I added one more squirt. And Baby L, with the swish of her tiny little fingers had a mouth full of fingerpaint.

Needless to say, I freaked. I immediately stuck my fingers in her mouth and scooped out as much paint as I could. I grabbed a nearby wash cloth and cleaned out her mouth, with L screaming at the top of her lungs, of course.

Moral of the story: Paint looks just like food to babies. Next time, I'll just use food.

Baby Sign Language!

2010-09-22T16:53:00.001-07:00

It's obvious how much Baby L loves her doggy, Indigo. When I call Indigo from across the room, I make a kissy sound and pat my lap and he comes running. When she was just a few months old, Baby L started doing it too! The first time she did it I could hardly believe it! She couldn't sit up by herself, but she could make kissy sounds and pat her lap to get Indigo to come running!

The kissy sound and patting was really L's first sign. Now she also makes a panting sound when she wants to tell me, "doggy." She'll be in the middle of playing with blocks and she'll look up, break into a big smile and pant, and then look around for Indigo-- brilliant!

The jury is still out on the benefits of teaching your baby to sign, but according to the research I've seen, it seems to help babies communicate and lessen frustration. No to mention, that it's a fun way to play with words, and it's SOOO cute!

In the past month or so Baby L has learned all the most important signs: "dog" "food" "cup" and "milk." What else could a girl want? I think we'll work on "book" next!

Bedtime Routine

2010-09-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

When Baby L was about twelve weeks old we started to have a routine at bedtime. We would start with a bath, then lots of singing along to her favorite music while L got her fresh diaper and jammy's on. And then, of course, we would have a bedtime story.

When L was a tiny baby she would lay peacefully next to me on the bed while I read to her. She'd pat the pages and coo happily.

When she was about six months old, she started to point to specific details in the pictures, and would turn to me and say, "Gaaa!" or "Ma-ma-ma!" She started turning the pages herself and screetched with delight when something was especially funny or surprising. At some point we started reading the same two book for every bedtime and nap time. Even now, it's always Goodnight Moon, or Mommy Hugs.

Now that she's nearly eleven months old, we still lie down on the bed together to read her bedtime story, but her favorite thing to do while I read is to roll around, crawl all over me, and get just plain silly. She occupies herself with giggling wildly as she pats my knee, or sucks on my elbow, or tugs on a blanket or piece of clothing. I read, and Baby L happily plays around me, looking over her shoulder each time I turn a page, or laughing when I drag her back over to me.

When the story is over, I always say "The End," and L reaches her arms out to be picked up. I hug her tight, and sing the ABC song a few times with the lights out before Baby L goes in her crib, and I go out the door.

Who knows what the next three to six months will bring. Baby L and I will have to check back in and share our new routine when Bedtime 4.0 arrives!

What's your bedtime routine? Has it changed over time? Leave a comment and share!

Back to School

2010-09-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year!

Time to gear up for the new school year.

It's time to shop for pens and composition books, backpacks, highlighters, post-its, hole punchers and tape-- all my favorite things!

Baby L is too little to go to school. But that doesn't mean she can't still join in the fun while mommy shops for school! Plus you can never start too early when it comes to immersing your little one in the world of lettters and numbers, words and books. So L. has some "school supplies" too.

She has her brand spankin' new alphabet sippy cups:

And her new sign language books:

And of course, foam letters and numbers for the tub!

We're ready for the new school year!

Music Together

2010-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Alee galloo galloo, alee galloo gallee, Allee, galloo galloo gallee. WHEEE! (Dance around, pick your baby up high and have fun).

About a month ago, Baby L and I started going to Music Together, a music class for babies and grown-ups. Our teacher, Jeff, began with this song, Allee Galloo, and we were sold. L and I already loved to dance around the apartment, but now we were in a whole room full of grown-ups and babies dancing around, singing, and clapping. L was in heaven!

Music Together is an early childhood music program with classes all over the United States. Maybe there's one near you? The basic idea is that all of the grown-ups sing, dance, and play instruments like shakers and drums. We model enthusiasm for music for the babies, and the babies learn to mimic and even invent their own singing, dancing, and instrument playing. Each "semester" the class uses a list of about twenty songs over and over, so that we get to know the songs really well. We sing them in class, and we have a CD and a songbook to listen to and read at home, and in the car.

Recently, our family just did a very long road trip with lots of little trips once we got there--from Brooklyn, to Underhill, VT, to Stowe, VT, to Monkton, VT, back to Underhill, then to Boston, MA, back to Brooklyn. For short trips around the neighborhood, Baby L usually just entertains herself in her carseat. But for this trip, we had to pull out all the stops. Daddy B and I took turns sitting in the back, playing with every toy we could find, playing every game we could think of, and nothing seemed to work. Until we put on the Music Together CD! L is such a music lover, she does a little dance as soon as she hears a familiar song. Why didn't we think of it sooner?

Road Trip Mix Tape!

2010-07-29T16:33:00.001-07:00

I love a good road trip. Road trips include little traditions, routines, and rituals that I find comforting. Picking out books to read on the way (or some trashy celebrity magazines), digging out the bean-shaped neck pillow (I love my little neck pillow), and of course making a MIX TAPE (well, okay, it's an iTunes playlist).

This time, I not only made myself my own special mix of music for the road, but I also made Baby L a playlist.

