The Mother Goose on the Loose Blog

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!

New Survey

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I am hoping to start a research project on the effects of MGOL, and would like to get some feedback about the use of the trainings after some time has passed.

Here is a link to a very short online survey. If you have attended a training within the past 10 years, I would be most grateful if you could fill out the survey at the link below.

The link is http://goo.gl/forms/pgO2I4gZrE

Once you are finished filling it out, please feel free to pass it on to other workshop  participants.

Thank you again for bringing MGOL into your community!

A message from a former MGOL facilitator

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At the ALSC Conference in Oakland, I met Beth Wren, a lecturer at San Jose State Univeristy iSchool.  She had such wonderful things to say about MGOL that I asked if she would feel comfortable sending me an email which I could post on the blog, and she agreed. Here it is:

I personally was touched by how beautiful and simple the MGOL was when I was just starting out as a children’s librarian a few years back now. My mentor introduced me to it and said, “You might want to look at this as a way to really touch the little ones and the grown ups who bring them with the ideas and techniques Dr. Diamant-Cohen gives.”

I did, and even though I am now teaching in an iSchool I still pass along to all of my youth services students (especially those going into children’s services) this gift that I think the MGOL is.

Thanks Betsy and all the others who continue to use these key ideas and techniques and touch children’s lives in so many ways through story times and other programming. 

Beth Wrenn-Estes, Lecturer, iSchool at San Jose State University

Thank you Beth, for such wonderful, positive feedback!

Join us at the “unconference” for seasoned MGOL facilitators

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Have you been running Mother Goose on the Loose programs for parents with babies and toddlers for more than one year, two years, three years….?

*Are you looking for new material to use?
*Would you like to share some successful activities with other MGOL facilitators?
*Do you have a question about early literacy programs in the library that you would like to discuss with your colleagues in a non-judgmental atmosphere?
*Would you welcome the opportunity to brainstorm new ideas with your colleagues?
*Do you have a heart warming story about MGOL to share?

If so, please come to the MGOL unconference!

Monday, October 20 2014, 9am-3pm, at the Kent Island Public Library in Maryland

For more details, contact Sam Eddington, Training Coordinator,
Eastern Shore Regional Library, sam (at) esrl . org, Tel: 410.742.1537

California, here I come!

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It’s been a busy season for Mother Goose on the Loose. Following two MGOL workshops in Virginia, two Mother Goose on the Loose trainings were presented at Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore. One was the traditional training workshop; the other was for seasoned facilitators who wanted a refresher with new material and time to discuss programs.  (An unconference of the same nature, via the Eastern Shore Regional Library System will be taking place in Maryland on October 20.) At the end of the week, there was a fun training in Pennsylvania for Youth Leaders around the state.

Tomorrow, I fly to San Francisco where I will be presenting a Mother Goose on the Loose training one afternoon and a Transforming Preschool Storytime the next afternoon. Then, off to the ALSC Institute in Oakland while I will be part of a panel with some wonderful friends and colleagues called “Inspired Collaboration: Early Childhood Partnerships”.

Meanwhile, my son, Alon is back in Baltimore and he is the new Mother Goose on the Loose Workshop Coordinator. Working with him has been a great experience so far, and I am sure it is going to continue to be fabulous.So, if you are interested in booking a training, please contact him via the contact page on this Website!