tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86511112492954481442024-03-19T04:02:03.675-07:00The Cat and The Fiddle...a blog about speech and languageThe Speech and Language Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652148742282456264noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-7998135823665350572011-09-26T22:20:00.000-07:002011-09-26T22:23:16.897-07:00Talking about Books and Language<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Y5ZJWeYxnW0edbrsuHAzg-jmNUvxY9qvYUV89UmHm5rfjvBOEelGqjED7Tick1wzZJzxvFZ1modF1oRlGJT_XwKMjAeZJUFbWYvd6H4TSIM3D4kTQRlAFusL_hf8ricShI-g-UGO7RI/s1600/andrea+and+Kate1+%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Y5ZJWeYxnW0edbrsuHAzg-jmNUvxY9qvYUV89UmHm5rfjvBOEelGqjED7Tick1wzZJzxvFZ1modF1oRlGJT_XwKMjAeZJUFbWYvd6H4TSIM3D4kTQRlAFusL_hf8ricShI-g-UGO7RI/s320/andrea+and+Kate1+%252827%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This post requires a confession. At times I have read to my kids solely to get life back under control. That's right! Sometimes and especially when my kids were little, close in age, and loud and demanding, I would read to my children to calm things down and so I could have a break of sorts from the chaos. Perhaps because of this I also did not care so much for wordless picture books because they required thinking on my part dear friends, and I was looking to calm down, not <i>think</i>! Really all good speech-language pathologists know that good language enhancing reading time includes <i>thinking</i>, and talking. Ahem, that just doesn't mean we do it <i>every</i> time right? <br />
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Now that you know my secret, you can understand why I felt just a tad bit guilty immediately after hearing about recent research about the value of wordless picture books and their ability to naturally enhance parent-children book reading and discussion. For just the same reasons that I occasionally didn't want to read a wordless picture book, these books encourage much more language (and thinking) and discussion between children and parents. That may seem kind of obvious, but it was a good reminder to me. I love that in <a href="http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=49877">this article</a> the researchers give credit to what parents already instinctively do when reading wordless picture books and recommend they extend these techniques to other activities.<br />
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The knowledge of this study (and my confession to myself) has really encouraged me to up the ante on my book reading interactions with my youngest son more often. I find myself thinking about the study when I am reading to him before his nap and elaborating just a little more about what is going on in the story or pictures and encouraging him to do the same. All this can enhance language development and bonding. Do you know what else? It turns out that it calms things down and becomes a break from the chaos just the same, or perhaps even better. <br />
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<a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/292/54CCA025D71A21E578FB4487E26C26E5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/292/54CCA025D71A21E578FB4487E26C26E5.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500809938832739567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-57918604073760619472011-07-13T13:41:00.000-07:002011-08-12T20:46:02.096-07:00Joint Attention Part Two: Looking and Learning in the Real World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOzLRCIMDNM3Hyydh5oIe-RMQ1wFEO9Alg_86PE1RcFF4ZEiufpfGMZh5esu5ywSWAnTyyKf83psr60X-727_xMbpQDI0lRtj3MXmCfEdDEC3ZVRM2GSmAJx7lBgfZxY5Kv_2ul6MMqU/s1600/2011+pics+600-890+343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOzLRCIMDNM3Hyydh5oIe-RMQ1wFEO9Alg_86PE1RcFF4ZEiufpfGMZh5esu5ywSWAnTyyKf83psr60X-727_xMbpQDI0lRtj3MXmCfEdDEC3ZVRM2GSmAJx7lBgfZxY5Kv_2ul6MMqU/s320/2011+pics+600-890+343.jpg" width="320" /></a>If you missed the first post about the importance of joint attention, you can read it <a href="http://thecatandthefiddlespeech.blogspot.com/2011/06/look-look-looking-at-life-together-with.html">here</a>.<br />
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Let's look at what joint attention looks like in the real world. First notice when your child is involved in joint attention with you. Although it begins to develop early on as an infant, joint attention is a great language tool for many years. In fact, think about communication--we are focused on the same thing together --ideally jointly attending to a subject! Considering children, joint attention may be especially effective when child initiated since that is where interest lies. When your child sees an object and wants you to join in his gaze by looking at you and the object, by pointing, gesturing or vocalizing, respond accordingly! Talk about it! Try using simple language such as<br />
"Horse! You see the horse! It's a little horse, isn't it?"<br />
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By trying to speak in a natural voice, and over time with these experiences, your child can learn language. If you notice that your child is watching your gaze to see what you see, again, talk about it in a simple natural way. When looking at books, respond to what your child is most interested in and don't feel it is necessary to read all the words of a book to your toddler. Simplifying text based on age level is definitely appropriate. Babies and toddlers often enjoy and can respond to one word labels in books and pictures. Finally, when engaging in the repetitive routines of life, talk about what you are doing. Your child is most likely paying attention to what you are doing when you are bathing her, dressing her, or feeding her and becomes accustomed to these daily tasks. Talk about these things in simple natural language, using similar language each time, perhaps using melody to make it playful, or even making it into a song. When swinging for example you can sing "swing, swing, swing!" The natural game of grabbing toes as your child comes back to you in the swing and saying, "Got your toes! Got your toes!" is a great repetitive and social language game.<br />
