January 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This is a project
of the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
This month is brought to you by YSS member Cindy Beyer, Children’s Librarian,
WJ Niederkorn Library, Port Washington, WI.
4
SCIENCE
Build a tower with
Legos or blocks.
How many blocks
did you use?
11
SCIENCE
Make Rice Krispies
Bars together.
Compare the textures
of the ingredients!
18
SCIENCE
Make a snowball
and bring it inside.
See how long it
takes to melt.
25
SCIENCE
Blow up a balloon.
Rub to create static,
then make the
balloon stick to
things!
5
WRITE
Practice writing
your last name.
12
PLAY
Build a snowman
outside, or go
sledding!
19
WRITE
6
READ
Call a grandparent
on the telephone.
Practice good phone
manners.
13
14
READ
Read a
nursery rhyme
and try acting it out.
20
READ
Read a book. Act it
out with puppets or
dolls.
26
27
Write the first letter
of your name on
sticky notes, then
stick the notes to
objects that begin
with the same letter!
TALK
Read a book about
summer time. How
is winter different?
Write your name
using every color of
the rainbow.
WRITE
7
READ
Read a nonfiction
book.
TALK
Get silly with
tongue twisters.
21
TALK
Learn how to say
hello in other
languages.
28
TALK
Make up silly words.
Who can get the
silliest?
SING
Sing “Happy
Birthday” to 2015!
8
SING
Sing “Old
MacDonald Had a
Farm” and practice
animal sounds.
15
SING
Record your child
singing their
favorite song.
22
SING
Sing and clap to
BINGO. “There was
a farmer, had a
dog….”
29
SING
Make your own
instruments and
sing songs.
Friday
2
MATH
Play Memory! Look
for pairs and talk
about same and
different.
9
MATH
Saturday
3
Make a blanket fort.
Take a flashlight in;
read a book, play
with shadows.
10
Practice counting
by twos!
16
MATH
Visit the
Library!
17
Try M & M math!
Sort by colors, make
groups, count, add,
and subtract.
23
MATH
MATH
Practice big, bigger
and biggest. Small,
smaller and
smallest.
PLAY
Play Hide
and Seek!
24
Make a beaded
necklace – make a
pattern with the
beads!
30
PLAY
Visit the
Library!
31
PLAY
Have an indoor
picnic on the living
room floor.
February 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
READ
Connect pictures to
real things. Read a
book about something
you saw.
8
READ
SCIENCE
Did you know the heart is
a pump? Look for pumps
around your house like a
hand soap dispenser.
How do they work?
22
SCIENCE
Freeze water to make
ice cubes. What can
you use in the kitchen
to melt the ice?
Friday
Saturday
Visit the
Library!
This month is brought to you by YSS member Kristi Helmkamp,
Children’s Services library Assistant, Appleton Public Library, WI.
2
WRITE
Draw a picture of, or
write a story about, a
groundhog.
9
Read a book about
friendship like You Will
Be My Friend by Peter
Brown.
15
Thursday
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This is a project of
the Youth Services
Section (YSS) of
the Wisconsin
Library Association
1
Wednesday
SING
Make musical
instruments from
kitchen utensils.
16
READ
Read signs to your
child while driving in
the car.
23
WRITE
Write a letter or word
and let your child draw
or color around it.
3
SING
Children learn through
repetition. Sing your
favorite song several
times!
10
WRITE
4
MATH
Build towers with
Legos. How many
Legos tall are your
towers?
11
MATH
Design a valentine for
a friend or family
member.
Sort buttons by shape,
color and size.
17
18
SING
Sing the ABC song
forwards and
backwards.
24
MATH
Identify the numbers
on a calculator. What
happens when you
press the buttons?
WRITE
Mix food coloring and
water. Write letters in
the snow with the
mixture.
25
PLAY
Build a cave with
blankets and pillows to
hibernate in like a
bear.
5
TALK
Look outside and talk
about the weather.
12
TALK
Teach your child how
to say “I love you” in
sign language.
19
SCIENCE
Learn how to take your
pulse. Count how many
times your heart beats
after doing 10 jumping
jacks.
26
TALK
Cook a meal together.
Talk about the
ingredients.
