Own a Daycare Blog » Reading http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:32:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Winter Preschool Reading and Resource List: Free Winter Printables http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/winter-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-winter-printables http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/winter-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-winter-printables#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:03 +0000 csnuggs http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/?p=1119 Related posts:]]> Winter is the season which begins with the winter solstice, which is around December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, and ends with the spring equinox which is around March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.

Teach young children about winter through winter themed lesson plans and activities. Consider the following reading lists and resources for free winter worksheets, coloring pages, and handwriting practice sheets for your child care center:

Reading List

Winter Board and Picture Books Baby-Age 3

Winter by Gerda Muller [Florris Books, 1994]

One Winter’s Night by Diane Dillon and Leo Dillon [Puffin, 2005]

Pooh Welcomes Winter by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, A. A. Milne, Robbin Hogan, and Robbin Cuddy [Disney, 1999]

Little Fern’s First Winter by Jane Simmons [Little, Brown, 2001]

Winter Wonderland by Alan Benjamin and Samuel J. Butcher [Golden Books, 2000]

Winter:  Seasons Board Books by Chris L. Demarest [Red Wagon Books, 1994]

Chickadee Winter by Dawn L. Watkins and Gabriela Dellosso [Journey Books, 1999]

First Snow of Winter by Graham Ralph and Sue Tong [Penguin Character Books, 1994]

Barney’s Wonderful Winter Day by Stephen White and Bill Langley [Barney Publishing, 1994}

MIffy in the Snow by Dick Bruna [Big Tent Entertainment, 2004]

Winter Early Readers Ages 4-8

It’s Winter (Celebrate the Seasons) by Linda Glaser [Milbrooke Press, 2002]

Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan [Sleeping Bear Press, 2004]

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Helen K. Davie [Collins, 1996]

Winter Days in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls wilder and Renee Graaf [Harper Collins, 1995]

Is that You, Winter? By Stephen Gammell [Voyager Books, 2000]

When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan and Susan Graber [Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books, 2000]

Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling and Greg Newbold [Voyager Books, 2002]

It’s Snowing! It’s Snowing: Winter Poems [HarperCollins, 2006]

Winter (Four Seasons Series) by Nuria Roca [Barron’s Educational Series, 2004

Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser [Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2009]

Emma’s Magic Winter by Jean Little and Jennifer Plecas [HarperCollins, 2000]

Snow Shapes:  A Read and Do Book by Judith Moffatt [Scholastic, 2000]

Free Winter Preschool Worksheets and Printables

There are many resources for free worksheets for daycare providers to use in conjunction with lesson plans and activities. Worksheets for winter themes should include coloring pages, handwriting worksheets, and printable craft patterns.

The following websites provide free Christmas printables:

KidZone: language arts, math, science and scissor skills worksheets

ABCTeach:  Free winter worksheets, calendars, coloring pages, and other printables

A to Z Teacher Stuff: Winter preschool learning activities, finger plays, nursery rhymes, and craft printables

Everything Preschool: Great winter coloring pages

Kinderplans: Winter emergent reader printable book and winter activity

First-Preschool: Free printable winter themed activities, crafts, lesson plans, and coloring pages

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]]> http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/winter-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-winter-printables/feed 0 Christmas Preschool Reading and Resource List: Free Christmas Printables http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/christmas-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-christmas-printables http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/christmas-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-christmas-printables#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:00:46 +0000 csnuggs http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/?p=1084 Related posts:]]> Christmas or Christmas Day is a yearly holiday, celebrated on December 25, which commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Celebrate Christmas in your daycare center by reading age appropriate stories that focus on the symbols of Christmas and by implementing Christmas-themed activities.