Here's a sampling what Baby L's been going to hear on her way to Vermont, then Boston:

Elizabeth Mitchell (You Are My Flower, You Are My Sunshine, You Are My Little Bird)

Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman (Not For Kids Only)

Bob Marley (Legend)

The Beatles (The White Album, Abbey Road)

Nina Simone (Miscellaneous)

Louis Armstrong (Miscellaneous)

The Music Together Songbook

Ziggy Marley (B is for Bob)

Baby L loves to hear the same music again and again. She bangs her little hands against the carseat to play "drums," shakes her rattles and shakers, kicks her tiny feet, and sings at the top of her lungs "Ahhhhh!" to her favorite tunes.

Bon voyage!

Treehuggers

2010-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

This morning the weather is BEAUTIFUL here in sunny Brooklyn, so Baby L and I went for an extra long walk with Indigo to enjoy the breeze and the sun. And on the way, L made a new discovery--TREES!

Every tree we passed was reason to stop, look up, wave to the branches, touch the bark, feel the leaves, and for Baby L, to say an approving, "Aaaah."

If hadn't been for L's coos, it would have been just a regular walk around the neighborhood, but she reminded me to stop and appreciate the trees. It's so easy to take them for granted, isn't it?

The next time you go for a walk in the park, a stroll down the block, or a hike on the trail, maybe you'll stop and appreciate the trees with your tiny readers. Talk about the height, the shapes of the leaves, the colors, and the names of the trees if you know them. Doing this gives your little ones experience with science, the outdoors, builds vocabulary, and models that trees and the environment are worth appreciating and thinking about.

Like they say, stop and smell the flowers-- and the trees too!

Wallwisher! What is it? Read this and find out!

2010-07-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

Looking for ideas for fostering a love of reading and writing with babies or little kids?

This is so cool. You can go to this link to see my Wallwisher wall where my blogging friends have been helping me gather up great ideas for reading and writing with tiny readers and writers. Plus, while you're there, you can add your own ideas to the collection.

No further explanation needed! Maybe you'll even make a Wallwisher page of your own? If you do, leave a comment so we can go and visit it.

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/tinyreader

Happy Reading and Writing!

Show Tunes

2010-07-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a singer on Broadway. I took Tap & Jazz dance lessons, and I knew all the words to Annie, A Chorus Line, Cats, and The Wizard of Oz. My mom and my grandmas would take me to see musicals at the local theater, The Flynn Theatre, whenever a good musical was showing, and I had a whole collection of the book-versions of the stories that went along with each show.

Of course, as the years passed, my dream of being a Broadway singer was replaced by other dreams: being a Broadway singer turned into being a musician, and I learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. Being a musician turned into being a writer, and I would spend hours making my own magazines and writing stories with animals as characters. This eventually grew into a short phase in which I wanted to be an artist, which eventually changed to wanting to be a teacher, among other things...

I had all but forgotten about my love of show tunes until I recently discovered the TV show Glee! Friends of mine know that our family does not own a TV, and we don't have cable. But, I figured out how to download seasons of certain shows using iTunes, so that I could keep up with my favorites--and Glee! is now one of my favorites, not because of the storyline, but because of the nostalgia that the songs spark.

Show tunes can be like old friends. No matter how many years go by, when you hear a song that you know all the words to, it's like the song has always been there.

After watching Glee! I decided that Baby L. needs to have some show tunes in her repertoire, so that someday she could also sing along to all the words. I figured out that if you make a Lion King station on Pandora, it plays lots of kid-friendly musicals like Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Wicked. So now, L. and I spend our mornings listening to show tunes, and singing along, gleefully.

The Summer of Loving Reading

2010-07-08T02:28:00.001-07:00

This week I'm teaching at a five day reading institute for teachers, so I've been thinking a lot about how to help kids--and teachers--develop a love of reading. Let's be honest, if you don't really like to read, than it's going to be hard to get the kids in your life to love reading!

Here are a few ideas to spark a love of reading, for yourself:

1. Stop buying the books that your best friend, who was an English major, recommends. I know it seems counterintuitive, but forcing yourself to read things that aren't interesting (to you) is tedious. Next time you're at the book store, don't just shop for books your friends are reading--ask the staff for help. Tell them what kind of books you like. If you aren't sure what kinds of books you like, tell them what you don't like.

2. Open up the book and read a page or two before you sign it out from the library or pay for it at the book store! Don't force yourself to read things that are boring! Put it back, and find something else. There's a whole wide world of books out there!

3. Don't be afraid to try young adult literature. Some of my favorite books are on lots of middle school or high school reading lists! Especially if you've been in a reading slump, a good YA book can help jazz up your reading life.

4. Think about what's going on in your life. A new baby? Thinking of getting a dog? Going on a trip? Search for books that will help you learn about a topic that's relevant and interesting to you. Or find a good story that takes place in a setting that you have a good reason to be interested in!

Good luck! Happy reading!

Indestructible Books!

2010-06-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

Baby L absolutely loves, loves, loves all books. Especially to eat! In the early days, I didn't mind so much if she slobbered a little on the pages, until one day while reading I found a chunk of The Wheels on the Bus in her mouth! Worried about ink poisoning, or choking, or who-knows-what, that was the last time a board book touched her lips.

