#talking practice

See how actual astronauts live and work at the International Space Station as you go through the alphabet from A to Z.

Skills

Print awareness

Narrative skills

Vocabulary

Practices

Reading

Talking

Extend this book with a video of a real astronaut reading the book from the International Space Station. Story Time from Space features different astronauts reading space themed books from space.

You will need: Computer/ device and internet.

Give your kids a boost of self-confidence with this silly rhyming picture book about loving ourselves unconditionally! Colorful, quirky images and a catchy rhyme scheme make this book one that your kids will want to read again and again and adults will love the message too.

Rhyming books build phonological awareness, while opposite words help bring attention to vocabulary.

I like me wild/ I like me tame. I like me different/ and the same.

This book will help your child practice their talking, reading, and writing skills. Start a conversation with your child by asking them what they love most about themself.

Extend the book with affirmations!

An affirmation is a positive statement you will say to yourself every day.

Watch The Affirmations Song on the Doggyland YouTube Channel to hear some examples of affirmations:

Choose an affirmation from the song, or create your own. Write your affirmation on an index card and decorate it with crayons or markers.

Hang your affirmation card somewhere you will look at it every day, like on your bathroom mirror. Repeat this affirmation to yourself frequently to encourage confidence.

In the story, the little boy is finding that almost any item can be turned into a drum and make wonderful noises with.

The noises encourage talking, reading, and playing.

Reading this book with your child can help them build phonological awareness, print motivation, and vocabulary - important skills they'll need to start reading on their own!

Extend the book by making your own drum!

Supplies:

An old can

Fabric or construction paper to decorate the outside of the can

rubber band

Make a drum from items that you may have at home. I used an old coffee can and covered it with fabric. I then put fabric on the top with a rubber band. The small drum makes for fun sound and playing!

Read this book with your child and help them build their print awareness, letter knowledge, and vocabulary!

If they love the book, they'll also love this match the letter game. The book and this fun activity will help them practice reading, writing, and talking.

You'll need:

Index cards (any color)

A pen or marker

Scissors

How to play:

Look though the book and write the first letter of a word and then the full word with room to cut the index card apart. Do this for at least half of the alphabet.

Mix the letters and words around.

Have the child find the letter and put it with the word that it is supposed to go with. Ask them if they know what that word is or means and talk about it. This helps children learn what letter words start with and increases their vocabulary!