Layer the Learning
Layering new learning around a book adds a sense of connection rarely associated with isolated learning activities. This layering works to create "lightbulb moments" of understanding. Knowing how to connect new learning with existing knowledge helps with understanding and retention. This ability to make connections is a skill that will serve your child well as she tackles new learning in school and beyond.
Start with a great book. For this example we’ll use Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Read it with your child a few times and then layer new learning from the book with areas in which your child already feels comfortable. By tapping an area of expertise this layering creates links or connections that in turn work to help your child process and understand more difficult concepts. You’re helping to create “lightbulb moments” of understanding. Learning to connect new learning to other areas of knowledge will help tackle new learning in school and beyond.
It starts with a great story
Cooking
At some point during your multiple readings of this story, your child will probably ask, “what is porridge?”
You’ll explain porridge as another word for oatmeal and ask if your child would like to cook some porridge.
Teaches: new vocabulary, better understanding of the science behind how the porridge might be too hot, or how it could become too cold and unappetizing.
Arts & Crafts
Art and music activities are slowly being taken out of schools and it’s a shame; nurturing creativity and imagination are so important.
For this story, I’d gather 4 wooden spoons and working together, we;d create stick puppets. Use the back of each to create a face for each character in the story. Hunt around the house and outside for elements to be used to create the faces.
When ready, ask your child to re-enact the story using the stick puppets as characters.
Teaches: Acting out the story gives your child a chance to use new vocabulary learned from the story. In addition to that your child will exhibit knowledge of the each of the following: sequence of events, problem/solution, rising action, climax, falling action and character traits. Each book you can work to put labels to these elements… don’t do it all at once. But, even without the labels, I can almost guarantee that your child will act out each.
Music
It’s always a good idea to point out the parts of a story after you’ve read it a few times and maybe even compare the parts to other stories you’ve read in the past.
Come up with a song you might use with every story. The song needs to have the characters, character traits, setting, problem/solution.
As your child gets older you can add rising actions, climax and falling actions.
Teaches: This song will be used with other books so your child is learning to compare and contrast stories. He’s also learning the main parts of a plot which is much more than the average child knows when he they start school.
Dramatic Play
After reading the book a few times, you catch your children playing outside and quickly realize that they’re not only reenacting the story, but are also correctly using new vocabulary from the story. Finally, you’re noticing voice changes and different actions for each character.
Teaches: reinforces new vocabulary, an understanding of plot (beginning middle and end) and character traits.
Time in Outdoors
Take a hike together and point out the things that Goldilocks might have seen along the way to the 3 Bears’ cottage.
Teaches: setting of the story, appreciation of nature, encourages curiosity which leads to additional books and learning.
Vocabulary
Keep a list of “new to you” or OMGosh words you hear in the story. These are often flashcard words and we provide multiple was in which you can use the flashcards.
Teaches: expands a child’s vocabulary, power of words, difference that a good word can make in a story.
This type of learning asks the child rethink a problem from the story and compare and contrast this book with previously read titles.
How is this story similar to the Three Little Pigs?
Why did she feel that it was okay for her to go into the Bears’ house when they weren’t home?
Teaches: students to think beyond the story and make connections to works they’ve already read.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Within each guide we provide comprehension questions along with information on question types. This could be a lower level question like How many animals were in this story? or something a little more difficult like, “Come up with an alternative/different ending for this story.
Teaches: new vocabulary, better understanding of the science behind how the porridge might be too hot, or how it could become too cold and unappetizing.