But then, yesterday L. and I made a trip to our favorite bookstore, WORD in Greenpoint, and got ourselves some of these awesome indestructible books! The pictures are absolutely gorgeous-- just one animal per page to look at and talk about. They are slobber-proof, chew-proof, and you can wipe them off with a sponge! What could be better than that? Lily can really sink her three teeth into these books!

Summer at the Library

2010-06-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Baby L. and I went to the library and guess what we found?

Board books for summer!

The library is the perfect place to hang out on a hot summer day. It's air conditioned, they have comfy seats, there are plenty of people for

Baby L. to watch, and there are tons of books. What more could you want?

We read a stack of books together, but came away with two summertime faves:

Splash! by Flora McDonnell is an absolutely adorable little book with elephants, tigers, and rhinos on a hot, hot, HOT day--just like the day we had today! Baby Elephant figures out how to cool everybody down.

Beach Day! written by Anahid Haparian and illustrated Kristin Sorra was the perfect book for us today. With just two words per page, L. could turn the pages just as quickly as she wanted. No waiting around for mommy to read the words--instant gratification! Plus the book is the perfect read to help us imagine the beach and do some wishful thinking--when we can't get in the car to drive there.

While we read our board books, there were plenty of other babies and kids in the library. Baby L. spent just as much time people-watching and socializing as she did looking at books! Everybody wanted to say hi--not that I blame them. She is irresistibly cute!

L. was especially enthralled by watching two brothers playing with a wire and bead toy. When they got up to pick books from a nearby shelf she studied them, watching their every move. When they turned and waved hello she nearly exploded with excitement! (Luckily our library isn't the totally-completely-silent type of library).

What are your favorite things to do with a baby or toddler at the library? Leave a comment to share your ideas!

Summer Reading Life for You and Baby

2010-06-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year in schools when the teachers and I start talking with kids about their summer reading lives. Kids look back over their reading logs and reading notebooks and ask themselves questions like: "What kind of books do I like best?" "Which genre was my favorite?" "How much time and how many pages can I read in one sitting?" "What do I want to read more of this summer?" "What skills and strategies do I tend to use most? Least?" "What do I want to work on as a reader, and how will I do it?"

Some kids decide on a series they want to read, others make a goal for themselves, such as reading 40 minutes every day, or reading books on a topic, like volcanoes, or dogs, or soccer! Lots of teachers take their classes trips to the local public library to make sure everyone has a library card, and some teachers even send books home with kids for the summer.

As for me, one of my many summer reading projects is to read several books at each reading level from level G to level Q (that's from about first grade to third grade). Knowing the books will help me be an even better reading teacher, and will give me lots to talk about with kids and teachers this fall! I'm partnering up with my colleague, D.D., and we're going to meet a couple times to swap books and talk about them!

And, for Baby L, this summer we're going to do a couple things to make sure she has plenty of reading in her life too!

1) I've been working on videotaping myself and Daddy B reading her favorite books. That way she can listen to us read when we're at work and she's at home with the babysitter!

2) Baby L is turning pages now! So when we read, I've been letting her practice turning the pages.

3) When we read, I let her spend a long time looking at each page, so she can notice as much as possible in the pictures.

4) When we read, we read a couple books in a row. When she seems uninterested we stop. She usually is happy and engaged for 3-4 books now. Who knows how many books we'll be up to by September!

5) Our goal is to read every day, no matter what!

What are your summer reading projects? Leave a comment!

Baby's First CSA

2010-06-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

Baby L and I went to our first CSA pick-up of the season today!

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. We belong to the East Williamsburg CSA. You sign up for a share of vegetables, or fruits, or flowers, and then once a week you go and pick up your food. The food comes from a local farm (ours is Hearty Roots Farm), and is grown organically. A quick Google search will probably help you find a CSA near you!

But what does this have to do with reading, you ask?

Well, research shows that background experience and vocabulary are huge factors in children's literacy. Why leave Baby L with Daddy in the apartment when we can all go to the community garden where we pick up our fresh vegetables? Baby L watched and cooed and screeched while I picked out our spinach and broccoli and turnips. I gave her a big red radish to play with, and then we walked around the garden and talked about the flowers that had just been planted. A perfect June experience for Baby!

Car Talk

2010-05-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Question: What does Baby L. like to do best in the car?

Answer: L. loves to look at herself in her carseat mirror. Babies love mirrors! Faces are one of the first categories of information that the brain begins to understand. Did you know there is actually an area of the brain devoted just to understanding faces? Baby L.'s mirror also has a colorful pattern border around the edges of it, and fun silky tags for her to grab onto, for developing her fine motor skills.

Question: When L. starts to get a little grumpy, what do you do about it?

Answer: I sing to her and tell stories! She especially likes songs with silly voices, or storytelling songs like Little Bunny Foo Foo. Literacy researchers agree that immersing children with stories and songs from the littlest age helps foster a love of literature and an understanding of text structure (how stories tend to go). Stories that contain dialogue, rich vocabulary, a problem/solution, and are told with expression and fluency are especially great. But if you can't come up with a good one on the spot, don't worry! Sometimes I just retell our day, step by step. "First we went... then we did..." The sound of my voice calms her down, and she's learning sequencing and all kinds of other important literacy-related skills.

Question: What about poosplosions?

