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Story School
Story School - Week 7
Welcome to the seventh 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: Fresh eyes. Open mind. Full heart. When we pay close attention to the present moment, we often see things from more than one perspective and are better able to understand one another. Children can practice empathy, perspective-taking, and self-regulation, just as they practice other early literacy skills. Our question is: What can happen when we show compassion to ourselves and others?
Our message this week
Fresh eyes.
Open mind.
Full heart.
Our question this week
What can happen
when we show compassion to ourselves and others?
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 on the
Make Way for Books App
This week, we’re learning how mindfulness, or paying close attention to the present moment, can help children develop empathy. Your homework this week is to play a game of Mirror Mirror! Are you feeling curious, confused, happy, or sad?
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, you can download it now!
Read Now on the app!
Mirror, mirror
Do
Play a game where you and your child act out feelings and copy each other or try to guess what the feeling is. You can be silly and serious!
You are helping to give your child the words to express their feelings and to understand the feelings of others.
What your child is learning
-
To understand feelings
-
New words
-
To imitate
Follow the leader
Do
Play Follow the Leader with words like "under," "around," and "behind." Escape a hot or cold day and, with your child by creating an obstacle course inside your house.
Creating an obstacle course will allow for more opportunity to use descriptive words and it's just fun! "Let's slowly go around the big ball and under the wooden table."
What your child is learning
Did you know that moving around helps your child learn? By practicing movement in different directions, such as "around," "under" or "behind," you are helping your child develop his directionality.
Directionality is when someone understands movement in connection with space. Directionality is an important foundational part of learning how to read ("We read left to right and top to bottom!"), writing letters ("If you put the line across the top, it's a capital 'T,' if it's lower, it's a little 't.'"), and math.
Take a short walk
Do
If your child gets fussy, go for a short walk around the waiting room or restaurant. Talk about what you see: plants, magazines and/or people.
While talking with your child about the objects that they see, try asking open ended questions that promote dialogue and thinking. "Can you describe the plant to me?"
What your child is learning
Taking a break and going for a walk is good for you and your child. Your child is still trying to develop their emotional literacy, so sometimes when things get overwhelming or is a new experience, they might not know how to act. Asking them questions about their feelings and the surroundings might help them understand what is happening and will help you guide them through the situation.
Eat together as a family
Do
Turn off all electronics and make eating together a great time for both learning and bonding! Talk with your preschooler about the foods you are eating. Invite them to describe the tastes, textures and temperatures: Is it sweet or salty, mushy or crunchy, warm or cold? Help them identify colors and shapes. Ask them to think of other foods that are sweet or are red.
It’s fun to think up categories together! Model for your child how fun it can be to try new foods. Pay attention to their reactions and give them time to get used to something new. Most of all, make meal time a pleasant, interactive and fun time together!
What your child is learning
-
To try new things
-
Confidence
-
New words
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!