Redleaf Press Blog | Exceptional Resources for Early Childhood Professionals
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keywords: description: Redleaf Press Blog Exceptional Resources for Early Childhood Professionals Skip to content HomeAboutContact Us Older posts Learning to Say Goodbye, a Skill for Life September 24, 2021Guest Blog by Angèle Sancho Passe
In the book Mama’s Gloves, by Mike Huber, (Redleaf Press, 2014), four-year-old Esteban learns that mama “always comes back with two kisses and hug.” This routine helps mama and Esteban say goodbye to each other. It’s a comforting start of the day, despite the heart tugs of their morning separation. And both manage this important developmental skill with the support of teacher Walter. Indeed, all is well when mama comes back in the afternoon!
Like teacher Walter, you have the significant job of supporting children and parents with the transition from home to school. It is challenging to say goodbye. There is sadness and sometimes anger at being left behind. Though common, separation anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling. I’m thinking that at this unusual period of pandemic confusion, you may see a bit more separation anxiety than in normal times. Many parents are dealing with their own transitional stress of returning to places of work after the long COVID-19 disruption. Families may have developed isolated patterns of living, spending more time together at home, with fewer social interactions. Now they may be excited about the new possibilities, but they may also be nervous about getting out into a world that feels pretty uncertain. So, it’s good to spend extra time thinking of some teaching strategies to ease the stress of saying goodbye. Here are some tips to help children and their families navigate their separations:
Prepare ahead of time. Before the child starts in your program, send a short note to families. Write a simple message acknowledging separation pangs: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Liza on Wednesday. There will be lots of interesting activities to play and learn in our room. At the same time, it may be a bit hard for Liza and you to say goodbye when you drop her off. Before you come, remind Liza that she will stay at school with me, her teacher, and the other children. And that you will pick her up after afternoon snack. Separation anxiety is normal, and it usually lasts a short time. I am here to support your family with the transition.”Have a plan for drop off time. Be present to the child and parent, with an empathetic expression that says: “I know it’s hard to say goodbye, I can see you are crying. I will stay by you until you’re ready to move in the room and find things to do”.
Help the parent create a matter-of fact-transition routine that is short and simple: “Now your mom is going to say goodbye. She will give you a hug and two kisses.” Even if the children are whimpering, you say, “Goodbye mommy. I know you will be back after snack”. This models the language you want the child to internalize.
Direct the child’s attention to the interest centers in the room: “You can play with blocks here, or paint over there. And I will show you where the books are”.
Encourage a “transitional object”. It may be an “I love you” note from the parent or a small item, like a handkerchief or a family photo, that the child keeps at school to remember their loved ones.
Stay close to the child as they begin to move about. Affirm their ability to cope successfully with the separation. “You are doing a good job of playing with the blocks. And remember your dad will come back after snack time.”
Read books like Mama’s Gloves, individually and in group. Talk about separation at circle time. This validates all the children’s feelings: “Yes, we are sad sometimes when our parents leave. Then we feel better, and we play. And then, we are happy when they come back, just like Esteban, in the story.”
Show parents that you are helping their children adjust. At pick up time, prepare a couple of examples of what children learned and participated in during the day. This helps families visualize their child as capable, and it builds trust in you as a competent caregiver.
You have a big role in reassuring children and families that they will be OK, even when apart. Your confidence and composure are needed to keep everyone calm and optimistic when the tears flow—for children and even parents. Use these techniques as part of your transition-to school-curriculum. Integrate them into your lesson plans and share them with your co-educators. You are teaching children and families life skills that they will continue to use for the many transitions they will experience along the way!
About the AuthorAngèle Sancho Passe, MA, is an early childhood education consultant and instructor with more than 30 years of experience and an expert in working with programs to develop kindergarten readiness plans and teach dual-language learners. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and a member of the governing board for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and a regular trainer for Think Small Institute. Angèle is the author of Evaluating and Supporting Early Childhood Teachers, Dual-Language Learners, and Is Everybody Ready for Kindergarten?, Im Going to Kindergarten, and Creating Diversity-Rich Environments for Young Children. She holds a bachelors degree in child psychology and family social science and a masters degree in family education.
By Barbara Yates, President and CEO, Think Small
On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free, and 156 years later many communities continue to celebrate.
Juneteenth is about acknowledging the oppression of slavery and it is also about celebrating freedom. Many African American families today mark the day with food, music, community organizing, and being together. To understand the importance of Juneteenth you need a fundamental understanding of slavery, oppression, and systemic racism that continues.
[O]ur classrooms look a lot different than they did even 15 or 20 years ago, but our methods have not changed very much. What does that mean? It means that our teaching system, even in preschool and toddler rooms, carries with it the same implicit bias it always has and values white bodies as more valuable than black and brown bodies . . . Without some type of intervention, well-intended child educators, unconsciously move throughout our systems in society, continuing to value white bodies over black and brown bodies, further perpetuating prejudice. It is learned behavior.
Dianne Haulcy, Think Small’s Senior Vice President of Family Engagement, “Wake Up Everybody,” May 2020
It is never too early to start raising anti-racists. In honor of Juneteenth, we curated a variety of resources for children, early childhood educators, and families to help learn more about the holiday. We encourage you to incorporate these books, webinars, podcasts, and articles into conversations and curriculum year-round.
Books for Children
All Different Now: Juneteenth the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Recommended K Gr. 4
From the publisher:Through the eyes of one little girl,All Different Nowtells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Recommended PreK Gr. 3
From the publisher: In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman’s spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman, with her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Sing a Song: How to Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations, by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Keith Mallett
Recommended K Gr. 3
From the publisher:In Jacksonville, Florida, two brothers, one of them the principal of a segregated, all-black school, wrote the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” so his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincolns birthday in 1900. From that moment on, the song has provided inspiration and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed it on to their children who sang it to their children and grandchildren. It has been sung during major moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and college graduations.
Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
Recommended PreK Gr. 3
From the publisher:A poetic nonfiction picture book about a little-known piece of African American history that demonstrates how New Orleans’ Congo Square was truly freedom’s heart.
As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. This story chronicles slaves’ duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturdays, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. This book also has a foreword from Freddi Williams Evans, a historian and Congo Square expert, as well as a glossary of terms with pronunciations and definitions.
Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome
Recommended PreK Gr. 3
From the publisher: Climbing aboard the New York-bound Silver Meteor train, Ruth Ellen embarks upon a journey toward a new life up North— one she can’t begin to imagine. Stop by stop, the perceptive young narrator tells her journey in poems, leaving behind the cotton fields and distant Blue Ridge mountains.
Each leg of the trip brings new revelations as scenes out the window of folks working in fields give way to the Delaware River, the curtain that separates the colored car is removed, and glimpses of the freedom and opportunity the family hopes to find come into view. As they travel, Ruth Ellen reads from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, reflecting on how her journey mirrors her own— until finally, the train arrives at its last stop, New York’s Penn Station and the family heads out into a night filled with bright lights, glimmering stars, and new possibility.
Books for Educators
Anti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom by YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education Department
From the publisher: The YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education’s anti-biased and play-based curriculum uses practical and real-life experiences to support teacher learning and practice. With thrilling success in 2016, 94% of infants through preschoolers enrolled in this program were on track with age-appropriate development. This curriculum is flexible enough to accommodate state or local standards while remaining open to children’s ideas, interests, and questions. The YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education Department has been providing quality education for forty years, delivering a powerful blend of high-quality, full-time early childhood education, direct service, and advocacy for children, from infants through ten-year-olds in partnership with their families.
Roots and Wings: Affirming Culture and Preventing Bias in Early Childhood by Stacey York
From the publisher: Create a positive environment for working with diverse groups of children and families. Use the updated activities, examples, and research to improve your anti-bias and multicultural education programs. This clear and practical guide includes expanded information on English Language Learners, family engagement, culturally responsive teaching, and staff training.
You Cant Celebrate That! Navigating the Deep Waters of Social Justice Teaching by Nadia Jaboneta
From a review by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, co-authors of Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change: You Can’t Celebrate That! goes beyond anti-bias activities and reveals the critical thinking and process that goes into social justice education. Jaboneta models the self-work we all need to do as anti-bias educators—she is curious, reflective, and takes risks as she engages the families and her colleagues in the dilemma.
Courageous Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Taking a Stand for Social Justice, edited by Susi Long, Mariana Souto-Manning, Vivian Maria Vasquez
From the publisher: In this inspiring collection, 13 early childhood leaders take action to challenge and change inequitable educational practices in preschools and elementary schools. For them, educating for social justice is not an empty platitude. Steadfast and resolute, they turn rhetoric into reality as they guide early childhood teachers to teach for social justice innovatively and strategically. Through the voices of families, teachers, and the administrators themselves, each chapter shares ways that these leaders use the power entrusted in them to question and disrupt discriminatory and marginalizing practices that deny opportunities for some students while privileging others. The book includes insights, strategies, and resources that administrators can use to build confidence, knowledge, and skills as they invest in more equitable and just preschools and schools.
Standing Up for Something Every Day: Ethics and Justice in Early Childhood Classrooms by Beatrice Schneller Fennimore
From the publisher: Standing Up for Something Every Day is written for present and future teachers in the early childhood classroom who truly want to make a difference in the lives of children. Exploring some of the most complex and pressing social and ethical dilemmas confronting early childhood educators, the author provides concrete ways of addressing social justice concerns in practice. Four model teacher-guides accompany readers from chapter to chapter and demonstrate strategies for standing up for children through ethics, respect for diversity, and commitment to advocacy. This book offers important insights, encouragement, and practical suggestions to early childhood educators who are committed to excellence and equity in their classrooms.
Additional Resources
Early Risers: A Podcast from Little Moments Count and MPR
“George Floyd’s death was a tragedy and a wake-up call—expanding a global conversation about race and racism. And young children have been watching it all. So how do we make sense of this for them? Early Risers is a podcast from Little Moments Count and MPR with frank facts, engaging stories, and real how-tos for anyone who cares about raising children with a clear-eyed understanding of cultural differences, race, and implicit bias. Hosted by Dianne Haulcy of Think Small.”
Lee Low Juneteenth Resources for Educators
A list of resources to support teaching children about Juneteenth from the largest multicultural children’s book publisher, including booklists, classroom resources, and a webinar led by Newbery and Caldecott Honor-winning author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford.
Teaching Young Children about Race: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (excerpted from Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards)
“Recent events have led many parents and teachers to seek out resources to address issues of race and inequality with young children. We share with you here an excerpt from the book Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. The book offers practical guidance to early childhood educators (including parents) for confronting barriers of prejudice, misinformation, and bias about specific aspects of personal and social identity; most importantly, it includes tips for adults and children to respect each other, themselves, and all people.”
Teaching Social Justice: Navigating the Deep Waters of Equity in Early Childhood Programs with Nadia Jaboneta
“In this compelling webinar, early childhood teacher, equity expert, and author, Nadia Jaboneta will share the story from her most recent book, You can’t Celebrate That! The session will explore the depths of Nadia’s riveting social justice journey as she partnered with families to explore cultural identity, religious celebrations, and expressions of racism in response to a biased comment by one child to another in her diverse preschool class.”
Public library Juneteenth programming for people of all ages: St. Paul Public Library Hennepin County Library
About Think Small and Redleaf Press
Think Smallis a 501 (c)(3) based in St. Paul, MN. Think Small’s mission is to advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years. Think Small’s work includes training early childhood educators, financial supports for families, advocating at local and state levels, and creating new high-quality early childhood spaces through the Build Your Own program. Think Small is committed to anti-racism and closing the opportunity gap in Minnesota so all children can thrive. Learn more atwww.ThinkSmall.org.
Redleaf Pressis the publishing division of Think Small, creating exceptional curriculum, management, and business resources for early childhood professionals. Proceeds from Redleaf Press support many of the services that are offered to teachers, directors, providers, and families through Think Small. Shop Redleaf Press atwww.RedleafPress.org.
Posted in Activities for Children, Activities for Educators, Classroom Support, Leadership, Parent Engagement, Uncategorized Tagged anti-bias, anti-racist, books, podcasts, resources for child care providers, webinars Leave a comment 11 Childrens Books to Celebrate Pride Month June 2, 2021All children should have books that reflect their background, interests, and dreams back to them. In celebration of Pride Month, we enlisted the help of our librarian friend, Jennie Walker Knoot, to share a list of some of her favorite childrens books that highlight LGBTQIA+ stories.
These 11 books aren’tjustfor families with a direct connection to LGBTQIA+ issues; everyone can use these books’ messages of unconditional love and acceptance.
