Literacy Through Art
November 21 , 2012 by Ashley WarthenDid you know that scribbling is a very important part of literacy development in toddlers? When young children are given crayons, paints, play-dough and the freedom to explore their creativity, they are learning about artistic expression and working on their fine motor skills. More importantly, however, they are learning how to tell a story, and taking the first steps to learning to read. Those scribbles will eventually turn into letters, words, and will contribute to the early reading skills required for a child to develop a healthy appetite for learning.
Winter Words: Teaching Children about Winter
November 20 , 2012 by Laura KennettYou may not come from a land of ice and snow, but you can go there through books. The stories below illustrate those worlds with words such as: flakes, powdery, heaping, crystalline, radiant, glistening, and even the dreaded infirm. Beautiful language helps define a world. The world of picture books is defined by rare words (words heard outside of regular conversation). And, the amount of words children hear before the age of five defines 90% of their vocabulary for the rest of their lives. Leave word poverty and low literacy rates out in the cold by reading aloud to children everyday.