Barefoot Books- LadyD

Book Review: Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:56:00 +0000

Dear Readers,

I was pleasantly surprised to find this beautiful hardcover children's book under the tree! My daughter is a Barefoot Books Ambassador and has her own book store. She's done lots of wonderful things for the company and has always been a strong supporter of children's books.

About The Book:

"Explore Christmas traditions from 13 different countries! Rhyming text and detailed illustrations make the book accessible to younger readers, while educational endnotes about the 13 celebrations add interest for older children. Gold ink and festive illustrations capture the joy of the season and make this book a beautiful gift in itself. Engaging and informative for anyone who wants to learn about the holiday. Features Christmas traditions from: *Ethiopia *Colombia *Australia *Italy *Serbia *Mexico *India *Iceland *Egypt *Argentina *Philippines *Lebanon *Canada."

Review

I really like this one! Such a beautiful classic read for your annual Christmas reading memories! It is beautifully illustrated with gorgeous, bright colored images regarding Christmas traditions around the world. The set of pages have four rhyming lines.

The combined stories explain what Christmas is and they have lots of information about Christmas in each country. I was aware of many cultural celebrations of Christmas around the world, but I didn’t know many of the specifics. Now I know!

My favorite part of the book is at the beginning!

"It's almost Christmas ! A bright time of year for coming together with those we hold dear. Like Mary and Joseph, we joyfully wait. For this special occasion that we celebrate."

Towards the back of the book, the author writes:

"Jesus is born! What a wonderful reason For coming together for this sacred season."

I especially love how the author shares, "What is Christmas?" Indeed, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in the Christian faith!

You must check out this particular book, Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe by Kate DePalma and Sophie Fatus.

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

Barefoot Books-LadyD

Singing in the Shower Chords and More

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 23:35:00 +0000

Hi There!

One of my piano students is also learning the guitar. These young boys and girls read sheet music, as well as chord charts. It's amazing how quickly one can learn to play a song with just three chords. Maybe you can add these to your class list or homeschool resources.

Singing in the Shower

C Am Dm G C Am Dm G

Singin' in the shower, singin' in the shower.
C Am Dm G
Singin' in the shower,

Dm G7
I'm singin' in the shower again.

C D G Am Bm Am
Every morning when I wake up, well my voice is all wrong,

G Am Bm Am
You can hardly even hear me sing my song.

G Am Bm C
But I step into the shower, there's a whole new sound,

Am D7 G
As soon as the water's comin' down.

Singin' in the shower. Singin' in the shower.
Siiiiiingin' in the shower. I'm singin' in the shower again.

Oh, the shiny silver sprayer makes a perfect microphone,
I could really be terrific with a band of my own.
I hear those backup singers... Is it my imagination?
Just listen to that great reverberation.

Singin'...Oh, the mirrors' getting' foggy.
(Shower)Singin'...And the drums are getting soggy.
(Shower) Singin'...I'm happiest when
I'm singin' in the shower again!

I like the shimmer of the tile and the rhythm like rain,
When the new day comes, I've just got to entertain.
I bring so much emotion to every single refrain!
(Pause...)It's a shame to see this talent goin' right down the drain.

Now one day I may be singin' Oh! In Carnegie Hall
And you'll be sure that I'll be bringin' (yeah!) my own shower stall.
We wearin' waterproof tuxedos... maybe purple satin Speedos.
Or I'm not singin' there at all!

Siiiiiingin'...and in the big finale
Siiiingin'...I sound just like Frankie Valley
Oh, singin' I-yi-yi-yiyi. I'm singin' in the shower again!

Oh, I... I like to sing high...!
But I... get cold by and by...
Oh, I... I just wanna be dry!

Singin' in the shower...
Singin' in the shower (repeat)

Credit: Michael Ford, Sandra Boynton

Blue Moo '62

D Bm Em A

Tell me, have you heard a sound, sad and far away?

D Bm Em A

Maybe it is calling you. But who can ever say-ee-ay?

D Bm Em A

Is it really magic? Oh, this I know is true;

G A D

It's the Blue, Blue-hoo-oo Moo - oo

Credit: Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to market,

G7
This little piggy stayed home,

C
This little piggy had roast beef,

F
This little piggy had none,

C F G7 C
And this little piggy cried "wee wee wee" all the way home.

Credit: Linda Seamons

For more information, take a look at Blue Moo.

Happy reading and singing!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2020– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

10 Songs for Back To School

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 14:10:00 +0000

As a former Kindergarten music teacher, over the years I enjoyed playing simple songs with the children just using 2 or 3 chords. I found the simplicity of the melody, along with rhyming was easy to learn. The children's participation is delightful to hear!

I'm Glad You Came To School (Sung to The Farmer In the Dell)

D
I'm glad you came to school,

I'm glad you came to school.

I've planned lots of fun for you,

A7 D
I'm glad you came to school.

Welcome Song (Oh, My Darling Clementine)

F
Little Reid, little Reid,
C7
Little Reid is new today,
F
We are glad you've joined our classroom,
C7 F
And we hope that you will stay.

(Substitute the name of your new student for the name Reid, and the name of your group for the word classroom).

Sharing Time (Sung to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C F C
Won't you share your show and tell?
G7 C G7 C
We will look and listen well.
G7 C G7
We know our turn will come soon
C G7 C G7
So we sing this little tune.
C F C
Won't you share your show and tell?
G7 C G7 C
We will look and listen well.

Taking Turns (Mary Had a Little Lamb)

C
On the playground please take turns,
G7 C
Please take turns, please take turns.

Remember others like a turn,
G7
And always try to share.

We Share (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C F C
We share all our blocks and toys
G7 C G7 C
With the other girls and boys.
G7 C G7
Crayons, scissors, paint and glue,
C G7 C G7
Puzzles, books, the easel too.
C F C
We take turns because it's fair,
G7 C G7 C
And we're happy when we share.

Please Be Quiet (Oh, My Darling Clementine)

F
Please be quiet, please be quiet,
C7
Please be quiet just now.
F
Sh-sh-sh-sh, sh-sh-sh-sh

(Put finger to lips)
C7 F
Please be quiet just now.

Snack Attack (Three Blind Mice)

C G7 C G7 C
Snack attack, snack attack,
G7 C G7 C
A snack for us to eat, let's sit in our seats.
G7 C
Peanuts or raisins or cheese would be great,
G7 C
Even bananas, I just can't wait,
G7 C
Hurry now, let's not be late.
G7 C
Snack attack.

Line Up (Skip To My Lou)

F
Line up, line up, get in line,
C7
Line up, line up, get in line,
F
Line up, line up, get in line,
C7 F
We're going to go to lunch.

Substitute the name of your next activity for the word lunch.

The Big Round Clock (The Wheels On the Bus)

F
The big round clock goes tick tick tock,
C F
Tick tick tock, tick tick tock.

The big round clock goes tick tick tock,
C F
To tell us the time.

F
The hands-on the clock go round and round
C F
Round and round, round and round.

The hands-on the clock go round and round,
C F
To tell us the time.