Consider the following reading lists and resources for free Christmas worksheets, coloring pages, and handwriting practice sheets for your child care center:

Reading List

Christmas Board and Picture Books Baby-Age 3

Christmas in a Manger: A Pat and Peek Book by Nola Buck and Felicia Bond [HarperFestival, 1995]

The Christmas Baby by Marione Bauer  and Richard Cowdrey [Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2009]

I Spy Little Christmas by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick [Cartwheel, 1999]

Fisher Price: Baby’s First Christmas: Learning about Colors by Lauren Gaede and Lyn Fletcher [HarperFestival, 2008]

Merry Christmas, Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter [Warne, 2003]

Rudolph’s First Christmas by DK Publishing[DK Preschool, 2007]

The Little Christmas Stained Glass Coloring Book by Ted Menten [Dover Publications, 1988]

Countdown to Christmas by Patti Reeder Eubank [Candy Cane Press, 2003]

The Christmas House by Carol Bullman and Jim Madsen [Ideals, 2008]

Christmas Cookies by Wendy Cheyette Lewison [Grosett & Dunlap, 1993]

The Christmas Kitten by Andrew Clements, Simon Galkin, and Alison Winfield [Little Simon, 2000]

The Night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore [Philomel, 2004]

Christmas Early Readers Ages 4-8

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren, Ilon Wikland, Florence Lamborn [Puffin, 1981]

Marvin’s Best Christmas Ever by Katherine Paterson and Jane Clark Brown [HarperCollins, 1999]

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe [Sleeping Bear Press, 2000]

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Conner and Robin Preiss Glasser [HarperCollins, 2009]

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss [Random House, 1957]

Bear Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman [Margaret K. McElderry, 2008]

Max’s Christmas by Rosemary Wells [Puffin, 2000]

Mr. Willowbys Christmas Tree by Robert Barry [Doubleday Books, 2000]

Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer [Ideals, 2007]

Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas by Marjorie Sharmat, Craig Sharmat, Marc  Simont [Yearling, 1997]

My First Story of Christmas by Tim Dowley and Roger Langton [Moody Publishers, 2004]

Free Christmas Preschool Worksheets and Printables

There are many worksheets for Christmas that you can print out and use for your lesson plans and activities. Worksheets should include coloring pages, handwriting worksheets, and printable craft patterns.

The following websites provide free Christmas printables:

First-Preschool: Calendar, coloring pages, patterns, mazes and worksheets.
A to Z Teacher Stuff: Christmas printables, coloring pages, activities and word searches
ABCTeach:  Free Christmas worksheets and printables
DLTK’s Crafts for Kids: Christmas recipes, worksheets, coloring pages, crafts, games and puzzles
All Kids Network: Free color Christmas printable worksheets

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]]> http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/christmas-preschool-reading-and-resource-list-free-christmas-printables/feed 0 Daycare Center – Reading Aloud to Children http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/daycare-center-reading-aloud-to-children http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/daycare-center-reading-aloud-to-children#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:49:23 +0000 Mary http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/?p=745 Related posts:]]> In the revolutionary review “Becoming a Nation of Readers” of 1986, the Commission on reading stressed that reading aloud to children is “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for success in reading.” It is important to expose children to books at a very early age, in as early as six week old. Babies this young already like to look at pictures and hear stories. Accordingly, children already start to develop an awareness of printed letters and words by the age of two or three, by seeing surrounding adults writing, reading, typing, etc. Preschoolers and toddlers are particularly eager to learn from adults reading to them and with them.

It is crucial to read aloud to young children because it allows them to absorb the information and skills they require to do well in academics and their everyday life, and these include:

Familiarity with printed letters and words, as well as the connection between print and sound.

Wide variety of words and their meaning.

Books – what they are, as well as their use and importance

The world around them and everything in it

Formal and informal language

The happiness that reading can give

When reading aloud to children, the following practices can help improve retention and comprehension:

Let children experience reading as a pleasurable activity. Make sure that you and the kids are seated in a comfortable area where they can sit near you. Make them feel warm and sheltered. As much as you can, try to express the emotions contained in the story you are reading. This will not only make the children more interested, they will also feel involved. If they enjoy the experience, they will definitely look forward to another reading session with you.

