Leap Frog Sing and Learn With Us Review.

If you have some of the other Leap Frog videos and think that the characters on this will be similar to Tad found in LeapFrog Leapster¸ Educational Video: The Letter Factory, you would be wrong. This video is totally different than the originals. I suggest getting LeapFrog Leapster¸ Educational Video: The Letter Factory first and then purchasing this video. The Letter Factory focuses on Letters and the sounds they make. The Letter Factory is the best DVD for teaching your kids what pre-phonics skills, in my opinion. Sing and Learn with us is a nice DVD to show once the Letter Factory has been viewed.

Sing and Learn with us includes new characters; Al, Og, Meg, Izzy and Gus. These toe-tapping characters perform 12 animated sing-along shorts focusing on developmental reading skills; such as, short vowels, phonics skills (word building) and comprehension - skills perfect for the preschool to first grade crowd. Great for those kiddos that have some knowledge of the sounds letters make and who are ready to start building CVC words. The music included is fun and catchy, and it's easy for kids to follow along on the screen with the words being highlighted as you go. It is nice to always see all the words on the bottom of the screen. A beginning reader can follow along and read while watching. My Pre-K child enjoyed the DVD very much. It is 30 minutes and it seems to cover enough material without overwhelming the child with too much details.

The DVD also doubles as a DVD-ROM, where if you put the DVD into your computer drive, you'll be able to access 12 printable sing-along storybooks and 3 printable coloring sheets too! The activities are a perfect way to continue learning and having fun!!!

 

Weekend Reading - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

One of my favorite children's books is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. My daughter even has a Chicka Boom Boom Tree painted on the wall of her room. My kiddos can recite the book by heart and are often heard singing the song. Speaking of the song... I love the Chicka Boom Boom Song found on this CD. When I read the book, I sing it as it is in this song! Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Other Coconutty Songs

Some Fave Ideas to Use With This Book

My Preschool Teacher Friend Amy made these cute Chicka Boom Boom Puzzles with Popsicle sticks & a picture of the book cover she printed off the Internet. This is how she made them:
I used Elmer’s glue for the book puzzles. I painted a thin layer on the printout and then I lined up my craft sticks. I laid the picture on the craft sticks and smoothed it out. I let that dry and then I took a craft knife and cut vertically where the craft sticks are joined together. It was easiest to flip the puzzle over and cut on the side without the picture.

See the Story Online - The Scholastic Video!

You will want to print a coloring page after you read the book.

I printed these patterns, laminated them and placed a magnet on the back of them. My daughter can act out the story on her magnetic white board. Actually my daughter gets all the letters on the tree and calls her brother in to do the BOOM BOOM part... which he is very good at.

Try this counting coconuts booklet!

Still want more, hop over to Teaching Heart for even more ideas!!!