Top Five Great Websites for Kindergarteners!

It is safe to say that today's preschoolers and kindergartners are digital natives. My kids love to use the computer or any electronic device they can get their hands on....ipod...ipad...cell phones. But where should we go when we want them to learn while using the computer? What are some of the best websites for kindergartners to visit to practice letters, numbers, and other important subject areas? Here is a list of the top five best websites for the preschool - primary grades.

1. Starfall - this language arts/reading website is designed to be fun, exciting, and to instill confidence in young children as they learn to read. The focus is on phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension that follows a developmental curriculum..

2. Nick Jr. - If your child watches any Nick Jr. Shows - this is the website to visit to see Dora, Team Umizoomi and Max and Ruby while learning about shapes, math, and reading. There are some advertisements - but  these can be skipped over.

3. PBS Kids - There are games and coloring pages of favorite PBS shows, including Arthur, Clifford, Curious George, Sesame Street and more. No advertisements!

4. Get Set 4 Kindergarten - This guide to school readiness includes four sections that change monthly: kindergarten skills readiness, getting ready to read, health and wellness, and an information printout. This site also includes book and website recommendations.

5.ALA Great Web Sites for Kids -  children's librarian compile a list of great websites for children - updated every year. List of websites divided by age and subject area.

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

When I think of the perfect picture book for a kindergarten audience...a book that literally speaks to them...I always think of Mo Willem's pigeon series or Grover in The Monster at the End of This Book. Now I can add Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj to that list. Cat Secrets is a wonderful new picture book that gets the audience involved and laughing at the same time. Can you prove you’re a cat? Because that’s what you’ll have to do if you want to read Cat Secrets.  There is a great book trailer to view at Catshavesecrets.com.  I would pair this book with Vivianne Schwartz's There Are Cats in This Book for a purrrfectly fun read aloud.

Ook the Book by Lissa Rovetch

If you are seeking a book that is perfect for emerging readers - this is it!  Ook the Book and other Silly Rhymes (2001) is a  fun and clever way to introduce word families along with rhyme.  Kids will love the rhyming stories and the colorful illustrations of zany characters including Ug the Bug and Ing the Thing. Chronicle Books has prepared a guide to using this book. There is an online matching game and information on the author found there as well. My kids loved guessing the rhymes on each page and even made up some of their own. A book that has teaches as well as entertains. Great for ages 2-6.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Some of my fondest memories from working in elementary school libraries were from Read Across America Day aka Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2. I had a lot of fun planning readings and activities that went along with all of the beloved Dr. Seuss books. My planning always began by visiting the NEA's Read Across America website or visiting Seussville. 

This year, I planned a Cat in the Hat storytime that has become an annual event in my library. First, I read aloud a Marvin K. Mooney and Dr. Seuss's ABC. We played "The Cat in the Hat Says..." and then we created our own edible cat in the hat hats!  The hats are gummy life savers, vanilla wafer, and vanilla frosting.  This photo is my daughter enjoying her hat!

Here is a photo of the finished product...

Dr. Seuss is still as popular today as ever and a wonderful author for beginning readers in Kindergarten and First Grade anytime of year.

The Picture Books of Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes is a wonderful picture book author/illustrator for pre-K and up. His mouse characters - Lilly and all her friends are always great read alouds for Kindergarten and 1st graders. There isn't a Kindergarten teacher that I know who doesn't read Chrysanthemum.  Mr. Henkes has now moved into new picture book territory with a collection of simple, wonderfully illustrated and award-winning stories. His newest picture book is Little White Rabbit.  My children loved this book from the first reading. They love how the rabbit explores his world and using his imagination literally changes on each page. I would definitley use this picture book for a kindergarten author/illustrator study.

I also recommend looking at the KevinHenkes website for great a biography, information about all of his books, and fun activities and teaching guides.

Ooh La La...it's the Fancy Nancy Tea Party

This past Saturday our library hosted the first ever Fancy Nancy Tea Party. We had over 17 girls (between the ages of 4 and 7). The girls were dressed in their fabulous dresses with fancy boas, and shoes, and hats. I read aloud two Fancy Nancy books to the girls. We also practiced saying some "fancy words."

  We also made corsages out of tissue paper and decorated butterfly placemats. Most of the ideas for the party came from Fancy Nancy Tea Parties by Jane O'Connor.  After making our projects - we started our tea party (no tea actually) - just cupcakes and grapes and juice. The girls enjoyed decorating their cupcakes and eating grapes... with toothpicks!!! Everyone had a  wonderful time and the parents loved it as well. There was not a Fancy Nancy book left in the library.  A perfect activity for the preschool/early elementary grades.

 Jane O'Connor is now writing easy to read  Fancy Nancy books as well as the numerous picture book in this fabulous series.

After a Long Hiatus....

I'm back....

We have a new title and a new direction - Kindergarten. I will be focusing this blog on great read alouds, authors, websites, and early literacy tools. I am preparing for this Saturday's Fancy Nancy Tea Party...
stay tuned. Fancy Nancy is TRES FAB for girls 5 and up. Check out the Fancy Nancy's World website.