Read aloud on a regular basis. Make reading aloud an everyday activity. Create a schedule within the day, and —

Read at the beginning of the day or before going to bed.

Read after playtime as this helps children to settle down.

Read while the kids are having their snack and before taking a nap.

Make reading a learning experience. Explain words, phrases, or sentences that can be confusing or vague. Ask the views, observations, or opinion of the kids on what you are reading. If you are reading a picture book, explain what the picture(s) is all about and how it related to the story. If you are reading a story which is set in a particular place or timeframe, give the kids a backgrounder about that place or time period. Discuss the feelings and actions of the character with the children. Look for opportunities to connect the story to everyday life or school activities.

Ask questions while you are reading. Think of questions that can relate the story to the life and experience of your young audience. Make them compare the story to other stories they’ve heard. You can also ask them to guess what will happen next or what the ending will be.

Discuss the book with the children. Once you’ve finished reading, ask the children what they think of the book or the story they just heard. Ask questions that will make them express their feelins and opnions about the book. It would also be good to make them pick a part or character they like the most. Ask them as well how they understood the book/story and the lessons they’ve learned from it.

Read different types of books. Do not limit yourself with story books. Various kinds of books help children to learn different kinds of information and skills. Storybooks promote creativity and make children learn about different cultures, eras, and people. It can also make them understand how people think, act, and feel differently. On the other hand, informational books give children useful facts about the world and everyday life. It also widens their vocabulary and make them learn concepts that will assist them in school. books. Story books and informational books both contribute to the mental and emotional growth of children. Just make sure to choose materials that are appropriate to the age of the group you are reading to.

Read books that will assist you in teaching. Alphabet books will help you teach letters, their sound, and what they look like. In the same way, counting books teach number recognition and counting. When teaching about phonological awareness, use poetry books or books about nursery rhyme. Try to find oversized books, or books with big prints and pictures as this will help kids remember easily. Pick out stories that teach about socialization, and how to properly relate to other people (ex. Books on friendship, cooperation, etc.). Books that tell about how nature works to give them an idea or two about the world and their environment.

Do not hesitate to repeat favorite books. Its no surprise that kids love to hear their favourite books again and again. Reading books repeatedly actually improve the comprehension skills of children and discover new things. For instance, after hearing a story twice or trice, children may come to understand the meaning of some words they had trouble understanding when they first heard the story/book.

Books that are suitable for reading aloud

Alphabet books. These books show the upper and lower case form of the alphabet letters and feature pictures of things that begin with the letter’s sound.

Counting or number books. These books not only show the basic numerals, they also illustrate them with the use of pictures (ex. Two monkeys, five dinosaurs, etc.)

Concept books. Books like these are meant to impart basic ideas that will assit children in school. Examples of concept books are books about color, shapes, sizes, opposites, farm animals, vehicles, and more.

Nursery rhymes. These books have different rhymes and verses that can be easily remembered and recited by children.

Pattern books and repetitive stories. In this kind of book, a phrase or sentence is repeated in the story forming a thought or pattern. You will notice that after reading a page or two of this book, your audience will have already learned the repeated phrase or sentence. This experience usually gives enjoyment especially to young children.

Traditional literature. Examples of traditional literature are fairy tales, folktales, fables, myths, and legends from different countries and time periods. These type of stories help children learn different eras, cultures, people, traditions, and practices. Meanwhile, stories like Cinderella differ from one country or culture to another and is interesting to discuss.

Wordless picture books. Books like these tell stories with the use of pictures alone. These books allow children to tell the story in their own version, which in turn enhances their creativity, language, as well as their sense of event sequencing

See: How to start a daycare center

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]]> http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/daycare-center-reading-aloud-to-children/feed 0 Develop The Love Of Reading In Children http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/develop-the-love-of-reading-in-children http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/develop-the-love-of-reading-in-children#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:46:14 +0000 Mary http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/?p=577 Related posts:]]> As a parent, you would always want to ensure that your child develops in the right stages. One of these developments include reading and language skills. Most parents would be proud if their children learned to read and speak earlier than most children but there is really no right age that a child must know when to do these.

