tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824728422279360892024-02-07T16:16:59.050-05:00Your Literacy CoachKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-83435689253796484182011-12-17T10:09:00.000-05:002011-12-17T10:09:19.798-05:00Letters pudding = Letter Writing<span style="font-size: large;">A fun way to practice writing letters is to make some pudding. Put the cooled pudding in a ziplock bag and then put it in a second ziplock bag to prevent leakage. Show your children how they can use the bag to practice writing letters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is great for kids who have tough control with a pencil. They use their finger to write the letters. It's helpful to show the child how to write the letter first, then let the child try. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stay with your child so you can keep modeling to encourage correct letter formation. Remember it is best to start from the top of the letter to the bottom of the letter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Children often want to start at the bottom to write the letter, but this actually takes more energy than writing from the top to bottom on the paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also encourage writing from left to write when the child makes letters that go across the paper like the letter "E". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This activity can also be done with children's paint in a ziplock bag or you can use shaving cream on a cookie sheet. These are all tactile ways to practice making letters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't worry about writing correctly on lines until until Kindergarten/First Grade . It takes a lot of fine motor control to be able to write on lines with control and correct letter formation.</span><br />
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</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-88623931692279305992011-12-17T09:57:00.001-05:002011-12-17T10:11:09.392-05:00What Does Invented Spelling Look Like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP7RBflc-W3uKCLJV6ruIv2VWBuzmIb3Kui93uBBmyhNfA1eQQ9K7IDf0QMJaV-DjsfG2Pjg5yUeLmKYdfC2eGL0limPY6_jP1L5EugKBPT0_YwXFWXkzrPtS-ItykUxVmIu04yGSWA/s1600/Tori+Invented+Spelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP7RBflc-W3uKCLJV6ruIv2VWBuzmIb3Kui93uBBmyhNfA1eQQ9K7IDf0QMJaV-DjsfG2Pjg5yUeLmKYdfC2eGL0limPY6_jP1L5EugKBPT0_YwXFWXkzrPtS-ItykUxVmIu04yGSWA/s400/Tori+Invented+Spelling.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What is <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267/">invented spelling</a>? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267/">Invented spelling</a> is an attempted spelling of words using the sounds the child hears in a word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How do I teach my child to write using <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267/">invented spelling</a>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ask your child to say the word slowly, like the word is being put through a stretching machine. You may need to stretch the word out for your child at first. Eventually they will learn to do this through practice. As you stretch the word, saying the sounds slowly...Ask your child to write what letter he or she hears. Then the next letter or letters. Keep doing this until the end of the word. It's okay if they don't hear all the sounds. This is developmental and will progress with time and practice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When children begin to use <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267/">invented spelling</a>, they will often start with just the first letter focusing on the beginning sound. For the word cat...the child may write "c".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then they will often hear the last letter. In the example above, look at the word bear..."br". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a child's understanding of sounds and letter patterns you will begin to see vowels and consonants in the middle. Sometimes the child will write the correct letters and sometimes other letters that sound similar to the child. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Above, look at the word brother...the child hear "bro...v...er". The child is confusing the "v" with "th" because the child doesn't understand how the "th" blend together. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is important to encourage any attempts at spelling a word. The child is demonstrating that they understand that words are made up of sounds and trying to write the word using the sounds they hear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the child learns more about sounds and letter patterns, the child's spelling will gradually migrate closer to conventional spelling or correct spelling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remember the goal is to encourage your child to write. This will further their understanding of letters, sounds, words and language. Have fun with it!</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-70811827869939230282011-07-19T21:59:00.002-04:002011-12-17T10:16:53.549-05:00Best Guess or Invented Spelling Using Fun Shaped Thick Crayons<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb_y5kHCYpFQwaD_Rzb3OV1RKNM6XmcD2ryElUxR0Hi7HZ140_DYrVjMtJODcqpsWeHERWnMSp8eLE9IIyfQr5wFpymNTYNGw79n7nbv5J-Kmb0seu5lMybyShnVtbpM23u-9cHsc9w/s1600/ashley+crayons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb_y5kHCYpFQwaD_Rzb3OV1RKNM6XmcD2ryElUxR0Hi7HZ140_DYrVjMtJODcqpsWeHERWnMSp8eLE9IIyfQr5wFpymNTYNGw79n7nbv5J-Kmb0seu5lMybyShnVtbpM23u-9cHsc9w/s400/ashley+crayons.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://ashalinaballerinaandme.blogspot.com/">http://ashalinaballerinaandme.blogspot.com/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Getting children to enjoy writing and sharing their ideas first begins with building a love for writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> To help your child develop this love and build their fine motor skills, encourage your child to draw pictures of things they enjoy. This can be their family, favorite animals or places, or anything the child wants to share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The above crayons are chunky and fun. They are easy to hold which makes little ones enjoy writing or drawing even more. You can also use the thick toddler crayons you find at your local store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When your child draws a picture, ask him to tell you about the picture. If your child is learning or knows letter sounds, encourage the child to listen to the beginning sound of the word that they drew on the paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For example, if the picture is of a flower. Ask the child what letter does flower begin with. You may need to say the word slowly and stress the beginning sound. In flower, you would slowly say the "f" sound as you say the word. Then encourage your child to write the letter "f" on the paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can help your child spell flower using "best guess or <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267/">invented spelling</a>" by saying the word slowly and asking the child what sounds they hear and then encourage them to write the letters for those sounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your child's version will not always have the correct letters. That is OK!!! The goal hear is to start writing ideas. Later, with practice the child will get closer and closer to convention spelling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To see your child's progress, date the drawings and compare the words they write over the next few months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">***Most importantly encourage anything your child writes, even if it is just scribbles. Scribbling is the first stage of writing. It shows that your child understands that the black squiggly lines on paper are words and have meaning.</span><br />
