Book Talks and Author Studies are wonderful ways to explore and learn about children’s literature. I highly recommend doing them with the children you teach. They are also excellent additions to teacher education classes. I started doing these activities with my undergraduate students for two reasons: 1. I wanted my students to discover as many children’s books [...]
Archive for September, 2011
The Value of Book Talks and Author Studies
Posted by drjenn on September 27th, 2011
Posted in Blog, Literacy, Teaching Strategies 
Tags: author study, book talks, books, children's literature, genres, Tad Hills 
No Comments »Basic Tips for ESL/ELL Instruction
Posted by drjenn on September 25th, 2011
Almost every classroom in the United States has children whose first language is not English. Early Childhood teaching strategies are very appropriate for working with this population of children. Here are a few tips for teachers with ESL children in their classrooms:
The Different Types of Alphabet Books
Posted by drjenn on September 25th, 2011
ABC Concept books don’t focus on one specific theme for the book, but rather focus on learning the actual letters. The children will primarily learn the alphabet. Try: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ABC Content books have one central theme and each letter represents something from that theme. The children will learn theme-specific vocabulary and the alphabet. Try: Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A [...]
ESL/ELL Instruction – It’s easier than you think!
Posted by drjenn on September 23rd, 2011
Whether you have ESL children or not in your classroom, having a variety of word games to be played by pairs of students or small groups is ideal. Pocket charts are great for these types of games. The key is to do activities where all students can interact and move around.
A fun twist on the alphabet song
Posted by drjenn on September 20th, 2011
Looking for a fun twist to the traditional alphabet song? Try the Hip Hop Alphabet. You can play the song in the background (the video isn’t needed) and either: 1. Display the alphabet on a large screen or easel and have one child use a pointer to point to each letter as the class sings the [...]
What’s your name?
Posted by drjenn on September 20th, 2011
So it’s time for your Kindergarteners to learn the letters of the alphabet. I mean really learn the letters. They all can sing the ABC song, but can they really point to each letter and identify it? Probably not. (And that’s fine by the way). I suggest using the children’s names to jumpstart your exploration into letters.
Posted in Be a PhD, Headlines, Letter and Word Recognition, Literacy, Preschooler, Teaching Strategies Tags: alphabet, hands-on, letters, literacy, math, names, nature, one-to-one correspondence, play No Comments »Make-Your-Own Light Table (and add some Reggio Emilia to your life)
Posted by drjenn on September 15th, 2011
Before becoming a college professor and developing my Early Childhood Education program, I was privileged enough to teach infants, toddlers and preschoolers at a Reggio Emilia-inspired laboratory school at Virginia Tech. While a teacher at the school, I worked deeply with the Reggio philosophy and was able to see what can happen when teachers listen to [...]
Improv and Literacy Development
Posted by drjenn on September 12th, 2011
Aside from being a teacher, I have also been involved in the arts throughout my life. At one point in my 20′s I took an improv class at a the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City. I realized quickly that the work of an improv actor is very similar to the work of teacher. [...]
Posted in Blog, Literacy, Oral Language, Teaching Strategies Tags: active listening, improv, improvisation, listening, literacy, literacy development, oral language, speaking No Comments »Using Photographs for Oral Language Development
Posted by drjenn on September 12th, 2011
Oral language development is the basis for all other literacy development. Children must first develop their oral language skills (listening and speaking), and then they will be able to participate in reading and writing. Here is one of the first activities I do with my early childhood students in our literacy class to emphasize oral language [...]
Adding Letters to Puzzle Play
Posted by drjenn on September 7th, 2011
While playing with this animal puzzle one afternoon, Miss H decided to add a new material. After we had put all of the animals together and were talking about what each animal was, she got up, went to her toy shelf, and came back with her container of letters.
Posted in Be a PhD, Headlines, Preschooler, Toddler Tags: animals, cognition, cognitive development, letters, literacy, play, puzzles No Comments »
