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Story School
Story School - Week 4
Welcome to the fourth week of Story School!
We're so glad you and your child are here to join us for Story School. If you haven't had the chance, be sure to introduce yourself and your child on our Family Learning Space.
Each week, we will focus our learning around specific early literacy and language skills as well as social emotional skills that prepare your child to thrive in school and beyond. We'll have a big message and big question to discuss together. Reflect on the message and question, and then follow the steps below throughout the week.
Our message this week is Words are magic. As children learn more words, they are better able to communicate and express their emotions, thoughts, and dreams, words help us create meaningful connections with one another. Our question is How are words powerful?
Our message this week
Words
are
magic.
Our question this week
How are
words
powerful?
Step 1: Watch the Story Lesson
Step 2: Join our Live Learning Group
Check your email for the exact time and date, as well as a link, for your group's online Story Hour.
Step 3: Homework from the
Make Way for Books App
This week, we’re learning about the amazing power of words! Your homework is to “collect” a word and have conversations throughout the week with this word as the inspiration!
Continue learning with the Make Way for Books App. Here are our suggestions for the week. Don’t forget to follow your child’s interests and explore, mix and match, and most of all, have fun learning!
If you don't have the app yet, download it now to access Read Now books and more activities!
Read Now on the app!
I spy
Do
I Spy is an easy game that you can play with your child anywhere! You can play in the car, at home, in a doctor’s office, at the grocery store or at the park! There are many ways to play I Spy. You can spy by colors, by size, by shape, by use.
“I spy with my little eye something blue.”
“I spy with my little eye something taller than the trees.”
“I spy with my little eye something in the shape of a triangle.”
“I spy with my little eye something you use to water the plants.”
You can also use rhyming words to play I Spy: “I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with cat. It’s a hat!” Or you can use the letters of the alphabet to identify the things you spy: “I spy something that begins with A: an ambulance! With B: a bus!” and so on. Because you give clues to your child in the I Spy game, you are helping them to use their reasoning skills and analyze information to come to a conclusion. This is an important step in preparing them to be successful in school in many different subjects!
What your child is learning
-
To focus and sustain attention
-
To imitate and enjoy rhymes
-
With help, to identify rhyming words and words that start with the same sound
Word wand
Do
Use a marker or a hairbrush as a special wand. Invite your child to point to words on food boxes and read them aloud: "That says, 'Honey nut.'"
Your child may or may not know the word. If your child doesn't know the word, try reading it for her and then allow her to repeat it on her own. Make sure to praise her efforts. "You are READING!"
What your child is learning
This activity is a simple way to help your child be aware of the words and letters around her, which is known as "print awareness." It is also a way to get your child interested in and into the habit of reading! Having a special item to help your child be aware of her environmental print is one of the many fun ways to promote this skill!
Down By the Bay
Do
Sing this traditional silly rhyming song together. Feel free to make up other verses together!
What your child is learning
Singing and dancing are learning! By singing and dancing with your child, you are helping them develop important literacy, language, social-emotional, and motor skills. Music introduces your child to the new sounds and meanings of words and fosters comprehension skills as lyrics, rhythms, and movements are repeated.
Use new words
Do
Use new words to talk about what your child is doing: "You can balance on the sidewalk" or "Jump down carefully."
What your child is learning
Isn't it frustrating when you can't remember the word for something? That is how children feel all of the time when they are learning new words! Therefore, it's important to help support your child's vocabulary development by being aware of what words you are using. Trying to incorporate new words is great for your child, but can also be a fun challenge for yourself!
Step 4: Keep track of your child's learning
As you complete each activity or read a book together, your child is learning and gaining important early reading skills! Be sure to mark each activity and book "done" to add them to your child's learning journal in the app and keep track of their growth!
First, make sure to add a child in the app's settings page. When you mark a book or activity done, you will see a screen the one on the left that will give you the option to add it to your child's learning journal. Add a note, new vocabulary words, and a picture!
Step 5: Reflect and connect with families
What did you learn this week?
Join us on our Family Learning Space to post your pictures and videos and to connect with other Story School parents and caregivers.
We want to hear from you! Use the our Family Learning Space to share your thoughts, talk about your experiences, and ask questions!