What children know What children know about reading and about reading and

writing before they can writing before they can actually read and write.actually read and write.

From birth – age 5, the brain develops the neurological pathways needed for future learning.

These pathways are developed between cells through activities that stimulate a young child’s senses.

Brains that are not stimulated do not develop these pathways between cells.

Synaptic Density

From Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early Development by Rima Shore (NY: Families and Work Institute, 1997)

1. Print Motivation

2. Vocabulary

3. Narrative Skills

4. Print Awareness

5. Letter Knowledge

6. Phonological Awareness

reading enjoyment

knowing the names of things

describing things and telling stories

knowing that letters have different shapes, names and sounds

noticing words and how to handle a book

hearing smaller sounds in words

What are the benefits of

circle Story)

time?

Stimulates and develops a continued enthusiasm for reading

Develops socialization skills through contact with other children

Develops self-expression

through verbalization

and dramatization

Develops independence, especially in preparation

for Kindergarten

Storytime also meets the basic needs of

young children

Security

This is found in: •Routine of beginning and ending rituals •Repetition of favorite books•In books with repeated patterns or phrases

Example:

Read it

again!

Belonging

This is fostered by participation as a group in the various activities

Group Participation Examples:h

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Call and response

Group Participation examples (cont’d)

Crafts•Group crafts•Sharing craft supplies

Repetition & Rhyming

Recognition.

Having an adult listen to their experiences, read and play with them on their own level, gives the

child a feeling of recognition

What is the general outline of a circle time?

1. Opening Song 2. Welcome/Introductory Comments 3. Song/Dance 4. Quieting rhyme 5. Book 6. Story/Rhyme 7. Dance/Song 8. Book 9. Craft10. Closing Rhyme or Song

The order of things is not set in concrete

Opening Song•Does not have to be hello or welcome specific

•Keep it the same each day/weekoChildren need repetition

oThey will know what’s coming next

Hello New FriendsHello new friends

How are you?Say your name

And we’ll clap for you!

Open Them, Close Them

Welcome/Introductory Comments

•Discuss the theme•What you will be doing today•Children will know what to expect

Song/Dance•May or may not be theme specific

•Use some of the same songs for each session = repetition

•Children listen so they can learn the song and repeat it with you

•Introducing new songs encourages listening and vocabulary skills

Quieting RhymeThe children have been up and moving

around, now it’s time to quiet down and get ready for a story

Choosing Books to Read-Aloud:

http://www.beginningwithbooks.org/what-makes-childrens

•The book should encourage reader participation and interaction

•Illustrations should be engaging, interesting, and designed for children

Vintage Mother Goose, illustrated by Frederick Richardson

•Text should have interesting language and introduce children to new vocabulary

•If the book you've chosen to read aloud is not working, stop the reading and move on

Read-Aloud Tips:•Introduce the book•title, author, and illustrator

•Look at the cover•talk about what the book might be about

•Hold the book with the pictures facing toward the children.

•Read with expressionhttp://www.rif.org/parents/tips/default.mspx

Read-Aloud Tips (cont’d):

•Answer questions related to the book •save other questions for later.•Ask children to look closely at the pictures•to help them understand the story and

•make predictions about what might happen next.

•Pause and wait so children can say the word that ends a repetitive or predictable phrase.

Read-Aloud Tips (cont’d):

•Stop to ask thinking questions•What might happen next? Where did he go? Why did she do that?

•Follow up on the story•Invite a child to talk; draw or paint; pretend to be one of the characters; and so on.

More Stories:•Storytelling•Flannelboard•Participation Storytelling•Puppetry•Tagboard Stories•Draw & Tell•Cut & Tell

Closing Rhyme or Song

Make it the same each

day/week. Wheels on the Bus

Craft or Other ActivityFrom easy to difficultUse only a few supplies, or more!Group or individualLots of ideas in books (at the library) and on-line

Benefitso fine motor skillso sharingo imagination and creativity

Preschool News

Newslettersare an easy way to get the word

out and stay connected with

parents.

Online Templates:http://www.2care2teach4kids.com/preschool/classroommanagement/teachersdesk/page6.htmhttp://www.preschoolprintables.com/classroom/classroom.shtml

Books, magazines, puzzles, CD’s, DVD’s, video games…

Home Learning Center.

Internet access.

Trained librarians.

Children’s programs.

Free services and materials.

Open when families and teachers can come.

Books & Websites

Storytime Resources:

Presentation Resources:•http://ysostorytime.pbworks.com/Storytime-Tips

•Using Circle Time as a Vehicle to Improve Self-Esteem in the Primary Classroom by Sian Breeze (www.behaviour4learning.ac.uk)

•www.earlychildhoodnews.com

•Storytime Handbook from Whatcom County Library System (http://www.slideshare.net/guestdcc3999/storytime-handbook)

10 Themes

Pigs

Dinosaurs

Pets

All About Me

ABC’s & 123’s

Colors

Time

Food

Seasons

Opposites

Questions &

Comments