Raising A Reader Bay Area - San Francisco and Alameda Counties - Raising a Reader March 2012 Archives

Archive for March, 2012

Spring into Literacy

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Last year we highlighted six early skills (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/2011/06/kindergarten-readiness-2/ ) based on Every Child Ready to Read. (http://www NULL.everychildreadytoread NULL.org/) The program has been revised to include five easy to remember literacy skills. They are presented below with examples from I Love Bugs! (http://www NULL.goodreads NULL.com/book/show/7606551-i-love-bugs)by Emma Dodd- a recommended spring read.

(http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=0dtUztQ5Plw)

WHAT are these early literacy skills?	WHY is this important?	HOW can I practice this at home with my child?
READ	Reading is one activity that you can do with a child to positively impact their language acquisition. Through reading, children can see words (also known as print awareness (http://www NULL.multcolib NULL.org/birthtosix/elitskills NULL.html)), hear how words sound, and learn to speak words. It also gives them the opportunity to generate new words and grasp understanding with the help of pictures and the meaning of a story.	We recommend spending at least 20 minutes a day sharing a book with your child ~at the bus stop, in line at the grocery store, before bed time, at the breakfast table… Whenever. Wherever. Have fun! Don’t make it a chore. Read it once- just looking at the pictures Read it twice – reading the words Read it again – take note of the word sounds (alliteration) Read it again – because it’s fun!
TALK	Simply having a conversation with your child about the things going on around them, what they see, what they hear, and what they know (or don’t) are great ways to help explain concepts and learn new vocabulary. Through talking you have the ability to encourage/support a child’s desire to speak while modeling the correct use of language at the same time. The more words a child hears, the more words they will learn and use	This book provides an opportunity to talk about the name of bugs and offers descriptive vocabulary. Try to incorporate at least one new word a day into your child’s vocabulary. Use it often. They will follow your lead.For example: How can you use the words spiky, whirry and flouncy?
SING	Brain research tells us that when children sing and move to music, their developing brains are entirely engaged and stimulated. Both the left and right sides of the brain are activated when we sing. Songs can introduce new words, often words that rhyme or repeat, which make them easier to learn. It also gives children the opportunity to practice the smaller sounds in words, such as adding a “s” to the end of things that are plural.	The itsy bitsy spider Climbed up the waterspout Down came the rain And washed the spider out. Out came the sun And dried up all the rain So the itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the spout again! La araña pequeñita subió, subió, subió, Vino la lluvia y se la llevó. Salió el sol y todo lo secó. Y la araña pequeñita subió, subió, subió.
PLAY	Games and “make-believe” play are excellent ways for children to connect concrete examples with concepts. Play creates an opportunity for children to expand on an idea themselves using reasoning (a bug can’t do that!), sequence (first this happens, then that), and creativity. Encourage children to act out pictures they see in stories.	Go out into the yard, a garden, or park (http://sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=1010362801)- what kind of bugs are in your neighborhood? Look at them. Find out more about them. Visit your local library for nonfiction books about bugs. Ask a librarian if you need help finding books.
WRITE	Reading and writing go hand and hand. Practicing writing can help kids make the connection between letters and language. An important kindergarten readiness skill includes knowing how to hold a pencil which help develops fine motor skills.	Draw bugs, flowers, outdoor scenes. Have your child sign their art work. Many of the libraries in San Francisco have magnetic letters kids can play with to promote letter knowledge.

Check out this article from PBS Parents: Getting Your Kids to Plug into Nature (http://www NULL.pbs NULL.org/parents/experts/archive/2012/03/getting-your-kids-to-plug-into NULL.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=pbs)

Zoroastrian New Year

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Happy Zoroastrian New Year!

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/now-roz NULL.jpg)Commonly referred to as “Persian New Year,” the vernal equinox (first day of spring) is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in some countries and regions, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Albania, northwestern China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kurdish Iraq, and Azerbaijan, among others. The holiday dates back approximately 3,000 years when the pre-Judaic prophet, Zoroaster, founded what is thought to be the world’s first monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism. The faith describes a dualism in the world between order and chaos, truth and falsehood, good and evil. Zoroaster instructed his followers to think good thoughts, say good words, and do good deeds to keep negative forces away.

Once one of the world’s largest religions, today there are an estimated 200,000 followers, with approximately 20,000 living in (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/LeilasNowruzAdventureCoverImage NULL.jpg)the U.S. While the number of followers has dwindled, the Zoroastrian new year, called Now Roz (also, Norooz, Nowruz, Navrez, and others; literally “New Day”), is celebrated regardless of religion. Now Roz is a time of festivities, joy, and renewal, and depending on the country, the celebrations can last nearly two weeks. Renewal is observed by thoroughly cleaning one’s home, wearing brand-new clothing and shoes, and gifting newly minted banknotes and coins to children. Many regions have their own delicacies associated with Now Roz, and holiday tables are decorated with sprouted wheat, candles, goldfish, mirrors, coins, flowers, dried fruit, apples, sweets, and more, to indicate the good luck and fortune that the new year will bring. Children decorate eggs, receive money, and fill themselves on sweets and holiday foods.

There are several children’s books about Now Roz, including Leila’s Nowruz (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Leilas-Nowruz-Adventure-Activity-Coloring/dp/1456597590)Adventure: Activity and Coloring Book (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Leilas-Nowruz-Adventure-Activity-Coloring/dp/1456597590), Gala and Her Friends Celebrate Norooz (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Gala-her-Friends-Celebrate-Norooz/dp/1449507611/ref=pd_sim_b_4), Happy Nowruz: Cooking with Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Happy-Nowruz-Cooking-Children-Celebrate/dp/193382316X/ref=pd_sim_b_3), and the DVD Babak and Friends – A First Norooz (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Babak-Friends-Norooz-Shohreh-Aghdashloo/dp/B0008JFMYC/ref=pd_sim_b_7). The books include activities and crafts for children and the DVD is in English and Farsi (Persian).

The first day of spring falls on March 20 this year.

St. Patrick’s Day

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day …

… with an annual festival and parade in San Francisco, children’s activities, and a favorite holiday-themed children’s book.

In San Francisco, the 161st annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival (http://sanfrancisco NULL.about NULL.com/gi/o NULL.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=sanfrancisco&cdn=citiestowns&tm=5&f=00&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//sresproductions NULL.com/sfstpatricksday NULL.html) will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the parade starting at 11:30 a.m. The festival is a family friendly, alcohol-free event, and includes children’s rides and a petting zoo.

Another great way to teach children about St. Paddy’s Day while having fun is to engage them in thematic crafts and activities (http://www NULL.enchantedlearning NULL.com/crafts/stpatrick/) and Irish folklore children’s books (http://www NULL.apples4theteacher NULL.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/kids-books/).

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, and was kidnapped and sent to Ireland to work as a slave at 16. After seven years, he escaped and went back to Britain where he became a priest. Patrick returned to Ireland years later to convert the Irish to Christianity, and though he converted thousands, he was largely forgotten about after his death on March 17, 461. Over the centuries, the folklore about Patrick’s work grew in Ireland, where was later honored as its patron saint.

Staff Picks for Women’s History Month

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

March is Women’s History Month with worldwide celebrations of International Women’s Day (http://www NULL.internationalwomensday NULL.com/) on March 8th.

In true Raising A Reader fashion, we celebrate with books! Please enjoy these staff favorites, featuring female characters, from our rotating collection. Click on the images below to learn more about each title.