Beyond Mother Goose

Beyond Mother Goose
Patricia Finn
Tempe , AZ
11 – 12

This was another really great session. We currently use rhymes in all of our storytime is books and fingerplays, however I don't think any of us are using nursery rhymes. After this session, I think it's a great idea to bring them in.

Main points of the session - what rhymes do to babies ad young children's brains, how it shapes them, prepares for english language and early literacy, and how rhymes specficaly teach the sounds of english language (great for adult learners too).

How to incorporate rhymes - focus on one a week - the goal is to get children to repeat them. Rhymes are supposed to be fun - can change them to be appropriate. Sources for rhymes - online handout with 33 ideas available - specific book Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes has 500 options.

Cool rhyme facts - rhyming like music, similar to action of rocking, comforting to children (they can anticipate what will come next), positive way to redirect children.

Hope everyone else is excited to try this, it can't miss, kids love this! It's even better when you work in snaps and claps with the rhymes - lots of fun!


Copied and pasted notes from session:

Professional writer, story teller, early child care worker – Head start. Rhymes are the best tool to prepare children o read and write. Children who know nursery rhymes have an advantage over children who don’t and become more successful readers. Have a rhyming week – or rhymes at circle time. Effective tool for developing pre literacy skills.

1990s began at a small school as a reader for 20 min – 3 times a week. Used rhyming works – rhymes attracted children more. Involved in literacy in Ethiopia and states. Teach at Salt River Pima Indian head start.

Mother goose introduces children to the sound of English. Use rhymes for infants. Immerse children in the sound of our language. Infants and early toddlers. Participating in rhyming activities. Sentence structure – adjective before the noun. Preschool – sequencing – what they’ll be experiencing in kindergarten.

Rhymes can be sexist or violent. Feel free to change. Find one that you are comfortable with using. No rhyme police.

Rhymes capture children’s attention. Peter, peter (clap, snap while saying). Higgeldy, piggledy bumble bee name rhyme, days of the week rhyme. Rhymes are patterned speech (we seek patterns) – we gravitate to it. Wired to seek a pattern.

Positive behavior support training. Every child is tense, ears closed, brains shut – don’t want to receive. PBS program. Predictable structure in day. Ex. Circle time, playground, lunch, and nap. Every Day. Child led learning. Need repetition – addresses basic human fear of the unknown. Know what will happen next. What is more predictable than a rhyme. Repeating, predictable pattern. Every time you use rhyme – reduce, fear, stress.

Two foundation statements – rhymes 1. “the most effective tool to prepare for reading” 2.“rhymes develop neurological pathways in brains than plain speech” – age appropriate, more effective.

MRI, MSI – Brian imagery – phonics and brain development – university at Oregon study – child not able to pronounce a word phonetically – child’s brain stumped. Rhymes develop brain.

Ex. Make rhymes more effective (clap, snap, tap) – have child do snap, clap, stomp

1, (clap) 2 (clap), 1 2 3 (clap)– everybody (clap) get ready with me (clap)

Crying baby – soothing – psychology of rhyme – respective nature (rocking sound) – mothering magazine. Did research, wrote article for Mothering Magazine – rocking changes what’s happening in brain. Repetitive rhythmic nature. Don’t pick snappy clappy rhyme. Baa baa black sheep have you any wool, yes sir, yes, three bags full. (just repeat that line).

When infants are awake – do snapping and clapping. Visual literacy into infants multi sensory. Point to pictures of cat and fiddle – hey diddle, diddle, cat and the fiddle (point to cat and fiddle).

Study in Canada – child’s ability to keep beat correlates to ability too read. Do lots of drumming at salt river.

Music and brain development – rhymes are a cousin to music. Rhymes have a musical quality – if just say it – same benefits as if not singing. 33 commonly used nursery rhymes online - or use oxford dictionary of nursery rhymes (500 to choose from). Info. Online to access head start in Mississippi – rhyming and pre literacy activities – 33 rhymes. Rhyme a week curriculum. Age appropriate - preschoolers. Select rhyme to use – one rhythm – all through day or week. Scaffolding – want children to say it – need to hear it over and over again to say it. Rhyming activities pulls language out of children (fun and engaging). Put together several sentences in a rhyme. With preschoolers put their name in there.

Ex. Pappas coming down the wagon way, he’s got a pocketful of money, and a wagonload of hay (put child’s name in place of pappa).

Infant on changing table, she sang the abc song (how many times has the baby heard the abc song. Toddlers bathroom on own sing the Abc song. Comfort level in classroom.

Teacher has to serve lunch on the plate, sang rhymes all during serving. Beyond mother goose.

Develop own ability to create a rhyme to fit situation. At Salt Rhythm using music and me program. National musical program for preschool age children. “Time to put the bells away” – toys “time to put the toys away – you can play another day” “walking feet, very sweet, walking, walking, walking, walking feet” – re-direction. Temper tantrums (girl lays down on floor- tells with body language – no). Re-direct with rhyme to come over to another part of the room.

Preschoolers – start with same rhyme with one picture, then later change picture. Adds to brain development. Black and white. As children age, change beat and picture. When working with preschoolers – can have them act out.

Resources – website for this workshop – book – published by black sheep press “What will I do with baby-o” comes with cd and book for infants. Has rhyming activities that are sound based.

Mother goose on the loose – educators, librarians, very popular with libraries. Scottsdale have all come to training. Take rhymes all through the day with children. Send home a copy of a rhyme the children did for the day.

Special needs – study by CELL (center for early literacy) – visual, cerebral palsy, developmental delays – ages 12 months to 6 years. Conclusions – same benefits of rhymes for children same as those for children with special needs.

History – nursery rhymes go back from 1500s – oral tradition to entertain Kings, then used in bars, then to homes. They were also political tools. Secret meaning of nursery rhymes – website.

None talks like this now – doesn’t matter. We don’t have to dissect every word.