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If your child hears these <b>verbal routines</b> over and over and often enough, they can absorb more language, understand more, and become ready to say more as well!Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500809938832739567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-44929162637933209932011-06-18T12:59:00.000-07:002011-07-13T13:48:16.680-07:00Look! Look! Looking at Life Together With Your Child Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFqXr0htjZlzfQo2lsZGkqweo-6GSt461_V5N1GlNVpQ6bKqnyq1tReo_Y7uNVu1P6Hh-AYyQk3H6NEXO83sK46JFPjrdqD8V43WUQ2NyJnMz9Dm6FKmb9HNLg2w5LwriUyguz7joubU/s1600/zoo+miles+and+daddy+pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFqXr0htjZlzfQo2lsZGkqweo-6GSt461_V5N1GlNVpQ6bKqnyq1tReo_Y7uNVu1P6Hh-AYyQk3H6NEXO83sK46JFPjrdqD8V43WUQ2NyJnMz9Dm6FKmb9HNLg2w5LwriUyguz7joubU/s400/zoo+miles+and+daddy+pointing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Around the middle of their first year of life, an important language skill shows up for typically developing children. They begin to notice what you are noticing, and hoping you will notice what they see too. This experience shared by two is called <b>joint attention. </b><br />
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Why is this important in developing language? Two important reasons are worth considering right now. Joint Attention benefits:<br />
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1: the development of a <i>desire</i> to communicate with others<br />
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2. the further development of <b>receptive language</b>, or language a child understands.<br />
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In other words, these skills increase and exhibit a child's desire to engage with people and understand and be understood by them, as well as increase what words and concepts they understand. These are vital in communication, and also aid what so many parents are after-<b>-<i>talking!</i></b><br />
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By learning to look at what you are looking at, and hearing what you have to say helps your child develop a social connection with you. What's more, they not only continue to learn to enjoy people, increasing their desire to communicate, they realize that the stuff coming out of your mouth means something, and by following your gaze or point, they can sometimes figure out what you mean! In what we would consider atypical development, children fail to look and learn about things from you as much as we would expect and sometimes seem to live in their own world. If they are not realizing that they can focus on what you focus on, and that what you are saying is related to that, it will be much more difficult for them to desire or even realize they can communicate with you, let alone realize what you are saying and what they can say themselves. Healthy communication is what we are after! <br />
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Other ways your child engages in joint attention activities are by pointing, gesturing, or making sounds to get you to notice what they notice. They also might following your gaze to an object, by attending to books or pictures and listening to you talk about them, or even by playing peekaboo or other social games with you.<br />
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The desire a child shows for you to interact <i>with</i> them by exploring an object or looking at something interesting with you, is a healthy habit to encourage! The desire for a child to be with you and have you interacting with them may make some young children seem difficult to care for, and can even feel tiresome at times but truly this is thing to celebrate! Your child learns by being with you and interacting with you, and it is almost impossible to overdo it. As your child focuses on something, or attends to what you are focusing on, talking about this often feels natural, and this is a good thing! When you talk about what your child is focused on it potentially helps your child to learn to understand the language associated with this object. The language your child understands is called <b>receptive language</b> and is again important prior to getting those words out of their mouth! First, they have to understand what they mean. Typical children understand a lot more than they can say, and enhancing what they understand may help them be able to express more and perhaps do it more quickly. As simple and natural as it sometimes is, joint attention is a great way to enhance receptive language development, which can enhances <b>expressive language,</b> or what your child can say. If your child does not look at and engage in joint attention activities, take note that this is not typical language development and is red flag in possible need for help. If your child is showing great signs of joint attention, enjoy and enhance these occasions! To read more about joint attention, see <a href="http://thecatandthefiddlespeech.blogspot.com/2011/07/joint-attention-part-two-looking-and.html">Part Two!