What most parents do not know is that reading is an acquired skill from birth. This is affected by various language skills that help them develop in reading. This is a fairly complicated process but amazes most people too. The progress of learning how to read involves certain skills which are learned as they progress from one stage to another.

I. Birth to 1 year
At this stage, you might even think that it is impossible to do anything that will affect the reading skills of your child. You may want to start at this early age of development to create a learning atmosphere for your child. Do read to your child constantly at this age. It is important that you show her the pictures in the books that you use. Observe how your child responds because you will know if she is interested in story telling time.

II. 1 to 3 years

At these ages, your children will be in a crucial stage when it comes to the learning process. This is when she will learn how to talk, making room to learn more language skills, especially reading. Statr teaching your child how to read the alphabet. Knowing the alphabet can really go a long way in your child’s development. You need to make sure that you have interaction when you tech your child how to read. When reading, do make gestures and facial expressions that they can associate with certain emotions. It is also recommended to read animal stories, and accompany it with matching animal sounds. Kids really love animal stories at this age.

You should read a lot and even make it a habit to read to your child. This is when you will be able to teach them. There are picture books that show pictures of words that children might associate with. You may start teaching them how to read words or even phrases.

III. 3 to 4 years

During preschool, your child will further her reading skills since they will start going to school now. They will spend most of their time interacting with other people. Most school activities will include their teacher reading to them storybooks, mostly fairy tales. You child may even have a favourite character and imitate them. You may start teaching them how to write and how to read more difficult words as well as sentences. You need to teach your child how to handle the books properly.

There are some signs and labels that your kid must be familiar with like stop signs, female and male signs and others that will be helpful when they are left in school without you. Most importantly, teach them how to ask if they are unsure of the signs that they are reading. Teach them phrases like “I love you” or “Thank you’. These are phrases which they can use in preschool when interacting with the teacher or fellow students.

IV. 5 years
At kindergarten, you may need to ask them if they want to read the lines or words for you. This can be great training for the kid so that they will not be afraid to learn. Allow them to read to you and actually listen to them. Explain to them that reading should be done left to right going down the page. Start playing reading games, giving a prize for every correct word that they read. Also, if they know the meaning or if they can give a word that starts with that letter, she will get a special prize. They may also work with familiarity with starting sounds as well as ending sounds. Kids love to associate things and find that this is an effective method, do allow them to discover their way of learning.

Subtly correct them if they make mistakes, but do not make them feel that they have done a big mistake. This will discourage them from reading in the future. Descriptive language is recommended when asking questions. You may make learning a fun experience by engaging in rhyming games. You can now match written words with spoken ones so that they may be able to comprehend phrases as well as sentences.

V. 6 years old

This is the culminating stage of the reading process. Sure enough, beyond the first-grade, children will still continue the reading process, but more or else, your child will have an idea on how to read properly. Rereading stories are what kids this age do best, they will reread their favourite stories to anyone, including you. You may want to incorporate a game where you predict what will happen, or asking questions about the story and they must find the answers in the book. Ask them to read aloud, and be proud of what they are reading. They will be confident that what they are doing is right and allow them to enjoy that freedom when they read to you. Yes, children love the idea that they are given a change to read a story with print, picture clues and memory. They will be able to associate stories with these elements. Let them learn new words by associating phonetics with similar words and you may even help them if they are having difficulty.

Ask them to identify new words just by looking at them and figuring out how to read them. You may throw in a little vocabulary so that they will know what those words are when they start to read them in a sentence. Besides from this, you need to teach them how to write sentences and how they feel. They need to learn punctuations, capitalizations and the right way of combining words to form meaning.

The developmental stage of your child is very crucial. You need to take each stage seriously as part of their learning process. Build interest in reading because this can really be a big part of your child’s development. There are so much that they can learn from reading so do not take this skill for granted

See: How to start a daycare center

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