Sing into Reading: the Blog
Little ones love literacy.
Music is magic!
Slow Down
Sometimes you need to slow down so you can speed up again.
Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment
Members of Sing into Reading receive excellent instruction for children teaching literacy through music and love. For a limited time, members will also receive instruction for parents: "Teach Your Child to Read With Music and Love." Check out this sample class, "Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment."
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,...
Gratitude
This blog is one you can share with the kids.
I talk about choosing appreciation and gratitude.
Please join me November 27 at 11:30 am EDT for the Thanks and Giving Celebration, a free sing-along for kids and their grownups. Sign up here: www.singintoreading.com/thanks-and-giving
And here are some quotes on gratitude for the grownups:
Stephen Richards: “When you express gratitude for the blessings that come into your life, it not only encourages the universe to send you more, it also sees to it that those blessings remain.”
Todd Stocker: “Thankfulness creates gratitude which generates contentment that causes peace.”
Zig Ziglar: “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”
Henri Frederic Amiel: “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness...
Someday Soon Jar
How to make a "Someday Soon jar:"
- Take a jar and write "Someday Soon" on it.
- Whenever you think of something you want to do someday soon that you can't do right now, write it on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.
- Someday soon, when you are able to do all these things, enjoy taking out your papers, reading your ideas, and doing all those fun things!
- I want to thank Jewish Federation of Toledo for my "Someday Soon jar."
Keep singing,
Risa
Telling Small Moment Stories
Telling stories is how we contextualize and make sense of our world.
Last week, I talked about the importance of telling fairy tales and folk tales. I referenced Bruno Bettleheim's Uses of Enchantment. Going through difficult scenarios and emotions in stories prepares us to go through them in real life.
Today I share a small moment story with you from my childhood, "All Sandy."
Tell your small moment stories. Tell stories to your little ones about when you were little.
Keep singing,
Risa
Folk Tales and Fairy Tales
In this blog, I talk about how important it is - not just to read stories to our children - but also to tell them. Stories help us make sense of the world, and boost our emotional intelligence. In particular, fairy tales and folk tales teach us coping skills and prepare us for difficult emotions and situations in life.
After talking about folk tales, I tell one, and sing it.
I mentioned story startes and closers. You can find a great list of story starters HERE, and story closers HERE.
Keep telling stories.
Keep singing,
Risa
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!