Answer: Definitely pull off the highway, find a decent enough rest area, or at least a fast food restaurant (they always have changing tables) and spend some time cleaning up. I always pack a back-up set of clothes!

Peek-a-boo!

2010-05-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you about Baby L.'s latest craze! She is totally into all forms of peek-a-boo.

Peek-a-boo, in case you didn't know, is just right for Baby's developing sense of object permanence. That is, babies are still in the process learning that just because you can't see something, it doesn't mean it's totally gone. So, when you cover up a toy with a blankie--Baby is likely to think it disappeared, like magic. That's why peek-a-boo is so much fun. It's like magic to babies!

One way that L. and I play peek-a-boo is this: I use a blanket, burp cloth, or toy to cover my face and I say, "Wheeeeeere's mommy?!" L. giggles and screetches. Then I uncover my face and shout, "There she is!"

We also play peek-a-boo on the changing table. On the changing table, I put L.'s jingly toy lion on her eyes and I say, "Wheeeeeere's Lily?!" She screetches and laughs and I say, "Peek-a-boo!!!"

The third and final form of peek-a-boo is L.'s (and my) favorite. We go into the bathroom, where there's no outside light, and we look in the mirror. We turn out the lights, which is a little bit thrilling for a seventh month old, and I say, "Uh-oh..." and then I turn on the lights and say, "Peek-a-boo!!" She goes crazy for this one! She reaches for light switch now!

Post a comment with your favorite peek-a-boo games!

There's An App for That

2010-05-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a whole new genre for babies -- iPhone apps. Yes, that's right. iPhone apps for babies.

I downloaded one app called "Animal Show" just to see what it was, and once I had it on my phone I was dying to try it out, to see what L. would do.

Animal Show, in case you don't know, is just like it sounds. Simple pictures of animals. When you baby touches the screen it switches to a new animal. You can choose between two modes: real or cartoon.

I sat down with Baby L. and I was amazed. Right away, instantly, she understood that if she touched the screen it "turned the page" for her. Amazing!

We played Animal Show for a few minutes and then I put away. Something about the iPhone felt suspiciously like television or video games. I felt guilty sitting with her staring a screen with all her real-life toys and our real-life dog sitting right next to her.

But, the next time we're on the subway, or stuck in a waiting room, those iPhone apps for babies might just come in handy. Leave a comment with your favorite iPhone application for babes so Baby L. and I can try it out the next time we need a little entertainment!

Biscuit and the Baby

2010-05-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have had a crush on Biscuit for a long time now. Not only is he a cute little puppy, but he's also a character that first graders can follow across a nice easy series of books. As a teacher, the Biscuit books are my favorite series of books to help kids move on up into what we call the "watershed levels" of reading. If you're a little kid, and you're reading books at level F/G/H, there just aren't that many series books to choose from. Thank goodness for Biscuit!

Now I have a whole new reason to crush on Biscuit. Baby L. loves the Biscuit books! It's the repetition. Not only is there a pattern to the text (Not yet Biscuit! Silly puppy...), but I read the books over and over so often that L. lights up when she sees a Biscuit book now. Lily loves familiar books and songs. Whichever books I read the most-- those are her favorites.

The best part is that my dog, Indie, loves the Biscuit books too. Whenever I'm reading to Baby L., his ears perk up when I read "Woof! Woof!" He watches us reading Biscuit, with his head cocked to one side, wondering why I'm barking (especially since I tell him not to). Between Baby L. lighting up, and Indie's quizzical expressions, the whole scene is just adorable.

For Mother's Day, I'm hoping somebody gives me Biscuit Loves Mother's Day. The perfect combo for Baby L.: Biscuit the puppy, AND flaps to lift up, all in one book.

Poetry All Year Long!

2010-05-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Why limit poetry to just poetry month?

Here are a few ideas to add a little poetry to your life, and the lives of the kids around you:

1. When you come across a poem you love, share it! Read it aloud to somebody, stick it to the refrigerator with a magnet, put it on your bulletin board at the office.

2. Look for children's books that are written in the form of poems, and read them over and over again. Babies and young children LOVE repetition.

3. When something new or important happens, write a poem about it! Keep a notebook or a file on your computer to save all your poems, so that you can reread your writing from time to time, looking for themes or big ideas that pop out at you.

4. Poetry is everywhere! Keep your eyes peeled. You'll be surprised at all the places where you see poetry in the neighborhood. On billboards, written in graffiti on buildings, taped to lamp-posts, on display at the public library, at the grocery store even!

Happy poetry year!

Dedication

2010-04-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

I had this idea,

that I could write a poem,

and give it as a gift.

And I knew that

nobody else

would appreciate it more

than kids,

and teachers,

readers and writers,

who live and work and teach and learn,

together.

So this is my gift to you.

* Day 30 (the final day!) of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month. Dedicated to NYC teachers, administrators, literacy coaches, and most importantly, KIDS in the amazing schools where I work. I wrote a poem-a-day this month for YOU!

Untitled Poem

2010-04-29T01:00:00.001-07:00

* Day 29 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Readers' Best Friends

2010-04-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Biscuit,

Mudge,

Clifford and Harry.

Walter, Benji, Willie,

Buck,

Shiloh,

and of course,

Lassie.

* Day 28 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Poetry

2010-04-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

Drenched in butter and
Bubbling
Salty, crispy edges

* Day 27 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Multiple Choices

2010-04-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

What would you like to do today?