Outside Play (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C F C
Let's go out to play today,
G7 C G7 C
The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day.
G7 C G7
We will hop and skip and run,
C G7 C G7
And we'll have a lot of fun.
C F C
Let's go out to play today,
G7 C G7 C
The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day.

These 10 Back To School Songs are from a great resource I recommend, Piggyback Songs For School. You'll find over 200 songs for young children to sing at school. There's no music to read. Songs are chorded for guitar, autoharp, and piano.

Have fun!

LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Book Review: We All Go Traveling By

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:12:00 +0000

I spy with my little eye,
You can hear with your little ear,
A yellow school bus goes beep-beep-beep.
And we all go traveling by, bye-bye,
And we all go traveling by.

Inside Jacket Flap

All aboard! Just try to read or listen to this playful cumulative song without tapping your toes or singing along. Children will delight in beeping, vrooming and rumbling their way through the pages of this unique book, exploring different modes of transport as they go.

With its bright, hand-stitched illustrations and an accompanying musical CD by popular children's singer Fred Penner, We All Go Traveling By will turn every school journey into a special adventure!

Book Review

Children will love the repetition and the many brightly colored illustrations. This is a very engaging book with various landscapes to discover. Especially finding all the various modes of transportation from a truck, train, boat, car, bike, and especially a yellow school bus! The song is delightful!

5/5 stars! Highly recommend!

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Book Review: I Could Be, You Could Be

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 11:58:00 +0000

I Could Be, You Could Be

Join a young boy and girl on thrilling adventures as they imagine themselves as space-traveling astronauts, ferocious dragons, jungle-dwelling monkeys and more. The fine line between children's make-believe and the fantastic worlds they create is cleverly portrayed through Barroux’s bright landscapes.

Ages 2 to 6 years

About The Book

Illustrations and rhyming text encourage readers to picture themselves becoming a variety of people and things, from an astronaut to an elephant to an alien. Includes instructions for making masks.

I Could Be, You Could Be

The story begins...

"I could be the king or queen making all the rules, You could be a dragon guarding all the jewels."

The story ends... Oh, I'm not telling! You'll love it!

What a delightful book that sparks the imagination, exploring so many areas of creativity, that fuels the conversation with endless possibilities! The storyline helps the child discover self-acceptance and purpose while dressing up and make believing. Great rhyming text. The illustrations are breathtaking with colorful blues and greens. The last page fosters an engaging craft of mask making. This is a fun book for young children.

4/5 stars!

I Could Be, You Could Be

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Music Movement in the Classroom: Review

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:35:00 +0000

Book Description

Children Sing and Dance Their Way to Better Basic Skills
Channel children's natural enthusiasm for music and movement into a rich, positive learning experience with this toe-tapping program, featuring music by Greg & Steve. The concise, easy-to-follow lesson plans make teaching music enjoyable for the musical novice and expert alike. Written by Steven Traugh, each book includes two CDs featuring a total of over 30 fun songs. 64 pages each.

Music & Movement

Can't Sit Still
Good Morning
What Colors Did You Choose?
Mixing My Colors
Mack Chicken Dance Medley
Dinosaurs Dancing
Halloween On Parade
Body Talk
Shaping Up With Shapes
Across The Bridge
Counting Up To Twenty
Alphabet Soup
Bingo
The Name Clapping Game
New Zoo Review
Warmin' Up
Days Of The Week
Rock 'Round The Mulberry Bush
What Will We Do When We All Go Out To Play?
Listen and Move
Quiet Time
A-Hunting We Will Go
The Beanbag Boogie
Skip To My Loo
Riding In My Car
Body Part Movement March
Reading Rhythmic Notation #1
Reading Rhythmic Notation #2
The Hokey Pokey
Snowflake

Halloween on Parade

Words and Music by Greg Scelsa

"You can be something silly,

Like a funny ol' circus clown.

Or you can be something from a storybook,

Like a king or a queen with a crown.

You can be a superhero

Like the kind in a comic book.

Or you can be something a little bit scary,

But a little friendly, too.

You can get dressed up,

In costumes and make-up.

You know that it's only pretend

And march all around to the happy sounds.

The fun will never end.

Chorus:

Halloween's on parade,

You can be anything you wanna be

When Halloween's on parade. (2 times)

You can be something goofy,

Like an old-time movie star,

A doctor, a nurse, or a fire chief,

A driver in a racing car.

You can be a crazy creature

From way out in outer space,

Or a character from a cartoon show

With a smile upon your face.

You can get dressed up,

In costumes and make-up.

You know that it's only pretend

And march all around to the happy sounds.

The fun will never end.

(Chorus)

Objectives

To improve role-playing skills and enhance creativity
To dramatize created characters
To march to a steady beat
To work as a cooperative group and follow a leader

Skills

Listening
Following Directions
Marching
Leadership
Group Cooperation

Music & Movement

Book Review

Delightful songs for PreK and Kindergarten children. Listening to directions and applying moving skills are encouraged. Learning days of the week along with learning the alphabet through a song is fun for all. Counting to seven and then up to twenty is a must. My favorite is the clapping a rhythm pattern that grows in length and clapping to the letters in a name. Of course, an absolute must for music teachers is the Reading Rhythmic Notation sections in reading quarter notes and rests in music. Most popular is 'Snowflake' showing strength through diversity.

4/5 stars.

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2018– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Butterflies in the Butterfly Garden

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 12:19:00 +0000

I'm geared up for back-to-school piano lessons! That's right, I'll be teaching preschool children, beginners, intermediate players, and adults too. As summer draws near to an end, I am continually amazed at earth's beautiful creatures, the elegant free-flowing butterfly. Here are a few snippets I came across this morning...

Butterflies in the Butterfly Garden

Just to taste what the other

world is like - outside the garden's

nettled roof and walls - they hitch

a ride on your back and shoulders.

Blue and pearly-colored fellows,

maidens etched in white and black.

And the monarchs' cousins,

yellow and navy swallowtails.

A pair rests on your fingertips,

They sit so still - their wings papery

petals - you only know they're alive,

because you're barely breathing, too.

By Sharon Chmielarz

The Common Blue Morpho

When a flattering friend pays you a

visit, it might be tempting to touch those colorful wings but doing so

can make life difficult for the butterfly.

Its wings and body are covered with thousands of tiny scales that

overlap like shingles on a roof.

These scales provide colors and patterns to camouflage the butterfly

from predators. They also shed water and help make the wings

strong. But they come loose easily. If you touch a butterfly's wing, the

"powder" you see on your hand is really scales that have fallen off.

By Jacqueline Adams

Meadow Mystery

While dragons soar overhead,

monarchs dine at my table,

My magic milk protects them

from enemies.

Clouds fill my pockets,

My coins bring good fortune to all.

Who am I? (the milkweed)

By Kathy Kennedy Tapp

Some Favorites

Banded Purple Wing

Belus Swallowtail

Common Blue Morpho

Giant Owl

Grecian Shoemaker

Gulf Fritillary

Orange Julia

Paper Kite

Pink Rose Swallowtail

Postman

Tailed Jay

Tiger Longwing

Zebra Longwing

You'll find trombone-blowing dragonflies and piano-tinkling centipedes inside the pages of this delightful Barefoot Book, Creepy Crawly Calypso. You can purchase the book, here.