</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-TMfvWHEeB2QPanrAcyE1oknT4ZUcMzts153a0ZZtlQTQkEWqE5nVQns5a6ucOJCwepZ4TZbZfJ7BEz5dRkfrlmMY8GyQwCnD0tMJ8n6C3XLtnbC7P9fz3wzSdytsKfIPLunw6e23L4/s1600/zoo+miles+on+spider+pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-TMfvWHEeB2QPanrAcyE1oknT4ZUcMzts153a0ZZtlQTQkEWqE5nVQns5a6ucOJCwepZ4TZbZfJ7BEz5dRkfrlmMY8GyQwCnD0tMJ8n6C3XLtnbC7P9fz3wzSdytsKfIPLunw6e23L4/s400/zoo+miles+on+spider+pointing.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lindsay </span></span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500809938832739567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-3893016483620685432011-04-19T18:38:00.000-07:002011-07-19T06:04:27.846-07:00The Learning Triangle<em>as presented by PBS Kids Ready to Learn Workshop<br /><br /></em><br /><br /><div>A triangle has three points and with regard to the learning triangle, each point identifies an aspect of learning including <strong>reading</strong>, <strong>viewing</strong> and <strong>doing</strong>. Implementing the triangle of learning every time you read a book will enhance learning. You know this is true because it has worked for you. Think of the books you have read in High School and were required to write essays and papers about. Do you remember them better than a book you read much more recently? What about the book that "spoke" to you because you related to it so well. Does the message from that book surface more readily than others regardless of order of appearance? This is because you are giving your mind additional avenues to learning and remembering. Providing children experiences related to what they have just read will enhance their learning and memory of what they have just read. The reading triangle is simple and designed to do just that - help you remember. Shall we talk about this more?</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>1. <strong>Read! </strong>Read a book. Ask questions about the story's characters, pictures and plot. Invite children to retell the story by reading pictures.<br />2.<strong> View</strong>. Actively watch an appropriate and related program with your child. While watching, ask open-ended questions. "What do you think will happen next?" If the characters are dancing and singing, dance and sing with them. Moving the body uses different parts of the brain and invites different memory tactics.<br />3. <strong>Do</strong>. Young children learn best by doing and using their five senses to explore their world. Extend the learning about the topics by engaging in a follow-up activity. This could be art or cooking project, a song, a game or anything!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Triangle of Learning and its application to me, a mother of four enthusiastic learners:<br /><br /></span>The learning triangle has become one of our favorite things. We have learned to thoroughly enjoy this idea as we bond and enjoy one another through shared books and, thanks to the learning triangle, movies and adventures. I am not exaggerating when I say that many of our most memorable times together have been sponsored by a good read. A book creates a new way for us to recreate inviting new ideas, themes and templates to act on our imaginations. A book is as variable as its topic and its reader. A book, as it has been said so many times before, opens the mind to a world of endless possibilities. Let me share with you some ways that the triangle of learning has succeeded in fulfilling a passion for learning as well as many treasured occasions in our family.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597489796363628978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUBVV6Jre5yD0wJ5b8MLeDJb9xPKlhPflT3RDRfdvX3mruolJS6nG7mcTjUIdBrVzBOTow3jsXcJ-GJFtc3xp20AJyKD_zeOoAprziGS3XR2LKHJgweqW7Z8dT9K1F4qr2mmsl4faw_We/s320/51BSKR3F3GL__BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>The Chocolate Touch</strong></span> by Patrick Skene Catling<br />1. Read! I read the book aloud to my children.<br />2. Activity. I visited the bin candy and purchased six pieces of 30 or more different kinds of chocolate including milk, dark, white, clusters, mint, caramel, raspberry, crispy, etc. Then we rated each kind of chocolate with a one through five, five being The <em>Best Chocolate Ever</em> and one being <em>Gross</em>. It was enjoyable and my children were very careful raters. We glued the wrapper from the chocolate or drew a picture of the chocolate in a box on a page and rated it beneath producing a fun final product. Being the speech mom that I am, I took it to the extreme when my son said he would rather have the pizza touch. So, next, each of my sons dictated and illustrated a story of their own, one titled <em>The Pizza Touch</em>, the other, <em>The Bubblegum Touch</em>. What a template for creativity!<br />3. View. We watched Willy Wanka and the Chocolate Factory. Fact: children respond more positively when this is a shared activity (with mom) and because we shared something together such as a book about chocolate.<br /><br />This book is a spin off the story <em>King Midas and the Golden Touch</em> so, naturally, we visited this story as well.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597805139936885778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2ze8TMpb0AdpE7J_4q5BWEe8F-bNjrHzwSRhq0i-b9y8KUXo1VnDsecacIqzv7vspIx-P2IjbLhNueyy4KL0JhFha-Or3Slx2zLSxeWG3U7TpcRSt8N-jr-QTbfVoR7zD2VLGDe8mH25/s320/holes.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Holes</strong></span> by Louis Sachar<br />1. Read. I read the book <em>Holes</em> aloud to my sons. This book is not a light read and it is one I am glad I shared with them and, at their young ages, did not invite them to read independently. There was much to consider and discuss throughout the reading of the book - many questions to ponder and lessons to learn but this book needed a guide, a parent to lead the mind in a constructive direction. It was a eye opener in many aspects.