A) Take a test

B) Take a test

C) Take a test

D) Take a test

* Day 26 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby Testing

2010-04-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

There isn't a test for drooling skills.

Or an assessment for how well she can roll from side to side.

There isn't a quiz on thumb sucking-- that I'm aware of.

Or any evaluation on how well she can

coo, or gurgle, or screetch with delight.

Maybe we ought to start cramming, though.

Just in case.

Start preparing.

We could practice sitting up.

Maybe teach some strategies for choosing the best teether,

when presented with three choices.

Or maybe give her points for each nap she takes,

Or bite of peas she eats,

Or on the quality (and quantity) of poosplosions per day?

* Day 25 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month, with thoughts of tomorrow's New York State ELA Test on my mind.

Different Kinds of Cries

2010-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

There's the

fire engine,

you know,

the five alarm fire?

Sometimes it's a

grouchy

yelling-at-mama,

"Hey!" type of cry.

There's the rolling,

sort of lazy cry,

not really crying,

just complaining.

Sometimes there are syllables

"Ning ning ning," or "Raa raa raa,"

a tiny lion roaring in her den.

Then there's the

real cry.

The scared, truly hurt, in pain cry.

That one

makes me cry too.

* Day 24 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby L. Looks In The Mirror

2010-04-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Her eyes meet her own eyes

Her hand meets her own hand

She flashes a smile and giggles.

Hey, I know that person!

We move in and out of the picture frame,

Playing peek-a-boo with ourselves.

Who's that looking in the mirror?

It's you!

It's me!

It's us!

* Day 23 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

A Poem For Earth Day

2010-04-22T01:00:00.001-07:00

Dear New York,

If it isn't too much trouble,

would you please

put your litter in the trash cans?

Also, it would be much appreciated

if you recycled a bit more.

And while you are thinking of it,

would you mind taking the subway

instead of driving?

Or at least carpooling?

It would also be nice

if you could bring

your own bags to the grocery store.

And could you please

bring a reusable mug to Starbucks?

And maybe, just maybe,

stop buying bottled water.

Sincerely,

The Earth

* Day 22 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

How To Read At Six Months Old

2010-04-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Look at the pictures.

Take your time, if you can.

Touch the pages.

Scritchy scratch across the pages.

Try to pick the pictures right off,

and discover that they are stuck.

Maybe drool a little on a page or two,

Maybe chew on a corner, or two.

Giggle with delight at the sight

of a familiar book--

Brown Bear Brown Bear,

Or Goodnight Moon,

Or The Peace Book,

Or Where's Baby's Belly Button?

Help mama turn the pages.

Put your hands on top of hers.

You can even close the book,

before mama's ready...

That's how to read at six months old.

* Day 21 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Coffee and Writing

2010-04-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sweet

Drips

Of java

Bitter and chocolaty,

Smooth

Comfort

Coffee

And writing

Go hand in hand.

* Day 20 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

So Much To Read, So Little Time

2010-04-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Racing through pages,

Running across chapters,

Flying through texts of all kinds,

There's smoke coming out of my ears,

I'm reading so much,

I've got articles and books,

Websites and blogs,

Poems and stories,

So much to read, so little time.

* Day 19 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Favorite Foods

2010-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

Bean

and

cheese

burrito

with

guacamole

on the

side,

Gooey

brownies

with

walnuts,

Grilled cheese

with

french fries

and a

chocolate

shake,

Peppermint

patties,

Homemade

sesame

noodles,

Strawberry

shortcake,

Juicy pork bun

from

M. Shanghai,

Jelly

beans,

Gnocci

with

tomato

sauce,

Molten

chocolate

cake,

Potato

salad

and a

glass of

lemonade,

Ben

and

Jerry's

ice

cream,

Popcorn

with

lots of

butter,

Creme

brulee,

Chicken

and

biscuits,

Chocolate

chip

fresh

out of the

oven.

* Day 18 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Overheard in a Kindergarten Classroom

2010-04-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

I can make my stars shine

See

Falling, here on my paper

See

They shine

Look

I can make the stars shine

Look, here

The stars are shining

Here

On my paper

* Day 17 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

In love with...

2010-04-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

the sound of a page turning,

the way fonts have personalities all their own,

the smell of ink,

fancy paper,

my extensive pencil collection,

starting a new notebook,

highlighters,

pens,

glue,

paperclips,

scissors,

staples,

bookmarks of all kinds,

reading lamps that attach to your book,

and of course,

last but certainly not least,

post its.

* Day 16 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Babies Love Reading: A Google Poem

2010-04-15T02:45:00.000-07:00

Babies

Love

Books

Love

Poetry

Love

READING!

I made this myself using Google Search Stories!

* Day 15 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Stubbed Toes and Other Minor Ailments

2010-04-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

trip

and

fall

nosedive

headache

charlie horse

paper cut

black and blue

pins and needles

thorn in my side

pain in the neck

burden to bare

* Day 14 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Test Prep Haiku II

2010-04-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Develop answer

before you see all choices

Elimination.

* Day 13 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Test Prep Haiku I

2010-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye on time.

Leave no bubble unshaded.

Read all the choices.

* Day 12 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Adaptation on a Fairy Tale

2010-04-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

My sweet baby, what sparkling eyes you have!

