Category Archives: Rhythm, Rhyme & Story-time

Observations

Something that I learned as an early childhood educator over the years, is the importance of taking time for observation. It is easy to get so caught up with the plans and activities for the children, but I believe it’s the time spent observing how the children participate, their conversations, their interactions and their progress from week to week, that is more valuable.

When I taught a group of three and four year olds many years ago, I remember thinking how they are considered as always part of the “in-between age”—not totally independent but a mixture of both– being dependent and independent (sometimes all in a few minutes).

I also recall how easy it is to overestimate what these children can do and to expect too much as well as underestimate them and to open up too little physical, social and intellectual opportunities for their growth.

That’s why I feel we should learn how to Keep a Watchful Eye — Enjoy Your Child As He Is! At our Rhythm, Rhyme and Story-Time sessions, we’re taking time each week to share our observations and rejoice in each child’s development. Of course we are mindful not to compare children against one another, but to appreciate their noticeable achievements of progress from week to week.

One of the games we play is the Two Part Directions Game. Can your toddler follow simple directions such as “Pick up the apple and bring it to me?” Can your 7-9 month old pick up a cup by its handle or pull a string to bring a toy attached closer to him? At 12 months can he hold a toy in one hand and manipulate another toy in the other hand? Let’s just enjoy the children and find new ways to celebrate our observations.

Maintaining Your Reading-Friendly Home!

While recently visiting with a teacher/mom/ colleague as we browsed at books at her favorite bookstore in her hometown, I thought about the qualities it takes to the maintaining of a reader-friendly home. My friend was excited to share the children’s section of the local bookstore with me as we both had team-taught first graders together. Now, with her baby of four months, we explored the variety of board books with colorful illustrations and simple texts. The rhyme and natural rhythms we discovered in the books were music to our ears!

I wondered about how parents foster love for reading. Do they prioritize reading by reading aloud each day from the time the babies were born? Is reading associated with a fun, belonging, safe time for children? Do parents sing books too?

Is your home filled with a variety of reading materials? Keeping a variety of reading materials around such as magazines, postcards, photo albums or scrapbooks, newspapers, and for young children—magnetized alphabet letters and beginning reading and alphabet games are a good start!

Keeping reading materials nearby for easy exploration such as books near the changing table and high chair for baby can be helpful. Storing books near comfortable sitting spaces and consider creating a special reading place as the children grow — maybe give them their own reading nook shows them how you prioritize establishing good reading habits over other entertainment. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to favorite places to sit.

In thinking about establishing a reading environment, consider limiting your children’s screen time (including tv, computer, smartphones, tablets and video games) to make sure they have time for reading. When children reach elementary school they benefit by the consistency of your example as you create learning spaces for them.

Keep reading activities family-centered. Reading shouldn’t be exclusively in isolation.
Read together too. Read a book aloud or ask your child to read to you . Make a habit of sitting together while you each read your own books too.

Years ago an elementary school librarian shared her story of a child who didn’t learn to read in first grade, second grade, and when in third grade explained to his mother that if he mastered how to read, he wouldn’t be a part of the family unit as he once had been. He knew that first and second grade is the appropriate time frame to “learn to read” but in third grade you “read to learn” and he was afraid to be left of his own worried that this learning was in isolation of others. He wanted assurance that the family would continue reading together, learning together, laughing together, sharing together, even after they knew he was capable of reading alone.


Sharing time together as you learn alongside one another will establish life-long habits fostering community, friendship, security, and fun. Just a few thoughts to the establishment of good reading habits in your home!

Winter Rhythm, Rhyme and Story-Time

Thursdays: December 2, 9, 16 at 11:30 a.m. Outside (if weather permits!)

We invite all toddlers and their caring adults to join us for literacy and musical fun, 11:30 -12:15 weather permitting! Meet us across from Hill East Community Garden (look for tall gate 1729!)

This week’s theme is MONKEYS! Is there a monkey at your house? We will sing and dance to HAND, HAND, FINGERS, THUMB by Al Perkins among other great books and songs! It’s so much fun supporting your child’s musical and literacy growth through play.

Membership includes coloring book of rhymes and books we’ve shared! Contact me for more details.

Rhythm, Rhyme, Story-time Expectations

Expectations for the class!

When I hear from parents their feelings of worry that their children did not meet expectations during the class time, I ask that they rethink what it is that they feel the children are supposed to be doing. Maybe the children didn’t pick up the musical instruments, or they had their back to the books we were sharing, while others were sitting quietly looking at the pictures.

I invite you to free yourself of this worry! Each child learns in a different way and when they are very little that looks like body movement in different ways. We cherish each learner in our class.

That doesn’t mean we don’t have expectation for the adults!

You are your child’s first (and main) teacher. So I do expect you to look at the pictures in our books and to pick up the instruments at the right time. I expect you to demonstrate “good listening” throughout the class!

I do not expect you to walk around the class. I will take measures to provide a safe environment, so that your children can explore peacefully while we are in class. If your child needs your attention, I will let you know. Mostly, I expect that as we all realize how play impacts our learning, our play together should be fun and inspiring!

Together we expect joyful growth and deeper connections.

Gratefully,
Angela

Literacy Connections

Each time your children engage in reading/rhying play with you, they’re learning volumes about language, literacy, mathematics, patterning, rhyming and reading!

Early childhood experts believe that each child learns from rich and varied literacy experiences. In Rhythm, Rhyme, Story-time, we nurture your children’s natural curiosity for learning as we listen and interact with stories, chants, play with props and read in an informal setting that enriches communication connections.

We have so much to learn from our children! The love of learning is the most important part of education!

I believe that as we are willing to become fellow learners alongside our children, our connections grow. That is why I am hopeful about Rhythm, Rhyme and Story-time. Sharing literacy with our little ones is one tiny way to begin the wonderful journey of rediscovering our natural childlikeness!