The Mother Goose on the Loose Blog

Busy March finished, busy April coming up

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In March I attended my first SRCD (Society for Research in Child Development) conference. It was very different from the typical library conferences I have attended.  One of the coolest things was meeting (in person) some of the people whose research I have read and whose names I have been citing in my bibliographies for years.  Some of my favorite researchers were there including Clancy Blair, Adele Diamond, Roberta Golinkoff, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Allison Gopnik.  If you’d like to read more about the SRCD conference, have a look at the most recent MGOL monthly newsletter at http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=df06df4c99dd5cf4c9aafe975&id=4878f5a79d

While trying to expand examples of  nursery rhymes for use in library programs, I have asked readers to send in links to any library websites that contain videos of librarians reciting fingerplays or rhymes.  We just sent out the newsletter this morning, and have already received six!

Toward the end of March, I presented a MGOL workshop in East Hartford, Connecticut. After being rescheduled because of the enormous snowstorms, we finally met to have a fun day together in a wonderful building in a room with a working fireplace. Librarians were in the minority there; most of the attendees were people from the East Hartford area who work with early literacy such as home visitors and childcare resource center staff.

In April, I’ll be presenting a MGOL program at a Baltimore City Public School followed by a mini workshop for Baltimore City School Librarians. For two weeks, I will be traveling throughout Pennsylvania presenting “Nurturing the Brain through Storytime” workshops for the Pennsylvania One Book Professional Development Day 2015. Then, it is off to Ocean City to present a session for the Maryland State Child Care Association Conference.

In between all of this, there will be our family celebration of Passover, work on a grant, a new book, and writing the newsletter for May! Plus, the MGOL office has expanded going from one small room upstairs to our entire downstairs family room. It’s time to go through files and organize materials, plus weeding the collection of books and papers I have accumulated throughout the years.

I feel lucky to be so busy doing work that I am passionate about.

Have a wonderful month, everyone.

Ready and Waiting for You – A book about entering kindergarten

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ReadyAndWaitingForYou_Cover_Web_sizedYesterday, I had the pleasure of reading a book by Judi Moreillon.  Ready and Waiting for You (illustrated by Catherine Stock) is much more than the average “prepare for kindergarten” book. The loving tone and multi-cultural characters in this book distinguishes it from all the others. A repeated lyrical phrase invites children to kindergarten: “Come in. Come in. Come in through this door. Are you new?” The pages with door illustrations have flaps that open out, leading into different school related spaces: a yellow bus, the school entrance, the library, cafeteria, and classroom. In each setting, brightly colored collage characters complete the phrase with, “We’re ready and waiting for you.”

 Some sophisticated vocabulary words (i.e. “your boisterous bus mates”) blend in easily with the rhymes. Characters come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The detailed illustrations can be used as starting points for conversations. This book was listed as one of Bank Street College’s 2014 Best Books, recommended for children ages 4-6. Have a look at the book trailer, http://tinyurl.com/btrandw4u, and see for yourself how wonderful this book is!

 

(Judy’s blog address is: http://storytrail.com/Author/books.html)

You have a great idea! Now get it published! (Webinar alert!)

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Julie Dietzel-Glair, Kathy MacMillan and I have prepared a webinar for the Maryland Library Association. We were supposed to present it last week, but due to the snow, the webinar has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 5, from 2-3 pm.

You Have a Great Idea! Now Get it Published!

Do you want to write a book or article but don’t know where to start? In this 1-hour webinar, three published authors of resource books and articles for children’s librarians will share the ins and outs of getting published in journals such as School Library Journal and with publishers such as ALA Editions and Libraries Unlimited. Learn about the publishing opportunities that are out there for you, what you’ll need to include in your proposal, and how to get from idea to proposal. Join us and jumpstart your publishing career!

Platform: Blackboard

Registration Information:  http://www.mdlib.org/calendar_day.asp?date=3/5/2015&event=48

MLA members $15, non members $23, students $13

1 contact hour awarded

New book published: The Power of Play

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Yesterday, I finished reading a hot-off-the-press book, published by ALA Editions called The Power of Play: Designing Early Learning Spaces by Dorothy Stoltz (an outreach librarian), Marisa Conner (a specialist in early childhood education), and James Bradberry (a designer) and I immediately wrote a recommendation once I had finished reading it.

 It is  a “must read” for anyone designing or maintaining early literacy library spaces or involved in early childhood education. This well-written, comprehensive guide includes everything you’ll need to know. The first section “The Magic Behind the Design,” translates research and theories of play into understandable language. Relevant vignettes illustrating ways children learn through play are interspersed throughout the text. The second section, “Play-and Learn Destinations,” describes a wide variety of early literacy spaces in all types of libraries with applicable, useful information whether your library is small or large, urban or rural, well-funded or underfunded. The third section, “Mindful Planning and Creative Design” includes formulas for choosing and maintaining toy collections, developmental tips that librarians can use with parents, sample surveys and evaluations, lists of companies and resources, replicable guidelines that can be used when developing grant proposals, and more. Quotes by children’s librarians and professionals involved in the field of early childhood education around the county are interspersed throughout the entire book.

In addition to being chock full of information and illustrative photographs, the emphasis is on the importance of purposeful play and joy. It is clear that the authors took their own advice when writing; the book itself is a playful, joyful read. With chapter headings such as “A Whack on the Side of the Head,” and entertaining short narratives of parent/child interactions overheard in early literacy spaces, The Power of Play is playful read as well as a valuable addition to professional library literature.

And if you are interested in finding out more about the power of play, read “We Play Here! Bringing the Power of Play into Children’s Libraries“, an article I wrote with Tess Prendergast, Christy Estrovitz, Carrie Banks, and Kim Van Der Veen for Children and Libraries magazine.

MGOL for Preschoolers

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I recently completed a 5 week series of MGOL sessions for some Baltimore County preschoolers and their parents, at a local early childhood center. In addition to having a great time, the power of MGOL to change family dynamics was still evident.  Parents were asked to fill out surveys after the program finished; here are some of the answers to the question, “What have you learned from the Mother Goose on the Loose program?”

To interact along with the child helps them because they see that mom or dad is participating as well

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MGOL is the school cafeteria with lots of preschoolers and their parents

[I] learned to be more patient with my daughters

…their comfort levels with groups and getting involved.

To interact, play, sing more with my daughter

The singing can change their moods.

I learned new ways to help the children interact with each other.

 New words to songs

I’ve learned to increase movement during reading and singing.

And in response to the questions “What new thing did you notice or learn about your child during Mother Goose on the Loose sessions?” some of the answers included:

[She] likes to observe before getting involved

She is a little timid of stuffed animals; she loves other children

She is available to clean her toys by following a song, to change from a very active moment to quiet moment by using song.

His leadership skills.

She’s more open and participates more.

Listening skills improved.

He was following directions.

Lots of new vocabulary words.

He started participating actively in group activities.

She was more outgoing and willing to put some distance between her and I.

Much more vocal in singing and dancing

My favorite answer, when asked, “Any other comments?” one mother answered:

We appreciate that we were available to come to this group. It has have a great impact on myself and my daughter and the way I can spend time with her learning.

Wow!