All the better to charm you with.

Babygirl, what delicious chubby little legs you have!

All the better to wiggle and bounce and kicky-kick at my toys with!

My little dumpling, what teeny tiny tiny fingers you have!

All the better for tickling you with.

Little tiger, where did you get that magical smile?

It's my specialty. All the better to love you with.

* Day 11 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Car Ride With A Screaming Baby: A Poem in Two Voices

2010-04-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Waaaaa! Waaaaaaaaa! ...Don't cry sweet baby.

Waaa! Waaaaaaaaaaa! ...It's okay sweet pea.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...We're almost there, I promise.

WaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAA! ...Don't cry honey.

WAAAAAAAAAaaaaaa! ...Shhhhh...

Waaaaaa! Waaaaaaaa! ...Shhhhh...

Waa! Waa! Waa! Waa! ...Shhhhh...

Waa! Waa! Waaaaaaa! ...Okay baby, it's okay.

Waaaaaaaaaaa! WAA! ...Oh honey, don't cry!

Waaaa! Waaaaaaaaaa! ...I love you sweet little baby.

WAAA! Waaaaaaaaaa! ...You're my little sweetheart, yes you are.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...Don't cry, sweety pie.

Waaaaaaaaa! WaaAA! ...Mommy loves you!

Waaa! Waaaaaaaaaaa! ...Babygirl, mama loves you!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ...Mommy loves you, baby. Mommy loves you.

* Day 10 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Tiny Reader

2010-04-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Tiny toes
Wiggle wiggle

Tiny feet
Kicky kicky

Tiny belly-button
Pop pop!

Tiny heart
I loooooove you

Tiny fingers
Scritchy scratch

Tiny chin
Tickle tickle

Tiny nose
Sniff sniff

Tiny eyes
Peek-a-boo!

Tiny reader
One more book

Tiny dreams
Night night

* Day 9 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

What I Was Thinking About At The Office Today

2010-04-08T01:00:00.001-07:00

Someday L. will fall down
And get scrapes on the heels of her hands
The kind of scrapes with little pieces of gravel stuck inside

And I might not be there to give her a kiss
Or hold her tight when she cries

* Day 8 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby Magic

2010-04-07T17:01:00.001-07:00

Your eyes must have magic powers,

How else would they sparkle like they do?

Your smile is an incantation,

A spell for melting even the coldest heart.

Doggy Haiku III

2010-04-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Baby moves. Cries, then coos.
Doggy stands up. Stands guard.
Furry protector.

* Day 7 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Doggy Haiku II

2010-04-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

He rests, chin on paws,
Puppy-dog eyes are alert,
Always on the watch.

* Day 6 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Doggy Haiku I

2010-04-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

A furry soldier
stands guard just outside the crib.
Waits... Listens... Sniffs…Wags.

* Day 5 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Baby L.

2010-04-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

The day before you were born I was burning up,

Wearing flip flops and skirts,

T-shirts stretched tight around my belly and drenched with sweat,

Tooth Pulled

2010-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Good riddance
One less tooth to worry about
Didn’t really hurt that much
Hardly even notice it’s missing
No one will even notice it’s gone

* Day 3 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

Spring

2010-04-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Heart born in autumn
Smile born in winter
Shadow born in summer

* Day 2 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

When It Rains

2010-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Good thing

I've got your smile

to be my sunshine.

And your hands

to hold

and keep me warm and dry.

* Day 1 of the KidLitosphere Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.

This Is It! Last Day of March...

2010-03-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

So this is it... the last day of March. The day before April. And do you know what April is?

POETRY MONTH

Rencently I signed up for a poem-a-day challenge through a network I belong to, KidLitosphere. So that means every day in April I will need to write a new poem, and post it to my blog.

Why am I doing this? I'm not a professional writer, but I love to write. I teach writing to young children, and every day I teach them that writing is public and social. We display kids' writing on bulletin boards and in hallways for other children and teachers to see. But do we adults ever display our writing for all to see? Not usually. So I am doing this in part so that I will be able to say, honestly, to the five and six (and seven and eight, and nine and ten... and twenty and thirty and forty) year olds that I teach, "Writers share their work with others--- even when it isn't perfect."

So let the imperfection begin! Readers, I hope you'll be patient, kind, and forgiving!

Baby's Rainy Day Play List

2010-03-30T13:29:00.001-07:00

Rainy days can be just a little bit sunnier with some songs and nursery rhymes to help build your child's vocabulary. Try singing your favorite rainy day song over and over-- pretty soon your little one will recognize it and she'll light up when she hears the familiar tune!

1. Itsy Bitsy Spider

2. You Are My Sunshine

3. Drip Drip Drop Little April Shower

4. Somewhere Over the Rainbow

5. I Can See Clearly Now (The Rain Is Gone)

6. It Won't Rain, It Won't Rain

7. Singin' In the Rain

8. Here Comes the Sun

9. It's Raining It's Pouring

10. Rain, Rain, Go Away

11. I Know the Colors of the Rainbow

12. Mr. Sun

One of Baby L.'s faves is Itsy Bitsy Spider. We sing it in the bathtub every night (plus on rainy days, of course). She smiles at the words "Itsy Bitsy" because they sound funny to her, and she loves it when I use my fingers to make the spider crawl up her tummy.