Happy reading and butterfly watching!

-- LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Pam Brown: Grandchildren Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:03:00 +0000

photo credit: freedigitalphotos

Those gasps of astonishment, those shrieks of pleasure, those sights of delight, lost long ago when your children grew wise and worldly, are suddenly given back to you by your grandchildren. What seem to be the same small hands clutch yours, dragging you from one excitement to another - "Look! Oh look! Come on! -- Pam Brown

Pam Brown was a British writer, actress, and television producer.

Pamela Brown was just 13 when she started writing her first book, The Swish of the Curtain, in 1938. A year later, when World War II broke out, she left Colchester County High School - a selective grammar school for girls and went to live in Wales with her family. She continued with her writing, however, sending chapters of the book to her friends back in Colchester, Essex, and finally finished the book when she was 16.

The Swish of the Curtain tells the story of seven stage-struck children who form an amateur theatre company in a town called Fenchester, Brown's made-up name for her home town of Colchester. She herself was passionate about the theatre and, from an early age, put on plays with her friends. She went on to write several sequels to her first book, and other children’s novels. Her career as an actress and television producer provided her with much detail about early television and life in repertory.

More Pam Brown Quotes

photo credit: mvictor

One day we think, at last, we have escaped the ties of children, their troubles and their demands. And then we feel a little tug - and find ourselves bound, once more, by the needs of our grandchildren. And their love.
-- Pamela Brown

photo credit: yarnh

Time has taken edge of vision,
ears' perception, hands precision
yet bow can any feel bereft
when wonderment and love are left? -- Pam Brown

Recommended Books

Grandma Tillie looks like a mild-mannered granny with a bag full of knitting, but when she arrives to babysit Sophie and Chloe, she brings some crazy alter egos with her. The grandkids will love meeting Tillie Vanilly, Chef Silly Tillie, and Madame Frilly Tillie. Laurie A. Jacobs' text is imaginatively illustrated by Anne Jewett.

Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith tells a grandfather's life story through the topiaries he creates, adding up to a creative grandpa book for children.

Grandpa Green

I have fond memories of my grandmother. Because I am Greek, the word for grandma is yia yia. I have changed the spelling to YaYa to make it easier for more 5 grandchildren. I am so blessed to be a grandma and I love each one of them so very much.

Here's a photo of my lovely granddaughter and yours truly!

How about you? Do you have a personal journal or family mementos from your grandmother's notebook?

My daughter loves these books on family. Take a closer look at The Barefoot Book of Children.

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin'. Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest, too!

What Shapes Do You See?

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Tue, 23 May 2017 22:34:00 +0000

One of the cool things about visiting Santa Barbara is discovering exciting ocean liners and sailboats!

"All aboard! Come along with me! Let's see what shapes we can find on the sea."

I have four charming grandsons and they love to look out on the water and talk about the movement out at sea. Oh, how we love our beautiful Pacific Ocean! Our boys are mesmerized by the size and shapes of the vessels that ride upon the sea!

At Oceanside Harbor, we have the opportunity to walk around the jetty, admire all the boats and then head to the playground for some fun!

As I reflected on some of the photos, I was reminded of a cool book called Ship Shapes for children, ages 1-4. This exciting book is available in paperback and sturdy board book. The author Stella Blackstone has written many other books as well.

About The Book

Spot the shapes atop rolling waves and on sandy shores. This sea-based early learning selection features rhyme and repetition, as well as a full-page summarizing the shapes for reinforced learning.

My Thoughts

One particular grandson, our Riley who is 4-years-old, loves to engage in the learning activity of identifying triangles and rectangles. He gets excited when he points to the boats and counts aloud how many there are. The best part of the book is the colorful illustrations. Plus, you will see a sea monster's tail, a green submarine, and beautiful island treasure. This is a fun book for preschool.

Order Ship Shapes, here.

Happy Summer!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

We're Roaming in the Rainforest: A Barefoot Book

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:28:00 +0000

Olive Trees

“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side, there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.” John 18: 1-2

One of my favorite authors, Lysa Terkeurst wrote a short blog post that greatly impacted my life. I read and re-read her words during a time in my life when I needed tremendous encouragement and a new perspective to endure difficult times. I would like to share her words with you now...

"The olive tree is such a picture of why our hearts must go through the crushing times.

The crushing times are necessary times.

First, in order to be fruitful, the olive tree has to have both the east wind and the west wind. The east wind is the dry hot wind from the desert. This is a harsh wind. So harsh that it can blow over green grass and make it completely wither in one day.

The west wind, on the other hand, comes from the Mediterranean. It brings rain and life.

The olive tree needs both of these winds to produce fruit — and so do we. We need both winds of hardship and relief to sweep across our lives if we are to be truly fruitful.

The crushing times are processing times.

Another thing to consider about the olive tree is how naturally bitter the olive is and what it must go through to be useful. If you were to pick an olive from the tree and try to eat it this month, its bitterness would make you sick.

For the olive to be edible, it has to go through a lengthy process that includes:
washing,
breaking,
soaking,
sometimes salting,
and waiting some more.

It is a lengthy process to be cured of bitterness and prepared for usefulness.

If we are to escape the natural bitterness of the human heart, we have to go through a long process as well … the process of being cured.

The crushing times are preservation times.

The final thing I want to consider about the olive is the best way to preserve it for the long run. It must be crushed in order to extract the oil. The same is true for us. The biblical way to be preserved is to be pressed. And being pressed can certainly feel like being crushed.

Crushing is the way of preservation for the olive. It’s also the way to get what’s most valuable, the oil, out of the olive. Keeping this perspective is how we can be troubled on every side yet not distressed … pressed to the point of being crushed but not crushed and destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8)

When the sorrowful winds of the east blow, I forget they are necessary.
When I’m being processed, I forget it’s for the sake of ridding me of bitterness.
And when I’m being crushed, I forget it’s for the sake of my preservation.

And so, He created the olive tree."

I hope you have been blessed by Lysa's words to keep going no matter how difficult life may seem at times!

One book that is in our home library is about trees. No, not the beautiful olive tree but an exciting rainforest!

We're Roaming in the Rainforest

Do you have a book about rainforests? Have a peek inside our Barefoot Book.

What is the book is about?

Three children embark on a day-long trek through the rainforest, discovering all sorts of exotic creatures in their natural habitats. The charming, rhyming text highlights an adjective for each creature. The story is complemented by educational endnotes about the creatures in the story, and the peoples of the rainforest.

Who is the book for?

Ages 4 to 10 years

Who wrote the book?

Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson

What is the price of the book? Where can I purchase the book?

You can get the book at my daughter's store.
Paperback $7.99
Hardcover $16.99

Happy Reading!

LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

How Horses are Helping Children with Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:27:00 +0000

photo credit: Violeta Pencheva

I would like to introduce my readers to Jenny Holt! Jenny is a freelance health and nature writer. She came across a former post of mine, Pony Riding and Curb Walking when I was participating in orange and blue photo memes. Jenny was reminded of an article when she read my blog post.

Jenny has teamed up with a small pet health site to develop a simple guide for parents explaining how horses are just one animal involved in helping children with cancer. You can view the article at, http://www.particularpaws.com.

You will feel Jenny's heartfelt passion for horses helping children with cancer through her word crafting. I am thrilled we found one another!

Horses Helping Humans: Equine Therapy for Cancer Patients

Facing a life-changing diagnosis or surviving a life-threatening illness is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges in life. Traditional medical treatment is prescribed to fight the condition physically, but even if successful the psychological impact can be enormous. Supporting the mind and soul is equally as important as curing the body, but it requires a different approach.

Inclusive and Supportive

Engaging in equine-assisted therapy can be an excellent method of support during a period of illness, or as part of a rehabilitation process once given the all-clear. Equine therapy programs address both physical and emotional issues. Through participating in tasks such as grooming, taking the horse to the paddock, and moving equipment, people can rebuild physical strength and stamina which may have been lost during extended stays in hospital with reduced activity. Riding develops balance, muscle tone, and flexibility, but there are also options for non-riders to work with horses from the ground. Crucially though, a study undertaken with breast cancer survivors showed that equine-assisted therapy improved the overall quality of life for the women, not just their physical condition. Learning new skills promoted a sense of self-worth and pride, improved confidence, and gave the women feelings of accomplishment.

Learning to Cope

People who have taken part in therapy programs have spoken about how undertaking tasks in an unusual environment helps them to cope with the unfamiliarity of their condition. The horse represents the obstacle of their illness, and they learn how to work towards a solution rather than focussing on the problem. Becoming a participant, rather than a victim, helps them to be in control rather than feeling helpless.

Being Mindful

Horses are non-judgemental, and live in the present. Interacting with horses and engaging in tasks with them requires you to think about what is going on immediately around you, rather than worrying about your condition. This approach to thinking is commonly seen in mindfulness techniques used to treat other psychological conditions. Sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder engaging in equine-assisted therapy reported reduced anxiety, reduced symptoms of depression, and less severe emotional responses to stressful situations. Similarly, a study of young women diagnosed with social anxiety found that the equine therapy program helped them to feel less anxious and more empowered; these emotions are also experienced by cancer survivors. Equine therapy can offer people a chance to focus on something else, and to be something more than their diagnosis.

Thank you, Jenny! Best wishes and continued success!

Just a quick note from yours truly... Awhile back I shared a few photos with my readers of my grandson riding on a horse. This experience was in Maine when he was young. Have a look, here. Ben's therapist recommends horse riding because he has special needs. If you're not familiar with CdLS, there's more information here.

The above photo is where Ben currently rides in the hills of Santa Barbara!

I'm so pleased that our guest blogger shared such excellent writing on a subject dear to our hearts!

Thanks again, Jenny!

Warmly,

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

The Little Red Hen

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 20:13:00 +0000

I love this delightful book! I'm a huge fan of this charming story with beautiful illustrations that will keep your children engaged! Also, there's a bread recipe in the back with directions on how to make your own bread. In addition, you'll find a story CD enclosed. It's on sale at the moment. Buy the book, here.

About The Book

The Little Red Hen

The lazy rooster and the mischievous mouse can’t be bothered to help the little red hen
tend her ear of wheat. They can’t be bothered to help her take it to the miller either,
or bake it into bread. But when her loaf of warm, fragrant bread is ready, the little
red hen is not at all inclined to share it with them. The rooster and the mouse soon
mend their ways! This lively version of the classic tale is given contemporary treatment
with dynamic, textured illustrations which consist of collage hung from wires then
photographed by artist Kate Slater.

Audio CD includes two versions of the story: one with page-turn chimes and one without.

Ages 3 to 7 years

About The Author

Written By: Mary Finch

Mary Finch has always liked hens. As a child in London just after the war, her family kept hens in the garden. They had a battered and well-loved copy of this story. Mary has two daughters and two grandchildren and lives in Bath, UK.

Illustrated By: Kate Slater

Kate Slater lives on a dairy farm in Staffordshire, UK, with her family, her dog, lots of chickens and two pet sheep. Her studio is the old apple room, with shelves full of papers she uses for her artwork. www.kateslaterillustration.com

Narrated By: Debra Messing

Debra Messing is a stage, television and film actress who has won an Emmy award for her starring role in the hit TV series Will and Grace. Her film work includes Along Came Polly and The Wedding Date.

Book Beginning

"Once upon a time, a rooster and a mouse and a little red hen lived together in a small brown house with a red roof."

Middle of the Book

"She put the loaf into the oven to bake. When it was ready, she took out the warm, crusty loaf.
"Who will help me eat this tasty, fresh bread?" asked the little red hen.

Back of the Book

"No you won't," said the little red hen. "I shall eat it myself," said the little red hen. And she did!"

Buy the book, here.

It's so great! Do you have a copy in your home library? I plan on giving it as a gift for my youngest grandson who will soon be 4. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2016– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Dealing With Cyberbullies

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 23:23:00 +0000

Dealing With Cyberbullies

Never arrange to meet someone you met online unless your parents, friends, or a trusted adult go with you. If you are meeting them, make sure it is in a public place. As a grandma of 5, I read lots of information on this very important subject. I like to stay informed. Here are a few great suggestions.

Tips For Kids

Ignore the person. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to ignore the person and go about your business. Log-off if the harassment is bothering you.

Block or delete the person. If it is a happening on Instant Messaging or some other place online that requires a "buddy list," you can block certain users based upon their username, or delete them if they are in your buddy list. You can also block e-mails that are being received from specific e-mail addresses.

Change your information. If someone has hacked into your profile, change your password. If someone repeatedly sends you messages (like, "add me to your buddy list" over and over), consider changing your username or e-mail address.

If there is a profile that was created about you without your knowledge, contact the company which runs the site to have the profile or language taken off.

If you are upset about what is being said, talk to someone you trust. Don't feel like you're alone. Many times, you are able to take care of the cyber-bullying on your own. Sometimes, it gets out of hand, though, and it's helpful to talk to an adult about what is going on. If you feel scared or overwhelmed, maybe even trapped, it's definitely time to talk to an adult, inform your Internet Service Provider and possibly call the police if you are getting physical threats.

for more information, go to www.cyberbully411.org

Children's Books for Courage to Be Who You Are

Llama Llama and the Bully Goat

The Juice Box Bully

The Bullying Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Deal with Social Aggression and Cyberbullying

Free Resources

Banish Bullying

How I Will Stop Bullying

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2016– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Motivating Reluctant Readers

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 12:47:00 +0000

First of all, I let my grandsons choose their own books. As you can see, our 3-year-old loves board books and the 8-year-old enjoys reading chapter books! I think this is a good reading tip for the summer. There's so much structure in school and in life's routine. So, when given options, along with the power of choice, it's fun to see what story jumps out at them begging to learn what's inside!

