July 30, 2012 at 2:09 pm , by rarbayarea
Summer Reading at the Library!
According to experts, “children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often slide backward.” (Reading Is Fundamental, 2012). Fortunately, the public library offers great summer reading and activity programs to help children stay excited about learning and avoid the infamous “summer slide.”
There are wonderful and free events taking place at public libraries in your neighborhood. Here are some programs being offered through the Oakland and San Francisco public libraries:
- Oakland Public Library Summer Reading Program(July 18- Aug. 13) - Read for eight hours over the summer and be eligible to get a free book!
- San Francisco Public Library Summer Reading Program - Read for 10 hours over the summer and win a mystery prize!
Click on the links above to learn more about when families can attend Summer Storytime or see the ZooMobile, Buki the Clown, The Bubble Lady, and much more!
July 23, 2012 at 10:58 am , by rarbayarea
Reading with Your Children
Many parents share common challenges when sharing books with young children. During Raising A Reader workshops, parent often share that their children won’t sit still to listen during storytelling, or that they treat their books carelessly. Parents also cite a lack of time, energy or limited resources as a barrier to establishing a reading routine at home.
Below are some tips to make reading time work for your classroom or home.
1. Follow the child’s lead
If he/she decides to move around and play, then continue reading so that the child can hear you. Children often enjoy listening to a story and playing at the same.
2. Make it a conversation
Connect the story to personal experiences and discuss the illustrations. This also helps sooth the child by talking about the story’s connection to his/her life.
3. Reading is fun!
The most important part of reading is that the child associates it with fun! Reading should not become a chore. Tap into your inner performer to use different voices for each character, sing songs, and move around as you read together.
July 16, 2012 at 8:00 am , by rarbayarea
Summer Early Literacy Tips
Summer is a great time for young children to practice their literacy skills! While parents shuttle their children to the park, the pool, the grocery store, the beach, and other destinations, they can reinforce early literacy skills by simply talking about everything and anything they see, or playing easy, fun games that foster language development.
Before children can read and write, they must learn to listen and communicate. Talking is the foundation of literacy so it is especially important that young children not only hear different words continually, but also that they are given the opportunity to speak them.
Ask children what they see, point out new objects, and ask what letters they notice in their environment. Most of all, be a language model: Share what you did during your day and ask them what they did during theirs.
Fun games that foster language development:
- Play “I Spy” to point out new objects. For older children play the spelling version of “I Spy.”
Examples:
- -I spy with my little eye something that starts with “M.” What do I spy?
- -I spy with my little eye a C-A-T. What do I spy?
- Draw objects and have your child guess what you are drawing. Have them do the same. When your child draws, ask her to tell you about it. Write some of her words down so she can go back and “read” them herself.
- Make up new stories together! Have your child pick some of his favorite picture books and make up new stories to go along with the pictures.
July 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm , by rarbayarea
Click Clack Moo: The musical
The children’s book, Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type , has been adapted into a fun musical for pre-kindergarteners. The story centers around a group of rebellious cows who refuse to give milk until they get electric blankets to keep warm.
Directed by Erin Merritt, the play is presented by the Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT), which aims to “enrich children’s lives, inspire imagination, and open the curtain on lifelong enjoyment of theatre.” The theater group was founded in 2004 and features theater productions for pre-kindergartners year-round.
The play runs now through Aug. 5 at the Children’s Fairyland in Oakland with morning and afternoon shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information, check out BACT’s website at www.bactheatre.org.
July 3, 2012 at 12:07 pm , by rarbayarea
Thank you, Volunteers!
As the 2011-12 Raising A Reader program year draws to a close, we would like to extend sincere gratitude to all of our volunteers. We appreciate all of the time, energy, and talents that volunteers offer in service of our students, teachers, and families.
This year, over 70 volunteers supported Raising A Reader’s literacy efforts through annual events and ongoing projects. We’re also excited to announce the addition of professional internships that support fund development and research, as well as program coordination.
Volunteer work and events included:
- The annual book sort
- Library blue bag stuffing
- Storybook activity preparation
- Survey data aggregation
Volunteers helped make 2011-12 a banner year. If you’re interested in supporting Raising A Reader as a volunteer, please contact Veronica Flores Malagon at [email protected], or (415) 683-5464.