6
PLAY
7
SCIENCE
Pretend that you are a
groundhog. Did you
see your shadow?
Create shadows on the
wall with a flashlight.
13
14
PLAY
Visit the
Library!
Imagine that you are
mail carrier delivering
Valentines.
20
TALK
It’s Dental Health
Month. Talk about
your teeth and what
they do!
.
27
READ
Read a book with
rhymes. Can you think
of more rhyming
words?
21
PLAY
Have a dance party!
28
SCIENCE
Mix snow play dough
with ¼ cup of cornstarch
and 1 tablespoon of
vegetable oil. Try to build
a snowman!
March 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
1
PLAY
Build a fort in the
living room
8
MATH
Daylight Savings Starts
- Have children help
reset the clocks.
15
SCIENCE
Give each other a back
rub before bedtime
today
22
PLAY
Play dress-up
29
MATH
Look for patterns and
shapes around the
house.
Monday
2
READ
Celebrate Dr Seuss by
Jumping on bubble
wrap—Hop on Pop!
9
PLAY
Make Ants on a Log
with celery, peanut
butter/cream cheese
and raisins
16
PLAY
Bounce balls today. It
helps strengthen your
eye muscles.
23
READ
Puppy Day - Read a
story about a dog
30
WRITE
Trace each letter of
the alphabet with
your fingers.
Tuesday
3
TALK
Look over old baby
pictures and tell
stories about them
10
SING
Sing “Happy Birthday”
or the “ABCs” while
washing your hands.
17
MATH
Go on a Leprechaun
Gold Hunt - put gold
colored items in a
black pot.
24
SCIENCE
Use a pillowcase as a
sensory bag and feel
for everyday objects.
31
Wednesday
4
READ
Check out a wordless
picture book from the
library.
11
PLAY
Play tightrope walker
with a string or
masking tape on the
floor.
18
TALK
Get the mail together
and talk about what
was sent and by
whom.
25
TALK
Make pancakes
together and talk
about how you are
doing it.
Thursday
5
TALK
Talk about the traffic
lights - red, green,
yellow - and what they
mean
12
READ
Read Caps for Sale and
see how many hats
you can balance on
your head.
19
PLAY
Set the table: plates,
forks, spoons, knives,
napkins, cups all in the
right spots
26
WRITE
Connect the dots to
write your name
Friday
6
SCIENCE
Practice taking turns
adding blocks to build
a high tower.
13
TALK
Oh-oh It’s Friday the
13th - Make your own
good luck today.
20
WRITE
Welcome Spring by
drawing and coloring
some flowers
27
SCIENCE
Flashlight Play - See
how many things the
light will shine
through.
Saturday
7
PLAY
Have an indoor picnic
14
Visit the
Library!
21
MATH
Enjoy a car book.
Count the cars
featured in
the book.
28
Visit the
Library!
SING
Sing “Happy Birthday”
or the “ABCs” while
washing your hands.
Helping your
child
get ready you
to read is easy!
Ask
everyone
Draw a picture or
Just do one
each day.
Ask
your
for
Make a picture
by fun activitymeet
about theirchildren’s librarian
write
tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your
child. a story
mixing more
colors
favorite picture book.
about a pet.
Thistogether.
month is brought to you by YSS member Sue Abrahamson, Children’s Librarian
Waupaca Area Public Library,WI.
This is a project
of the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
April 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by YSS member Kristine Millard, Co-director & Youth
Services Librarian, Lodi Woman's Club Public Library, Lodi, WI
5
WRITE
Give your child a
pad of paper and
pencil. That’s it.
12
SING
Dance the hokey
pokey.
19
TALK
What words rhyme
with boot?
26
PLAY
Play whatever game
your child creates.
6
MATH
How many different
colors of cars are in
a store’s parking
lot?
13
TALK
7
SCIENCE
14
SCIENCE
Talk about the kinds
of birds visiting your
backyard.
20
21
Listen to an
audiobook from the
library’s
downloadable
collection.
27
MATH
Count the cupboard
doors in your
kitchen. How many
are the same size?
1
PLAY
Attend a free concert.
What kinds of
instruments do you
see and hear?
8
PLAY
Go for a nature
walk. Turn it into a
scavenger hunt.