AND TANGO MAKES THREE (Age Focus: 2-8 years)
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. From the publisher
Paperback with CD narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, audio book, and board book editions are currently available.
STELLA BRINGS THE FAMILY (Age Focus: 5-8 years)Stellas class is having a Mothers Day celebration, but whats a girl with two daddies to do? Its not that she doesnt have someone who helps her with her homework or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesnt have amomto invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family. From the publisher
Hardcover and e-book formats available.
THE FAMILY BOOK (Age Focus: 3-6 years)The Family Bookcelebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way. From the publisher
Paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats available.
THE GREAT BIG BOOK OF FAMILIES (Age Focus: 4-8 years)What is a family? Once, it was said to be a father, mother, boy, girl, cat, and dog living in a house with a garden. But as times have changed, families have changed too, and now there are almost as many kinds of families as colors of the rainbow from a mum and dad or single parent to two mums or two dads, from a mixed-race family to children with different mums and dads, to families with a disabled member. Mary Hoffman takes a look through childrens eyes at the wide varieties of family life: from homes, food, ways of celebrating, schools and holidays to getting around, jobs and housework, from extended families, languages, and hobbies to pets and family trees and she concludes that, for most people, their own family is the best one of all! With Ros Asquiths delightful pictures, this book takes a fresh, optimistic look at families of today. From the publisher
Hardcover and paperback editions available
JULIÁN IS A MERMAID (Age Focus 4-8 years)While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality. From the publisher
Hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio book formats available.
WHEN AIDAN BECAME A BROTHER (Age Focus: 4- 7 years)When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girls room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didnt fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life.
Then Mom and Dad announce that theyre going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginningfrom choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does making things right actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self. From the publisher
Hardcover available.
HARRIET GETS CARRIED AWAY (Age Focus 4-8 year)Harrietlovescostumes. She wears them to the dentist, to the supermarket, and most importantly, to her super-special dress-up birthday party. Her dads have decorated everything for the party and Harriet has her most favorite costume all picked out for the big day. There’s just one thing missing—party hats!
But when Harriet dons her special penguin errand-running costume and sets out to find the perfect ones, she finds something else instead—real penguins! Harriet getscarried awaywith the flock. She may look like a penguin, but she’s not so sure she belongs in the arctic. Can Harriet manage her way back to her dads (and the party hats!) in time for her special day? From the publisher
Hardcover and e-book formats available.
RED (Age Focus 4-8 years)Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (lets draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just cant be red, no matter how hard he tries!
Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. Hes blue! From the publisher
Hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio book formats available.
MOMMY, MAMA, AND ME (Age Focus: 1-3 years)Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, theres no limit to what a loving family can do together. From the Publisher
Board book format available
PRIDE (Age Focus: 5-8 years)In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in todays world. Award-winning author Rob Sanderss stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salernos evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable and under-told story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride. From the publisher.
Hardcover and e-book editions available.
THIS DAY IN JUNE (Age Focus 4-8 years)In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBT community,This Day In Junewelcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united.
Also included is a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways as well as a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBT history and culture.This Day in Juneis an excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. From the Publisher
Hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions available.
About Jennie Walker Knoot and the Debra Fish Library
Jennie Walker Knoot has served as the librarian at the Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Resource Library since 2016. She graduated from St. Catherine University in 2014 with her MLIS and enjoys all aspects of librarianship but particularly relishes the internal high-five she gives herself each time she connects her patrons with the resources they need. If youre a Minnesota educator looking for recommendations feel free to contact Librarian@ThinkSmall.org.
The Debra S Fish Early Childhood Resource Library (St. Paul, MN) has supported early childhood educators and families of young children for decades. Since 2011, the library has been a member of the St. Paul Public Library system, a partnership that makes it easy for people from all over the state of Minnesota to access its resources. Today, the Fish Library is proud to boast the most current and comprehensive collection of early childhood resources in Minnesota. The collection contains over 6,000 items with titles in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Karen, as well as a few titles in Cambodian, Chinese, and some Indigenous languages.
About Think Small and Redleaf PressThink Small is a 501 (c)(3) based in St. Paul, MN. Think Smalls mission is to advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years. Think Smalls work includes training early childhood educators, financial supports for families, advocating at local and state levels, and creating new high-quality early childhood spaces through the Build Your Own program. Think Small is committed to anti-racism and closing the opportunity gap in Minnesota so all children can thrive. Learn more at www.ThinkSmall.org.
Redleaf Press is the publishing division of Think Small, creating exceptional curriculum, management, and business resources for early childhood professionals. Proceeds from Redleaf Press support many of the services that are offered to teachers, directors, providers, and families through Think Small. Shop Redleaf Press at www.RedleafPress.org.
Posted in Family Child Care, Literacy, Parent Engagement, Uncategorized Tagged children's books, LGBTQIA+ resources for young children, Pride Month Leave a comment March Towards Optimism March 17, 2021Guest blog by Laura J. Colker and Derry Koralek
March is National Optimism Month. After a year of dealing with a pandemic and being on the brink of getting children back in classes, a large dose of optimism is what every educator needs. Optimism is the expectation that good things will happen. It is not, as many tend to think of it, a Pollyannaish belief that life is all rainbows and heart emojis. True optimism is tempered by reality. Optimists can acknowledge problems and still maintain a positive outlook. It is the backbone of resilience, something we all need this March and year-round.
True optimism is tempered by reality
Optimistic thinking will help you put problems in perspective and address them with solutions that work. You can help children and their families see the positives from the last year. Together, look for the pluses, such as families were able to slow down and enjoy each others’ company. Seeing what’s ahead through an optimistic lens will prove immensely helpful as things slowly transition to whatever our new normal is.
Being optimistic will benefit you not just in your job, but in life as well. Hundreds of research studies have shown that optimism improves both our health and quality of life. Health has been a consuming concern this past year. What research tells us, though, is that optimists are less likely to become ill than are pessimists. And should they become ill, they are more likely to recover. Overall, optimists live nine years longer than pessimists. They also have richer and more rewarding relationships and careers. In addition, optimists are better able to cope with stressful experiences, which is how most everyone would describe daily life these days.
