Some books have music built right in: a steady beat for chanting, melodic words for singing, or sound effects that make the story come alive. In this workshop, lead by Inspired Child’s Valerie Carroll, participants will learn how to find and amplify the musical qualities of a book to create an engaging and active experience. These musical elements hold the attention of the class and invite them to become part of the storytelling. Because children need to feel rhythm and beat in their bodies, participants will also learn strategies to get the class moving, as a way to explore feelings and dramatize story characters. We'll also look at how to expand the experience of a story by connecting it with songs that reflect the characters, imagery, themes or ideas. 

Books we will explore:

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Eric Carle

• Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear? by Eric Carle

• In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

• Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis

• Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky

• Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Littwin

• The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Developmental Domains:

Language and Literacy

• Listening, speaking, singing

• Storytelling

• Vocabulary

• Sequencing and recall

• Awareness of letters and phonemes

• Awareness of rhyme and alliteration

Social-Emotional

• Self-regulation

• Participating in a group

• Understanding difference between fantasy and reality

• Identifying feelings

Cognitive

• Learning through active participation and exploration

• Mental imaging

• Using imagination to extend learning

• Memory, short term and long term

• Recognition of patterns