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</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-40325671721639808262011-07-06T15:39:00.001-04:002011-07-06T15:40:10.612-04:00Blog: Fun Hand and Print Art with Poems / Songs too<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaT6BPCBDQIU8KZQDYH4iAfVWsopT3Rm9EYlNwo1qIPVIvPg72vRfklGXZHms4tTC0Sh628ZYMUOZDg2CDX174Jys_hhyphenhyphenjFnipYY-Jdeki1xE74jdk5ByxQe3LI5KUUVjzMJ6FrZW2g/s1600/crab+hand+art" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaT6BPCBDQIU8KZQDYH4iAfVWsopT3Rm9EYlNwo1qIPVIvPg72vRfklGXZHms4tTC0Sh628ZYMUOZDg2CDX174Jys_hhyphenhyphenjFnipYY-Jdeki1xE74jdk5ByxQe3LI5KUUVjzMJ6FrZW2g/s400/crab+hand+art" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://funhandprintart.blogspot.com/</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <a href="http://funhandprintart.blogspot.com/">http://funhandprintart.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a great site with fun ideas on how to use a child's hand or footprint to make art. There are ways to make animals, plants, and other memorable gifts. The site also has poems to go along with some of them to tie in literacy. Your child's art will be fun to display and use as a source of fun reading practice too.</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-51714375554426526042011-05-25T16:54:00.002-04:002011-05-25T16:57:34.624-04:00Building Words with Bottle Cap Magnets<h1 class="featureH1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a fun summer project to do with the kids that will reinforce reading. Use the directions from<a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/keep-it-under-your-cap-858439/?cmp=SMC-FB_FFUN_[keep-it-under-your-cap]_[crafts]_[familyfun.com]"> Family Fun Magazine</a> to make magnets, however, add letters to the inside so your child can build words. </span></h1><h1 class="featureH1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Preschoolers can practice learning the letters and spelling their names and some other simple words like cat, dog, mom, dad, and beginner preprimer sight words such as: can, like, and other preprimer words on the <a href="http://gemini.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/sheppard/reading/dolch.html">Dolch List</a>. Click on the word <a href="http://gemini.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/sheppard/reading/dolch.html">Dolch List </a>and it will take you to a listing of all the most frequent words children learn as beginning readers. </span></h1><h1 class="featureH1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Older children can practice higher level words on the <a href="http://gemini.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/sheppard/reading/dolch.html">Dolch list</a> as well as build word families. Common words families include: -an, -ad, ed,-en, -it, -in, -op, -ot, -un. For a full list click on : <a href="http://www.freereading.net/index.php?title=Word_families_%28phonograms%29">Word Family Lists </a></span></h1><h1 class="featureH1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The goal is for the kids to have fun with making the words!</span></h1><h1 class="featureH1"><span style="color: red;">Keep It Under Your Cap...by Family Fun Magazine</span></h1><h1 class="featureH1"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/keep-it-under-your-cap-858439/?cmp=SMC-FB_FFUN_[keep-it-under-your-cap]_[crafts]_[familyfun.com]">http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/keep-it-under-your-cap-858439/?cmp=SMC-FB_FFUN_[keep-it-under-your-cap]_[crafts]_[familyfun.com]</a> </span></h1><span class="fromOrBy author"> <a class="fontGreen famFunMag" href="http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/"><img alt="From FamilyFun Magazine" src="http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/contentsource/img_from_familyfun_magazine.gif" style="bottom: -3px; height: 12px; position: relative; width: 127px;" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="topLeft leftBox"><a alt="Keep It Under Your Cap" href="http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/crafts/keep-it-under-your-cap-recycling-craft-photo-420-FF0410EFA24.jpg" id="imageTriggerLarge"><img alt="Keep It Under Your Cap" class="simpleFrame topLeft photo" src="http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/crafts/keep-it-under-your-cap-recycling-craft-photo-260-FF0410EFA24.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="introItems"><div class="ratings" id="ratingsOuterMostDiv" style="display: block;"><div class="rated-views"><div id="rater1"><div class="rated review"><ul class="userRatings"><li class="first"> <span class="ratedSpan"> <img alt="rated star 1" height="10" id="rated-star-1" src="http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/images/mainContent/orangeStar11x10.gif" width="11" /> <img alt="rated star 2" height="10" id="rated-star-2" src="http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/images/mainContent/orangeStar11x10.gif" width="11" /> <img alt="rated star 3" height="10" id="rated-star-3" src="http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/images/mainContent/orangeStar11x10.gif" width="11" /> <img alt="rated star 4" height="10" id="rated-star-4" src="http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/images/mainContent/orangeStar11x10.gif" width="11" /> <img alt="rated star 5" height="10" id="rated-star-5" src="http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/images/mainContent/greyStar11x10.gif" width="11" /> </span> </li>
<li class="rate" id="rate-this-element" style="display: block;"><span class="fontGreen11">Rate this craft</span></li>
<li id="rated-rating-count">Rated by 81 members</li>
</ul></div></div></div></div><form action="/svc_rating_v1/addRating.json" id="ratingForm" method="POST" name="ratingForm"></form><dl class="itemQuickSum totalTime"><dt>Total Time Needed:</dt>
<dd>1-2 Hours</dd></dl></div><div class="introText summary">Think small! These tiny, jewel-like bottle-cap magnets will look fabulous on your fridge door.</div><dl class="dottedRule"><dt class="orange smHeading">Materials</dt>
<dd><ul><li class="bgDot ingredient">Paper</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Clear packing tape</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Quarter</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Tacky glue</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Bottle cap</li>
</ul><ul><li class="bgDot ingredient">Sequins, rhinestones, beads, googly eyes, and other small decorations</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Clear sealant</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">Hot glue</li>
<li class="bgDot ingredient">1/2-inch-wide magnet</li>
</ul></dd></dl><dl class="dottedRule itemInstructions instructions"><dt class="orange smHeading">Instructions</dt>
<dd class="instructionsDd"><ol class="instructions"><li class="liInstructions1 orange"> Start by choosing a piece of paper for the collage base. Cover both sides of the paper with clear packing tape (the liquid sealant you'll use later might discolor it otherwise). Using a quarter as a template, cut a circle from the covered paper and use tacky glue to affix it to the inside of a bottle cap.<br />
</li>
<li class="liInstructions2 orange"> Now, add sequins, rhinestones, beads, googly eyes — anything that's fairly flat and small — with glue. Let the glue dry, then brush on a generous coat of clear sealant. (In our tests, DecoArt Triple Thick gave us the glossy finish we wanted.)<br />
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<li class="liInstructions3 orange"> When the sealant is dry, use hot glue to attach a strong 1/2-inch-wide magnet to the back of the cap.<br />
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</ol></dd></dl>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-31014467112912861902011-05-21T23:34:00.002-04:002011-05-21T23:43:11.511-04:00Building Words and Phoneme SegmentationIf your child can identify the letters of the alphabet and state their corresponding sounds, you can then play with rhyming words. When you child has a good grasp of rhyming and can give you a rhyming word for any words you give them, your child is ready to play with words in a new way.<br />
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***The new game involves segmenting words or breaking words into pieces. With this exercise, you are segmenting the beginning sound from the remainder of the word.<br />
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For example, my word begins with b (say the b sound) and it ends with -ug when we put it together we have b-ug...bug.<br />
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If your child doesn't get it at first, don't worry, just keep trying stressing the beginning sound first then the word ending.<br />
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Word families are great for this exercise. More examples include:<br />
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c and at ...cat<br />
f and an...fan<br />
b and all...ball<br />
b and ed...bed<br />
s and it...sit<br />
