Friday, February 1, 2013
By NATALIE SCOTT
Austintown librarian Madline Dunchak led a story time for toddlers Jan. 16 at the Austintown library, which focused on print motivation, one of the skills that can help children learn to read.
Print motivation can be as simple as running your finger under words or a title as you say it. This act helps young children understand that you are reading the words on the page, not the pictures. Another way to use print motivation is to have your child draw a picture and when they tell you about it, write down the words they say.
The theme of this toddler event was snow. Dunchak began by asking the children what kinds of activities they liked to do in the snow. Some said they liked to build snowmen and igloos. Others said they enjoyed throwing snowballs or sled riding.
The first book Dunchak read was titled “Hello Snow” by Hope Vestergaard. In this book, a girl gets dressed and goes sled riding. She almost hits a snowman because she is going so fast. Dunchak also read “All You Need For A Snowman” by Alice Schertle, which was about very small people who work together to build a giant snowman. They use walnuts for his buttons, a carrot for his nose, and find clothes to keep him warm.
When they decide he must be lonely they decide to build a snow-woman, as well. Children also said many snow-themed rhymes and a few classics, like the “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
Dunchak ended the story time with a craft where every child built and decorated their own snowman using craft paper and crayons.