This morning, I received the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media‘s monthly newsletter.  They have developed a free program where children can author their own stories.  They have a program for 0-3 year olds, as well as one for older preschoolers.  I think this may be worth exploring as the My Storymaker was voted one of the best websites for teaching and learning by the National Association of School Librarians.

Check it out.

You can download templates for “This Book Belongs to….” stickers that look like the ones below

or you can buy blank stickers so children can write their names and decorate them for their personalized books.  Either way, there is something about “legitimizing” their efforts at authoring books by including them in your classroom library, complete with author stickers, that they might really like.

I frequently hear early childhood teachers introducing shapes as a curricular concept to children.  This is good – understanding that shapes have attributes and names is important. But shape goes far beyond circles. squares, rectangles and triangles.  This example is the kind of thing I often see in the field.

These are the first several pages of a mini book that was available for children to work on during free play.  You might argue that it is OK.  It is a book about “Shapes” and children can color in the shapes to explore their attributes.  As you can clearly see, Louie couldn’t be bothered to even finish coloring in the pages (there were 2 more after these, also left blank).  As a coloring activity (supporting fine motor skills) it is OK although I know there are better ways for children to use their developing fine motor skills.  Mostly, I think activities like this are a waste of paper.

Next, take a look at a “Shapes” book that Noah made when he was 4.  I am not going to tell you what each page says (you have to figure it out by practicing reading his invented spelling attempts).  Notice how there isn’t a circle, square, or rectangle in the pages- but they certainly are “Shapes”.  Why do you think I believe this to be a much more meaningful exercise for children?

I like to allow the children to create whatever they want, especially when I am first introducing the concept of bookmaking to them.  Later, you can help them with ideas by putting out specific materials that might spark interest (stickers, stencils) or you can create simple templates in the books themselves that allow the children to explore a specific idea.

You might write the word “Number” on the first page and then number each subsequent page with 1 – 6 (or 10, but I wouldn’t go beyond 10).  Explain to the children that they can illustrate each page with pictures that represent the number on the page.  This “Number” book offers an opportunity for children to explore number as a part of the language of math.

Here are 2 pages from a book that Noah made.  This whole example was filled with “dots” that represented the numbers.

He wrote his own numbers, but you get the idea!

I don’t normally think of pens, paper, or tape as “manipulatives” but since we are looking at bookmaking as a theme this month, I think they are worth exploring.

And so I ask the question, “Do materials matter?”  I used to think they didn’t.  Newsprint sufficed as a canvas for painting and recycled office letterhead paper was fine for all other art projects.  That is until I saw the difference with my own eyes.

As a director, I watched my bottom line.  We had a budget for “consumables” (materials that we went through on a regular basis and needed replenishing) and I worked very hard to stay within it.  Often the teachers would come to me with requests for new and better materials and if the budget permitted, we would indulge.

Have you seen what children can do with beautiful felt tip pens, white graphite paper, colorful tape or scallop-edged scissors?  The difference in what children create when the materials they have work well, are organized in a meaningful away, and are taken care of is remarkable.  I frequently see children trying to draw with markers that are dried out on paper that rips.  I don’t think I would do my best work either.

I know that these materials are often much more expensive but periodically providing a better canvas for children’s paintings may bring out the Picasso in them.  Look for sales, coupons, and Dollar-Store deals.  Save up and indulge on the children’s behalf.

For bookmaking, good paper and easy-to-use pens are important.  Children can’t “write” with chubby crayons or dry markers.  They need materials that are sturdy and can stand up to artistic endeavors of little hands.