Have you thought about writing your own stories? Our daughter has begun teaching a summer writing workshop for children and they love it.

Reading brings the family together (like a book club) and they have fun discovering, learning and sharing with one another. Besides swimming and hiking outdoors... doing crafts, practicing musical instruments and reading books will create warm memories over summer.

What about those who are not bookworms and think reading is boring? Read on!

Motivating Reluctant Readers

English: pupil is reading a book (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My grandsons and I spend at least 5 minutes a day reading out loud, instead of silently, because you're actually reading all the information and details of the book when you do it this way. I'm a huge fan of Read-a-loud.

I recently read a great article by Laura Chandler on 12-ways-to-motivate-reluctant-readers This is a great collection of ideas that I just had to share with you. I hope these tips help and inspire you.

You can motivate reluctant readers when you ….

Read aloud to them.
Choose books that you love, and read aloud with passion and expression. Get silly and change your voice to mimic the characters. (If you’re not comfortable doing this, offer to babysit for a friend and practice reading to a child. It’s fun!) When you’re reading aloud, stop at the good parts and say, “Looks like we’re out of time today….” Leave ‘em wanting more!
Let them choose their own books.
The biggest turnoff to reading is being required to read boring books. Provide a wide variety of books from different authors and across different genres, and let students choose the books they want to read. You can use reading interest surveys to help them find books on topics that interest them.
Provide time for reading.
This one’s a no-brainer, but sometimes it’s difficult to do if you have to teach from a basal reader. Kids need class time to read and lots of it. The room needs to be quiet, and everyone needs to be reading, not playing games or doing centers. Just reading. If you’re not sure how to implement this effectively, you can find helpful information and a free webinar on Teaching Resources that explains the Reading Workshop approach.
Let them create a cozy reading nook.
Who wants to sit at a desk for six hours a day? Collect an assortment of folding chairs, pillows, beanbags and other items that your kids can move to another spot in the room to read. Let reading be a time when they can get away from their desks and get comfortable.
Confer with them.
An important part of the Reading Workshop approach is conferring with students individually about what they are reading. You’ll learn about your students as readers and as individuals, and you’ll be able to connect with them personally. You’ll also find out if the books they’re choosing are on the right level. If not, you can help them find better choices, books that are just right.
Read what they’re reading.
I used to get a secret thrill when the Scholastic Book Clubs flyer arrived! I know it’s silly, but I love seeing the new books that are available and trying to decide how to spend my bonus points. I discovered that it’s fun to let students help me pick out books for the class, and I often ordered an extra copy for myself. If you’re not in the habit of doing this, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can become engrossed in a book like The City of Ember. You might even discover that the inner quirky kid in you loves The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain Underpants!
Introduce them to audio books.
Think audio books are for little kids? Maybe you haven’t listened to Madeleine L’Engle read A Wrinkle in Time! Audio books are some of the best reading motivators you’ll ever find, and they help students become better readers as well. One reason is that when students follow along in the book as they listen, they see the words in print as they hear them. Powerful stuff. Not to mention the benefits of hearing amazing stories read by fluent and proficient authors!
Make it social. Do you have a social bunch of students this year? If so, get your kids talking about books by forming classroom book clubs. Book clubs are groups of students who read the same books and get together to talk about them, sort of like Literature Circles without roles. Check out this YouTube video posted by Texas teacher Chase Young that shows Literature Circle in action. You can also use kid-safe social networking sites like Edmodo.com and Kidblog.org to get online discussions going about books. If you want to know more about Literature Circles, check out the Literature Circles resources on my website.
Let them read other stuff.
If books don’t interest your students, let them read magazines, graphic novels, informative websites, or instruction manuals for their favorite game systems. Be sure to check for appropriateness, but you can often turn kids on to reading by letting them read nontraditional forms of literature.
Get them hooked on a series.
I must have read every single Nancy Drew book in the library when I was a kid! And I fell hook, line, and sinker for Harry Potter long before the series was turned into a movie. When kids get to know the characters in a series, they feel connected and want to know more about them. So find a great series, read the first book aloud, and make sure you have plenty of copies of the sequels on hand!
Let kids give book talks.
Why not start each day with a short student-led book talk? Ask students to sign up in advance to do a 2-minute informal book share. Letting them tell about their favorite book will motivate other kids to want to read that book or others by the author.
Use technology.
Books in print might not be a thing of the past, but ebooks seem to be edging them out. However, you don’t have to have a Kindle or an iPad in your classroom to introduce your students to e-books. Younger kids will enjoy StorylineOnline.net, and older students will enjoy reading e-books on free Kindle software that you can download from Amazon.com and display on your computer.

Additional Information

Get More Out of Guided Reading

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--LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

Three Patriotic Songs To Learn

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:19:00 +0000

The words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" were written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. He had watched the bombing of Fort McHenry by the British and at dawn saw the American flag still flying. He knew the British attack had been turned back.

The Star Spangled Banner

G D Em

Oh say can you see,

B Em A7 D
By the dawn's early light,

G D
What so proudly we hailed,

G
At the twilight's last gleaming?

D Em

Whose broad stripes and bright stars,

B Em A7 D
Through the perilous fight,

G D
O'er the ramparts we watched,

G
Were so gallantly streaming.

D7 G

And thy rocket's red glare,

D7 G D7
Thy bombs bursting in air,

G D G D
Gave proof through the night,

D7 G Em A7 D
That our flag was still there.

G C E7 Am G D

Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

G D G Em G D7 G
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Preamble to the Constitution (1787)

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

You're A Grand Old Flag

The song was written in 1905 by George M. Cohan. Cohan was an American actor, playwright, theatrical producer and writer of popular songs.

F
You're a grand old flag, you're a high-flying flag
C7
And forever in peace may you wave
F
You're the emblem of the land I love
G7 C7
The home of the free and the brave
F
Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue
D7 Gm C7
Where there's never a boast or brag
C7 F C7
But, Should old acquaintance be forgot
G7 C7 F
Keep your eye on the grand old flag!

Three Cheers For The Red, White and Blue

A7 D
Three cheers for the Red, White, and Blue,
A7 DThree cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!
GThe flag of America forever,
A7 D
Three cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

Pledge to the Flag

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

A great adventurous story is a favorite with my 4 grandsons. Here are a few illustrations from within:

Another popular children's book that folks can relate to where I live, Driving my Tractor, is a good one! It comes in paperback and also with a CD.

These storybooks can be purchased from my daughter by clicking on her photo in the sidebar. I helped her sell barefoot Books a very long time ago. Now I write stories of my own and continue to give piano lessons to adults and children, including 3 to five-year-olds.

Happy Reading and Singing!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2016– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

A Pathway Through The Wilderness

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 12:37:00 +0000

Choose to live an abundant life filled with joy, adventure, passion, and purpose. Don't let the past or anyone else define who you are. The past is finished; it's over. Move forward and ask God for help. He is doing a new thing, making a new way through the wilderness.

