Reading and Dancing from A to Z!

March, 2019

Greetings. and Happy Spring!

One of my favorite ways to get children up and moving is to read a story, and then use ideas from the story as movement prompts.  Here are some of the benefits children can gain from a Read and Dance activity:

• Comprehension
• Sequencing
• Identifying with and understanding different characters in the story
• Exploring and learning about the setting
• Vocabulary acquisition
• Recognition of rhyme and rhythm 
• Alphabet knowledge/Letter recognition
• Fun and lively physical activity
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):  Group cooperation; creativity; problem solving; listening to, understanding and responding to instructions; self-expression; body awareness

Reading a story , , ,

Dancing the story!

I love to inspire young children to be active and to learn by exploring, playing, dancing, and moving in many differentI ways.  in this blog post, I am introducing From A to Z with Energy!, my new picture book, published by Free Spirit Publishing.

The book, geared toward children ages 3 to 6, along with parents, teachers, librarians, and caregivers, offers ideas for staying active while learning and reading about the alphabet. The book includes guidelines for 10 supplementary movement activities, along with a short summary of some of the many benefits of movement for young children.



Here are some suggestions (these are examples; the ideas are expanded upon in the book) for enjoying From A to Z with Energy! as a Read and Dance activity with young children:

Once you have read the story aloud:

• Read it again and as you read it, ask the children to clap the rhythm of the verse
• Ask them to sway side-to-side, march, or move freely as they clap.
• In the book, each letter introduces ideas about being active.  Read each stanza slowly.  Ask the children to imagine they are doing the activities described.  Show the colorful, lively illustrations by Gareth Llewhellin to further stimulate movement ideas.

There are several more playful movement activities to help children explore letter shapes kinesthetically, and ideas for supplementing early writing activities as well.

Making Letter Shapes!

Keep on Dancin',



Connie

www.movingislearning.com

MOVING IS LEARNING!

To order From A to Z with Energy!:Click here