Talk about how
people took pictures
when you were a
child compared to
now.
READ
Wednesday
PLAY
Turn on music while
drawing or painting.
28
READ
Ask your librarian
for a rhyming book.
Play dress up.
15
PLAY
Use toys to tell a
story.
22
SCIENCE
Look for similarities
and differences in
flowers in your
garden or at the
park.
29
PLAY
Blow bubbles. Does
it work better on a
windy day?
Thursday
2
MATH
Tap the syllables of
your name.
9
SING
Sing Five Green and
Speckled Frogs.
16
SCIENCE
Compare unpopped
corn and popped
corn.
23
WRITE
Let your child wipe
the table after dinner
to help build the
muscles needed for
cursive writing.
30
Friday
3
SING
4
READ
Check out a music
CD from the library.
Attend library
storytime.
10
11
READ
Check out
whichever book
your child chooses
at the library.
17
WRITE
Put labels on
common items in
your house, i.e.
chair, window, etc.
24
TALK
Talk about your
schedule for the
day.
SING
Tap out a rhythm
with a spoon and
pan. Have your
child follow your
pattern.
Saturday
This is a project
of the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
Visit the
Library!
18
MATH
Let your child help
you cook. They’ll
learn the basics of
measurement,
estimation, and
counting.
25
Visit the
Library!
May 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This is a project of
the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin Library
Association
3
SING
4
TALK
5
MATH
6
PLAY
READ
Look at the cover/ title of
a picture book. Predict
what it will be about
then read it. Was it what
you expected or not?.
This month is brought to you by YSS member Sara Cournoyer,
Assistant Director & Children’s Librarian, Horicon Public Library, WI.
7
SCIENCE
8
Saturday
MATH
2
WRITE
Use your finger to
write letters on your
child’s back. Let them
guess the letter.
9
.
Sing “Mary Had a Little
Lamb.” Now sing it
with la, la, la or other
sounds instead of
words.
10
TALK
Name the types of
dishes and silverware
as you put them away.
17
TALK
Tell the story of
Goldilocks and the
Three Bears.
24/31
MATH
Count fingers and
toes. How many on
each hand? Foot? All
together?
Fold a bookmark in half
and make a number pad
on it. Make a ringtone
sound for the “phone”.
Take turns answering it
11
PLAY
Take a blanket
outside and have a
picnic.
18
SCIENCE
Put household objects
in a bag. See if you can
name them from the
way they feel.
25
PLAY
Make shadow puppets
on the wall. Or go
outside and shadow
dance on the sidewalk.
Use sidewalk chalk to
make a hopscotch
course. Fill it in with
the numbers 1-10.
12
ART
Make salt dough with
½ C salt, 1 C flour, and
½ C water. Add food
coloring if you want.
19
READ
Read nursery
rhymes aloud.
26
SING
Sing Row, Row, Row
Your Boat. Repeat it
with other ways to
row besides gently like
wildly, quickly, slowly.
Take turns hiding
objects and use “hot
or cold” to find them.
13
WRITE
Make a book. Let your
child dictate a story to
you and then let them
illustrate it.
20
PLAY
Play rock, paper,
scissors together.
27
PLAY
Play Leaf Tic Tac Toe.
Use different types of
leaves instead of X’s
and O’s.
Make oobleck with 2
parts cornstarch to 1
part water. Mix it up.
Is it a liquid or a solid?
14
MATH
Read signs aloud as
you go by them.
15
PLAY
Play restaurant.
Count bugs, flowers,
and birds.
21
TALK
Take a walk and talk
about all the things
you see.
28
ART
Make doodles. Tell
stories about them.
22
ART
Visit the
Library!
16
SING
Check out a music CD
from your library and
sing along with it.
23
Paint rocks
with water.
Visit the
Library!
29
30
READ
Choose a wordless
picture book like
Flotsam or Journey
and narrate the story.
TALK
At bath time, name
the parts of the body
as you wash them.
June 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
1
This is a project of
the Youth Services
Section (YSS) of
the Wisconsin
Library Association
7
SCIENCE
Try a science
experiment: Take a
magnet from the
fridge and see what
else it will stick to.
