August/September 2008
In this issue you will find:
6 Essential Pre-Reading Skills Recommended Read-Alouds Fingerplays and Songs Parenting Titles Storytimes @ Your Library
Research has shown us that there are six early literacy skills that are essential for young children to become familiar with in order to be successful readers. These skills are:
1. Vocabulary
Knowledge of the names of things.
Most children enter school knowing between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
2. Print Motivation
Interest in and enjoyment of books.
A child with print motivation enjoys being read to, plays with books and pretends to write.
3. Print Awareness
Knowledge of how to handle a book and how to follow words on a page.
A child will point to the words on the page of a book.
4. Letter Knowledge
Awareness that letters are different from each other.
A child will know the names of letter and their sounds.
5. Narrative Skills
Ability to create stories and to describe things.
A child's ability to relay what happens at a birthday party or on a trip to the zoo.
6. Phonological Awareness
Ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.
A child will hear and create rhymes, say words with sounds or chunks left out and be able to put two word chunks together to make a word.
You can learn more about these six pre-reading skills by attending one of our Every Child Ready to Read Workshops! Follow this link to register now!
Why not take advantage of the monsoon season and read some books about rain and rainy days!
 Peter Spier's Rain / by Peter Spier. Two children play in their backyard on a rainy day. "A Dell picture yearling" - Cover.
The Rain Came Down / David Shannon. An unexpected rain shower causes quarrelling among the members of a small community.
Fingerplays and Songs
"I Hear Thunder"
(sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques")
I hear thunder, I hear thunder.
Put one hand over an ear as if you are listening to something.
Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you?
Then the other hand over the other ear.
Pitter patter raindrops. Pitter patter raindrops.
Raise hands up high and wiggle your fingers while bringing your hands down.
I'm wet through! I'm wet through!
Hug yourself.
-Words by Barbara Cass-Beggs
"Pitter Patter"
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter, listen to the rain.
Wiggle fingers up high while slowly bringing them down.
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter, on the window pane.
Repeat.
Dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping on the ground.
Repeat.
Dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping, listen to the sound.
Repeat.
-Words and music by Barbara Cass-Beggs
"Rain, Rain, Go Away"
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day.
All the children want to play,
So rain, rain go away!
Since we are focusing on getting ready to read, here are some books from our Parenting Collection that you might find helpful. These books have wonderful ideas for finding opportunities to read to your children and give suggestions for selecting reading material depending on the age of your child.
 Raising a Reader / by Paul Kropp. "The news about children's reading is not good. Only 45% of fourth graders read for pleasure and by twelfth grade, only 24% find joy in reading. But Paul Kropp, a teacher for 20 years and author of young adult novels, has better news: the road to reading can be paved by parents because 'reading is not a skill, it is an attitude.' " Raising a Reader: How to Make Your Child a Reader for Life is a wonderfully practical primer about how families can discover the joy of reading together." - Amazon.com
Babies Need Books / by Dorothy Butler. "Babies Need Books
is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, and librarians - indeed, for any adult eager to share with small children the pleasure books offer. Butler provides important guidelines for choosing appropriate books and recommends hundreds of titles." -Back Cover
The Ready to Learn initiative educates parents and the community about the importance of early brain development. Storytimes offer a great opportunity for parents to positively interact with their young children and help lay the groundwork for future learning. All programs are designed for caregivers to participate with their children.
Call for information about group visits.
 Family Storytime - all ages (30 min)
A special time for children and their families to listen to stories and participate in fingerplays, music, and rhyming activities. Children under three must be accompanied by an adult.
Shake, Rattle & Roll - all ages (30 min)
Children and their caregivers participate in movement, fingerplays and other musical activities that help with the development of a child's emotional, language, memory, motor, mathematical and spatial skills.
Tiny Tot Time - 0 to 24 months (30 min)
An early literacy program that uses rhymes and songs to help children get ready to read.
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