You can learn to be optimistic
Even if you weren’t born that way (only 25% of us are), you can learn to be optimistic. To upend your own negative thoughts takes practice, but is very doable. For example, you might try using a journal. Each time you experience a problem or adversity, describe what happened as factually as possible. Next, record how you interpreted the situation. Finally, write down what you felt about the situation and how you reacted to it. Afterward, review these entries as objectively as possible. If, for example, only six of the ten children who signed up for your online science experiment were present, did you spend valuable time trying to track the missing families down? Did you write off the event as a failure because of poor attendance? Or, did you more optimistically assume there were reasons why some children could not attend. And then, focus on the ways in which the children who did attend linked what they learned in the experiment to earlier knowledge and skills?
Not only do educators need optimism, but perhaps even more importantly, the children you teach need it. Because we know that optimism is a skill and can therefore be learned, it is something that you can teach children from as young as age 2-1/2. If you are wondering how you might do this, Redleaf’s book Making Lemonade: Teaching Young Children to Think Optimistically can guide you through this process.
Through a number of implicit and explicit teaching strategies, you will learn how to convert children’s negative thinking into positive thoughts that will help them flourish and thrive. You don’t need to (nor want to) teach children stand-alone lessons on learning to think optimistically. Rather, the field-tested activities in the book can be integrated into your ongoing curriculum, so that learning to think optimistically becomes a way of life for the children you teach. Helping children to learn to think optimistically is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. So take advantage of National Optimism Month and improve the quality of your life—and that of the children you teach.
Watch a short video of Derry Koralek talking about the importance of teaching optimism and how it can equip children to be more successful learners and healthier individuals.
About the AuthorsLaura J. Colker is an international author, lecturer, and trainer in early childhood education. She is the author, or co-author, of over 150 publications and instructional guides and has contributed to the development of more than 40 educational videos and PBS programs. Dr. Colker is a co-author of the widely-usedThe Creative Curriculum for Preschool, now in its sixth edition. Laura and Derry are the co-authors ofHigh-Quality Early Childhood Programs: The What, Why, and How.
Derry Koralek spent more than 14 years writing and editing publications for NAEYC. She was the Editor in Chief ofYoung Children, NAEYC’s peer-reviewed professional journal, and creator and Editor-in-Chief ofTeaching Young Children, a magazine for preschool educators. While at NAEYC, she served as Chief Publications Officer, overseeing the publication of periodicals, books, and digital content. As the President of DGK Company, she develops early childhood training materials and guidebooks for private groups and for state and federal clients.
About the BookMaking Lemonadeis the first-to-market book on the topic of learned optimism in young children and provides practical, hands-on exercises and activities teachers and families can use to positively affect children.
Posted in Classroom Ideas, Classroom Support, COVID-19, Guest Blogger Tagged advice for teachers, early childhood education, optimism in young children, teaching strategy Leave a comment Anti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom February 11, 2021Editors Note: The following post was excerpted from Anti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom. Copyright YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education Department, 2021, Redleaf Press.
Two key international experiences have dramatically affected our YWCA Minneapolis
community during process of writing this book: the COVID 19 pandemic and the killing
of George Floyd. The COVID 19 stay at home orders, layoffs, and deaths laid bare already
existing health and financial disparities, and broad public awareness continues to grow.
As the pandemic continued through the spring of 2020, conversations in early childhood
education centered on business solvency for the field at large, driven by mounting worries
about educating children as centers closed and families struggled to work while caring for
their children, either as essential workers or from home, and many others lost their jobs
entirely.
Social change is a complex issue . . . now is a time when the importance of change is heightened.
Then on Memorial Day, 2020, police killed George Floyd in one of our communities
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pain from this death is enormous. It has, among many
things, brought forth highly essential and emotionally charged conversations and actions
for many people on personal, workplace, educational, and governmental levels. All along,
there have been voices besides ours in our communities calling for massive changes in
policies and practices in nearly every sector we can see. But now these calls are being
heard in the context of these larger societal events, lending these issues greater urgency in
the public eye. We want to take this time to state some of our present thoughts on the way
this book might resonate during these times and in the times to come.
[A]nti-bias work is a constant, conscious decision
To us, to be anti-bias means looking for a multitude of ways to create equity for
diverse people. As you will see in our second chapter, the intersections of race, sex and
gender, culture, religion, and economics, to name a just few, are infinite. We do not
expect this book to be a complete history or conversation about how each of these areas
of human diversity impact people. In fact, the ways in which human diversity impacts
people are individual, and to some extent individuals are done a disservice when we make
generalizations regarding human diversity. Social change is a complex issue, and we are
glad that now is a time when the importance of change is heightened. It is important to
realize that anti-bias work is a constant, conscious decision. This book is not meant to be
used as a stand-alone resource for understanding the complexities of social climates but
rather as a resource and a reflection of some of our work at the YWCA Minneapolis.
We recognize our mission to eliminate racism and support women is essential for
the health of our futures. We know that our skills and awareness move and change over
time. Like a single observation of a child, this book is a small snapshot of what we have
learned and built in our anti-bias early childhood education practice. We hope that our
openness is an invitation to learn more and build stronger communities dedicated to
justice for all the people we reach as a result of this publication. We believe in the power
of self-reflection as a tool for anti-racism and anti-bias work for children and ourselves.
We hope that this book spurs impactful ideas for your work in the early childhood field.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
YWCA USA is one of the oldest and largest multicultural organizations in the world. Our
mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice,
freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA Minneapolis is a trusted social justice organization
with a 125+ year history of advocacy for women and children. We serve more than 30,000
people in our community every year through award-winning programs, classes, and
workshops.
As part of the national YWCA USA, and in coalition with thousands of community
members, public and private businesses, and policymaking bodies, we strive every day to
achieve:
• Race and gender equity
• Economic independence for women
• Respect for diverse cultures
• A place where children and youth thrive
• A vibrant and healthy community
YWCA Minneapolis carries out this work through five departments:
Health and WellnessGirls and YouthRacial Justice and Public PolicyEarly Childhood EducationOrganizational AdvancementFrom the beginning, YWCA Minneapolis has been at the forefront of the mission to
advance diversity and inclusion. This book is part of a powerful legacy.
Anti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom (Redleaf Press; $34.95; ISBN: 978-1-60554-568-4) is now available on RedleafPress.org.