<br />2. Activity. We dug a hole! It was exhilarating and fun for all of us. It may sound like work, however, we had something in common - we shared the book <em>Holes</em>. Our hole is about four feet deep and two feet wide and a favorite place for my boys to hide.<br />3. View. There is a movie about this book but we haven't seen it.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 201px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630477698068893282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeL2cji_oAKM6jp5UQoBATFkOOgIQ78RxsDkbuMHSBGhf5AlZEK3I8svb6amVrzKR6FpWyUdfK9BamyIONP-gCG31F1rtEjnmqAZ2n4XUuWlIgizT4h9xmToiRJ5oK7xqmQBiSStMLETe/s320/8829481.jpg" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Davy Crockett</span></strong> by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft<br />1. Read. I read this book aloud to my children. A delightful read for young boys.<br />2. Activity. We happen to have coon caps thanks to the boys Uncle and Cabella's and we simply acted out the story as well as our own story in the same setting. Learning happens. Activities such as this don't need much initiation on my part. This type of imaginative play is a common part of my boys life.<br />3. View. We watched Davy Crocket, of course.<br /><br />We read several books in this series including Daniel Boone, Geronimo, General Custard and Crazy Horse. A great and fun way to learn a little history. We were so taken with it that I sewed a tepee, we made drums, we wrote in characters, and made costumes with head-dresses.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630477352116127410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyJxk0mdFH4zZnNW7cTpvltVASqFjmg9OC4hGQFAQEPReJOrXIJFJr8oTCXXFh5ptlbF633KCfLq2sYqYhl9HKslRk0wKTtk3wxvZUFiXqfJfMsyK5ymApjK3hzambitvfqVrPwKOqjZf/s320/51E25TFQ4QL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Chitty Chitty Bang Bang</span></strong><br />1. Read. We listened to this book on audiodisc together. Should I mention that this book is quite different from the Disney movie so if you think you know the story because of the movie, you don't. The reader was very fun with an accent and sound effects and everything.<br />2. Activity. We made Bon Bon fudge using the recipe in the book.<br />3. View. We watched <em>Chitty Chitty Bang Bang</em> while eating Bon Bon fudge. Thank you Mr. Bon Bon.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630478149831332818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hVgsePdF_oroXFty6XOhyphenhyphenxeR00_aHdcd1jiFAOh2wbKuVWwZczo_Ox00Q0OpPiOIARdVhnpByhjyny3Rq9_VP4y_c5EfOLgEAJ76UV8Oa_4_bTXWn9RpGTqNjzkT248xGFl_XE1SZyCj/s320/51WMNA3N56L__SS500_.jpg" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Chalk Box Kid</span></strong> by Clyde Robert Bulla<br />1. Read. I read this story with a small group of 3rd grade students.<br />2. Activity. We covered a hall wall with black paper and drew our own garden with chalk. We were very proud of our masterpiece.<br />3. View. We did not view anything related to this book because of the classroom setting I was in, however, we next read a book <em>Riding Freedom</em> and watched short clips from that time period helping the students visually identify the difference between our time and the 1800's.<br /><br />Every night my husband and I read to our children (excluding some holidays or late nights). We take turns reading a novel to our oldest two while the other parent reads picture books to our youngest two. This is bonding. And truly, reading is a favorite pass time for each of my children. Following each chapter book, the boys anticipate an activity and view together and this has created a beautiful tradition and a great way to spend time together. I feel passionately about the strong and positive effect the implementation of the triangle of learning has had on our family. I want your family to experience this too. If you have used the triangle of learning in the past, please share your experiences with me. Happy reading <em>and</em> learning.thecapedhappyenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05632644578773164506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-19969566224477142132011-03-09T12:31:00.000-08:002011-03-09T12:53:10.293-08:00Twenty Minutes a Day<div align="center"><strong>Read to your children,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>twenty minutes a day.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>You have the time</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>and so do they.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>Read while the laundry </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>is in the machine,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Read while dinner cooks;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Tuck a child</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>into the crook of your arm</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And reach for the library books.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>Hide the remote,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Let the computer games cool,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>For the day your children</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Will be off to school;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"Remedial?" "Gifted?"</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>You have your choice;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Let them hear their first tails </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>To the sound of your voice.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>Read in the morning;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Read over noon;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Read by the light of the</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Goodnight Moon.