She also LOVES Drip Drip Drop Little April Shower. She heard it for the first time today when we were listening to Pandora and dancing around the living room. Her little face lit up at the sound of all the voices. Who needs the sun when you've got an adorable toothless smile to brighten your day?

Life-After-Baby for Doggy: Another Small Moment

2010-03-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Indigo smells. He smells worse than he as ever smelled before. Ever. Do I dare guess what he smells like? Dead animal? Vomit? A combination of the two?

He looks sad. His big brown eyes gaze up at me through his wiry fur. I feel a pang of guilt. The last time he went to the groomer was when I was home on maternity leave. Baby L. is five months old now, and I've been back at work since January. He's looooong overdue. His sleek, short fur has been left alone so long that he now resembles a small bear.

And he STINKS. Oh, I feel terrible for him. Poor Indigo. I don't think he's been getting much sleep. Ever since L. started sleeping in her own room, he doesn't know where to put himself. He starts out in his old spot at the foot of our bed, then moves to his own doggy bed in our room, then out to the floor in the hall between the two bedrooms, then finally out to the couch in the living room, where he's more comfortable. Right now he's dozing on the floor in the hall between bedrooms, sprawled out, all four legs out straight, like he's playing dead.

What IS that smell? Ew. I look at Indigo. I can't help thinking he's hit the doggy version of rock-bottom. His fur is matted in a few places, poor dog. I know what I need to do. I need to look under his tail in case, well, you know why... I check, and sure enough. Leftovers from his last bathroom break are stuck in the fur under his tail. Ack!

I scoop him up, tell him I love him, and stick him in the shower for a good long doggy bath. He presses against my arms to hug me while I wash his back. I think it's the most attention he's had since the baby was born. I have plenty of time while Baby L. is asleep, so I give him a good long scrub, with the nice smelling doggy shampoo. I dry him off with his special green towel that we only use for him, and I brush him for a long time. He shivers with happiness at each brush stroke, and licks my hand to say thank you. By the time I'm done with him he looks, and smells (thankfully) like a brand new dog.

** Picture taken after his bath **

Blogging Awards!

2010-03-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks sooooo much to the blog, Life of a Modern Mom for choosing Tiny Reader for two blog awards! What a HUGE compliment! In exchange for having been selected, I have been asked to pay it forward by selecting my own favorite blogs. And the winners are... (drum roll, please...):

1 . a boy, a book, and a dog
2. The Literary Family
3. Two Writing Teachers
4. Mermaids on Parade
5. Dumb Mommy
6. Two Blue Lemons
7. The Reading Zone
8. The Well-Read Child
9. I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids)
10. Poetry for Children
11. The Brooklyn Tart
12. A Year of Reading
13. Baby to Green
14. Literacy Toolbox
15. Teaching Authors: Six Children's Book Authors Who Also Teach Writing

Playing With Food: A Small Moment

2010-03-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

“Oh boy! Peas!” I sing to Baby L. as I fly her special infant spoon in for a landing, right between her little pink lips.

She leans forward, eager for the pureed peas.

“Mmmmm, yummy!” I say.

The peas disappear into her tiny mouth for a second. She looks straight at me, pauses to consider the peas, and then furrows her brow. The peas reappear, dripping out of her mouth slowly, onto her bib.

Then she suddenly lights up and lets out a screetch of delight. She reaches her hands out and leans forward slowly, searching out another bite.

“Want some more?” As I scoop out another little bite of peas, I laugh as she bends her head down carefully to suck on the tray of her highchair without bonking her head.

“Lily… want some more? Yummy yummy bright green peas!” I say.

She takes the spoon in her mouth and sucks vigorously. She looks confused for a second. The peas are gone. She smiles a gummy smile, just for me (and the peas). Success.

Brooklyn Author Melanie Hope Greenberg!

2010-03-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that Brooklyn is the coolest of the five boroughs in NYC. We have the best pizza, the best of the NYC bridges, the best artists, the best rappers, and the best authors!

I was lucky enough to meet one of Brooklyn's finest through my neighborhood mommy-group, online. (Mommy groups are another one of reasons why Brooklyn is awesome).

Melanie Hope Greenberg is the author and illustrator of many must-have books, including Mermaids on Parade, A City Is, and Good Morning Digger. You can also collect her beautiful artwork by visiting her original art sale blog. While you're online, you should also visit her Student/Parent/Teacher Blog. Did I mention that it was selected “100 Best Book Blogs for Kids, Tweens, and Teens?" You can also visit her webpage, and even become become one of Melanie Hope Greenberg's Facebook Friends!

I had the opportunity to interview Melanie, online. Check out what she has to say about being a writer.

Me: You’ve illustrated some lovely children’s books, most recently Mermaids on Parade. What projects are you currently working on?

Melanie: Right now I am juggling various book projects to sell and publish. Even though I have published before, there is no guarantee that I will publish again. Markets change, trends change. I am trying to do my best and hope my ideas fly with a publisher.

Me: As an author/illustrator, what do you think makes a really great picture book?

Melanie: My belief is that art is always subjective and there are too many people to try and please. I do not think there is a real answer when it comes to loving art and words. Maybe it's the winning combination of talent, skills and where the public is at when that book comes out. I'd much rather go with an overall formula of good writing skills, a story that can be read over and over without it becoming stale, child friendly art, universal human appeal and heart.