14
SCIENCE
READ
Tuesday
2
WRITE
Read to your child
every day. Make this a
special time when the
two of you can cuddle
close.
Have child draw a
picture of themselves
when they feel happy,
mad, excited, silly, etc.
Help your child name
and identify feelings.
8
9
WRITE
Write the first letter of
your name, then turn
it into a picture!
15
PLAY
READ
Take a look at the
construction vehicles
around the community
and read a non-fiction
book about them.
16
WRITE
Wednesday
3
READ
11
TALK
Look at an animal
book and talk about
the sounds each
animal makes.
17
TALK
After an outing to the
park, ask your child
what they liked best
about the excursion.
What was their least
favorite?
21
22
23
24
June 21st is the first
day of summer and
the longest day of the
year. Talk about what
happens in the
summer.
28
READ
Point out the first letter
in your child’s name.
Now help your child
notice that letter as you
are out and about
during the day.
Use sidewalk chalk to
practice letters or
shapes outside.
29
WRITE
Practice making letters
in the sandbox with
sticks.
Bring bathtub books
outside to read in the
pool or by the
sprinkler.
30
PLAY
Build a fort out of
blankets and chairs or
a couch. Pretend to be
animals living in a
cave.
Friday
5
10
Before you go to the
grocery store, make a
list and have your child
make his or her own,
whether they can
write real words or
just scribble.
READ
SING
Sing "Row, Row, Row
Your Boat" and then
think of other actions
you can try (i.e. "Rock,
Rock, Rock Your Boat")
Create something out
of cardboard – a
house, a car, a robot.
WRITE
4
Read a story to a
favorite doll or stuffed
animal.
Blow bubbles and talk
about size, shape, the
colors inside the
bubbles, and more!
TALK
Thursday
SING
MATH
Practice shapes -- go
on a scavenger hunt
for things that are
circular!
12
MATH
Choose a song and
practice singing it in
different ways –
fast/slow, loud/soft,
using a deep voice and
a high voice.
Use items from nature
like rocks, sticks and
leaves and have your
child sort them by size,
shape, color, or other
features.
18
19
SING
Sing “The Wheels on
the Bus” together,
with all the motions,
as you are driving or
riding a bus to a daily
destination.
25
SING
Sing a silly song,
describing what you
do in the morning. Any
tune will do!
MATH
Write out each
number from 1 – 9.
Then, have your child
choose a number and
do that many jumping
jacks or hops or arm
circles.
26
READ
Share wordless picture
books with your child
and let him/her tell
you the story!
Saturday
6
PLAY
Find spoons, pots,
pans, and other
kitchen tools and
make music!
13
Visit the
Library!
20
PLAY
Use measuring spoons
and cups to play in the
water.
27
Visit the
Library!
TALK
Share a version of The
Little Red Hen, The Three
Little Pigs, or The Three
Billy Goats Gruff. Have
your child say the
repeated phrases to you.
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by the Youth Services Staff of the Madison Public Library.
July 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian
for more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by YSS member Sharyn Heili, Youth Services Librarian
Marathon County Public Library, Wausau WI
5
SING
It’s National Ice Cream
Month. Eat some ice
cream and sing/say
several times:” Ice
Cream, you Scream, we
all scream for Ice
Cream”.
12
TALK
Ask your child to
find different colors
in the room you’re
in or outside.
19
SCIENCE
Look at the clouds in
the sky and talk
about the shapes
they make.
26
READ
Point out words on
signs to your child as
you travel about
town.
6
TALK
At the grocery store,
talk about what is on
your list and what you
will be buying.
13
READ
Act out a silly, madeup story with your
child.
20
WRITE
Have your child trace
foam or magnetic letters
on a piece of paper and
talk about the letters
they form
27
SCIENCE
Read a non-fiction book
on the solar system; go
outside at night in
“jammies” and talk about
stars, the moon and
planets.
7
MATH
Print out some
number dot-to-dot
activities for your
child to complete.
14
SING
After a day of running
errands with your
child, make up a song
and sing about the
places you have been.
21
PLAY
Ask your child to
sort their toys by
shape, color and
size.
28
MATH
Visit a local animal
shelter and count the
cats and/or dogs that
you see with your child.
Make the sounds of the
animals.