I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19

There's a certain song that always comes to my mind when I think of Sunday School, Peace Like A River. One more that is often sung around Thanksgiving is, Over The River and Through The Woods. I'm sure there are so many more tunes you can recall. The main point being taken here must be a perspective of refreshing one's soul. We must remain hopeful and not let anyone take away our hope.

YouTube Video

My husband and I enjoyed sharing our musical gifts with the children at our local church so long ago. One of the popular songs we did with cools words like, 'Waves of mercy, waves of grace,' is called Every Move I Make.

“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Exodus 33:18-19

Picture Books and Board Books

Barefoot Books offers Shipwreck for ages 10 and up. It's a great chapter book for older children.

Take a glance of a book review, An Island in the Sun.

A great board book for toddlers and preschoolers, Ship Shapes.

photo credit: Bruneau Wild and Scenic River via photopin (license)

Happy Reading and Singing!

Blessings,

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2016– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

A-Hunting We Will Go

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 22:11:00 +0000

Here on the ranch, we have lots of trees in the grove for kids to climb on. Hiding under the rocks, boys can find tons of scampering bugs. The great outdoors beckons all of my 5 grandchildren to play outdoors. One song that comes to mind is A-Hunting We Will Go and then, of course, Little White Duck. I'm sure you've heard them before!

Off to School We Go

Sung to: A-Hunting We Will Go

Off to school we go,

It's off to school we go.

C F

We'll take our lunch and ride the bus,

C G C

With everyone we know.

Off to school we go,

It's off to school we go.

C F

We learn our ABC's and more,

C G C

With everyone we know.

It's Off to Lunch We Go

Sung to: A Hunting We Will Go

It's off to lunch we go,

It's off to lunch we go.

The food tastes very yummy,

C F

And helps us all to grow.

photo credit: Teaching Baby Blue via photopin (license)

Welcome to Our Class

Sung to: Little White Duck

C F

It's time to meet Adam,

Who's come to our class.

It's time to meet Adam,

Who's starting school today.

Bb F

We know that we'll have so much fun,

G7 C7

That we'll say to ourselves when the day is done,

F C7

Hurray, Adam came to be in our class.

C C7 F

Hurray, hurray, hurray.

Substitute the name of your new student or the name of a visitor for the name Adam.

photo credit: Duck 1 via photopin (license)

Awhile back I reviewed a fantastic book, Paper Sack Puppets. Puppetry is an old and respected art form but it is also just plain fun. This book presents dozens of original patterns for a particular kind of puppet--those made from paper sacks. Those brown (or white) paper bags generations of students have used to tote lunch to school prove to be an inexpensive base on which to create puppets that can be used to teach as well as entertain. Along with the patterns are related activities, music, poems, book lists, and games. Chock full of great ideas and clear instructions, the book will become a valuable resource for teachers, librarians, and parents.

Paper Sack Puppets: 60+ Easy Patterns and Activities for Librarians, Teachers and Parents

Happy reading and singing!

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Kindergarten Music: Mary Had a Little Lamb

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:29:00 +0000

I love sheep and have purchased more stuffed animals over the years, especially at Easter that look just like this precious lamb. When my daughter travelled to France, she sent me beautiful photos of the fields and plains with grazing sheep in the midst. Breath-taking, for sure!

Here in the classroom, we have a variety of songs for the children to sing to the tune of, Mary Had a Little Lamb. Most of these will be played with 2 chords on the guitar or piano, C and G or G7.

We Welcome You

C
We welcome you to school today,
G7 C
School today, school today.

We welcome you to school today,
G7 C
Please come in and play.

C
We're glad to have you here today,
G7 C
Here today, here today.

We're glad to have you here today.
G7 C
Yes, it's a special day!

Starting the Day

Merrily we start the day,

G C

Start the day, start the day.

Merrily we start the day,

G C

All of us at school.

Show And Tell

It's Joey's turn for show and tell,

G7 C

Show and tell, show and tell.

It's Joey's turn for show and tell,

G7 C

Let's see what he brought.

Substitute the name of one of your children for the name Joey.

What's Inside?

Amy has a mystery bag,

G7 C

Mystery bag, mystery bag.

Amy has a mystery bag,

G7 C

I wonder what's inside.

She will give us all a clue,

G7 C

All a clue, all a clue.

She will give us all a clue,

G7 C

To help guess what's inside.

This is a group problem-solving activity. Have the children bring their show and tell items in bags. After you sing this song for one of your children, have that child give clues about what's in his or her bag while the other children try to guess what it is.

Transition Time

All the people wearing green,

G C

Wearing green, wearing green.

All the people wearing green,

G7 C

Stand by the door right now.

Substitute such characteristics as born in June; with brown hair, etc., for wearing green; and the appropriate action for stand by the door.

Put Your Hands Up to the Sky

Put your hands up to the sky,

G7 C

To the sky, to the sky.

Put your hands up to the sky,

G7 C

And see if you can fly.

Put your hands down on the floor,

G7 C

On the floor, on the floor.

Put your hands down on the floor,

G7 C

And try to count to four.

Now put both hands in your lap,

G7 C

In your lap, in your lap.

Now put both hands in your lap,

G7 C

And take a little nap.

Have the children act out the motions as you sing the song.

Playground Song

I like to climb on the jungle gym,

G7 C

Jungle gym, jungle gym.

I like to climb on the jungle gym

G7 C

On the big playground.

I like to go up in the swing,

G7 C

In the swing, in the swing.

I like to go up in the swing

G7 C

On the big playground.

I like to go down the steep slide,

G7 C

The steep slide, the steep slide.

I like to go down the steep slide

G7 C

On the big playground.

All Day Long

Molly is in charge of blocks,

G7 C

In charge of blocks, in charge of blocks.

Molly is in charge of blocks,

G7 C

All day long.

Substitute one of your children's names for the name Molly, and the appropriate job for the phrase in charge of blocks.

Put Our Toys Away

Let's all put our toys away,

G7 C

Toys away, toys away.

Let's all put our toys away,

G7 C

And sit down with our friends.

It's Time to Clean Up

Do you know what time it is,

G7 C

Time it is, time it is?

Do you know what time it is?

G7 C

It's time to clean up.

Wave Goodbye

It is time to wave goodbye,

G7 C

Wave goodbye, wave goodbye.

It is time to wave goodbye,

G7 C

Goodbye to our friends.

Now it is time to go home,

G7 C

To go home, to go home.

Now is the time to go home,

G7 C

To go home from school.

We're glad we came to school today,

G7 C

School today, school today.

We're glad we came to school today,

G7 C

To learn and work and play.

When We Go To School

This is the way we watch the lights,

G7 C

Watch the lights, watch the lights.

This is the way we watch the lights,

G7 C

When we go to school.

We stop and wait if it is red,

G7 C

If it is red, if it is red.

We stop and wait if it is red,

G7 C

When we go to school.

We wait until the light turns green,

G7 C

The light turns green, the light turn greens.

We wait until the light turns green,

G7 C

When we go to school.

We look both ways before we cross,

G7 C

Before we cross, before we cross.

We look both ways before we cross,

G7 C

When we go to school.

