The personal learning network for educators
Need Help With Preschool Books
A visitor to my Teach with Picture Books sent this email. Does anyone have a suggestion/recommendation for her? My site is really aimed toward upper elem and middle school, so I didn't really have a good lead for her.
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I am starting a job as a teacher at an inclusive Early Childhood Center, and I ran across your blog "Teaching with Picture Books" while doing some research. I am looking for something very similar to your site, but for preschool (I teach a range of ages throughout the week, 16 months-5 years, but will be shifting to a more consistent age group come May). My goal is to put together lesson plans such that each week there is a new "book of the week" which would be read every day, and then have different activities and stations relating to that book over the week. So often, I find lesson plan samples that have a theme and then choose a bunch of books to go with that theme--I'd love to do the opposite, and make the activities go with the book, with the book having a central role in the classroom, and reading it often enough (with different discussions after each time reading) that the kids can really hold onto the book--I think that way promotes a love of reading with depth, showing the kids all the different ways you can think about the books you read (less so of course with the 16 month olds and moreso with the 3-5 year olds), and also gives them an ability to really get to know the book...
Of course, I don't know whether this would work, but I'd really like to see what I can put together. It may be that the kids would get bored with the same book every day, but my experience with many children is that they can read the same book 10 times in a row if they really like it and are excited about it.
Do you know of any places like your blog but for younger children?
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I am starting a job as a teacher at an inclusive Early Childhood Center, and I ran across your blog "Teaching with Picture Books" while doing some research. I am looking for something very similar to your site, but for preschool (I teach a range of ages throughout the week, 16 months-5 years, but will be shifting to a more consistent age group come May). My goal is to put together lesson plans such that each week there is a new "book of the week" which would be read every day, and then have different activities and stations relating to that book over the week. So often, I find lesson plan samples that have a theme and then choose a bunch of books to go with that theme--I'd love to do the opposite, and make the activities go with the book, with the book having a central role in the classroom, and reading it often enough (with different discussions after each time reading) that the kids can really hold onto the book--I think that way promotes a love of reading with depth, showing the kids all the different ways you can think about the books you read (less so of course with the 16 month olds and moreso with the 3-5 year olds), and also gives them an ability to really get to know the book...
Of course, I don't know whether this would work, but I'd really like to see what I can put together. It may be that the kids would get bored with the same book every day, but my experience with many children is that they can read the same book 10 times in a row if they really like it and are excited about it.
Do you know of any places like your blog but for younger children?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tammy Flowers on
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Your reader is correct in suggesting that multiple readings of the same book will have a positive impact on her students. Young children learn through experience and repetition. This will not only allow for multiple opportunities for students to build schema and make connections to the book, but also models how to be a reader. This teacher will find her students going deeper with books than ever before and begin to mimic reading behaviors sooner.
Below are some links to some great resources that offer suggestions for read alouds as well as education activities to go along with them.
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/books.htm
Although, I would encourage this teacher to not reinvent the wheel. Many of the thematic activities that she already does will correlate nicely with several genres and topics of children's literacy. Find a book that you like and begin to make connections to your own curriculum. -
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Permalink Reply by Keith Schoch on
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Thnaks for the thoughtful response, Tammy. Seems as though you've had some experience in this area. I'll definitely share theses sites, as well as your suggestions!
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