Research Shows that Books without Text Can Increase Literacy, Vocabulary Skills in Children with Developmental Disabilities - Business Wire - SunHerald.com

I recently found this article that shares how young children can develop vocabulary skills using books without text. It's interesting reading and makes you stop to think about using different types of literature to expand children's vocabulary. I hope that you will take a few minutes to read this article and consider adding books without text when reading and interacting with your child.

Research Shows that Books without Text Can Increase Literacy, Vocabulary Skills in Children with Developmental Disabilities - Business Wire - SunHerald.com

Last Day Notice

Dear Families,

The last day of preschool for the 2010/2011 school year will be on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

We have had a great time teaching your children this year, thank you for sharing them with us. We wish all our friends heading to kindergarten in the fall the best of luck.

To our friends that will return in the fall you will receive letters in August from your new classroom teacher.

The staff of the Burlington Integrated Preschool wishes you a wonderful and safe summer.

It's a girl

LeighAnn and her husband are the very proud parents of Emery Ann Shaw. She was born on May 28th, at 1:41 A.M. Mother and baby are doing great.

Field Trip Information

Field Trip – Friday, 5/27

Please use the following guidelines for our trip to the Drumlin Farm, on May 27^th:

· All children and chaperones attending the trip need to be at school by 8:30 a.m. sharp.

· All children should bring a snack consisting of a one item to eat and one disposable juice box. Please put the snack in a clear Ziploc bag labeled with child’s first and last name. No lunch bags or backpacks. We will have limited space and need to consolidate things.

· Children should wear sneakers or comfortable shoes; the children will be doing a lot of walking through the farm. NO open toe shoes, crocs, or flip flops.

· The weather forecast for the day warm and sunny. Please apply sunscreen to your child before they come to school.

· We will attend the farm rain or shine.

· If you are a chaperone, please be advised we are asking you carpool and follow the buses to the farm. If you are willing to drive, please tell your child’s teacher and we will provide you with directions.

We will leave the farm at 10:45 a.m. and should return to the preschool by 11:30 a.m. Please be waiting for the buses at 11:30 a.m. Children will be brought back into the classroom to gather belongings and then teachers will bring them out to dismiss them. This will ensure that all students are accounted for and safe.

Morning Students- If your child attends the morning session and usually takes the bus home, they will take the bus home as usual.

Afternoon Students- If your child attends the afternoon session; there will be no transportation home for your child. Please come to pick up your child at 11:30.

Please be waiting to pick your child up. DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL OR IN THE BUS ZONE

Calendar

One of the changes we have made this year in the Burlington Integrated Preschool is to move away from doing the calendar every day at circle time. Research shows that it is a low level skill that children learn very little from. I found this blog post and I think it speaks to how young children view the passing of time and other activities that can be done to make it meaningful.

http://earlyliteracyconnection.blogspot.com/2011/05/seven-days-in-week.html

Seven Days in a Week

Adults use time to mark and measure time, but for children the task is not as easy. Little evidence exists indicating that calander activities which mark extended periods of time (a month, a week) are meaningful for children below first grade (Friedman, 2000). Before children can make use of a calendar, they need to be able to understand that time is sequential (first comes Sunday, then Monday, and so on).

There are many relevant resources that exist in your child's world that can help them understand the sequence of a week. You can use picture books, songs, and even photographs to help your child understand how to mark and measure time in their own world.

Some books that discuss the concept of a week include:











The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: A hungry caterpillar eats various foods on each day of the week before turning into a beautiful butterfly.

Hannah and the Seven Dresses by Marthe Jocelyn: A little girl wears a different dress each day of the week until her birthday comes and she can't decide which of the 7 to choose.




Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward and Tomie de Paola: A mischievious cat gets into trouble each day of the week.






Big Week for Little Mouse by Eugenie and Kim Fernandes: A little mouse spends a week getting ready for a special event.




Today is Monday by Eric Carle: Different animals eat their way through the days of the week.










The song Everybody Happy by Sharon Lois and Bram is another great resource to use when teaching your little one about a week.

Everybody Happy:

Today is Monday, Today is Monday
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Tuesday, Today is Tuesday
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Wednesday, Today is Wednesday
Wednesday the gardening’
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Thursday, Today is Thursday
Thursday soup
Wednesday the gardening’
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Friday, Today is Friday
Friday Pay Day!
Thursday soup
Wednesday the gardening’
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Saturday, Today is Saturday
Saturday is shopping!
Friday Pay Day!
Thursday soup
Wednesday the gardening’
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:

Today is Sunday, Today is Sunday
Sunday - Resting!
Saturday is shopping!’
Friday Pay Day!
Thursday soup
Wednesday the gardening’
Tuesday the ironing’
Monday the washing’
Everybody happy? But I should say:
Everybody happy? But I should say!

You can also create a large calander for your child using pictures of them doing activities on each day of the week. For example, on Monday, it could be a rainy day (like lately!), Tuesday is baking cookies, and so on.

Can you think of any books, songs, or activities that help children learn the days of the week?