p and in...pinKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-41333446922362657202011-04-05T16:17:00.000-04:002011-04-05T16:17:49.167-04:00Stages of Reading: Memorization of books<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC39rZvhsUgg0Dt6pxnWTSQTXSMvQGPwXP0wpfV2j2y37J4KTjc7i9T-tRz2-ES6-r8Z-4g1KsqMB9LMj6oAZstuAlcorSu1rIS1tQgXkA-MRqt0WRlolhPWAdxnIRz7CDE_OO3ONnOQ/s1600/toddler+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC39rZvhsUgg0Dt6pxnWTSQTXSMvQGPwXP0wpfV2j2y37J4KTjc7i9T-tRz2-ES6-r8Z-4g1KsqMB9LMj6oAZstuAlcorSu1rIS1tQgXkA-MRqt0WRlolhPWAdxnIRz7CDE_OO3ONnOQ/s1600/toddler+reading.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1320&bih=641&q=child+reading&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=">http://www.google.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Do your children ever pick up a book that you have read many times and read it like they know the words on the page. Many say its just memorization...but that's one of the first steps of learning to read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Children need to learn that books and stories have a structure and that stories have a sequence of events. They also have learned that pictures help tell the story and they use that knowledge later when they are reading and they get stuck on a word. Children will often look at the picture to see if it gives them a clue as to what the unknown word is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, next time your child is reading a book, praise them for doing a great job and you will be encouraging your child to keep picking up books...which are the key to learning! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Watching you read is just as important, so make sure your children see you read the newspaper, magazines, and restaurant menus. You are your child's first model, so model reading regularly!</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-61033701727705427742011-03-01T13:25:00.000-05:002011-03-01T13:25:45.207-05:00Washington Learning Systems: Literacy Resources: Language is Key<span style="font-size: large;">Washington Learning Systems has more literacy resources available to teachers and parents. Here is the link to <a href="http://www.walearning.com/products/language-is-the-key/">Language is Key</a>. This video talks about language and its connection to learning to read and write. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Here is the link to the video: <a href="http://www.walearning.com/products/language-is-the-key/">http://www.walearning.com/products/language-is-the-key/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is another link to more resources: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.walearning.com/resources/">Washington Learning Systems: literacy resources</a></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-36709502743870156372011-02-20T21:44:00.000-05:002011-02-20T21:44:47.603-05:00Preschool: A Child Become A Reader (Link and Printable Pdf booklet): Reading Readiness<span style="font-size: large;">Below is a link to a very good parent/teacher resource about preparing preschool children with the <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/get-your-preschooler-ready-to-read">reading readiness skills</a> needed to learn to read once they are in elementary school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book is designed for children birth to preschool. Below is a link to the information:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/html/parent_guides/birth_to_pre.html">http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/html/parent_guides/birth_to_pre.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can also find the actual printable PDF version of the book at:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/publications.html">http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/publications.html</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Look under 2006 for "A Child Becomes A Reader") </span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-7772010045835517902011-02-14T14:56:00.003-05:002011-02-14T17:08:09.029-05:00Preschool Language and Literacy: Video Link to How to Interactive Shared Reading<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcJwpjQHHiV0zFtYBNGzAKc3qbZz1dw6Os9ukRDxmMDUxPmrmQsah0IbcnpXBQqGXPGMdtboKQknwri1WaDXE-eZW0OfP8wJncmko4xFTRJw-8oQEni_V4q2nNPgP8ok0wY8-WGI9oA/s1600/heart-ballons_benji_park_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcJwpjQHHiV0zFtYBNGzAKc3qbZz1dw6Os9ukRDxmMDUxPmrmQsah0IbcnpXBQqGXPGMdtboKQknwri1WaDXE-eZW0OfP8wJncmko4xFTRJw-8oQEni_V4q2nNPgP8ok0wY8-WGI9oA/s400/heart-ballons_benji_park_01.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dclips.fundraw.com/zobo500dir/heart-ballons_benji_park_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fundraw.com/clipart/clip-art/1453/Heart-Balloons/&usg=__zRoGL7WdKK2UQSUQU5wMRg19GKw=&h=500&w=367&sz=31&hl=en&start=0&sig2=FkYNt2-GlKtPAmZZZ2AIEA&zoom=1&tbnid=3KNmK8pUz7G-bM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=86&ei=u4hZTcOFE8qctwfBp8y1DQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dclipart%2Bheart%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1296%26bih%3D641%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C160&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=990&vpy=272&dur=62&hovh=262&hovw=192&tx=103&ty=151&oei=u4hZTcOFE8qctwfBp8y1DQ&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:0&biw=1296&bih=641">http://www.google.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Best Valentine's Day gift for your child is your time...spending 15-20 minutes a day reading with your child is a gift that will last a life time! Here is another video to show you how to make story time more interactive with your child or class. Reading to your child is great, but add in talking to your child during the reading of the story is even greater. You are your child's first teacher...here are some tools to help you on your journey with your child.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/IDR/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm">http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/IDR/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm</a></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-41148929382745321472011-02-11T12:20:00.001-05:002011-02-11T12:21:26.488-05:00Preschool Language and Literacy: Video Link to How to Teach Phonoglogical Awareness<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a link to video that teaches what <a href="http://www.education.com/reference/article/what-phonological-awareness/">phonological awareness</a> is and how to teach it to your class or your own children. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/PA/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm">http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/PA/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I encourage you to watch the video to learn how to help prepare your children for school so they can successfully learn to read once they get there.</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-26023720498463300182011-02-02T19:14:00.001-05:002011-02-02T19:15:43.981-05:00Learning Letters and Letter Sounds: Alphabet puzzles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q3UKzxR3frYKrLfnWQ60quvgiwb6NaPrgFPLKd5pfZuHffK8T6TsRoihPZ3EHWZzbbY_BhqW-RvXg2y0Bm2djwALRnHv_NIVz6BrGzlHSdslWoWIHt7I8G0_jBuU4yhcVCxp21bhWw/s1600/alphabet+puzzle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q3UKzxR3frYKrLfnWQ60quvgiwb6NaPrgFPLKd5pfZuHffK8T6TsRoihPZ3EHWZzbbY_BhqW-RvXg2y0Bm2djwALRnHv_NIVz6BrGzlHSdslWoWIHt7I8G0_jBuU4yhcVCxp21bhWw/s400/alphabet+puzzle.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004NKKN/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00004R8LZ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17NNY9XZ9J6H7ASWA4P2">http://www.amazon.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004NKKN/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00004R8LZ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17NNY9XZ9J6H7ASWA4P2">Alphabet puzzles</a> are a wonderful toy for children. Be sure to buy one that has both upper case and lower case letters. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This type of puzzle is a great one for an adult to do with the child. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As your child picks up letters to place in the puzzle, talk about the letter and the picture that begins with the later. Do this each time you do the puzzle together. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once your child can tell you almost all the letters, you can start focusing on the sound each letter makes. Talk about the words that begin with that sound. Both letters usually have a pictures of an object that begins with the letters sound. Isolate the sound so your child can hear the letter sound, then say the objects name again. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>For example:</b></u> The pictures are of a wagon and watch. Ask your child what the pictures are of where the W or w would go. Then say the word wagon...then the "w" sound...ask your child to repeat the sound. Then say the name of the object again...wagon or watch. </span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-78962613952262074962011-01-31T17:50:00.002-05:002011-01-31T18:11:40.240-05:00February is Dental Health Month: Books to Read to Your Child<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LacEb2U9FpTt1ke3YDmKhzadlOAxTJnNcFer7r-dFxsdmPDVXJANjP9nQcu91QEAqfoPqr-cfGHFSXrEZguP66vEWOU4H81goibpQN20sCU0QtE9AHbSx5fjwBCyJfRIulhvmi_2aA/s1600/dental+health.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LacEb2U9FpTt1ke3YDmKhzadlOAxTJnNcFer7r-dFxsdmPDVXJANjP9nQcu91QEAqfoPqr-cfGHFSXrEZguP66vEWOU4H81goibpQN20sCU0QtE9AHbSx5fjwBCyJfRIulhvmi_2aA/s400/dental+health.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=22468">http://printables.scholastic.com/</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">February is dental health month! It's a great time to read books to your child about going to the dentist. If your child has not been to the dentist, age 3 is a good time to start. Find a family friendly or pediatric dentist. They can make your child's dental experience a good one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some good books to read about dental health:</span><br />
<h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Show-Me-Your-Smile-Explorer/dp/0689871694/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1296513026&sr=8-5"><span id="btAsinTitle">Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist</span></a></span></h1><h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Berenstain-Bears-Visit-Dentist-First/dp/0394848365/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1296513026&sr=8-6"><span id="btAsinTitle">The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist</span></a></span></h1><h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"> </span></span></h1><h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"> </span></span></h1><h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"> </span></span></h1>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-84116557208187245102011-01-22T09:31:00.002-05:002011-01-22T09:32:13.955-05:00More with Poems: Color Poems<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK55Hj2MoBWSnW0cKxC36QfRD5GYYhmJI9gSK_daOEFPIURR0zxv48h3dNNzqnk0LXXWl7nXGaqOWxwetknm79YzceIfPb77m2fX9VnAzDgM4v_vJLXp8-7uJEKqAqW4Gyw8TL0Kf3Q/s1600/crayons.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fotosearch.com/CSP387/k3876194/">http://www.fotosearch.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Poems are fun to read with children. Here are some <a href="http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm">color poems</a> to read with your child. You can even extend the activity by making your own or collecting things in your home that are the color of the poem. </span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Point to the words as you read the poem. By doing this you are modeling what is called "<a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_7550605_voicetoprint-match.html">voice to print matching</a>". This shows your child that every time you move your finger to a new group of letters (actually a word) you say a word; when you are done saying that word you move your finger to a new word. Children learn that the black squiggly lines, or letters, make up words you can read.</span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"> Here is a poem about the color red:</span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1590748215"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Red</span></a></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<center style="border-collapse: collapse;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is an apple </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is a rose </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is the color of </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My frozen, icy nose!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> (poem from: <a href="http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm">http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm</a> )</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here is one I wrote with my preschooler:</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana;"><b><u>Red</u></b></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is a heart</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is a strawberry</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Red is the color of</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">the stop sign.</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Here is another poem about the color blue:</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><div align="left"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;"><b><u>Blue</u></b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Blue is the ocean<br />
Blue are my eyes<br />
Blue is the sky where<br />
The lonely eagle flies.</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"> (poem from: <a href="http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm">http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm</a> )</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><div align="left"><span style="color: #996633; font-family: Verdana;"><b><u>Brown</u></b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Brown is the mud<br />
Brown is the bear<br />
Brown is the color<br />
Of my brother's hair.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"> (poem from: <a href="http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm">http://www.songs4teachers.com/colorpoems.htm</a> )</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">CLICK ON THE BLUE LINKS ABOVE FOR MORE COLOR POEMS!</span></span></span></center>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-14387953921590854722011-01-20T10:01:00.007-05:002011-01-20T10:03:58.728-05:00Phonemic Awareness: Using Songs... Apples and Bananas<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;">Here is a fun song to sing with kids that allows children to play with sounds. <a href="http://www.begintoread.com/articles/phonemic-awareness.html">Phonemic awareness</a> is the ability to hear sounds in words. Teaching this can be tricky, but here is one fun song that can be used. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;">I like to put the words on a chart so I can point to the words as we sing. This helps children to learn that the letters on the paper make words that we can read or sing. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;">It will also help your child learn common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sight_word">sight words</a> they will later read in books. In this song, the sight words include:<u><i> </i></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><u><i>I, like, to</i></u></span><u><i>,</i></u> and the word <u><i>and</i></u>. </span></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="twentyfour" style="text-align: center;">Sight words are words that are frequently found in books or text that children need to learn to read on sight. They should not stop to sound out these words. Here is a <a href="http://gemini.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/sheppard/reading/dolch.html">list of sight words</a> your child will need to learn to read.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="twentyfour" style="font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="twentyfour" style="font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;">Apples and Bananas</span></div><div align="center" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="twentyfour" style="font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> <a href="http://www.songsforteaching.com/b/applesandbananas.htm">http://www.songsforteaching.com/</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><div align="left"><img height="51" src="http://www.songsforteaching.com/images/111111clef.gif" width="22" /> <a href="http://www.songsforteaching.com/b/appban.mp3?clipid=005161501020006900&cid=010026" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;" target="_self">Listen to this song.</a></div></span></span><br />