Me: Do you have a few favorite children’s books?

Melanie: From my childhood I remember, Lottie and Lisa (the original Parent Trap), Little Witch, Dr. Seuss, and Golden Books. I was exposed to many books at the New York City Public Library-- the Classon Point branch in the Bronx. I hardly look around now since I try not to follow trends but to be true to my own inner visions and stories.

Me: What do you find is the hardest part about writing and illustrating?

Melanie: Waiting... Rejection...Hustling for financial balance while I create....Lack of exposure so that my books are not as popular as they could be or that my original art does not sell and sits dormant in my studio. Quite frustrating.

Me: How is the process of writing the story related to the process of illustrating? Do you write the whole story first, then illustrate—or do you start from an idea for the artwork and let the story develop afterward?

Melanie: I usually start with an idea and a 32 page thumbnail grid "map" on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Then I can see the whole 32 page book in front of me. The grids are boxes that represent each spread and how the book pages will turn. They are labeled 4/5, 6/7, 8/9 etc. I begin write in the scene sequences with a few notes in each box. Once the story has a basic "spine" I write to fill in the details. Then I add the visuals by sketching larger boxes to create storyboards. Once I like the storyboards I create a 32 page book dummy. The dummy is what an author-illustrator must present to an editor. We are actually creating the whole book (without final art) before we even present it to an editor.

Me: What strategies do you use when you are stuck for ideas for your art or your writing?

Melanie: Research, looking at things other than art to feed me stories about real life, taking a break, putting the project to the side then coming back to it. These things refresh my creative juices. Also marketing my older books while I work on new ideas keeps my name fresh in the public eye.

Me: What can parents do to encourage children to be lifelong readers and writers?

Melanie: Start reading to them while they are very young to develop the discipline of listening and being quiet in order to go inside the imagination. Parents can instill that books have value and to treasure them. Parents can instill the value of listening to one's inner voice, and from that place art and words arise. To honor that place within and to express thoughts and ideas and the authors and artists that show the way.

Top Ten Things to Do With a Five-Month-Old on a Rainy Day

2010-03-14T05:46:00.001-07:00

10. Bounce in the bouncy-seat!

9. Walk around the apartment looking at things.

8. Dance to reggae in the living room.

7. Take naps.

6. Go for airplane rides on mommy's knees.

5. Practice kicking at toys in the play gym.

4. Try eating some rice cereal - but most of it winds up on the bib in the end.

3. Change lots of diapers. And a few outfits.

2. Sing our favorite songs (which include You Are My Flower, Ladybug Picnic, and Little Sack Of Sugar)

1. Read our favorite books, of course!

What are your favorite things to do on a rainy day? Post a comment and share!

How to Play The Woooooooooooooo! Game

2010-03-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

I've always been pretty good at being silly. Having spent my entire life surrounded by small children, I'd say I'm pretty much an expert in silliness at this point.

I'm sure you've met people in your life who did not know how to be silly. In fact, you may be one of those people. So, if you happen to have trouble thinking up silly things to do with kids, here's your first lesson: How to Play the Wooooooooo! Game.

Now that Baby L. is almost five months old, she's really developing a great little sense of humor. And one thing she thinks is just HI-LAR-I-OUS is when I say Wooooooooooooooo! You have to start in a low pitch and get higher and higher up to a little squeak.

If you really want L. to crack up, you start the Wooooooooooo! from a foot or two away from her and then zoom your face in closer to hers as your voice rises. She usually cracks up by the second or third Woooooooo! Patience is key.

So, for all you non-silly people, now you know how to do at least one silly thing. When you come up with some more silly things to do, post them in a comment on this page!

Love Letter to Todd Parr

2010-03-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Todd Parr,

Your colorful books grab Baby L.'s attention like no others. She scritchy-scratches her little fingers over the bright smiley faces again and again, trying to pick them off the page!

When I'm reading to L. she loves to hang on to one side of the book with one hand and reach out and touch the pictures with her other hand. It's as if she's discovering what's a picture and what's an object.

No only that, but your books teach all about topics of great importance to babies! Baby L.'s fave right now is The Peace Book. But she also really digs The Family Book, Reading Makes You Feel Good, and It's Okay To Be Different.

I originally bought these books to support the New York State Social Studies curriculum for Kindergarten and first grade. They're the perfect books for the School and Community, Self and Others, or Families social studies units if you're a Kindergartner, or Families and the Community if you're a first grader!

Thank you Todd Parr. We love you!

Love,

Mommy and Baby L.

Our Favorite Song Lately

2010-03-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

You Are My Flower

The grass is just as green, the sky is just as blue
The day is just as bright, the birds are singing too

You are my flower, that's blooming in the mountain for me
You are my flower, that's blooming there for me

The air is just as pure, the sunlight just as free
And nature seems to say, it's all for you and me

You are my flower, that's blooming in the mountain for me
You are my flower, that's blooming there for me

So wear a happy smile and life will be worthwhile
Forget your tears but don't forget to smile

You are my flower, that's blooming in the mountain for me
You are my flower, that's blooming there for me

When summertime is passed and snow begins to fall
Just sing this song and say to one and all

You are my flower, that's blooming in the mountain for me
You are my flower, that's blooming there for me

~ Sung by the Carter Family