ABC Cookies!

This is ABC cookies that I got from Learning Resources on Amazon. This is a cool little kindergarten or grade. 1 game to teach letter identification and recognition, letter matching, sequencing and letter sounds.

This game comes with 45 game cards that includes ideas for practicing beginning sounds, sequencing and letter recognition. You can use the spinners to play games and there are many variations, the only limit is your imagination. And It is under $15 - which I totally love!!

Kids love the little cookie pieces but remember to wash them because they love to put them in their mouth. :)

Literacy Games!

You can use the cookie game as literacy/phonological awareness centers  in your classroom. One  idea is putting  a different cookie on 4 or 5 tables and then have the kids go find things that begin with that same sound or that letter in the classroom. Another idea is to use the cookies as a writing center. Choose a cookie and have the  kids write down as many words as they can think of with that start with that letter.

The name game!

For the name game you can put about 4 or 5 cookies each on their own the desk or table  and then have every kid who has a name that begins with that letter stand at that table/desk. Another variation is to have the first child start and standby the table that their name starts with and then they choose somebody else from the class and tell them which table to stand up... and so on.

The only limit is your imagination!

What ideas do you have for this cute game? Comment below!

Cheers,

Mindy

Free for 24hrs only!

Hey 
Happy Sunday!
So today I am putting my new literacy package on for free! Today only!

Download it and rate it (I am always looking to improve) and follow my shop! Check out my Facebook page! Enjoy! :)
Thanks!
Cheers, 
Mindy

Using book to increase language skills

Tips for using books to increase

Speech and language skills of preschooler and school aged children

USing books to help with children's speech and langauge skills is a great and easy way to target their goals.

What should your child be able to do? Check out the talk box for milestones of children!

How to target Speech and languagethru books!

• Copy- copy children’s actions and words- this lets them know that you are interested in what they say and what they do. Encourage discussion, ask open ended questions.

• Model- use correct grammar and pronunciation of words- all the time. If someone is using incorrect grammar or incorrect pronunciation of sounds- don’t tell them they are “wrong” instead just provide them with a model of the sentence/word said correctly. For example “I runned there” you can say “ohh you ran there.” Or “I wike rabbits” you can say “you like rabbits.”

• Add- when you are talking about things with the children- describe them in as much detail as you can. Name the parts, where it lives, what it does, the group it belongs to, what we do with it, what it looks like, etc.

·       By reading slowly to the class, with emphasis on certain words, children are able to listen more intently and follow the story. Children will also gain an understanding of how to pronounce words and will be more attentive. 

    

    Make sure that everyone can see your mouth when you speak.

·       When you read a book – don’t just read it. Encourage open discussions and talk about the pictures if the text is too long for their attention span.

·       Don’t be afraid to read a book at least 4-5 times. They won’t get bored and the more you read it, the more learning they will get out of it! Search the net for coloring pages and other ideas to turn books into activities. For more information check this out!

Working with children

•     It is a good idea to give children positive statements about their work, which will encourage them to think more positively about themselves. Instead of saying “don’t ___” say “I really like it when you are trying”.

•   Treat the children with respect and value their opinions. Teach them to have a “voice.” Encourage them to speak and don’t interrupt. 

• Teach taking turns and providing choices whenever possible.

• Speak to children at their level- actually get down and sit on the floor or squat when you are speaking with them. It’s important that they see your mouth.

• Make books fun!

Cheers,
Mindy

Does technology make your baby smarter?

In short no! 
"Everything we know about brain research and child development points away from using screens to educate babies," said Susan Linn, the group's director. "The research shows that machines and screen media are a really ineffective way of teaching a baby language. What babies need for healthy brain development is active play, hands-on creative play and face-to-face" interaction.

Written by Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press.

After School Group- Reading to kids and having a discussion about the book!

If you want your child to interact and use good communication skills you need to communicate with your child. There is no iPhone app that will make your baby speak. Screen time will not guarantee your child's language skills, IQ, or academic success. Yes there are many apps that claim to improve communication, however; you need to interact and speak with your child while using them. It is like finger nails on a chalk board for me when I see babies with TV's in their room or a 2 year old with an iPhone playing games!

You need to talk, sing, read books and interact to get the language going with your children!


Check out this link to learn more!

City, City What Do You See?

Sooo many kids I work with have to work on the vocabulary goal these days; so I started looking for resources. I have a hard time finding resources that work well for younger kids at the beginning of the goal. Normally when I start targeting the vocabulary goal, I start with an associations activity. I will have the children state which items go together, and then explain why they go together?

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vocabulary-Associations-What-Doesnt-Belong-and-Categorization-578985

However when I am working with preschoolers or children who have significant language delays,  this can be a very difficult task for them. This got me thinking..... What do I need? I started making books based on themes: farm animals, things at school, ocean items, and things in the city. I wrote these books in an easy, repetitions pattern so that children could read them along with their teacher or SLP. They are written in the Brown Bear, Brown Bear format so that non-readers and beginning readers can read them again, and again.  These books are just a beginning point for you to say all of these items in the book belong to a category- the category name is.....  Then you can go on to tell the kids what are some similarities between the items and what are some differences,  what are the parts, where do the items come from, what is their function, etc. 

Here is a copy of my City, City what do you see which includes many services that are found in our communities.

http://pinterest.com/pin/72972456435558212/

Teacherspayteachers- store

Reading to your children- why?

I found a really great article and it got me thinking about books& reading to kids.

I have heard many teachers talk about the backslide kids have during the summer especially with their literacy skills. In order to keep the reading and language skills going we should read to our kids and the promote a conversation to ensure comprehension.

A few great tips for parents during the summer are:

1. Read everyday. Read anything, it doesn't have to be books; read recipes, poems, signs, and even cereal boxes!

2. Take turns. Have your kids read to you and you to them. I know my kids love it when we read TOGETHER! I  read a page and then they read a page.

3. Ask questions! Many parents make the mistake of asking questions in a testing manner. Ask questions that  promote thinking and not yes/no answers. What do you think will happen next? Why did that happen? Why did you like the story?

4. Make it fun. Turn the book into an activity. Many books have colouring pages and other activities that go with them. When you find colouring pages or activities turn it into a language rich experience. you can sequence the story by asking what was the first thing that happened in the story, the. What happened, and what next, etc. A great website to look at is http://www.kizclub.com/stories.htm for book activities. I also sell book buddies for Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, etc. 

Check them out on http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mindy-Olson-pizzey Many are Free!

The cool article was http://www.raisesmartkid.com/all-ages/1-articles/14-the-benefits-of-reading-to-your-child