<div align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><span class="style2" style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">This song is available, along with extension activities, is available on<br />
Music Mania: A Complete Early Childhood Curriculum</span><br />
<a href="http://www.songsforteaching.com/store/product.php?productid=1096&cat=481&page=1" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</a></span><em> </em>This traditional song is a classic for drawing children's attention to awareness.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="ten bold" style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><div align="center" class="style3" style="font-weight: bold;">I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas </div><div align="center"><strong>I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas </strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="bold dark_red" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><strong>A</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays</strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="bold dark_red" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><strong>E</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees</strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="bold dark_red" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><strong>I</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys</strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="bold dark_red" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><strong>O</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos</strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="bold dark_red" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><strong>U</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div></span></span><br />
<div align="center" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-31328143632398449022011-01-10T21:38:00.000-05:002011-01-10T21:38:19.435-05:00Phonemic Awareness: Playing with Beginning Sounds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uHA9VnFFfc39xfw-CrMrgoCKkAz7CUJTzov9cE2qYS8mb1lrXzF7Ltef0OL5YsKhLTJmnxvtxU-Qyp_G7GYUGJCF9KvcvApisRWZkgp47VwlJThuWyXJGkO5GMDb5SJJQZ4PP3CZmA/s1600/alphabet1_a_color_p.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uHA9VnFFfc39xfw-CrMrgoCKkAz7CUJTzov9cE2qYS8mb1lrXzF7Ltef0OL5YsKhLTJmnxvtxU-Qyp_G7GYUGJCF9KvcvApisRWZkgp47VwlJThuWyXJGkO5GMDb5SJJQZ4PP3CZmA/s1600/alphabet1_a_color_p.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abcteach.com/directory/clip_art/alphabet/">http://www.abcteach.com/directory/clip_art/alphabet/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Learning to identify letters and their sounds is another step toward <a href="http://www.universalpreschool.com/how-to/teach/reading_readiness.asp">reading readiness</a>. Starting in preschool, children start to learn about letters and words. As children begin to recognize the different letters of the alphabet, the next step is to teach your child the sound or sounds the each letter makes. <br />
<br />
You don't have to think of teaching your child letter sounds as a job...it's more of an extended experience with books, pictures in books and other items in your home. <br />
<br />
<b><u>Here are some things you can do to help your child learn the sounds for each letter:</u></b><br />
<br />
1. Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alphabet+books&x=9&y=25">ABC books</a> together and talk about the pictures that begin with the same beginning sound. Don't try to talk in detail about all 26 letters in one day. Pick a few each time you read the story. Remember it's a good thing to reread the same books to your child. Talking about the pictures will also help build your child's vocabulary at the same time.<br />
<br />
2. <b> Beginning Sound Game:</b> Talk to your child about things you see at the grocery store, while driving, or at a park. After identifying an object, talk about the letter the item begins with and then say the beginning sound slowly with the rest of the word so you child can hear you isolate the sound for them. <br />
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For example: wagon....."w sound" then "agon", then put it together...wagon. <br />
<br />
Ask what sound wagon begin with...after a while your child will try to imitate the sound. If they don't know it, tell them and ask the child to say the sound. Praise the child for the great job he or she is doing. Make it a game and soon your child will ask you what sound does... begin with?<br />
<br />
3. Collect a basket or bowl of every day items around your home. Play the beginning sound game with these items. Then add to the bowl or basket more items that begin with the same sound so the child can match objects that begin with the same sound. For example: a pen and a pencil, or a lollipop and a lemon<br />
<br />
4. I love the song from the dvd: <a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=letter+factory+video+dvd&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11321879327203827324&ei=uLgrTbSsEsKBlAfaz5T3AQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQ8gIwAg#">Letter Factory by Leap Frog</a>...<br />
Children quickly learn the song and it helps them to remember the sounds of the letters. Just remember the l doesn't say "ull" it says "l" and the r doesn't say "er" it say "r". It also teaches the short vowel sounds, so later, once your child knows these sounds well, you can add the long vowel sounds.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0CcQfS3tt6_lGe24EAPVQeIwMzaW3S-r0UPQUYP85RUYElllHWqtH3oXw3VdvYVMfvL8jqKzMSnb9XNKZ3pzaChpoDdAMxJtbtlEGz9wKz9roIDVPrTzR2et1jSeGY_Y6YaNQ9BIag/s1600/letter+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0CcQfS3tt6_lGe24EAPVQeIwMzaW3S-r0UPQUYP85RUYElllHWqtH3oXw3VdvYVMfvL8jqKzMSnb9XNKZ3pzaChpoDdAMxJtbtlEGz9wKz9roIDVPrTzR2et1jSeGY_Y6YaNQ9BIag/s1600/letter+factory.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=letter+factory+video+dvd&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11321879327203827324&ei=uLgrTbSsEsKBlAfaz5T3AQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQ8gIwAg#">http://www.google.com/</a> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-10316426008419526532011-01-06T23:05:00.003-05:002011-01-06T23:11:15.312-05:00Environmental Print...Beginning Stages of Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Has your child ever the seen the golden arches with the word McDonalds and said "McDonalds" or maybe the Walmart sign and said Walmart? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89VmeX7hyphenhyphenOZ-pweVf0qdfJcSl6uWyh0gUbF4aXdYdSTPcsKekVnpzbbftiOOZ6uFYL438ivHLj7t5kBMIqQHHARqT8bneiynWNcVofmPxngVUVs0OzElHMT8MNvA4qXlUprkSQ4QXMA/s1600/McDonalds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89VmeX7hyphenhyphenOZ-pweVf0qdfJcSl6uWyh0gUbF4aXdYdSTPcsKekVnpzbbftiOOZ6uFYL438ivHLj7t5kBMIqQHHARqT8bneiynWNcVofmPxngVUVs0OzElHMT8MNvA4qXlUprkSQ4QXMA/s400/McDonalds.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freebackgrounds.com/photos_A000003.html">http://www.freebackgrounds.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoubH25rzR9JREvQOb9EKxIB6iwubaGitJ7x6CUm9-piTScUSOGggfaNcju5LoIbFcPXkMSGrfwo6PARKWprIps1AseW5LCyYAekPhzceRhtistxjhB7KvEYqTr4YzkSdIaQIXHHrPw/s1600/walmart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoubH25rzR9JREvQOb9EKxIB6iwubaGitJ7x6CUm9-piTScUSOGggfaNcju5LoIbFcPXkMSGrfwo6PARKWprIps1AseW5LCyYAekPhzceRhtistxjhB7KvEYqTr4YzkSdIaQIXHHrPw/s400/walmart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.images-graphics-pics.com/signs/sign-generator/simple.aspx%3Fcolor%3Dlightslategray%26color2%3Dblack%26watermark%3D%26gradient%3D%26spacing%3D%26x%3D64%26y%3D147%26w%3D427%26h%3D34%26move%3D0%26move2%3D%26rotate%3D0%26fontsize%3D20%26text%3DEveryday%2Blow%2Bprices!%26font%3DArialBlack%26allow%3D6088%26pic%3Dwalmart%26align%3D%26align2%3D%26transparency%3D&imgrefurl=http://walmart-store.signgenerator.net/&usg=__rorbTi6hMKnsxUeIzY7a8boIxjI=&h=350&w=543&sz=70&hl=en&start=55&sig2=XfpoYqFcVIBZWZ83R-rIoA&zoom=1&tbnid=_nNFfi-_Se7cXM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=175&ei=wY4mTavsM4-t8Aaxr6WwAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwalmart%2Bsign%2Bphoto%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D720%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1009&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=830&vpy=314&dur=154&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=82&ty=115&oei=ro4mTfuYM4SBlAfmjqGwCA&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:55&biw=1440&bih=720">http://www.google.com/</a><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Children learn to recognize and "read" signs they see everyday in their environment, called <a href="http://www.sharonmacdonald.com/environmental-print.aspx">environmental print</a>. This is one of the beginning stages of reading. Children begin to learn that the string of letters make up a word and the word they see they know from their life experience. <br />