InAnti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool ClassroomYWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education department—synthesizes the history or theirtransformative model for the education of young childrenthatyields significant results.Consistently,at least 85% of:
preschoolers were proficient in school readiness standardsinfants through preschoolers were on track with age-appropriate development families reported their children demonstrated grounding in their own culture and were comfortable with people of diverse backgroundsAnti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroomexplores and explainsYWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education Department’sguiding principles.This curriculumframeworkis flexible enough to accommodate stateandlocal standards while remaining open to childrens ideas, interests, and questions.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged anti-bias, preschool Leave a comment How to Include Block Play in Remote Learning January 4, 2021By Ann Gadzikowski
Ann Gadzikowski is the Director of Early Learning for Encyclopedia Britannica and award-winning author of Robotics for Young Children, Creating a Beautiful Mess, Challenging Exceptionally Bright Children in Early Childhood Classrooms, and Story Dictation.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many early childhood and primary grade classrooms are closed and teachers must find ways to engage young children in remote learning. While there is no online equivalent to the rich variety of experiences that take place during in-person schooling, we can still make the best use of the tools we have to connect to children and support their learning and development.
Often the key to engaging children in a remote learning experience is making sure there are tangible objects on both sides of the screen. This means the teacher uses props such as puppets, picture books, or blocks while the children at home hold a toy or another item that allows them to actively participate in the lesson. Seeing and holding physical objects helps children focus and engage in learning.
Blocks, in particular, offer a rich variety of creative options for play and learning. Here are some strategies for including blocks in remote educational experiences for young children.
Invite children to build with whats already at home.It’s important for teachers to find out if the children in their class have blocks or construction toys at home. Survey parents or ask children directly during remote lessons. For example, invite children to gather and show their blocks during a virtual “show and tell” activity. Any construction toys, including wooden blocks, LEGO or DUPLO bricks, or magnetic tiles, can be used to engage children in open-ended play and learning.
If a family does not have any construction toys, many ordinary household materials and be used for building projects such as cardboard boxes, food containers, and paper cups.
If your school has funding for remote learning materials that can be delivered or shipped to families, consider purchasing construction toys. Lightweight foam blocks or thin wooden plank blocks can be divided into smaller sets for multiple households. Make sure each child has at least two of each shape, to allow for matching activities and symmetrical constructions.
Other great construction materials include craft sticks, clothes pins, foil, and clay.
Engage in live video demonstrations and conversations about blocks.Once you know the children have materials available, add construction activities to remote lessons. These can be aligned with specific curriculum objectives or included as creative brain breaks.
For example, demonstrate how to build a tower, a bridge, or house on screen and then ask the children, “What can you build?” These activities can be offered live as a synchronous activity in real time or as a provocation at the end of a lesson, with the invitation to children to build their own structures later, on their own.
When you demonstrate a construction project on screen, be sure to fumble and make lots of mistakes! The children will enjoy correcting you and offering suggestions for creative problem-solving.
Show short videos as block play provocations.Whether you are teaching on Zoom or another online platform, take advantage of these digital environments by showing children short videos that will inspire creative construction play.
Rather than taking your chances with an ad-heavy video platform like YouTube, try The Kid Should See This and other curated sites for selecting educational videos for your class.
Here are a few great examples of short videos that will encourage children to create their own exciting construction projects:
Block CityAn Eiffel Tower Made from Kapla Blocks Marbles Magnets Synchronized to Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the FlowersRead picture books that inspire creative block playIf your remote learning lessons include story time, read picture books that inspire children to build houses out of blocks and other construction materials.
For example, The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton is a classic picture book in which the house is the main character of the story.
The beautiful illustrations and poetic text in Deborah Freedman’s This House Once teach about the raw materials used to build a house.
Windows by Julia Denos is a picture book that calls attention to specific architectural features of houses and apartment buildings in a child’s neighborhood.
Trust in the power of playThe prevalence of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns that some children may fall behind and miss important milestones in their early education. This is a serious concern, especially for children who were already vulnerable before the pandemic. But let’s not underestimate the power of play to help children develop physical, cognitive, and social skills. Open-ended construction play with blocks and other tools is one of the best sources for creative and challenging learning experiences at home.
For more block play ideas, check out Young Architects at Play: STEM Activities for Young Children.
Save 15% on www.RedleafPress.org or through CustomerService@RedleafPress.org by using the code RLP2021. Valid now until 1/31/2021. One use per customer while supplies last.
Posted in Activities for Children, Classroom Support, COVID-19, Guest Blogger, Parent Engagement, STEM Series, Uncategorized Tagged activities, COVID-19, play-based learning, Remote Learning, STEAM, STEM, STEM education Leave a comment The Complete Curriculum to Give You the Confidence to Home School Your Preschooler August 13, 2020 By Susan EhrhardtDo you have concerns about sending your child to preschool in the Fall? Will your child’s preschool even open this year? What changes will need to be made due to the pandemic? There is one thing for surethe preschool classroom will certainly look different. Will children be permitted to play with each other or will social distance be encouraged? Will the new emphasis be on health, hygiene, and sanitation of equipment? Will the teachers and the preschoolers be required to wear masks? With all the new guidelines, can the primary goal continue to be children “LEARNING THROUGH PLAY”?
Because of all the uncertainty, have you been contemplating homeschool? I am here to reassure you that you can successfully homeschool your preschooler with the help of a simple, organized curriculum resource like my book, A to Z Ready for K: A Complete 35-Week Curriculum, to guide you.
I have been teaching prekindergarten for 33 years and have developed a basic, practical, play based, curriculum. The philosophy is “learn through play” because a child’s play is their work; it is how children learn. The weekly lessons move through the seasons, using the alphabet with fun and creative activities. All the skills necessary for kindergarten readiness are included. The information is precise and easy to follow. The earlier lessons build confidence, and progress in difficulty to challenge. Repetition is used throughout for review. Structure and routine are also very important to learning. Order creates a sense of calm and well-being. Children want to know what comes next. The introduction explains my weekly and daily routine with the children. Each weekly lesson includes the following:
Learning Objectives
Dramatic Play suggestion
Listening Activities and Songs
Stories
Interactive Charts and Props
Circle Time Activities
Table Work
Writing Center
Board Games
Sensory Table Activity
Workbench
Easel Art
Crafts
Let’s take a look at how my curriculum, written for the classroom, can be easily adapted for Home School.
