Pre-K/ K Class Visit, 3/15/12

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?
The teachers sing this with their classes at school, so all the kids know the words, and then sang super-loud this morning. Honestly, it almost made me want to cry, it was so awesome.

Song: If You'd Like to Read a Book
They shouted hooray so loud at the end of this song, I was sure they could hear us throughout the building.

Book: The Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharatt (2008)
This book lends itself to a guessing game. I chose it when I thought just Pre-K was coming, and figured I'd be able to manage their guesses just fine. Kindergarten, on the other hand, had lots more to say, and we ended up having to take just three guesses per page. (And one little girl who comes to after school story time had read the book and knew all the answers. Whoops.)

Rhyme: Fierce is the Dragon
I'm still so proud of myself for writing this rhyme, and I love how much the kids get into it. It also made me happy when a little girl noticed  that some of the lines rhymed.

Book: May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illustrated by Beni Montresor (1966)
I have gotten a lot of mileage out of this book on my preschool visits these past couple of months, but I love it so I never get sick of it. Most kids don't know it, since it's on the older side, but they love animal silliness. 

Song: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
This is my latest addition to my repertoire, and this was the first time I tried it with older kids. It was great because they're old enough to suggest their own motions, and we got some good ones - "hands on hips" and "spin around on one leg" were the most creative!

Book: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow (2005)
This book is of the same ilk as Pete the Cat, but with worse grammar and more rhyming. The kids really liked it, and some of  them had read it before. I was going to sing the refrain to the tune of It Ain't Gonna Rain No More, but changed my mind at the last minute. Maybe next time.

Song: Chickadee (a cappella)

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Offsite Preschool Class Visit, 3/14/12

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Song: If You'd Like to Read a Book

Book: And then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (2012)
The text for this book does not resonate with kids this young in a read-aloud setting. It's very poetic and beautiful, but it's too abstract, and the part about the bears especially seemed to turn them off.

Song: One Seed by the Laurie Berkner Band
This was my first time doing this song with a group. Most of the kids are three, and it was just right for them. I used the motions Laurie Berkner does in the video, with one exception - we didn't spin around; we turned our hands.

Book: Duck on a Bike by David Shannon (2002)
This is a new story time favorite for me. Kids love identifying animals and making their sounds.

Flannel Board Rhyme: Seven Snazzy Aunties
I made a portable flannel board out of a file folder to be able to do this without lugging my story time flannel board with me. Unfortunately, they didn't seem interested in the  rhyme.  

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Book: Jump! by Steve Lavis (1998)
I always bring one movement-based book when I visit this group. They love acting out the motions. This was a lot of fun, and just perfect for their age.

Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean (2010)
I love, love, LOVE this book. It works better with slightly older kids, but some of these guys knew their colors, so it promoted some interaction.

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

6 Children's Novels About Time Travel

 

	A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler A mysterious elevator gives Jenni a glimpse of the future in which her best friend Autumn's life has been marred by tragedy.
	The Time Trilogy by Madeleine L'Engle Follow Meg Murray and her brother, Charles Wallace, through this series of science fiction adventures involving such things as tessering through time, kything, and battling Echthroi.
	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Hermione's use of a time turner figures heavily into an important rescue in this third Harry Potter book which first got me interested in time travel.
	When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Miranda receives mysterious notes which seem to come from the future, and which warn of a tragedy she must try to prevent, if she can.
	Time Warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka Joe, Sam, and Fred find a mysterious book that helps them travel through time and space, to both the past and the future.
	Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne Aided by a magical tree house, Jack and Annie explore various times and places from world history.