Early Literacy

It’s 3 a.m. Your newborn baby is crying. You feed and change him but the reprieve from his sorrowful cry is only momentary. What now? If only he could talk. You cradle and rock your little one, patting his back, reaching into your memory for a...

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist [email protected]     “Know what?” When we hear that lead-in we know our child has a story to tell.   From the time children begin to understand language we teach them about storytelling. A parent...

It’s trivia time. Answer the following questions. Check your score to see how clever you really are…. Which Christmas movie is based on a children’s book that was first published 60 years ago? Which story was published in 1960 on a $50 bet...

 Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist, [email protected]

Emma’s mom looked at the calendar. It was still summertime. August stretched before them promising beach days and popsicles. But August would also be the last chance to prepare Emma for the thing that would change her three-year-old’s life...

I’d seen it before in the dentist’s office - a mural-sized scene, mounted and hung on the wall to amuse young patients awaiting their checkups.  The cartoon picture has a “Where’s Waldo” quality about it with multitudinous sheep, bears...

Second guessing our internal clocks is not unusual. When clocks spring forward or fall back to accommodate Daylight Savings Time or Standard Time, that shadow of doubt about time can appear especially long. Arranging to Skype with my daughter who...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected] Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist, [email protected] Second guessing our...

Stars, silent and distant, have the power to bring my brisk pace to a full and complete stop – bags and belongings in hand in my driveway with darkness all around. To my naked eye stars appear only as specks of light gracing the night sky, yet...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

“Are we there yet?” Only ten minutes into a six hour journey, it may be hard to match your young child’s excitement with “Not yet, honey.” But parents who travel with children are resourceful. They know there are more options than...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

“Ok everyone, stand up and do a back flip.” I remember the look of disbelief, shocked silence, and a few nervous giggles from the audience as occupational therapist Amy Quilty began her presentation with this command. She spoke to a room full of...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

I sat in the theatre-style auditorium of a Toronto school, listening. At an early learning conference entitled The Value of Listening, it seemed the logical thing to do. Throughout that two day conference I experienced the value of respectful...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist The holiday season is upon us and helping us to explore the celebrations, excitement, and meaning of this special time of year is a whole cast of children’s book characters. Elves, cats, porcupines and...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

Can’t make heads or tails out of it? He keeps beating around the bush and it is making you feel bent out of shape? Well, if you are in over your head, zip your lip, and let sleeping dogs lie. No one is trying to pull the wool over your eyes…....

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Theoretically, I believe it is possible. Someone somewhere may have missed the experience altogether. But, personally, I have never met a single soul who has told me that grocery shopping with a small child does not include some degree of challenge....

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Julie Dotsch’s eyes sparkled warmly as she engaged the group of 40 early learning educators, caregivers and librarians. “Let’s think about the biggest needs of newcomer families to Canada.” And so the Saturday workshop began with...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Eighteen- month-old Liam squirmed in his dad’s lap at the library’s storytime. Liam had been straining to use his feet to reach another toddler in the group. His dad tickled Liam gently. Liam giggled and wriggled. And then Liam heard it, adults...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Liam drew a loop with his yellow marker, hesitated and then attached two smaller loops to one end of the loop. The connected sausage-shapes sat on top of a large orange scribble. “Pickachu is on the school bus!” Liam changed the colour of his...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Pride. We see it showcased joyously in Pride parades in Canadian cities and throughout the world. We also see it targeted horrifically in places like the Orlando nightclub a few months ago. How can such opposite emotions and reactions surround this...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

It’s January 2016. Time to put down those Sudoku puzzles Santa left in your stocking and test your skills with this family literacy quiz: 1) Why will January 27th be a day to watch for? a) Jupiter and the moon will be close in the sky, and appear...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Justin was almost 11 months old when he experienced his first Christmas. On Christmas morning he unwrapped his presents slowly, mesmerized by the sight, sound and feel of the bows and brightly coloured paper. But the gifts Justin loved the very most...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Canada’s recent federal election changed the political landscape of our nation overnight and just a few days later former prime minister, Stephen Harper, and then prime minister-designate, Justin Trudeau, stood shoulder to shoulder to lay a wreath...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

It was a whirlwind stop by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in Napanee a few weeks ago. I watched with fascination as the predominantly red and white clad crowd erupted into cheers and heat-generating hand claps even before their favoured federal...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

The image and story was everywhere. Aylan, a three-year-old Syrian boy had been found washed ashore on a Turkish beach. He and his five-year-old brother, along with their mother, had drowned while fleeing their war-torn county to find peace in...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

The countdown to kindergarten is on! Children attending full day learning programs for the first time anticipate their number of sleeps before riding the big yellow school bus or arriving at their new school. Counting, however, isn’t easy for...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

“Red Rover, Red Rover, we call Susan over.” As a child I loved this game. My friends and I formed two lines facing one another and, with clasped hands, began our Red Rover chant. Whosever name we inserted into the chant had to leave their line...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A March 28, 2015. 8:29 pm. Computer? Off. Television? Off. Lights? Off. We powered down for the ninth annual Earth Hour, hoping that our symbolic acts of replacing brightly lit streets and homes with...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A When I first read The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, I was enthralled by his writing and storytelling, moved by the sorrow, hope and strength of the story characters, and appalled by my lack of...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A January 2015 has arrived and the sounds of Auld Lang Syne echo in my mind even though my holidays have ended and festive songs no longer play in stores. The power of music is undeniable. Music, in every...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A If you are looking for gifts this Christmas, here are a few tips to consider when choosing quality books for that special child in your life. Pictures make or break children’s interest in books....