We walk directly to our school,

G7 C

To our school, to our school.

We walk directly to our school,

G7 C

When we go to school.

Taking Turns

On the playground please take turns,

G7 C

Please take turns, please take turns.

Remember others like a turn,

And always try to share.

The Guessing Game

My friend has a green shirt on,

G7 C

Green shirt on, green shirt on.

My friend has a green shirt on,

G7 C

Can you name my friend?

Substitute the name of the color and the item of clothing one of the children is wearing for the words green shirt. Have the children try to guess which child it is.

Do You Know Its Name?

Do you know what shape this is,

(Hold up a triangle.)

G7 C

Shape this is, shape this is?

Do you know what shape this is?

G7 C

Do you know its name?

Yes, I know what shape it is,

G7 C

Shape it is, shape it is.

Yes, I know what shape it is,

G7 C

It is a triangle.

What Day Is It?

Do you know what day it is,

G7 C

Day it is, day it is?

Do you know what day it is?

G7 C

Today is Tuesday.

Substitute the appropriate day for the word Tuesday.

The Wind Is Blowing

The wind is blowing all around,

G7 C

All around, all around.

The wind is blowing all around,

G7 C

All around the town.

Hope you enjoy singing these delightful songs to the children.

Here are a few favorite books we like. Do you have a favorite book on sheep?

Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep by Mo Willems.

No Sleep for the Sheep! by Jackie Urbanovic

Happy reading and singing! Have a blessed Easter!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Oh, My Darling Clementine for the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:51:00 +0000

This American folk song, Oh My Darling Clementine is very popular in common use. Read about the song's history, here. The tune is usually sung in the Key of F. Here are a few songs with chords and lyrics you might want to use in the classroom.

Time For School

Welcome Song

Sung to: Oh, My Darling Clementine

Little Reid, little Reid,

Little Reid is new today,

We are glad you've joined our classroom,

C7 F

And we hope that you will stay.

Substitute the name of your new student for the name Reid, and the name of your group for the word classroom.

Time For Stories

Sung to: Oh, My Darling Clementine

Time for stories, time for stories,

Time for stories today,

Let's sit down, let's be quiet,

G7 C

Wonder what we'll hear today?

Be As Quiet As Can Be

Let's sit down, let's sit down,

Let's sit down so quietly,

Let's sit down, let's sit down,

C7 F

Be as quiet as can be!

Please Be Quiet

Please be quiet, please be quiet,

Please be quiet just now.

Sh-sh-sh-sh, sh-sh-sh-sh,

(Put finger to lips)

C7 F

Please be quiet just now.

Time To Rest

Time to rest, time to rest,

Sleepy heads, it's time to rest.

When you wake up you'll feel so good,

That you'll do your very best!

Learning About Ourselves And Others

Stop, Drop And Roll

I'm on fire, I'm on fire!

But I know just what to do.

I will stop all of my running,

C7 F

Drop and roll's the thing to do.

Concepts

Numbers

Count our numbers, count our numbers,

Count our numbers every day.

It is fun to count our numbers,

G7 C

As a class every day.

One-two-three-four, five-six-seven-eight,

Nine and ten we'll count today.

It is fun to count together,

G7 C

One to ten and then again.

What's the Weather?

What's the weather, what's the weather

What's the weather, everyone?

Is it windy, is it cloudy,

G7 C

Is there rain or is there sun?

If You're Happy And You Know It

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:31:00 +0000

This is such a fun tune to join in and singalong with. I think your classroom and young ones at home will have lots of fun with the lyrics. The series of songs that you find below remind me of another popular song, Knick Knack Paddy Whack. It's a great book, too.

We're So Glad

(Sung to: If You're Happy And You Know It)

G D

We're so glad you've come to school today,

Kristy won't you stand,

And shake Linda's hand.

D G

Now everybody clap and say ole'!

G D

We're so glad you've come to school today,

We're so glad you've come to school today.

Elizabeth stamp your feet,

And Eric smile so sweet.

D G

Now everybody clap say ole'.

G D

We're so glad you've come to school today,

We're so glad you've come to school today.

Susan take a bow,

And Kevin blink right now.

D G

Now everybody stand and say ole'!

G D

We're so glad you've come to school today,

Eileen hop about,

And David give a shout.

D G

Now everybody clap and say ole'!

(Substitute the names of your children for the names in the song. Have the children act out the motions as their names are called.)

Ready to Share

(Sung to: If You're Happy And You Know It)

G D

If you're ready to share, clap your hands,

If you're ready to share, slap your knees.

If you're ready to share,

Then quiet you will be.

D G

If you're ready to share, fold your hands.

If You're Ready

(Sung to: If You're Happy And You Know It)

G D

If you're ready for a story, find a seat,

If you're ready for a story, find a seat.

If you're ready for a story,

Check your hands and then your feet,

D G

If you're ready for a story, find a seat.

If You're Name Begins With A

G D

If your name begins with A, wash your hands,

If your name begins with A, wash your hands.

If your name begins with A,

D G

If your name begins with A, wash your hands.

(Substitute other letters for the letter A and names of other activities for wash your hands.)

Let's All Join In

G D

It's cleanup time, let's all join in,

It's cleanup time, let's all join in.

All the girls and all the boys,

Let's put away the toys,

D G

It's cleanup time, let's all join in.

It's Important That I Know My Address

F C7

It's important that I know my address,

It's important that I know my address.

If you listen to me now,

I will say it, I know how.

C7 F

It's important that I know my address.

(Have each child say his or her address at the end of the song.)

If You Are Wearing Red

G D

If you are wearing red, shake (nod) your head,

If you are wearing red, shake your head,

If you are wearing red,

Then please shake your head.

D G

If you are wearing red, shake your head.

Additional verses:

If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe;

If you are wearing black, pat your back;

If you are wearing green, bow like a queen;

If you are wearing yellow, shake like Jell-O;

If you are wearing brown, turn around;

If you are wearing pink, give us a wink; etc.

Holding Shapes

G D

If you're holding a square, stand up,

If you're holding a square, stand up.

If there's a square in your hand,

Then it's time for you to stand.

D G

If you're holding a square, stand up.

(Repeat with additional verses about other shapes.)

This is a cool book illustrated by Christiane Engel. The song is sung by SteveSongs. I have it as a hardcover book with a singalong CD. The price is $16.99

Book Description

Sing along with this rollicking song that introduces instruments and counts from one to ten, as ... This old man comes rolling home!

I especially like the introduction to instrument families. This book covers woodwind, brass, stringed, percussion and keyboard instruments. Knick Knack Paddy Whack is available in paperback for $6.99.

Happy reading and singing!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Kindergarten Music: Camptown Races

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 22:53:00 +0000

I came across a song for the classroom while introducing concepts. What's a cock horse, you might ask? The Free Dictionary says it's an old English word; something used as a toy horse, such as the knee of an adult or a rocking horse.

Listen to the song on YouTube, here.

Mittens and Boots

Sung to: Ride a Cock Horse

These are our mittens,

F C

What are they for?

