Playing to learn in Canada and Jamaica
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Photo: A shipping container donated by Students Crossing borders, and its transformation into a play centre in Jamaica.. “He’s just playing.” Just playing? What looks like “just playing” to adults is how children engage in scientific discovery while digging in the garden; how they learn about… READ MORE
Telling a Spring Break Tale
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Once upon a time,” Nathan’s grandpa began, “there lived a court jester named Nathaniel. Court jesters make kings and queens laugh. Nathaniel loved his job but today Nathanial was worried. How could he make the king and queen laugh? He had lost it.” Three-year-old year… READ MORE
Writing with Heart
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Heart-shaped paper, stickers and paper doilies littered the kitchen table. Glue, scissors and a whole box of markers did too. A class list of names lay on the table between Katie and her mom. Katie’s mom had written ‘TO’ and left a space at the… READ MORE
Kids in the Kitchen this Christmas
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Ellie Lee was only three when she began to bake. She washed her hands and stood on a chair to reach the kitchen counter. Ellie and her dad had already made homemade granola two days ago. Today, Ellie and her mom were going to… READ MORE
Picture books can help children learn how to be resilient
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Madison’s mom is on tour of duty. She left shortly before Madison started school for the first time. Sometimes Madison misses her mom so much that it hurts inside. Sometimes she tries to picture her mom’s face and can’t. Then she feels scared. Madison doesn’t… READ MORE
It’s Clee with a C
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Clee’s mom had found “The Pumpkin Blanket” by Deborah Turney Zagwyn on-line. It was a rare find – a picture book about a girl with the same name as her daughter. Just like her daughter, the story character would soon be going to school for… READ MORE
Spending time with dad
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Gavin and his dad sat snuggled on top of Gavin’s bed. “In the great green room there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon.” The first pages of “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown were… READ MORE
Travel Games
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Are we there yet?” Only ten minutes into a six-hour journey, it may be hard to match your child’s excitement with “Not yet, honey.” But parents who travel with children are resourceful. They know there are more options than mesmerizing children into silence with DVDs… READ MORE
In the Afterglow of Canada Day
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist I am torn. I am never sure if it is the wagon ride with berry baskets beside me, the feel of warm sun on my skin, or the love of being completely surrounded by acres of sweet juicy strawberries that makes my trip to the… READ MORE
Rule of Thumb for Speech and Hearing Month
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Sometimes it’s just hard to know. When spring is especially early and the risk of frost has tipped from imminent possibility to fading memory, is it too soon to plant geraniums? What is the probability of another snowstorm in March after an unexpected week of… READ MORE
Creating a New Vision
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Let go! It’s mine!” Four year-old Sam snatches the ball from his sister’s grasp. Cleo, only two, knows what to do. Stomach-first, she throws herself on the floor, beats her small fists on the ground and erupts with a bloodthirsty cry. Sam and Cleo’s parents,… READ MORE
Discovering the Wonderland in Story
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Alice in Wonderland” is on the big screen. Thinking of taking your child to see it during the March Break? Your child just might get more out of this wonderland than you think. Mem Fox, in her book “Reading Magic”, tells the anecdote of a woman… READ MORE
Creating attachment with books
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Ten-month-old Kyle had been stacking blocks with his mom. Repeatedly they had built small towers and knocked them down. “Oh no! Fall down!” Maybe it was the excitement of causing his blocks to crash that led Kyle to chuck one of them across the room.… READ MORE
Sing a song for learning
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Sing a song of sixpence. Why? Brain experts are singing the praises of music. Neuroscience is proving that music triggers human activity and productivity. Brain research is showing us how neurotransmitters, synapses in our brains, and different parts of our brains are connected to our… READ MORE
Why ‘Once upon a time’ matters
It’s a curious thing. Why is it that we strive so hard to protect our children from harm, yet encourage them to imagine frightening creatures and situations? Kristen stood in line for hours with her daughter waiting for the H1N1 vaccine. A clever and resourceful mom, Kristen told her daughter… READ MORE
Winter Safari
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist It’s never too cold for a safari. You may not find wild African animals in the snow, but there are other exciting things that children will want to discover while on safari in Sharbot Lake. The Child Centre in Sharbot Lake is taking young children… READ MORE