Talking to Teach Early Literacy Skills

Talking is an important way to build early literacy skills and help your child get ready to learn to read! Every Child Ready to Read 2 emphasizes this important and fun activity. Talking with your child seems easy and it is. It takes time and energy, though. Just remember that it is an essential activity to help your child develop early literacy skills he or she needs to have.

I love your snow picture!
Tell me about it!

• Share a simple and short personal story about an everyday or relatable experience. Then ask your child to share a story of her own. After he tells his story, repeat the events in sequence (for example, “Wow. What an exciting story. It sounds like it started to snow. Then you put on your coat, boots, hat and mittens and went outside to play. Then you picked up some of the snow and rolled it into balls. Your brother and sister helped you make a snowman!”). Not only will repeating your child’s story help him or her understand the narrative structure, but also it will make him or her feel listened to and understood.
•   Talking is a simple way to build vocabulary skills. Introduce a new word and talk about what it means and when/where we might say it or when/where we might hear it being said. Try introducing a new word that connects to a book you will read or an activity the children will do.

•  Colors, shapes, numbers, and other concepts are all vocabulary that children must learn. Don’t take for granted this important step in a child’s pre-reading process. Ask about colors, shapes, and numbers whenever the occasion arises—during a program or activity or when engaging any young library user in conversation. Encourage caregivers to talk with their children about colors, shapes, and numbers wherever they are: on the bus, in the library, playing with toys, or standing in line at the grocery store.

"This chair is yellow! Let's find something else that is yellow."

Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! And that the schools are already on break!

This time of year is made for stories! I'm guessing that most of you have a story behind at least one ornament on your Christmas tree. And most families have stories that have been passed down for years about holidays past. Be sure to share those stories with your children. And encourage them to share their own stories as well. Developing those storytelling skills (also known as narrative skills) is an important part of learning to read and succeeding in school.

I'd like to share a couple of fun websites I came across recently that you can use to help your children tell stories.

The first is Kerpoof. While the activities are rated for Kindergarten and up, a preschooler could use the site with help. Have fun drawing a picture... maybe you'd like to draw your tree or a favorite ornament. One nice thing about this site is that you can save the pictures to your computer if you like, and you don't have to create an account. This can save some time and relieve concerns about privacy.

Another is Zooburst. On Zooburst, your child can create a digital pop up book. This is a good way to tell a favorite family story or make up your own. You can enter the text and even give voices to the characters in the story. You do have to register for this one.

Of course, there's no reason not to pull out paper, crayons, markers and... whatever else you'd like to use and create your own masterpiece at home! However you choose to do it, make sure to share some stories over this holiday season!

Children's Book Week @ LCPL

This week we're celebrating children's books at the Cedar Lake Branch Library!

At our programs this week, we asked children to show us their favorite book. The library staff members have also shared their favorites. Take a look in this slide show!

Do you have a favorite that you don't see? Leave us a comment and we'll put it into the show. Or come into the library and show us!

We have one more program this week. Babies from infants to age 3 years and their caregivers can join us Friday, Nov. 18th at 10:30 for Mother Goose on the Loose!

Every Child Ready to Read--Just Talk!

This month's library programs for children are concentrating on teaching children Narrative Skills, which is being able to describe things and events and tell stories. When children are learning to read, this essential early literacy skill will help them remember what they read.

• The first step in helping your child develop this skill is to talk with him. Narrate your day. "First we will do this, then we will go here." and so on. Ask your child about her day, too.
• Ask your child questions--engage in a two way conversation, even with a very young child. Always allow time for your child to answer--count to 5 before you answer for him. You may not understand all your child is saying, but he is using words to express what is happening!
• Use the pictures in a book to encourage conversation, too. Ask a young child to point to various objects on a page. But ask open ended questions, too. "How do you think the boy in the picture is feeling? Do you remember feeling that way? What happened?"
• All this talk helps your child develop more vocabulary words, too! She is also learning that things happen in a certain sequence--first, middle, and last.
• Encourage your child to act out some of the books you read to him She might use stuffed animals or puppets. Or maybe the two of you can make props such as stick puppets to help tell stories.
• In Storytime the children made some stand up farm animals. In the picture she is wearing hers. But first she talked a little about them--and made their animals sounds too! She will also be able to use them to retell parts of farm animal stories. You can do something like this at home. And as always, have fun!!! A child who enjoys reading and related activities will want to learn to read!
• Click here for the types of books to look for that will help you teach Narrative Skills and also for a list of recommended books.

Every Child Ready to Read: Print Motivation

This month we are concentrating on Print Motivation which is encouraging a love of reading in your child. It's especially easy during the summer when the library has so many fun programs and when children receive prizes for reading or being read to.

Check out all the fun programs at the library by clicking here! Learn more about the summer reading program for all ages--including adults by clicking here.

This week enjoy Preschool Storyhour on Tues. July 5 @ 10:30 or 1; Let's Eat! for school age children on Wed. July 6 @ 2; and a Puppet Extravaganza for all ages--with a visit from the famous Maisy--on Fri. July 8 @ 1!

Summer Program Fun!

Great fun @ the library this summer--dogs visited, teens created art from around the world, school age children learned about schools in other countries, & more!
Join us for programs every week!
Preschool Storyhour for 3-5-year-olds every Tues. at 10:30 or 1
School Age Programs every Wed. at 1
Toddler Time every 2nd & 4th Thursday at 10:30
Mother Goose on the Loose for babies through age 3 every 1st & 3rd Fri. at 10:30
Teen programs every 2nd Tues., 3rd Thurs. & last Wed. @ 4.
This week school agers will enjoy water fun, rain or shine!
Teens will compete in the 4th annual Battle of the Sexes with Fear Factor type & minute to win it games, guy & girl trivia & more.

Fun @ the Library!

Summer reading fun starts on Monday, June 6. EVERYONE can win prizes for reading! For more info or to sign up, click here! From there learn about all the great programs by clicking on 'Library Calendar'.

• Thursday, June 2 at 3 or 4:30. Prospective volunteers, ages 11-17, should plan on attending the Volunteer Meeting. There are lots of fun volunteer opportunities available!

• Friday, June 3 at 10:30. Mother Goose on the Loose,for infants-age 3 and a caregiver.

Check out events for the first week of summer reading. Read, have fun, & start winning prizes!:

• Monday, June 6 at 5pm. Snack & Plan Members of the library's Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) and those wishing to join (ages 12 & older) will meet to plan, eat, play games and earn volunteer time!

• Tuesday, June 7 at 10:30 OR 1pm. Preschool Storyhour for independent 3's, 4's, & 5's.

• Wednesday, June 8 at 4:30. School Age Fun!: Hungry to Learn, celebrating schools around the world!

• Thursday, June 9 at 10:30. Toddler Time for 2's & 3's & a caregiver.

• Friday, June 10 at 1pm. Summer Reading Kickoff. We'll celebrate with a World's Fair of fun games & crafts and a special visit from Biscuit the Dog!