F D

They keep our hands warm

G C

When we go out the door.

And these are our boots,

C G

They will keep our feet dry

F G

In piles of cold snow

C F C

When we play outside.

Learning Manners

Sung to: Camptown Races

F
Learning manners can be fun,
C
Please and thank you,
F
"Yes ma'am," "no sir" are some,
C F
Say them every day.

When we learn them well,
Bb F
You can always tell.

Pardon me, you're welcome too,
C F
Use manners every day.

Close Your Eyes

Sung to: Rock-A-Bye, Baby

C G7
Now is the time for us to rest,
C
Close your eyes and do your best,
G7
I'll stay with you while you sleep,
C F G7 C
When you awake, we'll do something neat.

You can order this beautiful book, here. Magic Hoofbeats (Fantastic Horse Tales) is so great!

This book is guaranteed to become a much treasured volume in any child's collection. A must for horse lovers everywhere, the book is written by horse whisperer Josepha Sherman and illustrated in radiant hues by artist Linda Wingerter.

Ages 8 to 11 years

Horses are wonderful for special needs children. Check out my pony riding photos, here.

Other Books for horse lovers:

Bramble and Maggie: Horse Meets Girl (Candlewick Sparks)
My Pony
The Horse

Happy reading and singing!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain: Kindergarten Music

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 21:14:00 +0000

One popular folk song sung by many around the camp fire is called, She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain! Another famous one enjoyed by many is, The Bear wEnt Over The Mountain. Here are different lyrics to these two songs for you to use in your classroom.

It's Time to Go to School

It is time to go to school, here we come,

It is time to go to school, here we come.

It is time to go to school,

We think school is pretty cool,

F C7 F

It is time to go to school, here we come.

Stand In Line

If you're wearing tennis shoes stand in line,

If you're wearing tennis shoes,

F C7 F

If you're wearing tennis shoes, stand in line.

Substitute other clothing names for the words tennis shoes until all of the children are in line.

It's Time to Go Out And Play

(Sing to: The Bear Went Over the Mountain)

C F C

It's time to go out and play,

G7 C

It's time to go out and play,

G7 C

With all your friends today.

Bear and his friend are taking a trip to the mountains. Tell the time with them as they make their way to their destination on many different types of transportation and have lots of fun when they get there!

Bear Takes a Trip

Awhile back I wrote a post on various books about bears. Bear At Work and Bear in the Square are a few board books that I like to read to my grandchildren. Here's more bear books!! Then, there's a book of honesty and bravery called, The Princess and the White Bear King. Be sure and read my review of Bear On A Bike by Stella Blackstone.

Bear in Sunshine has bold, bright colors in this charming board book for ages 1-4. I think these selections are just right for the little ones.

Happy reading and singing!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Kindergarten Music: Old MacDonald Had a Farm

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:59:00 +0000

One of my sweet grandsons received a play barn with animal toy set. He spends hours with it, pretending to feed and ride the animals. We all chuckle as we hear him make animal sounds. His adorable farmer's voice reminds me of a famous nursery song we all have come to love... Old Mac Donald Had a Farm! Here's a song you may want to sing in your classroom to this familiar tune but with different words.

Shake Your Hand

F Bb F

He would like to shake your hand,

C7 F

And say hello to you.

Bb F

He will tell you his name is Kelly,

C7 F

Now tell him your name too.

(Child says name.)

Hello, Susie; hello, Susie: hello, hello, Susie.

Bb F

He would like to shake your hand.

(Shake hands)

C7 F

And say hello to you.

Substitute the names of your children for the names Kelly and Susie. Continue singing the song until each child has had a chance to shake someone's hand.

A Barefoot Singalong: Driving my Tractor

Here's my book review if you're interested in my thoughts on this wonderful picture book with CD. This is an interactive, educational and musical journey for the listener. SteveSongs has won numerous awards, including a Parent's Choice Gold Award, a CMW Best Audio Award, a NAPPA Honor and an iParenting Media Award.

Chords & Lyrics: Driving my Tractor

Key: D Major

Time: 4/4 Light, fun swing

D D/F# G G/A

Driving my tractor down a bumpy road

D D/F# G A7

And in my trailer, there's a heavy load.

D D/F# G G#dim7

There's a black and white cow going moo, moo, moo

D/A G/A D G/A

It's a very busy day.

Chorus

Chug, Chug, Clank, Clank, Toot!

G/A D

It's a very busy day.

Here are some additional works of SteveSongs:

Music Time with SteveSongs - Volume One

Marvelous Day

photo credit: Standing for Yet Another Spring via photopin (license)
*affiliate links in post*

I recommend Driving my Tractor for preschool/kindergarten libraries and home library, too. Here's a review from School Library Journal:

"A farmer drives his tractor down a bumpy road through various seasons, gradually loading one cow, two donkeys, three pigs, four sheep, and five chickens onto his trailer... A jolly read-aloud, and the accompanying CD with a jazzy version adds to the charm, with both an instrumental track and SteveSongs (of PBS fame) singing the text."

2015 Recap

noreply@blogger.com (LadyD Piano) — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 15:25:00 +0000

While saying goodbye to 2015, (my grandchildren love to play dress up!) I thought I would sum up several popular posts. Perhaps many of you will enjoy refreshing your memory while others may be visiting for the first time. I sincerely hope life treats you kind in 2016 and with the New Year ahead, you will be making more fabulous memories with reading and music, especially with family and friends.

1. How to make rainsticks.
2. An Italian Family Christmas
3. Occupy pie
4. Barefoot-books-childrens-board-books
5. How to bake Greek roast lamb
6. Retro gas stations
7. Under the circus tent
8. Review: Elephant dance journey to India
9. Buzzing-with-bee-puppet
10. Dino island
11. Back-to-school-farmer-in-dell
12. Give-me-oil-in-my-lamp
13. Meet-music-mouse

Photo Credit: "Window box perfection", © 2011 Rachel Kramer, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio

When one door closes, God will open another door.

He is more committed to your breakthrough than you are! I know that might sound hard to believe, but it's true.

Everything God does for us is motivated by His perfect love, so regardless if we understand our circumstances, we can trust that God is with us and that if we don't quit, He'll see us through

He'll even see us through if we do give up (He's an expert at redeeming our mistakes and failures).

Keep pressing on & never give up. When a door closes, God will open another door.

Wishing you all the best in 2016... Happy reading and a very Happy New Year!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Barefoot Books- LadyD

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The story begins...

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Table of Contents

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Skills

Book Review

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Three Patriotic Songs To Learn

A Pathway Through The Wilderness

A-Hunting We Will Go

Off to School We Go

It's Off to Lunch We Go

Welcome to Our Class

Kindergarten Music: Mary Had a Little Lamb

We Welcome You

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Transition Time

Put Your Hands Up to the Sky

Playground Song

All Day Long

Put Our Toys Away

It's Time to Clean Up

Wave Goodbye

When We Go To School

Taking Turns

The Guessing Game

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What Day Is It?

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Time For Stories

Be As Quiet As Can Be

Please Be Quiet