LIBRARY
Visit the Library and
sign up for the free
Summer Reading Club.
8
READ
Check out a story kit
from the library;
read and act out the
stories.
15
WRITE
Ask your child to draw
a picture of a scene
from a book or a
favorite character.
22
TALK
Make cookies with your
child and talk about the
different ingredients in
the recipe and
measurements.
29
PLAY
Blow bubbles outside
with your child and try to
make the most, the
biggest, the highest
floating, the silliestlooking bubbles.
Thursday
2
READ
Play with foam letters
in the swimming pool
or bathtub and talk
about the letters and
words.
9
WRITE
Using sidewalk chalk,
have your child write
words or letters on the
driveway or write letters
and ask them to tell you
what they are.
16
TALK
Ask your child to tell
you a story. Use a
wordless picture book
if desired to get
conversation going.
23
READ
Take your child to
story time at the
library or to a library
program.
30
SING
Sing the Farmer in
the Dell and ask
your child to sing all
the animal sounds.
Friday
3
WRITE
Write “I love You” in the
sand with your child and
talk about the letters
that form the words. Ask
your child to trace the
letters.
10
SING
Make up a
repetitive, goofy
song and sing it with
your child.
17
MATH
It’s National Blueberry
Month; buy blueberries
and count them with
your child before you
wash and eat them.
24
PLAY
Have your child
make a bracelet
with pipe cleaners
and cheerios.
31
Saturday
4
MATH
On a family trip ask
your child to count
all the cars carrying
boats.
11
Visit the
Library!
18
READ
Tell your child a story
of when you were a
child. Follow with
pictures of you and
your family if you have
some.
25
Visit the
Library!
TALK
Make up silly
rhymes and repeat
them with your
child.
This is a project
of the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
August 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
PLAY
1
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This is a project
of the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
This month is brought to you by the Youth Services Staff at the
Whitefish Bay Public Library
2
SCIENCE
3
WRITE
4
READ
Go outside and blow
bubbles. Try using different
tools, like wands and
straws. See who can make
the biggest bubble before it
pops!
Create your own alphabet
tracing sheets. Create the
letters using dots and have
the child trace each letter.
Read a book featuring a
special dish or recipe and
make it together. Try BeeBim Bop! by Linda Sue Park!
9
10
11
WRITE
MATH
Making a trip to the grocery
store? Write up a list
together. Draw the items
too.
Go bowling at home! Use
plastic bottles for the pins
and a large, soft ball. Count
the pins standing up and
the pins that are down.
16
17
MATH
Practice counting using
candy pieces (make sure
not to eat them all!)
23
SCIENCE
WRITE
Practice writing your name
in sand. You can do this
either at the beach or at
home on a tray.
24
WRITE
Fill a glass of water and add
materials such as leaves
and rocks. What happens to
the items in the water? Do
they float or sink?
Write your name on the
sidewalk with sidewalk
chalk. Make each letter
a different color.
30
31
PLAY
Make a tower out of empty
cereal boxes. Count them
as you stack and then knock
them all down!
SCIENCE
Bring a bowl of ice cubes
outside and observe what
happens. Talk about how
the ice changes.
READ
Read a book about your
favorite animal. See if you
can learn a new fact!
18
READ
Read a book that
rhymes!
25
READ
Read a book about school!
5
TALK
Take a walk and talk about
the street signs that you
see. What do they say?
What do they mean?
12
TALK
Play market/store. Set
up items for sale and go
shopping!
6
SING
7
MATH
Sing a song with your child's
name in it. In the song
Muffin Man, replace
"muffin man" with child's
name and replace "Drury
Lane" with your street
name.
Practice counting by playing
hopscotch. How high can
you count? Make your
hopscotch go as high as you
like.
13
14
SING
SCIENCE
Talk about your favorite
story. What is your favorite
part?
Go outside and jump rope.
Make up a jumping
rhyme/song as you go
along!
Get out the paints and mix
the red, yellow, and blue.
What colors can you make?
What happens when you
add white paint? Or black
paint?
19
20
21
TALK
Talk about your favorite
activities to do outside.
Then discuss your favorite
activities to do inside.
26
TALK
Talk about the fun you’ve
had this summer. What did
you do? Where did you go?