Learning Objectives: These include – Physical and Small Motor, Cognitive, Communication and Language, Social and Emotional, and Approaches to Learning. Very simply, this is assessment. How is your child progressing? There should be steady growth with consistent practice.
Dramatic Play suggestion: Imaginative play is extremely valuable for your child. Young children model adult behavior to learn how the world works and how they fit into it. For a complete explanation of the value of Dramatic Play, read my blog Dramatic Play: Watch me learn. Watch me work. Watch me play. (February 6, 2020)
Listening Activities and Songs: Keep in mind, any favorite songs will do. The songs I use are simple and most are what is called a piggy-back song. I write the words for teaching a concept to the tune of a traditional, familiar song. Songs can help your child remember parts of the body, shapes, alphabet letters, etc. Songs just make children feel happy!
TIP: Have a book swap with other families in your neighborhood.
Stories: After so many years of teaching the stories listed are my favorite choices of books that help reinforce the letter or theme of the weekly lesson. Use your public library to expand your home storybook collection. The librarian may also have helpful suggestions. TIP: Have a book swap with other families in your neighborhood.
Interactive Charts and Props: Notice the Color Bear props on craft sticks. To adapt to Home School just use colored pencils. All the colors are in the pack! There is no need to duplicate the charts displayed. Each one is simple and is used to teach a concept. The chart – “Color is all around us” matches a color to a picture. To adapt to Home School, use those colored pencils and look around the house to find a match for each color.
Circle Time Activities: This is teaching time during class – recognizing the Letter of the Week, listening to its sound, reviewing the letters already learned. We discuss topics related to the letter. For instance, in Ff Week we look at the American flag. I read a story about the history of our flag. Your child can learn the number of stars and stripes by counting them. And ask, “Is there anything you notice about the stripes?” And because Letter Pp Week was studied previously, your child will answer, “The stripes are a pattern!” And if they don’t, just point it out, and review patterns. That’s what learning is all about!
Circle Time has the most varied and creative ideas in my curriculum. Pick the ones that interest you and your child. There are more choices than you will be able to do in a week. If your child takes a special interest in a topic explore it with them. Preschoolers love to learn. The added time spent on a subject of your child’s choosing shows them you value what they feel is important. Even better, learn with them! This is a magnet that is proudly displayed in my classroom.
In my book, as you go through the Weekly Lessons, you will see that my class puts on seasonal shows. The purpose is to build self-confidence. I wanted the children to be comfortable speaking up and verbally sharing in a group situation. Most adults recoil when asked to speak in public, but children love to perform. So I took the opportunity to give their families a peek at the special activities we did in class, sing a song or two, and show-off what they are learning. Adapt, and use the show ideas and make a Memory Video. Send it to family or use it as a keepsake of the special Home School year spent with your child.
Table Work: To make this curriculum even easier to adapt to Home School, there are Reprodicibles of worksheets, as well as craft and project patterns that can be printed for your use. All Reproducibles are marked with a large asterisk and can be printed from the Redleaf Press website listed in the Introduction of the book. Strengthening small muscles is extremely important for developing writing skills. And consistent, daily practice is the key. A weekly routine works well for Table Work. Each day of the week is different. On Monday the children practice writing the letter. On Tuesday, it’s Phonics Worksheet day. Cognitive skills are also part of Table Work so the activity varies on Wednesday. Here are some examples: Pp Week – Small, Medium and Large Worksheet, Rr Week – Rhyming Worksheet, Nn Week and Snow Week – Counting and Writing Numerals, and Gg Week – Graphing Practice. For Journal Thursday, purchase a composition notebook and use it for the Journal Activity. At the end of the year, you will see the writing progress your child has made. Finally, on Friday, make a fun craft from the lesson that will intentionally practice listening to directions and scissors skills.
TIP: Most children need extra practice with small motor skills.
TIP: Most children need extra practice with small motor skills. Check out another blog I wrote Small Motor Task Boxes (posted August 19, 2019).
Writing Center: Have a space set up for your child to write, draw, cut with scissors, etc. Often this space can be part of the Dramatic Play area. And because it changes regularly there will be various kinds of small motor skills practiced. A few examples of writing in conjunction with Dramatic Play are:
Pet Shop – making name cards for the pets
Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor – filling out an order form
Grocery Store – writing grocery lists
Friendship Card Factory – writing cards
Board Games: Age appropriate board games are suggested. Games teach counting spaces, taking turns, strategy, thinking skills, and learning to be a good loser and a kind winner.
Sensory Table suggestion: At home your sensory space will be whatever you have to contain wet, messy, touchy, feely activities. Here are few suggestions. Use the kitchen sink for water play young children can help wash unbreakable dishes, fill a child’s wading pool with water, sand, soil, shredded paper, etc., and use the bathtub to wash plastic animals, dolls and doll clothes.
TIP: An area rug will help give boundaries to building blocks and other floor activities.
Workbench: To adapt for Home School, use a sturdy table for Legos, building sets and blocks, puzzles, leaf rubs, nuts and bolts, Science experiments, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Art activities. TIP: An area rug will help give boundaries to building blocks and other floor activities.
Easel Art: General drawing and painting can be done on paper taped to a wall with painter’s tape or lay the paper flat on the kitchen table.
Crafts: Each weekly lesson has numerous ideas. Remember the reproducible patterns that come with the book. Suggested craft supplies are readily available. Projects never require special tools or kits. The crafts are simple and age appropriate for preschoolers. It’s the process that is important. Teach your child to take pride in their effort and they will be proud of their project.
A to Z Ready for K: A Complete 35 – Week Curriculum is all you will need to Home School your preschooler. It will fully prepare your child for Kindergarten.
However, if your child is able to attend a part-time preschool you can also use my book as enrichment a supplement for learning and exploring new and creative ideas.
My hope is that this blog has given you and your preschooler one more positive option for learning this year. If you work full time and you have a caregiver or grandparents helping out, the Home School activities can be shared. Each family situation is unique. We all must be flexible during these uncertain times. Learning at home, with your child can definitely be a rewarding, as well as a relationship-building experience for you and your child.
Susan Ehrhardt has thirty years of experience as a pre-K teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a BS in Education from the University of Cincinnati, completed graduate studies in ECE at the University of Cincinnati, and in Early Childhood and Special Education from College of Mt. St. Joseph.