<br />
Encourage your child to read words that they know from day to day life. Even cut these words out and put them on the refrigerator for them to practice reading.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHIfAuwGGInpIjxzrF91GsLzVjrLPl1P4E_WFuOrFEhzzhXVnk84P9TcE3dnTshz_-pV_4ZPzl5BVvLRXnrrlJGZMmeixI6eKZ0PcZo_30aLAEw-Wy6pjbbsXZlZ2lt-vxThIulFDg/s1600/pepsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHIfAuwGGInpIjxzrF91GsLzVjrLPl1P4E_WFuOrFEhzzhXVnk84P9TcE3dnTshz_-pV_4ZPzl5BVvLRXnrrlJGZMmeixI6eKZ0PcZo_30aLAEw-Wy6pjbbsXZlZ2lt-vxThIulFDg/s200/pepsi.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jwilder/pepsi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jwilder/project%2520abstract.html&h=600&w=800&sz=175&tbnid=3REA4gn-qwh-BM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpepsi%2Bphoto&zoom=1&q=pepsi+photo&usg=__KNTji4maAd6MLRSS2HPyf782lGw=&sa=X&ei=9Y8mTezvKsKAlAeshKCRAg&ved=0CBwQ9QEwAA">http://www.google.com/</a><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When young children begin to see themselves as readers, they want to learn more about the black squiggly lines called letters and how when they are grouped together make words that adults read. <br />
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Children will become more observant about print they say and may begin asking you what the word says. These are all great discussion to have about letters and how letters make up words.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Things to do with environmental print:</u></b><br />
1. Collect the words your child knows: cereal names, store names, candy bar names, etc.<br />
2. Place the words in a bag for your child to practice reading.<br />
3. Collect two of each word to match together or play memory with them where you glue the words on cards and turn them over and your child tries to flip two over at a time to see if they match.<br />
4. Have your child read environmental print when you are out running errands. This will give them educational busy time during the drive.<br />
5. Write simple sentences using the <a href="http://www.sharonmacdonald.com/environmental-print.aspx">enviromental print</a>. Ex. I like __word__ . (Glue the environmental print on a card in the sentence. Then help your child to read the simple sentences. Point to each word as you read the sentence to help you child learn the concept of a word and how you say one word each time your move your finger. This is called voice to <a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_7550605_voicetoprint-match.html">print matching</a>.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-79278262310995656202011-01-03T10:26:00.003-05:002011-01-03T10:30:42.288-05:00The Best New Years Resolution...Reading to your ChildHappy New Year! This is the time of year we make resolutions for the new year. The best resolution you can have is to read to your child 15-20 minutes a day. This includes your elementary aged children as well. Just because your child can read does not mean you should stop reading to them. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pC_TaIH31qIQFrB-isbTWq88mvZt4Xm7dq8UsB1AYgbq0DYulSTdxQLBY50w2-LaqU1sT4RCMOigMvjC5KbLhBoIIsNAamto6isM4sdLbJtmG47aYn76OnQimlIiK7o3ogpQ6UmHMA/s1600/happy+new+year.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pC_TaIH31qIQFrB-isbTWq88mvZt4Xm7dq8UsB1AYgbq0DYulSTdxQLBY50w2-LaqU1sT4RCMOigMvjC5KbLhBoIIsNAamto6isM4sdLbJtmG47aYn76OnQimlIiK7o3ogpQ6UmHMA/s1600/happy+new+year.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/new-years-clipart-gallery.html">http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Children should independently read books they enjoy at their reading level. Here is a website with <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/">leveled reading lists</a>: <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/">http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/</a><br />
<br />
You should read aloud books to your child that are higher than their reading level. You can choose any books that interests your child or pick from from higher grade levels on the <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/">leveled reading list</a>. It is best to read books that are only two or three levels above your child's reading level to ensure your child is comprehending or understanding the story or text.<br />
<br />
This does two things. First, you are building your child's <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><a href="http://education.uncc.edu/lujordan/Listening%20Comprehension%20Handout.htm">listening comprehension,</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">this is their ability to listen and understand what they are hearing</span></b>. When your child's listening comprehension increases, so does the level of the books they can read on their own. Reading to your child higher level books also builds your child's vocabulary and interests as well. <br />
<br />
<b>Strategies to Improve Elementary Listening Comprehension can be found at:</b><br />
<a href="http://education.uncc.edu/lujordan/Listening%20Comprehension%20Handout.htm">http://education.uncc.edu/lujordan/Listening%20Comprehension%20Handout.htm</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-40957303803297377572010-12-20T12:10:00.003-05:002010-12-20T12:31:24.744-05:00Book Review: Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNPg7Hc5lBEnr12GI2e8u2UvjmRH6Q2t3JsiavXhOmJrfyv9Qjw0lwmKP7LT5yPZbOA3oH4hi3nqSavaVt7NWZPXu_q6iSYiRDLj9ACyVmmoueuWTY_ntoBLTUO61K2l6G1tn5MNlyw/s1600/gingerbread+baby.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNPg7Hc5lBEnr12GI2e8u2UvjmRH6Q2t3JsiavXhOmJrfyv9Qjw0lwmKP7LT5yPZbOA3oH4hi3nqSavaVt7NWZPXu_q6iSYiRDLj9ACyVmmoueuWTY_ntoBLTUO61K2l6G1tn5MNlyw/s400/gingerbread+baby.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.google.com/<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">****Here is a link to the author drawing the Gingerbread Baby and reading the story too!****</span><br />
<a href="http://www.janbrettvideos.com/gingerbread_baby_low_bandwidth.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.janbrettvideos.com/gingerbread_baby_low_bandwidth.htm</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div><b><i>The Gingerbread Baby</i></b> is a great story to read to young children. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jan+brett&x=0&y=0">Jan Brett</a> does a wonderful job with the illustrations in her stories. Her stories show the main illustration to match the text, but she also uses the borders of the stories to predict what will happen next in the story. <br />
<br />
Having children predict what will happen next helps children increase their <a href="http://www.literacyconnections.com/WhatIsComprehension.php">comprehension</a>, or understanding of the story. <br />
<br />
So, make sure you discuss with your children what is going on in the borders of the pages before turning the pages to continue reading the story. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b><u>Extension Activities:</u></b></div><div>1. Bake Gingerbread cookies or make them out of construction paper and have the children decorate them. <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.archjrc.com/childsplace/images/gingerbreadcount1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.archjrc.com/childsplace/bookthemes1.html&h=903&w=658&sz=16&tbnid=4DUL4ZL4o2fbSM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgingerbread%2Bbaby%2Bprintables&zoom=1&q=gingerbread+baby+printables&usg=__ly5whqRTzC3RnkuyyCH-ngE_85s=&sa=X&ei=E5EPTfe0EYSdlgfPxPHvCw&ved=0CCkQ9QEwAw">Printable gingerbread babies</a></div><div>2. Retell the story using paper puppets as props.</div><div>3. Watch the <a href="http://www.janbrettvideos.com/gingerbread_baby_low_bandwidth.htm">video of Jan Brett</a> drawing and reading the story.<br />
4. Make <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2158134_graham-cracker-gingerbread-housegraham-cracker-gingerbread-house.html">Gingerbread Baby houses</a> using graham crackers.<br />