SING
Sing a favorite song in a silly
way. Make the “itsy-bitsy
spider” the “great big
spider” and change your
movements.
27
SING
Sing "Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr.
Golden Sun". Make your
arms round like the sun.
8
Visit the
Library!
15
PLAY
SCIENCE
Find a grassy spot either in
your backyard or in a park.
Talk about how the grass
feels: cool, crunchy,
squishy? Look closely—
what else do you see?
PLAY
Play hide and seek! The one
with the best hiding place
wins!
22
Have a dance party!
28
PLAY
Visit the
Library!
29
PLAY
Create an outdoor
scavenger hunt. Choose
items that you normally
see in nature.
September 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
This is a project of
the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin Library
Association
6
PLAY
Bowl at home using
empty plastic
bottles and a small
rubber ball.
13
TALK
Call grandma and
grandpa and wish
them a happy
grandparent’s day
20
27
Be a letter detective and
find certain letters in books,
newspapers, etc. Use a
magnifying glass for fun!
7
WRITE
Have your child mold
letters out of play dough
or clay to practice
shaping the letters of the
alphabet.
TALK
Talk about the
day’s events before
going to bed.
14
SCIENCE
Drop vinegar tinted
with food coloring into
a pan filled with
baking soda. Fizzy
Fun!
PLAY
Put an object in
your hand and have
child guess which
hand it’s in.
READ
21
Create a seek and find
jar with rice or sand
and then add larger
objects to find.
28
PLAY
Hide an object and then
give directions on where
to find it. Ex. 3 steps
forward, turn right, 5
more steps, etc.
8
WRITE
Make a dot to dot
outline of letters then
have kids trace them.
15
READ
Create a royal reading
crown to wear the
next time you read a
prince or princess
story.
22
TALK
Look at family photo
albums and talk about
what is happening in
the pictures.
29
READ
Have your child say
as many words as
they can that rhyme
with a certain word.
Wednesday
2
WRITE
Write your name on
the sidewalk with a
paintbrush and
water.
9
READ
Make an alphabet
book using pictures
from magazines.
16
SCIENCE
Make a name puzzle.
Write child’s name,
cut each letter apart,
mix up and then put
together.
23
WRITE
Make letters using
cereal, noodles,
marshmallows, etc.
30
Thursday
3
SING
Sing the ABC’s then sing
them squeaky like a mouse,
like you have a cold (plug
your nose), like a monster,
etc.
10
MATH
Sort socks by
color or size.
17
SING
Sing head,
shoulders, knees
and toes.
24
MATH
Make a paper chain to
count down the days
to a special event or
holiday.
Friday
4
MATH
Count school buses
on your next outing.
11
SING
Sing the story A Soup
Opera by Jim Gill in
honor of classical
music month.
18
MATH
Count how many
letters are in your
child’s name.
25
TALK
Have your child
“read” their favorite
book to you.
Saturday
5
PLAY
Thread pipe cleaners
through the holes in a
colander (fine motor)
12
Visit the
Library!
19
TALK
Arrr me hearties, it’s
national Talk Like a
Pirate day so talk like a
pirate today!
26
Visit the
Library!
SCIENCE
Go on a “tiny” nature
walk with an egg
carton. Find small
things that will fit in
the carton.
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by YSS member Jodi Bird,
Youth Services Department Manager, Menomonie Public LibraryWI
October 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
This is a
project of the
Youth Services
Section (YSS)
of the
Wisconsin
Library
Association
4
PLAY
Play hide-and-seek or
peek-a-boo with your
child.
11
SCIENCE
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by the
Youth Services Staff at Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI
5
WRITE
Play with play dough.
This is a fun way to
develop small muscles in
the hands which will
make it easier for your
child to write.
12
PLAY
6
READ
15
16
19
20
READ
Sing the alphabet song
using the tune of
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little
Star." Now try singing
the alphabet song to the
tune of "Mary Had a
Little Lamb."
Visit a pumpkin patch.
Talk about the
pumpkins and how
they grow.
Share a book with your
child, but instead of
reading the words, talk
about the pictures. Give
your child a chance to
talk, or babble, about the
book, too.
25
26
27
Create a fall nature box.
