Talk, Read, and Sing - Talking is Teaching
September 2021
Created by Great Lakes Bay Parents - Informing parents since 2012!
You are your child's lifelong teacher.

"Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" is a public awareness and action campaign that helps parents recognize their power to boost their children’s early brain and vocabulary development through simple, everyday actions ... "
LET'S TALK ABOUT LETTERS!
Let’s talk, read, and sing about LETTERS! When children know the letters of the alphabet, it will help them learn how to read and prepare them for kindergarten! There are many fun ways to talk, read, and sing about letters with your little one. Try a Letters Scavenger Hunt! Write a letter on a piece of paper, and with your child, look for that letter throughout your home! “Here is the letter ‘S’! Where can we find the letter ‘S’ in the kitchen?”

Talking is Teaching has tips and resources to help parents talk to their children, even those who are very young. 
ACTIVITES
LET'S TALK TOGETHER
THE WRITE STUFF - WRITING
by Build Up Michigan

Build Up Michigan offers tips on how to help your preschooler develop and improve writing skills with daily practice using common household items.
LET'S READ TOGETHER

Let’s talk about LETTERS! These recommended books and videos will help you talk to your child about letters. Visit your local library to talk with your librarian for more ideas.  
ASK A LIBRARIAN: Looking for more books & video ideas?

Contact your local library to learn about the FREE resources available to you and your child.

Birch Run - Thomas E. Fleschner Memorial Library 989-624-5171

Breckenridge -  Howe Memorial Library 989-842-3202

Bridgeport - Bridgeport Public Library 989-777-6030

Chesaning Township - River Rapids District Library 989-845-3211

Frankenmuth -  Frankenmuth Wickson District Library 989-652-8323

Hemlock -  Rauchholz Memorial Library 989-642-8621

Merrill -  Merrill District Library 989-643-7300

Saginaw -  Public Libraries of Saginaw 989-755-0904

Butman-Fish Library 989-799-9160

Rudolph C. Zauel Memorial Library 989-799-2771

Ruth Brady Wickes Library 989-752-3821

Saint Charles -  Saint Charles District Library 989-865-9371
LET'S SING TOGETHER!
USHER'S ABC SONG
Sesame Street

Let’s sing about LETTERS! For a fun way to discover the letters of the alphabet with your little one, sing and dance along to the alphabet song! Want a new melody and beat to sing the ABCs with? Watch Sesame Street’s Alphabet Songs here:
THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING ABOUT LETTERS
HOW TO CREATE A LITERATE HOME: BABIES & TODDLERS
by PBS Kids for Parents

"Babies and toddlers need to explore books, letters and writing materials as they begin to figure out the special significance of these objects. What they need most, however, is for their parents to talk and listen to them."
RESOURCES & EVENTS
THE CASTLE MUSEUM OF SAGINAW COUNTY HISTORY
PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF SAGINAW
READ ASSOCIATION OF SAGINAW
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL
ONLINE: TALK TO LEARN
FREE AT HOME ACTIVITIES

Based on Every Child Ready to Read, TALK activities build pre-literacy skills starting from birth, such as hearing letter sounds, building hand muscles and dexterity, and recognizing letters and numbers. Activities also build STEM and social emotional skills, to help parents make sure their children are fully prepared for a successful school experience.

Sign up to get 8-10 messages per month with fun activities
you can do at home to help prepare little ones, ages 5 and under, for school success.
ONLINE LITERATURE RESOURCES
Michigan Learning Chanel
FREE AT HOME ACTIVITIES

The Michigan Learning Channel provides supplemental math support for Pre-K through 12th Grade that are aligned with Michigan educational standards.
ONLINE MATH RESOURCE
Thrive From Home Resources
FREE STEM RESOURCE

Thrive From Home is here to help parents and caregivers across Michigan provide preschoolers (ages 3-5) with essential skill-building activities using resources and materials recommended by experienced state educators. Find the right video, activity or support resource for quick, easy ways to work with your preschooler at home.
LOCAL RESOURCE
NEED HELP? CALL 2-1-1.
*This newsletter was supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0055-01-0090TP0002, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

**Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.