Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Digital Books

    Posted 04-04-2020 11:23 PM
    We are an early childhood center located in New York and the teachers only had one day to prepare before school was closed. Teachers never imagined we would be closed for months and left many books and materials in school. Now that reality has set in, the teachers have found that one of the few ways to successfully connect with their young charges is through reading books to them via Zoom or as videos. However, the teachers who do not have young children of their own at home have a very limited supply of children's books at their disposal. The public libraries are shut and their digital collections of picture books are sparse. We have been looking for free digitized classic picture books- the ones that the children are familiar with and know and love. So far, we have not found too many. Most of the digital books out there are new and unfamiliar. Some of them are very good, but right now the children need their old favorites read to them by their beloved teachers. Does anyone know of a source for free digitized old favorites?

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    Sharon Schwartz
    NY
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  • 2.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 01:55 AM
    Try Scholastic. They have new free resources weekly! https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-prek-k-week-2.html

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    Julia Childs
    San Diego CA
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  • 3.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 06:37 AM

    Sharon,

    New York is in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how we can continue to support your teachers. 


    Our teachers signed up for a Virtual Teaching Bootcamp with Fairy Dust Teaching ($27). There, they were trained on Zoom and a platform called Loom in the first session.

    Loom allows a teacher to choose from a virtual library and spotlights a teacher's face reading the book. They use a cursor to sweep the words. We are using this and reading from books using our phones to video record and post within private Facebook groups with our families. It was easy to implement immediately. I think you do need to know your book titles to search, but you can come up with a list.

    I hope this is helpful. Do stay in touch. 

    Chris



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    Christine Whitmire
    Director of Early Childhood Education
    Lewis Cass Intermediate School District
    Cassopolis MI
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  • 4.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 09:50 AM
    Thanks- what a great video tool! Where did you find a virtual library?

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    Sharon Schwartz
    NY
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  • 5.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 11:37 AM
    The teachers learned about the virtual library in the Bootcamp. 

    It is https://openlibrary.org/

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    Christine Whitmire
    Director of Early Childhood Education
    Lewis Cass Intermediate School District
    Cassopolis MI
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  • 6.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 03:29 PM
    Greetings,

    Check out this website for digital books for children. Some of the resources are free. https://watch.vooks.com/videos/nom-nom-colors
     The Atlanta Speech School is offering a free online preschool for kids that includes video, phonological awareness, story and morning circle and much more. Here's the link; https://www.atlantaspeechschool.org/online-preschool/ 

    Hopefully, these resources help!
    April Jones

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    April Jones
    Assistant Director
    The Frazer Center
    Atlanta GA
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  • 7.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-06-2020 04:23 PM
    Hi there,

    The company of theatre artists I work with at the Smithsonian, Creative Tools for Teaching, has developed e-books of all of our plays. Additionally, we have filmed versions of our performances and recordings of our songs. All these resources, and several more, are available on our website: https://creativetools.si.edu

    These performances were designed as interactive Learning Plays, so are ideally consumed live. However, in an effort to support our teachers (in DCPS <3 ) in between our visits to the schools, we filmed and shared our content digitally as well.

    I'd like to invite as many early childhood educators and caretakers as possible to take advantage of this content by engaging with young learners around what's happening on screen. Pause the video so that you can field their responses to questions in the story, ask them what they think will happen next, etc.

    Please share with anyone you think could benefit from our work. And I'd love to hear any feedback (compliments and criticisms alike!) from folks willing to give it.

    Play on!
    Christine

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    Christine Alexander
    Smithsonian Associates
    Takoma Park MD
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  • 8.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-27-2020 10:37 AM
    Good Morning Everyone!
    I came across this site which I bought worth sharing with all of you teachers. Uniteforliteracy.com nonfiction ebooks for free. It is through Teachers & Librarian Association. Excellent stories with age appropriate and child - centered topics of interest. Have an awesome safe day be well- Millie🌎❤️

    Sent from my iPhone


  • 9.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-28-2020 07:44 AM
    Thanks Millie!  This is an awesome site!  Did not know about it!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Liane

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    Liane Rousseau
    Lead Toddler Teacher
    Landry Early Learning Center
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  • 10.  RE: Digital Books

    Posted 04-28-2020 09:50 AM
    This is an excellent find. I'm so appreciative that you shared it and we can pass it along to all the families who might not have access to books at home.​

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    Leslie Silk Eslinger
    Director of Education and Development
    Becker's School Supplies
    Pennsauken, NJ
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