Gather nuts, seeds, leaves
and other things you find in
the fall. Explore the items up
close. Talk about why we
find these items in the fall.
Play “I Spy” with
shapes. How many
different shapes can
you find?
10
MATH
14
18
WRITE
9
SING
13
READ
Share a wordless
picture book together.
Talk about what you
see in the pictures.
TALK
Leaves are falling all
around. How many
words can you think of
that start with the
"L" sound?
21
TALK
Make a ramp out of
cardboard and race
different sized balls
down the ramp. Try
cars, eggs etc. and talk
about which ones rolled
faster and further.
28
TALK
Talk about the signs
you see as you are
driving around.
PLAY
8
Read the book Five
Creatures by Emily
Jenkins. Count how many
overlapping qualities the
"creatures" in your
family have.
READ
3
Play “Autumn I Spy”
today. Point out
squash, pumpkins, and
scarecrows.
Borrow a music cd from
the library, maybe a type
of music you don’t
normally choose, and
play it during dinner.
Read an informational
book about autumn.
SCIENCE
MATH
Bake cookies together
and talk about measuring
the ingredients. Count
the number of cookies
you made. Now count
the cookies left after you
eat some!
Make faces in the mirror
together and talk about
the feelings that go with
the face.
Gather leaves that have
fallen and make a picture
with them.
SCIENCE
TALK
2
Saturday
Read Every Autumn Comes
the Bear by Jim Arnosky.
Talk about hibernation.
Bears hibernate, but some
animals such as squirrels are
busy sorting food for the
winter.
Children love to make
animal sounds. Find a
book or magazine with
animal pictures. Identify
the animals and imitate
the sounds they make.
Go on a fall nature walk and
collect natural items that
you see. Talk about how
living things need air, water,
food, and about how living
things move.
SING
7
READ
Friday
SING
MATH
Sing to the tune of "London
Bridges:” All the leaves are
falling down, falling down,
falling down! All the leaves
are falling down, my dear
baby!
Go on a leaf walk and
collect leaves of different
colors. Lay the leaves on
the ground in rows of
similar color to make a
bar graph of the colors of
the leaves.
22
23
SCIENCE
Collect different shaped
leaves. Help your child
trace and color them.
Talk about how the
leaves change from
green to brown, orange
and red during fall.
29
SING
Make a kitchen band using
pots and pans, spoons,
pasta or rice in plastic food
containers, etc. Sing and
play along to a favorite
song.
30
Visit the
Library!
17
MATH
Make homemade play
dough. Talk about how
the different ingredients
come together to make
this fun material.
PLAY
Build with blocks. If you
don’t have toy blocks,
stack plastic food
containers or cardboard
boxes and other
recyclables.
WRITE
Do fingerplays like Where is
Thumbkin and The Itsy Bitsy
Spider in order to
strengthen muscles in tiny
fingers that will eventually
learn to hold a pencil and
write.
PLAY
24 MATH
Take a walk outside.
Count how many
pumpkins you see.
31
Visit the
Library!
November 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
1
SING
Sing your favorite
bedtime song!
8
MATH
Can you make a
pattern with your
toys? Use color or size
to sort them into
groups?
15
WRITE
Use pudding or
whipped cream as
finger paints and let
your child create a
masterpiece.
22
TALK
Ask your child about
their favorite part of
the day today.
29
PLAY
Play the “freeze game”
– put on music you
can make stop, when
it does, everyone
freeze.
Monday
2
MATH
Line up your stuffed
animals from smallest
to largest.
9
WRITE
Write the names of
your family members
using magnetic letters
16
SING
Put on some music
and move around –
dance, clap or stomp
your feet.
23
PLAY
Play the “freeze game”
– put on music you
can make stop, when
it does, everyone
freeze.
30
Tuesday
3
READ
Read some Mother
Goose rhymes
together. What are
your favorites?
10
TALK
The weather is
changing. Go outside
and talk about what
you see and hear.
17
SCIENCE
Make predictions
about what will
happen next as you go
about your day.
24
SCIENCE
Bake something
together. Go over all
the recipe steps as you
do them.
Wednesday
4
WRITE
Are you thankful for
anyone? Write a letter
or draw a picture for
them.