Try 1 week of the A to Z Ready for K curriculum for free! Download it here. Posted in Classroom Support, Guest Blogger, Parent Engagement, Uncategorized Tagged curriculum, homeschool, preschool, preschoolers Leave a comment Video Call Dance Party: Dancing, Singing, and Learning Together! April 27, 2020By Connie Bergstein Dow, author of Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! and One, Two, What Can I Do?: Dance and Music for the Whole Day
Editors Note: During this unprecedented time Redleaf Press is working to support the early childhood professionals and the families they work with to keep young children engaged, happy, and on track developmentally. Our authors are sharing their expertise, tips, and strategies for educators to share with families like the below post from Connie Bergstein Dow on how to guide a virtual dance party. We are also providing free weekly activities sent via text messages taken straight from our resources. Learn more and sign up for Early Learning Activities from Redleaf Press. Look for more tips, strategies, and guidance from our experts in the coming weeks.
Here are two playfulactivities for young children that are packed with benefits and will also useup some of that wonderful kid energy. I designed them so that they could bedone together on a video call for parents and teachers to lead a group ofchildren in a virtual dance party.
Both encourage large motor skill practice, learning new words, understanding the meaning of the words kinesthetically (by doing them), waiting for prompts in the songs to hone listening skills, and practicing responding to instructions and cues. The activities also allow each child to contribute their own creative ideas to the group.
I have taken two popular children’s songs, The Ants Go Marching and Old MacDonald Had a Farm, and changed the lyrics to add large movements and make them interactive and fun. All you will need is a space that allows the child to hop, jump, gallop, slither and waddle, and a camera or computer if you are doing a virtual dance party.
LET’S ALL TRY IT NOW!Practice singing theverses below to the tune of Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Make sure yourchild knows the meaning of each of the action words in the song. If you are planning a video dance party, youcould send the words ahead of time to each participant. There are as manypossible verses as there are animals, so encourage the children to think ofmore animals and how they move, to add to the song and dance. Here we go!
Can you jump like a little frog? Let’sall try it now.
Can you jump like a little frog? Let’sall try it now.
Jump, jump here. Jump, jump there,
Here a jump, there a jump,
Everywhere a jump, jump.
Can you jump like a little frog? Let’s all try it now.
Can you waddle like a little duck? Let’sall try it now.
Can you waddle like a little duck? Let’sall try it now.
Waddle, waddle here.
Waddle, waddle there.
Here a waddle, there a waddle.
Everywhere a waddle, waddle.
Can you waddle like a littleduck? Let’s all try it now!
Can you gallop like a little horse?Let’s all try it now.
Can you gallop like a little horse?Let’’s all try it now.
Gallop, gallop here, gallop, gallopthere,
Here a gallop, there a gallop,
Everywhere a gallop, gallop.
Can you gallop like a horse? Let’s alltry it now.
More verses:
Can you swim like a little fish?
Can you fly like a little bird?
Can you pounce like a little cat?
Can you slither like a little snake?
Can you stomp like a dinosaur?
Can you crawl like a little crab?
Can you dart like a bumblebee?
Can you hop like a chimpanzee?
Can you glide like a great big whale?
THE KIDS GO MARCHING
As in the previous activity, practice singing the verses below to the tune of The Ants go Marching. Make sure your child knows the meaning of each of the action words in the song. If you are planning a video dance party, you could send the words ahead of time to each participant. Optional: Ask each child to find a colorful ribbon, cloth, or crêpe paper streamer, or scarf to hold while dancing. Here we go!
The kids go marching allaround, Let’s go, let’s go,
The kids go marching allaround, Let’s go, let’s go!
The kids go marching allaround,
back and forth and roundand round,
And they all fall slowlydown, to the ground, then stand up,1,2,3!
More verses (substitute these words for marching)
The kids go hopping
The kids go stomping
The kids go galloping
The kids go jumping
The kids go sneaking
The kids go backwards
The kids go turning
Add more ideas!
To end the song/dance,the last time they fall to the ground, use this for the last line, slowing downthe words:
And they all fall slowly down, to the ground, it’s the end, 1… 2 … 3!
About the AuthorConnie Bergstein Dow has forty years of experience performing and teaching dance to young children and adults in the United States and Latin America. She holds an MFA in dance from the University of Michigan. Connie is the author of Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers, One, Two, What Can I Do?: Dance and Music for the Whole Day, and several articles about dance. Learn more about Connie on her website www.movingislearning.com.
Posted in Activities for Children, Child Development, Guest Blogger, Movement, Physical Play, Uncategorized Tagged COVID-19, Language, Movement, virtual dance party Leave a comment Mystery Word: An Active Way to Build Cognitive Skills March 25, 2020Editors Note: This post was originally published on February 19, 2014 and is being re-purposed and slightly edited in light of our recent circumstances. Try this great indoor activity today!
We have a great learning adventure to share today. The activity, Mystery Word, is pulled from one of our resources, Let’s Play, by Jeff A. Johnson and Denita Dinger. (Want to learn more about the book and its counterpart, Let Them Play? Read all the way to the end of this post for more information.) With social distancing, and local or state shelter at home orders keeping you indoors, give it a whirl—you could try using words related to the weather, like sun, rain, clouds. Or, use words relating to topics that the children are especially interested in right now. All you need are a few index cards, markers, and a group of children who love to discover.
From Mystery Word, an (un)curriculum early learning adventure from Let’s Play
Mystery Word
Lots of kids love solving mysteries, so the idea of Mystery Word will be very exciting to them. Mystery Word is an active way to build letter recognition, vocabulary, cooperation, and problem-solving skills.