June 25, 2012 at 9:00 am , by rarbayarea
Happy Birthday ‘Caterpillar’ author Eric Carle!
Beloved children’s author Eric Carle was born June 25, 1929, in Syracuse, New York.
He has written and illustrated over 70 children’s books in his lifetime, many of which can be found in Raising A Reader red bags!
Celebrate Eric Carle’s life and work with this book activity from one of our favorites, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”:
Butterfly Ring
Materials needed:
-Plastic sandwich bags
-Colorful snacks (e.g. jelly beans, rainbow gold fish)
-Pipe cleaner
Activity:
Put the colorful snacks into a sandwich bag with half of the snacks on each side of the bag. Close the bag and gather it at the center.
Cut a pipe cleaner in half. Twist one-half into a ring big enough to fit around your finger. Cut off the excess pipe cleaner. Bend any pointed ends so that they won’t poke out.
Thread the second half of the pipe cleaner through the ring. Then place it on the gather of the bag, wrap it around, and twist it to hold.
Bend the tips of the pipe cleaner to form the butterfly’s antennae. Slip the ring onto your finger. Wiggle your hand to make your butterfly fly!
Listen to the author reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
A list of Eric Carle’s books can be found here — also be sure to check more ideas for activities for home or school, based on Eric Carle’s books.
June 18, 2012 at 3:46 pm , by rarbayarea
Summer Library Activities
This summer, the San Francisco Public Library and Oakland Public Library have many exciting events planned for young children.
In San Francisco, this week’s programs include: songs by Asheba (June 19), Yoga Kids (June 20), juggling with Doug Nolan (June 23), and much more! For a complete calendar of events, click here.
In Oakland, this week’s list of events include: Baby Bounce (June 19), Preschool Storytime (June 20), Toddler Storytime (June 23), and many other terrific programs. For other programs or more information, click here.
Happy learning!
June 12, 2012 at 11:40 am , by rarbayarea
Happy Father’s Day!
The U.S. Children’s Bureau reports that “fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. Toddlers with involved fathers start school with higher levels of academic readiness. They are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling more readily than children with less involved fathers.”
Below are some wonderful father-child-themed books:
Also, check out our list of Father’s Day activities taking place in San Francisco and in the East Bay:
- The San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch - enjoy bilingual story time for the entire family, Sunday, June 17, 1-1:30 p.m. Free.
- The Oakland Public Library, Multiple Branch Locations - check out the Unique Derique Juneteenth celebration, family story time, or the ZooMobile (various days and times). Free.
- Children’s Fairyland in Oakland - watch the children’s theater play, Mouse Deer; a performance by Buki the Clown; or a puppet show! Saturday, June 16, and Sunday, June 17, various times. Admission is $8.
- Father’s Day Kite Day - kite-flying at Cesar Chavez State Park, Berkeley, at 11 on Sunday, June 17. Free.
- National GeekDad Day - at Lawrence Hall of Science at UC, Berkeley, on Sunday, June 17. Inspired by WIRED magazine, dads and their littles can make marble machines, discover the science of skateboarding with Tony Hawk, and watch surfers catch a wave in 3-D. Free with museum admission.
June 4, 2012 at 6:01 pm , by rarbayarea
Celebrating Pride Month in Books
Helping children to feel comfortable in their community and in their “own skin” is an important part of their development! Children often feel alienated when they view themselves as somehow “different” from everyone else. Sharing books that are inclusive of LGBT families is an essential way to support the self-esteem of children in these families and also for teaching all children about the diversity of families. Children who feel included are more likely to have a secure sense of self, thrive physically, get along with others, learn well, and feel part of a community.
Incorporate some of these great books into your reading routines:
For more titles, check out this blog for some excellent suggestions: http://booksforkidsingayfamilies.blogspot.com/
May 28, 2012 at 10:00 am , by rarbayarea
Hello, Summer!
Looking for fun and engaging summer activities for your young child or teenager? The nonprofit organization Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) offers monthly activity calendars chock full of short reading and learning activities for each day.
RIF offers two calendar, one for children ages 0-5 and another for children ages 6-15; both are in English and Spanish. Besides being thoughtful, fun, and creative, most of these activities can be done with no cost!
You can access the June calendar for young children here: English version, Spanish version. To view the calendars for older children or for another month, click here: RIF calendar.