11
PLAY
Play a silly word game
today – make up
nonsense words that
rhyme with real
words.
18
TALK
Pretend that you are
taking a trip. Where
will you go? What can
you bring? What will
you see?
25
SING
Sing your favorite
children’s song,
putting your child’s
name into the words
of the song.
Thursday
5
PLAY
Make some
homemade play
dough. What can you
make with it?
12
MATH
Share a snack. Count
out how many pieces
each person gets.
19
READ
Pick up that favorite
book and read it again.
Talk only about the
pictures in the story.
26
MATH
Play with cups and
bowls in the bathtub
to explore volume.
Pour water into
various container
sizes.
Friday
6
TALK
What are you thankful
for? Talk about it
together.
13
SING
Make up new words to
your favorite
children’s tune
20
MATH
Make a paper turkey.
How many feathers
can you give him?
Count them.
27
READ
Read to your child
using funny voices.
Ham it up as much as
possible!
Saturday
7
READ
Read a book about
the seasons.
14
Visit the
Library!
21
WRITE
Cut letters out of
sandpaper or another
textured surface and
have your child trace
them with fingers.
28
Visit the
Library!
READ
Act out your
favorite book.
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s librarian for
. in your child.
more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading skills
This month is brought to you by YSS member Monica LaVold, Youth Services Librarian,
River Falls Public Library, WI
This is a project of
the Youth Services
Section (YSS) of
the Wisconsin
Library
Association
December 2015 Early Literacy Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Helping your child get ready to read is easy!
Just do one fun activity each day. Ask your children’s
librarian for more tips and ideas to promote pre-reading
skills in your child.
This month is brought to you by YSS member Dawn Foster,
Youth Services Librarian at the Portage Public Library
6
WRITE
What letter does
your name begin
with? Write your
name!
13
SING
Sing “Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star.”
Look for stars in the
sky when you go to
bed!
20
MATH
Look at the calendar.
Can you count to 20?
27
READ
Read the board book
“Little Critter Shapes” by
Mercer Mayer.
7
READ
Read “The Snowy
Day” by Ezra Jack
Keats.
14
TALK
Raccoon works to keep
his library open in “Our
Library” by Eve Bunting.
Can you name another
animal that starts with
“R?”
21
SING
Sing “Old MacDonald
Had A Farm”
28
TALK
Look for shapes in your
home. Can you name
them?
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
READ
Celebrate Jan Brett’s
Birthday by reading
“The Mitten”
2
8
9
SCIENCE
Take a walk outside.
Can you make
footprints like Peter
in “The Snowy Day?”
15
MATH
MATH
Count all the animals in
“The Mitten”
TALK
Tell a story about
snow falling at night.
16
READ
Stack empty boxes.
Can you make a tower
taller than you?
Books, Books,
Everywhere. What is
your favorite book?
22
23
WRITE
Make a birthday
card for Caldecott
winner Jerry
Pinkney!
29
WRITE
Draw a picture using
shapes.
READ
Read “The Lion &
The Mouse.” Can
you roar like a lion?
30
SING
Sing “Happy
Birthday” to Mercer
Mayer!
Thursday
3
TALK
Friday
4
TALK
Say aloud: “Thumbs in
the thumb place. Fingers
all together. This is the
song we sing in mitten
weather!”
Put fingers together &
trace on paper. Does it
look like a mitten? Tell a
story about your mitten.
10
11
SCIENCE
Make a snowball
and bring it inside.
How long does it
take to melt?
17
SING
Sing your ABCs
softly. Sing your
ABCs loudly!
24
PLAY
Pretend you are a
mouse. Can you squeak?
Can you make yourself
small?
31
MATH
5
Visit the
Library!
12
WRITE
Look around your
house. How many
green things can you
find?
Using a white crayon,
draw snowflakes on
black construction paper.
18
19
WRITE
Draw a picture of
your favorite animal.
25
MATH
Keep track of how
many cookies you
eat today!
PLAY
Make a snow angel!
Saturday
This is a project of
the Youth
Services Section
(YSS) of the
Wisconsin Library
Association
TALK
“Eve Bunting’s
birthday is today!
Count 1, 2, 3,
Hurray!” You made
a rhyme!
26
Visit the
Library!