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>Turn the pages together,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Sitting as close as you'll fit,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Till a small voice beside you says,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"Hey don't quit."</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">by Richard Peck</div>thecapedhappyenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05632644578773164506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-79518743243915012592010-11-16T11:26:00.000-08:002011-03-09T12:53:40.545-08:00Reading Before Reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCemJyqXmLhTCze6YH11M3J2CPjbpWopRxfe4RBkv-c_qQyFocuchK-iSkg6rF2n7FBw3egnFk41KHZMQC3JsxiNj8XUjEJyJgAM4n_sgTFbLij4PJ3hxHkfUeO8uWnh-bWXA_os2IO3L5/s1600/504.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581820835840431410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCemJyqXmLhTCze6YH11M3J2CPjbpWopRxfe4RBkv-c_qQyFocuchK-iSkg6rF2n7FBw3egnFk41KHZMQC3JsxiNj8XUjEJyJgAM4n_sgTFbLij4PJ3hxHkfUeO8uWnh-bWXA_os2IO3L5/s320/504.JPG" /></a> What is considered fluent reading? Well, reading fluency consists of three components including: 1. high degree of accuracy, 2. speed and 3. prosody. It is true that a reader who demonstrates two of these three components will leave their listener lacking and unable to fully comprehend what was read. A fluent reader will make few decoding mistakes and this skill is often the most recognized and praised amongst beginning readers while speed or rate of reading is not far behind on the list of importance. However, a reader can read with accuracy and speed and not comprehend the text. Prosody, the true act of freely reading and appreciating textural language, happens when decoding and comprehension come together. Prosody is the goal of reading. It is reading with proper pauses, intonations, rhythm - all thing that demonstrate ease of text as well as comprehension of text. Hence, there are three components to fluent reading.<br /><br />Now that we know what a fluent reader is, what can we do to help our readers who are not yet reading become fluent? Let me makes some suggestions.<br /><div><div><ul><li>Model fluent reading. Read aloud to your reader and love doing it. It is recommended you read up to two grade levels above your readers independent reading level is when reading aloud.<br /></li><li>Echo reading. You read something and your child echos your words. Remember to never force children to echo back. A great book for echo reading: I Went Walking by Sue William or Dinosaur Roar.<br /></li><li>Paired reading. Read the text together at the same time. Choose a book with a repetitive phrase with strong rhythm. A great book for paired reading: Brown Bear Brown Bear by Eric Carle.<br /></li><li>Choral reading. This is when a group or class read the text together. The teacher, or better reader, sets the pace. This is a good way to learn sight words.</li><br /><li>Chants. Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds on one or two pitches such as a melody with only one or two notes. Chants are often repetitive but can have highly complex musical structures. By turning a simple sentence into a chant (keeping the same words) you are adding a musical component giving your soon-to-be reader an additional learning strategy. </li><br /><li>Read along with audio disc. When you read along with an audio disc, you are listening to fluent reading - reading with accuracy, proper speed, and prosody - all the while you are watching the words and looking at the pictures. This is a great way to assist comprehension.<br /></li><li>Poetry. Poetry has been described before as the highest form of literature. Poetry adds elements to reading comprehension by offering more meaning than is explained or given to the reader. Poetry contains diverse levels of complexity but almost always is some implication and interpretation of the text required to get meaning from its words and sentences. A child who is introduced to age-appropriate poetry while still young will be better equipped to interpret and get meaning from various kinds of texts.</li></ul><p>Read to your child everyday. You cannot do more to prepare your child for a lifetime of learning than to develop in them a love for reading. Let them participate in reading in various ways including echo reading, paired reading, or chants. Give them lots of examples and kinds of texts to love including poetry. Read what they can understand. Read. And then they too will read.</p></div></div>thecapedhappyenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05632644578773164506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-18605888614003433382010-11-16T08:24:00.000-08:002010-11-16T09:41:02.040-08:00Late talker? Get Barking!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS5XksvPwSjOEFfOfeffCuW4o2cjnAN6VimDXiuYr-FqMPI0luLZRT2sQ4SoHaTJcwExhwc0u2PMPAJu6T8gCSilgTvIcxaSDwFZs0nssgfYSZ11lhmt6pK-1x7UcDIYpOsAt2oE2WmU/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS5XksvPwSjOEFfOfeffCuW4o2cjnAN6VimDXiuYr-FqMPI0luLZRT2sQ4SoHaTJcwExhwc0u2PMPAJu6T8gCSilgTvIcxaSDwFZs0nssgfYSZ11lhmt6pK-1x7UcDIYpOsAt2oE2WmU/s200/dog.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's interesting to see the differences between parents' of late talkers. Some worry early, some don't worry at all because after all, Einstein didn't talk until he was three years old, right? Well, that may be so, but I think it is safe to say that Einstein was not typical! On the other hand, many children don't pop those words right out right just when their parents want them too, or when their siblings did, and that's okay too.<br />