<br />
</div><div><b>There are many other great books by</b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jan+brett&x=0&y=0"><b> Jan Brett</b></a><b> to include:</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>The Mitten</div><div>The Hat</div><div>The Three Snow Bears</div><div>Gingerbread Friends</div><div>Town Mouse Country Mouse</div><div>The Three Little Dassies</div><div><br />
</div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-4889472953227984862010-12-12T21:54:00.001-05:002010-12-12T21:55:32.178-05:00Learning Letters: Alphabet Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGx6PHwAprLg_UB_KjWfW1OXR1R_E8NT4xls8EAM9hnDeytdrGdp-bYkiji_D7L8Mlc6JpqWt7sHdctY8-WbmCpFb1CGikZnC-cS8CkPepHakjIUb8A5C86LwwgS_PiJHp8SFtdDumA/s1600/ABC+Animal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGx6PHwAprLg_UB_KjWfW1OXR1R_E8NT4xls8EAM9hnDeytdrGdp-bYkiji_D7L8Mlc6JpqWt7sHdctY8-WbmCpFb1CGikZnC-cS8CkPepHakjIUb8A5C86LwwgS_PiJHp8SFtdDumA/s200/ABC+Animal.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/ABC-Animal-Jamboree-Giles-Andreae/dp/1589250923/ref=sr_1_26?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292207976&sr=1-26">http://www.amazon.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading ABC books to your child is one of the best ways to your child learn the letters of the alphabet. As you read each page, talk about the items on the page that begin with the letter. Point to the letters and ask your child to say the letter and later add "a is for __(item on the page)__", b is for _____". Your child will be say words that begin with the letter after reading favorite ABC books over and over again and talking about things that begin with the letter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Your child will often become interested in letters and things that begin with that letter. They may ask you, "What does dog begin with?" A great response is "dog begins with d and the d says d (d sound) like in dog."<br />
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Other good ABC books include:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa0V-MMMHMW-8gDSQMFUTgR0vk3wGtUECZJUmfY5KD2dU9TN01WrB16H9xrVnNYctU-K7-smzwkuHQV7u3bKe-BASuriLt_BtWOCGhZvYq-wRPb4XRCTcI3mo9OkFtRZI57aeqpf1ug/s1600/Alphabet+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa0V-MMMHMW-8gDSQMFUTgR0vk3wGtUECZJUmfY5KD2dU9TN01WrB16H9xrVnNYctU-K7-smzwkuHQV7u3bKe-BASuriLt_BtWOCGhZvYq-wRPb4XRCTcI3mo9OkFtRZI57aeqpf1ug/s1600/Alphabet+book.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Paula-Wiseman-Books-Matthew/dp/1416955658/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292208821&sr=1-3">http://www.amazon.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQpJRccoEXVjPeZLdjKYWeqzT5hN1JywRrINwn59yB8-w9M2VZDF2N0QToXNCLsPMnQhyphenhyphenD9giNEhN9X7IgDbRIdGUvkGKhafRoWK73YC6oKUNpqknXOp_LQQB_oKPO10LtkcqGfVVLg/s1600/eric+carle+abc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQpJRccoEXVjPeZLdjKYWeqzT5hN1JywRrINwn59yB8-w9M2VZDF2N0QToXNCLsPMnQhyphenhyphenD9giNEhN9X7IgDbRIdGUvkGKhafRoWK73YC6oKUNpqknXOp_LQQB_oKPO10LtkcqGfVVLg/s1600/eric+carle+abc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=eric+carle+abc&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivso&resnum=4&biw=1440&bih=722&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5242568854178180247&ei=w4YFTa0Pg8aVB_2c9PcJ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEgQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers">http://www.google.com/</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt0LwTY4cILTQAGvNnhyphenhyphen6mo62NM1fMPqk9TLJXwy13kLVvRnnyC97i8h3eeL3Bqk3AAWPMpTycyMZnIA4o7H4TW2rXTGbdn29fS8asoSs6HjHvr4f75TKkPW1A2063osFQD1u1_4Ccw/s1600/Chicka+Chicka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt0LwTY4cILTQAGvNnhyphenhyphen6mo62NM1fMPqk9TLJXwy13kLVvRnnyC97i8h3eeL3Bqk3AAWPMpTycyMZnIA4o7H4TW2rXTGbdn29fS8asoSs6HjHvr4f75TKkPW1A2063osFQD1u1_4Ccw/s200/Chicka+Chicka.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=chicka+chicka+boom+boom&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivsb&resnum=6&biw=1440&bih=722&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9747914610003681945&ei=14UFTZXDCIW0lQfAlKjaCQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CFEQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers">http://www.google.com/</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-49152725646610218062010-12-10T10:58:00.001-05:002010-12-10T10:58:10.868-05:00Phonemic Awareness: Nursery Rhymes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36xmmDeHtDF2L43BegRU12FobXIzEAj6SvcQg-dg9xFGh3BTiWxP1Lc9a7qlsKrCbM79Lc5nyKCbzC9isen8epUaRxuCAgdxVGvLVvbcvms5Mtr6LC0Y9ZnlzVVozz7jRrNvtoSL4vg/s1600/nursery+rhymes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36xmmDeHtDF2L43BegRU12FobXIzEAj6SvcQg-dg9xFGh3BTiWxP1Lc9a7qlsKrCbM79Lc5nyKCbzC9isen8epUaRxuCAgdxVGvLVvbcvms5Mtr6LC0Y9ZnlzVVozz7jRrNvtoSL4vg/s400/nursery+rhymes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Nursery-Rhymes-Mother-Goose/dp/0867130970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291996421&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/index.asp">Nursery Rhymes</a> are still a wonderful way to introduce your child to rhythm and rhyme in a playful way. Reading and rereading classic nursery rhymes helps your child to learn the rhymes so they can recite them on their own. You then use them as a teaching tool to help your child learn <a href="http://www.begintoread.com/articles/phonemic-awareness.html">phonemic awareness, </a>which is the ability to hear sounds in words.<br />
<br />
Nursery Rhyme:<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Jack and Jill</span></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jack and Jill </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">went up the hill</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to fetch a pail of water</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jack fell down and broke his crown</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and Jill came tumbling after.</span></b></i></div><br />
1. You can draw attention to words that begin with the same sound.<br />
<i>Jack and Jill have the same beginning sound.</i><br />
<br />
2. You can talk about how Jill and hill sound alike and are called rhyming words. You can then ask the child if other words also sound like Jill and hill...(for example: Bill, fill, cat) <br />
<i>Bill sounds like Jill and hill.</i><br />
<i>Fill sounds like Jill and hill and Bill.</i><br />
<i>Cat does not sound like Jill and hill and Bill.</i><br />
<br />
3. You can also build vocabulary by talking about the words: <i>fetch, crown and tumbling.</i><br />
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Find more Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes at: <a href="http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/index.asp">http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/index.asp</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-55956614527691250642010-12-07T11:00:00.001-05:002010-12-07T11:08:59.850-05:00Book Review & Activities: Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdQ0RVnU71TUJ_hXVfw_kQ759Y39zyQKaNW0IBFqj8zqlyvb-lcItSKphX9BpfRVuEiVpPgltS9EPIteXgtGuQzRBe1v8eNbeXv1uwmQq0m7bhI4SBFXSgI_Dt2UQtC8nKkMlwJhrNA/s1600/brownbear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdQ0RVnU71TUJ_hXVfw_kQ759Y39zyQKaNW0IBFqj8zqlyvb-lcItSKphX9BpfRVuEiVpPgltS9EPIteXgtGuQzRBe1v8eNbeXv1uwmQq0m7bhI4SBFXSgI_Dt2UQtC8nKkMlwJhrNA/s400/brownbear.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=413">http://www.education.wisc.edu</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bill Martin, the author of "<b>Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?</b>", is one of my favorite children's authors because he does a great job with rhythm and rhyme. The story is also <b><a href="http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/predict.html">predictable</a>, </b>where children learn what to expect on the next page. They will often want to peek at the next page to see what is coming next. <b><a href="http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=instruction&section=rc/main">Predictable</a></b> books also encourage the child to participate in the reading of the story. <br />
<br />
Your child may even try to read the book to you or read it on their own by <b><a href="http://www.ehow.com/list_6536532_stages-learning-read-learning-write.html">memorizing the text</a></b> they heard from reading the story over and over. This is one of beginning stages of reading and should be encouraged. Later, the child will begin to realize that the same word in one book is the same letters/word in another book.<br />
