Sing into Reading: the Blog
Little ones love literacy.
Music is magic!
Writing to Remember the Holidays
Holidays are precious times we want to remember. To help with memory consolidation, in addition to taking pictures, it is helpful to write about our experiences, and encourage our children to write as well.
Here are some of my favorite holiday writing prompts:
- Holiday Wish List
- Favorite Holiday Memory
- Favorite Holiday and Why
- Favorite Holiday Gift Given
- Favorite Holiday Gift Received
- The Best Part of (Name of Holiday) is ____
- (Name of Holiday) is All About _______
- Retelling a Favorite Holiday Story
"It's Holiday Time" is a song written by a student. He wrote about his holiday wish list, and also the best part of the holiday.
Even preschoolers can write about the holidays. Ask them one of the writing prompts above and then tell them to write about it. Hand them crayons and paper let them get to work. Then ask them to tell you about what they wrote, and transcribe their words. Encourage your children to write about the holidays and let me know how it goes.
Wishing you all happy...
Peaceful Holidays with Children
Holidays can be a crazy time. There is so much to do and just not enough time to get it all done.
Let's face it, holidays don't always feel like a Hallmark show. Holidays can be stressful - especially with children.
I invite you to join me in deliberately stopping to breathe whenever you feel stressed.
No matter how much we have to do, we always have time to breathe.
Wishing you PEACEFUL holidays filled with love, joy, and music!
Keep singing,
Risa
Cherish the Rosy Moments
You know those moments where you feel like you are in a Capra fim, and everything feels right? I call them "rosy moments." Cherish them.
I have two boys, 12 and 14. When I think back on their babyhood and when they were young children, I remember a few rosy moments. (And I remember a few "not-so-rosy-moments.") The rest is a wash.
When you find yourself in a rosy moment, cherish it. Write about it. Save it.
Cherish the rosy moments.
Keep singing,
Risa
Gratitude Journal
Gratitude is a two-way street. The more you give, the more you get.
I am receiving gratitude from people who are thankful for the Thanks and Giving Celebration. Here’s the thing: I am so grateful to you for supporting this dream of mine to teach literacy through music and movement.
Choose gratitude. Every minute of every day you have a choice. You can choose to complain about what you do not have, or be thankful for what you do. Choose appreciation. Choose gratitude. You can find things to be thankful for, even when things are not going well. That's when it is especially important to practice gratitude.
Gratitude, like love, creates what I call "rosy moments." Cherish them. Savor them. Make them last. Writing down what you are grateful for will help you remember the rosy moments and make them last longer.
There are many benefits of using a gratitude journal, including closer relationships, improved physical health, reduced aggression, better sleep,...
Author
Risa Beth Cohen, M.S.Ed.
Author
Risa Beth Cohen, M.S.Ed. is an educator, singer/songwriter, and storyteller. She works with people of all ages and abilities, leading music circles and storytelling workshops. As the Founder and Creative Director of Sing into Reading, Risa is passionate about teaching literacy through music and movement. Risa holds a B.F.A. in acting from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and an M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Bank Street College. In 2014, she was the Featured Teller at “Tellebration” in Toledo, Ohio. Students of all ages and abilities enjoy her music circles and storytelling workshops. In addition to teaching children, Risa is a sought-after speaker at edu-events of all sorts. Risa is an approved CKC (Core Knowledge & Competencies) Instructor, and Sing into Reading is an approved training organization recognized by the Ohio Professional Registry of the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA). She has two OCCRRA-approved workshops, “Teaching Literacy Through Music and Movement,” and “Songs for a Peaceful Learning Environment.” She has taught educators and families at schools, and has spoken at conferences in many countries, including Egypt, Australia, England, and South Korea. Risa and her program, Sing into Reading, have been featured on WTOL Channel 11, NBC channel 24, 13abc, and the Toledo Blade. Risa has been called a literacy teacher “in disguise.” Her students think they just make music and have fun – and they do!