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For the parent of a late talker, I would absolutely recommend getting their child tested by a speech language pathologist. It doesn't hurt to know where your kid is at, and you can always decide how<i> you </i>want to handle it. Any state in the United States currently has free services for getting a child under three tested, and depending on the results, possibly free services. This is due to the fact that early intervention is often effective. It is much better to take care of things sooner rather than later! In the meantime, what can you do to help that slow talker? For those who are pretty quiet and say very little at all, here's one simple tip that may help get them going: Imitation.<br />
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Notice if your child imitates you either vocally or physically. This is a good thing! Try to make a game out of imitation. If your child will imitate sounds you make, encourage this. Start with simple sounds, even just a vowel sound, like /a/. If he makes a sound on his own, repeat that sound and look at him expectantly to see if he will repeat you back. If she touches your hand, touch her hand back and look expectantly to see if she will touch your hand back. Imitation is a foundation of speech, it is how we all learn to talk, by listening and imitating others. If your child imitates words this could be even better--perhaps they would use these words on their own at some point.<br />
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Another fun way to imitate is with animal sounds. Many kids are interested in animals and so this can be quite motivating. Kids also may view animal sounds less as "talking" and so may feel less pressure to try it out. If your child says animal sounds this is GREAT, it's a good opportunity for them to develop the same speech sounds that occur in words! Practicing imitating things others say is important for developing speech and language and can be practiced in many ways, including imitating vocalizations, gestures, or animal sounds. What ways can you think of to get your child to play copycat? Don't forget to have FUN!Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500809938832739567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-17419460530111878662010-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:002010-09-22T22:01:02.349-07:00Speaking, Singing, or Chanting about Nursery Rhymes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX3Urcq2dbmk_Z9csxTIRz56epa7V9LpQbyoDgav3wbUIDG0aScfZxjJMPE4hlSM_qUKGB-gSrjn-UMMpfTkvZ9gV9OWU1ARfUSY9D4pGvBicfqaS-RoYDhsl18Oi2dTB9bY8cWL1-u4/s1600/black+sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX3Urcq2dbmk_Z9csxTIRz56epa7V9LpQbyoDgav3wbUIDG0aScfZxjJMPE4hlSM_qUKGB-gSrjn-UMMpfTkvZ9gV9OWU1ARfUSY9D4pGvBicfqaS-RoYDhsl18Oi2dTB9bY8cWL1-u4/s200/black+sheep.jpg" width="155" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">Studying speech and language pathology I had heard again and again about the fact that babies love language, and that they really appreciate rhymes. They <i>love</i> rhymes so, they would all say! I believed them. But not until I had my third child did I decide to take the experts up on the rhyming piece in a black and white nursery rhyme sort of way. So my daughter heard the frequent recital of this rhyme at diaper changes, bedtime, playtime, any old time:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Market, to market, to buy a fat pig,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Home again home again jiggedy jig!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To market to market to buy a fat hog,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Home again, home again, jiggedy jog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To market, to market to buy a plum bun.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Home again, home again, market is done!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My fourth child came along four years later and he frequently hears his own classic rhyme, repeated by all 5 other members of the family old and young:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes sir! Yes sir! Three bags full.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One for my master, one for my dame.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One for the little boy who lives down the lane.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Were the experts right? Of course! It's obvious that babies love language--you've noticed this too. But nursery rhymes? My babies <i>did</i> love them! Not only did their special rhymes become a source of joy and comfort to them, but nursery rhymes in general in books and recited spontaneously are indeed loved! Which books did my daughter request again and again? Nursery Rhymes! What do we sing in the car in tandem or untidy non-unison in an effort to comfort, entertain and QUIET the baby down on a long car ride? Baa Baa Black Sheep of course! My baby was delighted when I introduced him to Tomie de Paola's book, <i>Baa Baa Black Sheep</i>, and it is still his favorite. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what is so magical about these sweet rhymes? Well, everything really, including their classic nature, rhyme, and the fact that they can be repeated over and over and become a social game and language learning experience for little ones. The number one important aspect of communication is social connection. Nursery rhymes repeated often to children can become social indeed. Babies may be drawn to the rhyme, but it would appear they also like the rhythm, predictability, sociality and to tie it all together, when repeated often, they love the familiarity of nursery rhymes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does it have to be nursery rhymes? After seeing the classic nursery rhymes at work as a mother, I realized how many of my own personal rhymes and repetitive language sets I used with my first two children without even realizing it. I read nursery rhymes with all my children but my first son and I also had lots of time alone together so we did lots of chanting and talking and singing and many of these were quirky little homemade songs, including the "open sesame song" for diaper changes. Not quite as classic as Baa Baa Black sheep, but rhymes and melody were typically both included in my chants and we had lots of engaging social interaction and anticipation, as well as language learning. Plus--we had FUN! </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Not into Mother Goose? What else can serve this important piece for your child? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Songs, repetitive poems, or games like This Little Piggy Went to Market can all suit many aspects of these language learning routines. These predictable language games are often called anticipatory sets, (another topic for another day).</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Repetitive engaging songs and rhymes make language available for learning for all children, including those with typical language development. If your child shows any signs of speech or language delay this might mean he learns language differently, and increased exposure and explicit teaching through play, including these songs, games and rhymes, can help your child immensely.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you rhyming, singing, playing and connecting with your baby, toddler, or child? It is so much fun!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/292/54CCA025D71A21E578FB4487E26C26E5.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>The Speech and Language Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652148742282456264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-37340198244544659692010-08-29T19:27:00.000-07:002010-10-01T12:41:06.784-07:00Why Nursery Rhymes?<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><b>Humpty Dumpty had a great fall</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><b>All the king's horses and all the king's men</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><b>Couldn't put Humpty together again</b></span></div><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqOFMuAe8pdDrBN-sekS_pUt_XcP0JRtPZPgDo1x3D2FoYAswVLmr_5C-sJpEGt1a-FizLrX1zKo2FgpkntNEzYOPFCKwCsn7Dv93__nbaUL_Ow-uC2MLiEcfsvoWAQwNHEGktBJwc7Q/s1600/cat+and+fiddle.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqOFMuAe8pdDrBN-sekS_pUt_XcP0JRtPZPgDo1x3D2FoYAswVLmr_5C-sJpEGt1a-FizLrX1zKo2FgpkntNEzYOPFCKwCsn7Dv93__nbaUL_Ow-uC2MLiEcfsvoWAQwNHEGktBJwc7Q/s400/cat+and+fiddle.jpg" width="400" height="256" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Songs and rhymes for young children have been passed down for generations. They’re fun, children love them and they provide a warm nurturing experience between parent and child. Even more, rhymes and chants have vast amounts of literary and educational value. Let’s answer the question, why nursery rhymes? </span></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ah, language development, a favorite topic of mine and also one so enormous it is hard to share knowledge enough to properly give claim to its significance. As children recite rhymes, they are learning new vocabulary, how to articulate words, proper and adventurous syntactical structure of sentences, and to modulate their voices and enunciate clearly. The words used in nursery rhymes and songs help a child develop language comprehension as they learn to associate key words with people, objects and events in their daily lives. Nursery rhymes foster responsiveness and, through repetition, to anticipate what’s coming next. They are practicing pitch, rhythm, volume and voice inflection all the while they are learning to manipulate and use language to their advantage. Young children are able to respond to rhythm and tone before they understand language but both have common foundation of tone patterns, stress and rhythm. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Studies have suggested that a child who knows at least eight nursery rhymes upon entering public school is going to be a better reader. Why? Before a child can comprehend text, a child must establish metalinguistic skills, the ability to create a mental picture of what she interprets from the texts. Nursery rhymes are a beautiful template for such a visual masterpiece. A child will learn story sequence, to count and learn concepts such as many, few, beside, plenty, middle-sized and so many more. Nursery rhymes provide a world rich in language, both imaginary and real.<br /><br />People learn differently and, to state the apparent, have different strengths and strategies for learning. Hense, the different intelligences have been established, a topic of discussion all on its own. Songs, chants and nursery rhymes engage different or additional parts of the brain than language alone because of their melodic nature. A child who demonstrates a delay in language often needs multiple avenues of learning potential. Putting information to rhythm stimulates more parts of the brain and studies have suggested music to be a useful tool for learning (a topic we will address on its own in the near future). Nursery rhymes, when repeated over and over again to a child, provide a script for the child and when strategically used, can target specific areas of learning. The Crooked Man, my son’s favorite rhyme, can teach past tense /-ed/, and For Want of a Nail, my older son’s favorite rhyme, teaches cause and effect and was template enough for him to create his own rhyme titled, For Want of a Lego. My two year old daughter knows and loves Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat and learned to use the wh-question “Where have you been?” in a variety of contexts.