Summary

This book gives preschoolers valuable practice in reading, writing, and speaking skills by engaging them in a series of enjoyable activities. Preschool teachers, nursery and day care workers, kindergarten teachers, parents (especially home schooling parents), and ESL teachers, will find the activities both easy to follow and user-friendly. Teachers can use many of the activities with groups in a classroom setting, while parents can use them with individual children in a home setting. All of the activities address values important to children's growth and development: cooperation, friendship, respect for others' opinions, intergenerational closeness, generosity, and gratitude. The activities are divided into two main sections: early preschoolers (ages 2-4) and preschoolers (ages 4-6). Within each of these categories, activities progress from basic to intermediate to advanced. The teacher or parent can modify or expand upon all of the activities, adjusting them to a child's individual needs. The activities begin with a description of what the teacher will accomplish during the activity. The target skills section tells the teacher at a glance which skills the activity reinforces. The game plan gives a step-by-step list of things to do from the activity's beginning to end. Finally, sample scripts help the instructor talk to children about the activities appearing throughout the book.