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Below is a link to a website with papers you can print at home to make puppets or <b><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2046677_make-flannel-story-board.html">flannel story</a></b> pieces. Encourage your child to use the puppets to retell the story in their own words. This helps them build<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_484627440"> </a><b><a href="http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=instruction&section=rc/main">comprehension</a></b> and show how well they understand the story. After many readings, your child will do a great job using the puppets to act out the story. Also, encourage them to use the book if they get stuck. The goal here is to have fun and play with language!<br />
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Link: <a href="http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/index.htm">http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/index.htm</a><br />
<br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b><br />
<b><u>There are many stories in this series which include</u></b>:<br />
<br />
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?<br />
<br />
Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?<br />
<br />
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-55736615749068660792010-11-29T15:43:00.002-05:002010-11-29T16:26:53.786-05:00Phonemic Awareness Activity: AlliterationAlliteration is where all or most of the words in a sentence begin with the same letter. Making silly alliteration sentences to read with your child is a fun activity to reinforce phonemic awareness, or the ability to hear sounds in words. It also helps your child to learn upper and lower case letters as well.<br />
<br />
<b>Examples of Alliteration are:</b><br />
<br />
<u>Sentences: </u><br />
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The baby bear brought blankets and balloons to the ball.<br />
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Mary might mix marshmallows in the muffin mix. <br />
<br />
Willy went to the water to watch a walrus. <br />
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<u>Phrases:</u><br />
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Billy's brown balloon<br />
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Lara's lemon lollipop<br />
<br />
purple painted pansey<br />
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<u><b>Steps:</b></u><br />
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1. Write an alliteration sentence or phrase.<br />
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2. Read the sentences or phrase a few times with your child.<br />
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3. Ask you child to circle the repeating letter in each word that begins with that letter.<br />
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4. Read just the words that begin with the repeating letter.<br />
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5. Encourage your child to repeat the words and then the letter sound that the words begin with. <br />
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6. Next, reread the silly sentence or phrase. <br />
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7. Finally, have your child write the letter (repeated in the different words) and have your child draw a picture to match the silly sentence or phrase. <br />
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8. Save these to make a book of silly sentences or phrases to reread in the future to practice letters and sounds. Having your child draw the illustration will give him ownership with the book.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-516752351825857232010-11-23T13:33:00.001-05:002010-11-23T13:39:27.345-05:00Story Extenders: More Puppet Ideas: Printable Puppets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb5Ls7hHOmBvBpPFqQ9Ms1gTsB2rM394o-2prURLITciGM37-Flbu_rlKp-gctZjD6BShadVGMzJyWX7s0-5iRvjbQLVVjQov5XbVzN9iy91LsrL__RuNpr_CK_nBn7g-osb0nB4TUA/s1600/dora+and+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb5Ls7hHOmBvBpPFqQ9Ms1gTsB2rM394o-2prURLITciGM37-Flbu_rlKp-gctZjD6BShadVGMzJyWX7s0-5iRvjbQLVVjQov5XbVzN9iy91LsrL__RuNpr_CK_nBn7g-osb0nB4TUA/s400/dora+and+boots.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i-love-cartoons.com/printables/color-pages/easter/Dora-Boots-Easter-Basket.jpg&imgrefurl=http://i-love-cartoons.com/printables/color-pages/easter/Dora-Boots-Easter-Basket.php&h=984&w=719&sz=309&tbnid=ksg3zmRoVcyVoM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddora%2Bprintables&zoom=1&q=dora+printables&usg=__KWu1A5WR-HT8-bXc9YUGmxYWuVw=&sa=X&ei=7wbsTJWMNcXy4gbO7-HVAQ&ved=0CDMQ9QEwAg">http://www.google.com/</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another way to make puppets to extend stories is find the characters in the stories online, in coloring books, or use your copier to make copies of the characters (in color). When searching online, search for (insert book title characters printables) and you will be surprised what you find as teacher resources that are free.<br />
<br />
Have your child color the puppet characters and cut them out. Then attach them to popsicle sticks using white glue or strong tape. <br />
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Reread the story and ask your child to hold up the character when the story is about that character. Later, encourage your child to retell the story using just the puppets.<br />
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Again, this will help your child to build comprehension skills. You will notice they remember more about the story each time they interact with the story.<br />
<br />
Here is one site I found with printables for good books for emergent readers: <a href="http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/printable_booklets.html#SharedReadingBooklets">http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/printable_booklets.html#SharedReadingBooklets</a> <br />
<br />
It's just like an adult seeing a movie or reading a book more than once. We see or remember things we missed the first time.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882472842227936089.post-66313406015808944402010-11-22T08:19:00.004-05:002010-11-22T08:23:25.946-05:00Extending a Story: Paper Bag Puppets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJjCEEqj1mufkaX_yZ53SR45mkMCBNoyykFIJkx_J8dfW6xrz8u3h9JOek3N0M8spb30kOqE3r1i1b11qfKxkpsE-YIeqkxhH2GHLFjapswHHYjdEXjNEHLpjS70mNeuC7b5JVCVkNQ/s1600/PaperBagPuppets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJjCEEqj1mufkaX_yZ53SR45mkMCBNoyykFIJkx_J8dfW6xrz8u3h9JOek3N0M8spb30kOqE3r1i1b11qfKxkpsE-YIeqkxhH2GHLFjapswHHYjdEXjNEHLpjS70mNeuC7b5JVCVkNQ/s320/PaperBagPuppets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pacon.com/projects/images/PaperBagPuppets.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pacon.com/projects/PaperBagPuppets.htm&h=665&w=700&sz=37&tbnid=uQubZQX0_MXaXM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpaperbag%2Bpuppets&zoom=1&q=paperbag+puppets&usg=__gDEg1HTmQtcJhzOuEGS3YXYZIGk=&sa=X&ei=wGrqTPaaB8GAlAf7h_nXCw&ved=0CCsQ9QEwAQ">http://www.google.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There are many ways you can extend a story with another activity other than reading the story a second time.<br />
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Children love to play and acting out a story is a fun way to play and build comprehension skills at the same time.<br />
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You and your child can make paper bag puppets using lunch bags, construction paper, googly eyes, feathers, and any other craft supplies you can find in your home. You can also purchase inexpensive supplies at the Dollar Tree or your local craft stores.<br />
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Talk to your child about the different characters in the story and make puppets for some or all of the characters. Then, reread the story and you and your child can hold up the puppets when they are in the story. <br />
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Later, encourage your child to tell the story with just the puppets. This is where you can see how much your child comprehends or remembers what was in the story. This is a skill children need to learn to become good readers.<br />
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Have fun and enjoy!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217566101414735019noreply@blogger.com0