Can I Be Your Dog? - Beyond the Book Resources
This book was actually a gift from Sean, one of my ELL students a few years ago. He knew how much I loved my dog and thought I might like the story. The sweet thing is that he bought it at our school book fair with his own money and had it waiting on my desk with a note written on the inside front cover.
Now that you know why it's special to me, let me share a few thoughts on why it's a good book to read with your preschooler. This story has a pattern of sorts that starts to become predictable. The story features great examples of goods (butcher and florist) and services (mail carrier and fire fighters). I also appreciate the information in the back of the book that tells kids how they can help homeless animals like Arfy.
Themes: Perseverance Overcoming Obstacles
Teachable Moments:
This book offers multiple opportunities for learning that go far beyond what's printed on the page or seen in the illustrations. Here's a small sample:
Parts of a Book (Cover, Title, Author, Illustrator, Spine, End Papers...)
Persuasive Speech and Writing
Specific describing words (adjectives) soggy box, a dozen meatballs,
Story Structure (Characters, Setting, Plot...)
Order of Events /Plot- Where did the dog go first... next, last..
Content shown to the left of the cover are for reference only.
The book you download will contain activities aligned with this specific title.
Extend the Learning with Story-Based Play
Adding an element of play is another way to deepen your child’s understanding of concepts within and beyond a story. According to Hall (1991), young children often develop advanced literacy skills when they engage in play related to a familiar story. Many complex literacy skills develop naturally when the story and play intersect, setting the stage for your child to learn to read and write.
It’s easy. Take a great story, gather toys that align with that story, and get out of the way. Your child will do the rest. The goal is to allow the play to evolve naturally. You’ll be surprised by the amount of learning transferred and reinforced through this type of play.
Here’s Why We Love These Specific Products:
They have direct connections to the book.
They reinforce new vocabulary.
They encourage imaginative play
They make it easy to re-enact parts of the story.
They often take learning beyond the confines of the story.
Few require batteries, screens, or electricity.
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