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Nursery rhymes, to be most effective, should be repeated over and over again. Repetition of storybooks, rhymes and chants is critical for learning, especially regarding young children. Because of this, I wanted my nursery rhyme book to be full of common, well-known rhymes with grand illustrations. I found my treasure in the book Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose illustrated by Scott Gustafson (a book discovered and recommended to me by my co-blogger and good friend, Lindsay). My children and I know this book and love this book and it is one we visit regularly. The illustrations are delightful and imaginative, perfect depictions for mental images to establish themselves. Now that we know the rhymes, we enjoy the ABC Rap which recites the alphabet to a new and quick rap rhythm followed by a recitation of a nursery rhyme to the same rhythm. We go until we can think of no more nursery rhymes. To my husband’s disgruntle, it has proven to be our favorite extended car activity.<br /><br />Nursery rhymes are to be shared and adored together. On our quest to bring you useful knowledge and skill to enhance and delight your child’s learning within the wonderful world of language, we remind you first of nursery rhymes, a way to bond your child with language as well as you with your child.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Eating her curds and whey.</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Along came a spider who sat down beside her,</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>And frightened Miss Muffet away.</b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></div><div align="left"></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>thecapedhappyenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05632644578773164506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8651111249295448144.post-69933061368963092232010-08-28T15:06:00.000-07:002010-10-01T12:42:32.903-07:00Rhymes for All Ages<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Birth to Three Months</b><br />During this developmental period, your child may enjoy movements which help him learn the boundaries of his body, important people in his life and his surrounding environment. Developing a bond with his caregivers is critical and songs and rhymes are a perfect tool to fasciliate such a bond. Try rhymes such as: This Little Piggy Went to the Market, Hickory Dickory Dock or Round and Round the Garden. You can sing lullabies such as Rock-a-Bye Baby, Bye Baby Bunting, Hush Little Baby or All Through the Night while rocking and cuddling your child. A gentle human voice can calm a baby. Use nursery rhymes such as Georgie Porgie Pudding Pie, Hey Diddle, Diddle, and Little Miss Muffett.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><b>Three to Six Months</b><br />Most babies at this age are social and eager to interact and learn all there is to know about their new world. At this age a baby can communicate, with different cries, discomfort, hunger, impatience, frustration and even boredom. She will babble and experiment with different sounds. Great rhymes for this age include knee ride songs such as: To Market, To Market; Ride a Cock Horse and Trot, Trot, Trot, Trot. While bathing your baby use rhymes such as Rub-a-Dub-Dub or Splish Splash. Enjoy other well-known nursery rhymes, songs and finger plays such as Eensy, Weensy Spider or Pat-a-Cake. Sing and dance with your baby to songs like The Bear Went Over the Mountain, You Are My Sunshine, Teddy Bear Picnic and other similar songs. Recite nursery rhymes such as Old King Cole, There Was a Crooked Man or There Was an Old Woman. Remeber, babies love repetition for that is how they learn.<br /><br /><b>Six to Nine Months</b><br />At this age, baby is becoming more mobile and is sitting, crawling, standing and discovering things. Baby's constant babbling is beginning to sound more like real words and his "baby-talk" has a range of tones similar to adults such as questions, commands and descriptions. Ankle rides and knee bouncing rhymes are often a favorite past time at this age and he might like Tom, Tom the Piper's Son; Humpty Dumpty; See Saw Marjory Daw and Leg Over Leg. Sing This is the Way We Wash Our Hands while washing hands and sing A Hunting We Will Go, The Grand Old Duke of York and She'll be Coming Around the Mountain with homemade musical instruments.<br /><br /><b>Nine to Twelve Months</b><br />Now baby is climbing, crawling, cruising and possibly walking. It is important to talk to your child about everything you or she are doing and provide names for things. She is imitating language and some words may even sound like real words, and she is starting to recognize and use meaningfully, rhymes, tones and facial expressions of language. These rhymes will have meaning and learning: Old McDonald; Head and Shoulders; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Jack and Jill. As interest in words grow, continue reciting nonsense verse and more complex rhymes so they hear the richness in their language. Use tongue twisters such as Peter Piper. Enjoy added rhymes such as The Muffin Man, Jack Sprat, and Little Tommy Tucker.<br /><br />Remember, remember the importance of interacting with your child through rhymes, songs, chants and books. There is so much for your baby to learn.</span></span>thecapedhappyenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05632644578773164506noreply@blogger.com0