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A I went to the library and what did I see? Books to share with baby and me. There were titles and authors that I didn’t know And I wondered which books to choose from the row. So I asked the librarian...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A My mother’s voice rose and fell expressively as she sat reading bedtime stories to me as a child. Decades later, as mother of three, I followed her example. I remember my children’s giggles, gasps...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A “Daddy look!” I turned from my squatted position in the strawberry patch toward the sound of an excited child’s voice close by. A beige sunhat bobbed slightly higher than the row of strawberry...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]  

by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “In the beginning, all things were made but nothing was finished.” Algonquin storyteller, Dionne Nolan, spoke quietly, holding a talking stick, as she began to tell the story of Owl and Rabbit. Her...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  [email protected]

by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Peek-a-boo!” Blonde, feathery hair stood and swayed like a field of wheat on Ben’s tiny head as I read the words from his book. I hadn’t meant to say ‘peek’ so powerfully, but Ben’s...

  Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist

Though mounds of snow are still with us, the first day of spring is imminent and already being welcomed with birds singing and longer days of sunshine. Squirrels are out in droves looking for hidden stashes of nuts but I have not yet seen or heard a...

  Do you have the time? When clocks fall back or spring forward to accommodate Daylight Savings Time, second guessing our internal clocks is common. To a young child, time can be even more elusive. Though adults may envy children’s ability to...

  Sochi takes me there. Though not to Russia, it takes me to a place of awe and inspiration for our Olympians who demonstrate incredible skill, endurance and commitment to their chosen winter sport. I find myself wondering when and how each...

  Have you noticed how easily conversation starters can roll off the tongue? “What’s new?” “Hey, how are you doing? “What are you up to?” These broad questions invite others to talk about anything and everything. Yet the answers are...

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A, [email protected]

My cell phone vibrates. I glance at the message. “running late. will text u when leaving.” My thumbs leap into action. “ok great tks.” If this spelling and grammar were in an email, report, or funding proposal, my colleague and I would both...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) [email protected]

  I let out a guttural response - more astounded than profane though it hovered dangerously close to the tipping point. I looked at my iPad. Could that combination of letters actually spell a word? I had changed the opponent setting on my Scrabble...

  Jackson’s mom hands her son an empty, washed yogurt container. “Put this in the blue box.” Jackson likes to help and, at two-and-a-half, he is already familiar with his family’s practice of recycling. To Jackson recycling is fun. He loves...

  Sasha’s mom looked at the calendar. It was only July. The summer stretched before them promising beach days and popsicles. But this summer would also be the last chance to prepare Sasha for the thing that would change her 3-year-old’s life...

  The photos from London, England showed a sea of red and white– red balloons, red and white beach balls, small Canadian flags waved in the air. Pictures showed take-out containers of poutine cradled lovingly in revellers’ hands while music...

It was cold at the Frink Centre conservation area on April 20. Thirty-two early learning professionals, artists, storyteller and guide had gathered for Come Walk in My Moccasins – a professional development event exploring Aboriginal teachings...

  My Canada A.M. Checklist: Brew coffee Feed cats Spread toast generously with peanut butter Wait for caffeine to kick in Checklists - such useful tools. They do everything from help us refresh depleted first aid kits, to match our interests and...

  Sadie, a bubbly, energetic two-year-old, stood solidly in front of Jasmine studying Jasmine’s face. Just moments ago, Sadie had shoved petite, three-year old-Jasmine hard, causing Jasmine to land with shock and dismay though no bumps or bruises...

  Reading with children 15 minutes a day improves their chances of success in school. That’s quite a claim but, increasingly, research supports it. Cunningham and Stanovich’s study with first-graders, whom they followed for ten years, showed...

  Unofficial consumer reports have wrapped up two great reasons for giving books to children at Christmas time. Books don’t need batteries. Unlike homework, books given at Christmas are respected by pets. (Dogs have their priorities when...

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)

  “It was a dark and stormy night.” The storyteller’s eyes widen. His words slow. The narrative begins and no one knows how the tale will end.Good storytelling captivates us, sparks our imagination, and shapes our thoughts and attitudes. But...

  What is a parent to do? We have heard the news. Both the Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics have looked at the research linking television and screen time with healthy child development. Their recommendations?...

  Anticipating your child’s first day at school this September? Whether you’re a parent who experiences mini panic attacks when you imagine your child in this new environment, or whether you’re looking forward to a few hours of parental...