Ingredients
4- x 6-inch index cardsMarkerIndex card file box (optional, but it makes for easy storage of your words and letters)Process
First, some prep work:
Create a set of letters—write one letter per index card until you have the whole alphabet.Make duplicates of popular letters so you’ll be prepared for any Mystery Word that pops up.File the cards in your index card file box.Now share your Mystery Word with the kids:
Choose a word. Make it a fresh, new, fun, or exciting word that relates somehow to what has been going on (or will be going on) in the lives of the kids. For example, here are some popular words from Denita’s program: stomp, slimy, absorb, snot, aim, wow, jump, treasure, dig, imagine, construct, ramp, goopy, string.Write the word down on a blank index card, and then display the card. You can tape it to the wall, put it in a picture frame, or set it on an activity table—whatever works for your program.From your index box, grab the individual letters that spell the word you’ve chosen, and then hide the letters around the room.Wait for the children to discover the letters and build the word during free play. (There is not a scheduled Mystery Word time.) As their play evolves, the children will discover the letters, and the word will eventually get built.Once the children have found all the letters, let them figure out what the word is.Have the children cooperatively share what they know about letter sounds and try to figure out the word. Younger children need assistance, which older children are more than happy to provide. Give children the opportunity to ask for what they need. Never step in to help until they ask. Figuring out the word can take time, patience, and persistence—all good skills to practice.Once the children have figured it out, talk about the word. The children will want to share what they know about it. Make time for this Mystery Word conversation with the group and with individual children.Be prepared for play possibilities the Mystery Word may inspire. The children will often incorporate the word into their play. For example, if the Mystery Word is gloppy, you had better be prepared for some messy play.The Mystery Word concept teaches children letters in a fun, exciting, motivating way. It helps them learn letters, as well as the purpose of each letter, in a very unthreatening, unforced, playful way. All the children feel a sense of pride when they find a letter, and when the younger children ask the older children to assist them in identifying a letter, the older children feel a huge boost of self-esteem. For them, sharing what they know is empowering.
As the letters are found, the children have to construct the Mystery Word by putting letters in the correct order. Doing this is great for learning visual tracking, problem solving, letter sounds, letter recognition, teamwork, ownership of discoveries, knowledge sharing, and community building. Many times, one mystery word builds on another. For example, the word apart may lead to the word together, and that may lead to the word attach, and that may lead to the word glue. This means kids are identifying connections between words, stretching and owning their own vocabularies, and actively thinking about language.
More Play Adventures
Lowercase letters. If you’ve been using all capital letters, use the Mystery Word as a time to introduce lowercase letters. Just write the word in lowercase letters, and then write and hide a matching set of lowercase letters.Match lowercase letters with uppercase letters. Write the Mystery Word in either uppercase or lowercase letters, and then hide the opposite type of letters. The children then have to match the uppercase letters with their lowercase partners, or vice versa.Extra letters. In addition to the letters needed to build the Mystery Word, hide letters that are not part of the word. Then the kids have to figure out which ones belong and which ones do not.Letter scatter. Instead of hiding the letters, scatter them all over the floor and let the children go on a letter hunt. Call out the letters as they are needed to build the Mystery Word, but do not provide a visual aid. This provides a great way to assess the children’s knowledge of letters in a fun, nonthreatening way. Make good observations of the children who are successful as well as those who are not. Don’t stand there with a clipboard making checkmarks, just pay attention to who seems to know what. Stay in the moment with them. You can always record anything that needs recording later.Problem solving. If you hide letters in very tricky and inconvenient places, it takes some problem solving to retrieve them. It’s fun to watch the gears turn as children work together to figure out how to get a letter that’s been taped to the ceiling.Go magnetic. Hide magnetic letters instead, and have the children build the word on a refrigerator, metal cabinet, or magnetic marker board.Grab some books or sing. Share books and songs that are related to the Mystery Word you’ve selected.Like this activity? Find more like it in Lets Play. The handbook is filled with thirty-nine child-led, open-ended play adventures—plus more than 225 play variations—that are packed with learning. Building on the early learning principles presented in Jeff A. Johnson and Denita Dinger’s first book together, Let Them Play, these budget-friendly activities support your transition to a play-based, child-led (un)curriculum.
What is an (un)curriculum? Find out in Let Them Play. Youll learn why children’s play is focused, purposeful, and full of learning. An (un)curriculum is all about supporting child-led play, trusting children as capable and engaged learners, and forgoing packaged curriculums and prescribed activities. Jeff and Denita explain the guiding principles of an (un)curriculum and how it gives children the freedom to play, includes suggestions to create spaces that promote healthy development and learning, and supports those who believe in the learning power of play. (Bonus: you can also read about a few tips to advocate for play—all from the book—in this blog post.)
Both books are available through Redleaf Press now, where you can also read our QA with the authors.
Posted in Activities for Children, Classroom Ideas, Family Child Care Tagged book recs, cognitive development, educational activities, five-year-olds, four-year-olds, preschoolers, three-year-olds, winter fun with children 1 Comment COVID-19 resource round-up for child care providers March 12, 2020Redleaf Press, like the rest of the world, has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 spread and we have compiled a list of resources for child care providers we hope you will find informative and helpful.
Reinforcing Healthy HabitsAnn Gadzikowski, director of early learning at Encyclopædia Britannica wrote How to Talk to Young Children about Coronavirus for Britannica for Parents.The American Academy of Pediatrics has a series of resources that can help protect providers health.Think Smalls blog post on Coronavirus: Information for Child Care Providers. Disclosure: Think Small is the parent company of Redleaf Press.Use childrens books to teach young children about healthy habits. Childrens books are an accessible entry point for starting discussions with young children about any number of topics. Here are a few to help reinforce good handwashing habits.We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this time. We are working hard to be available to our customers and maintain our normal business operations. Contact CustomerService@redleafpress.org, or Toll-Free 1-800-423-8309 with any questions.
Updated 3/13/20
Posted in Classroom Support, Health and Safety, Uncategorized Tagged COVID-19, hand washing, health and safety, health and wellness, resources for child care providers Leave a comment Older posts Recent Posts Learning to Say Goodbye, a Skill for Life Resources you need when engaging with young children and families about Juneteenth 11 Childrens Books to Celebrate Pride Month March Towards Optimism Anti-Bias Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom 2017 Top 100 ECE Blogs Recent Comments on Dramatic Play on The Bumblebee—A Movement Activity + Song for Toddlers on Remembering Marlyn James on A letter from the publisher on A letter from the publisherArchives September 2021 June 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 August 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 Categories Activities for Children Activities for Educators Author Spotlight Child Development Classroom Ideas Classroom Support COVID-19 Family Child Care Five Minutes With Guest Blogger Health and Safety Leadership Literacy Movement Outdoor Ideas Parent Engagement Physical Play Redleaf Kitchen Redleaf Lane Redleaf Press Happenings Redleaf Press News Share Your Stories Sneak Peek STEM Series Teacher thank you Uncategorized Meta Log in Entries feed Comments feed WordPress.org Redleaf Press Blog Proudly powered by WordPress. Redleaf Press Blog Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Twenty Ten. Loading Comments...TAGS:Blog Exceptional Redleaf Press Resources Childhood Professionals for
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