Hi and welcome to the new Mother Goose on the Loose Blog!
-Betsy
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Article about Spanish language MGOL
This coincides with the release (finally) of the Spanish MGOL CD on CD Baby
And within the next few weeks, the book I have been writing for Neal-Schuman should become available (see below). This is a great example of "When it rains, it pours..."
Early Literacy Programming en Español
Mother Goose on the Loose Programs for Bilingual Learners
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Fan Club
Constructive Playthings is having a sale on colored scarves: a package of 12 scarves on sale for $7.48! (Item XX-204). And cluster bells are on sale for $1.70 per bell (Item xx-263). If you need either of these items, these are great deals; order from 1-800-448-4115 or www.cptoys.com. (This is not a paid announcement - just a friendly tip!)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Developmental Tip Cards are Available!!!!!
When presenting Mother Goose on the Loose training workshops, I often heard participants say that the most difficult thing for them was coming up with new developmental tips for parents and caregivers each week.
I envisioned a deck of developmental tip cards that could be used in any early literacy program. Related to school readiness, each card would have a brief tip relating to one of the domains of school readiness, written in easy language for adults of all levels to understand. On the flip side of the card would be suggestions for the presenter regarding activities that could go along with the tip; i.e. a song, story, craft activity, or suggested project for home that the presenter could either lead or mention.
I asked Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting if she would like to partner me in the writing of these cards, and ALA Editions agreed to be our publisher. We wrote a short manual describing the domains of school readiness and explaining how to use the tip cards. And the complete package arrived at my home in the mail yesterday! What a treat!!!! ALA Editions did a wonderful job of producing it, and I believe this is going to be extremely helpful to anyone who is running programs for adults with children ages 5 and under.
The Early Literacy Kit:
A Handbook and Tip Cards
For more information and to order book.
Also, I'm looking forward to my presentation at the New England Library Association this weekend!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Exciting week in Indiana
In between Jeffersonville and Evansville, it was recommended that we stop at a restaurant off the highway called "The Overlook." What a gorgeous place! Windows overlook a hairpin turn of the meandering Ohio River; there is green everywhere and the sunsets are splendid!
I'm now back in Baltimore, and a colleague just sent me a link to a wonderful article on brain research and how children learn. It is from the New York Times, written by Alison Gopnik, and can be accessed at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16gopnik.html
Sunday, August 2, 2009
MGOL lives on...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDS5N-GgeyA
An article about Rachel MacNeilly's program in the San Francisco area,
http://www.webjunction.org/programming-and-outreach/-/articles/content/456616
Friday, July 3, 2009
NAFCC Conference
Monday, April 13, 2009
Workshop in Kennewick, Washington!
Saturday, May 30
9am to 4pm
Mid-Columbia Libraries
Kennewick Branch
1620 S. Union St.
Mother Goose on the Loose is an award-winning early-literacy program for
children from birth to age three. It combines music, movement, visual
literacy, language development to help children get ready to read. Even
more important, it helps young children get ready for school by learning
how to focus and concentrate, learning social skills like taking turns,
learning how to express emotions, and developing a love for learning that
will ensure their success throughout their school experiences.
Cost is $35 includes lunch and “5 STARS Hours”
For Registration Call: Child Care Resource & Referral (509) 545-6145
Catholic Family and Child Service: MidColumbia Libraries:
Diocese of Yakima Grow your mind
Friday, April 3, 2009
New program in South Carolina
And here is a post from the South Carolina library listserv:
From: Forum for SC Public Library Children's Services Staff
[mailto:CHILDLIB-L@LISTSERV.
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 9:38 AM
To: CHILDLIB-L@LISTSERV.SCSL.
Subject: Re: [CHILDLIB-L] Mother Goose on the Loose
I started doing MGOL for my Toddler program the next Thursday. I just did my third one yesterday. It's been a huge hit with the 3 and under crowd. Even the grandparents like the knee bounces! And the parents have started inviting friends. Last fall I had 3 for my toddler program on a great week. Now I'm averaging 7. Of course, our new building has contributed to the growth, but I KNOW that the MGOL program will bring more patrons in.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
On Friday, I had an exhilarating visit to Terra Haute, Indiana. There, United Way of the Wabash Valley has partnered with the Vigo County Public Library and Success by Six and received a Mother Goose on the Loose grant. I presented a workshop for librarians, daycare providers, trainers, program directors, and others which was great fun. At the end of the day, I was shown the new car which was paid for by the grant!
The decals have not been put on it yet, but I was given these pictures showing the final product! This will be the very first "Mother Goose on the Loose mobile!" One of the librarians is going to do outreach to daycares by traveling around in this vehicle and providing roving Mother Goose on the Loose programs. How cool!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Upcoming Workshops in Baltimore
Both workshops will be led by Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, creator of Mother Goose of the Loose.
Additional trainers will include Regina Wade for the full-day training workshop and Rose Hernandez for the workshop focusing on Spanish speakers.
Each workshop involves background information on recent research, brain develompent, child development, and school readiness. There is a hands-on demonstation, a connection of the research with the practice, a step-by-step guide to planning and executing your program. There is also a piece where each person makes their own flannel board piece and then has the opportunity to perform their rhyme in front of the group. Since we know that the best way to learn is by doing, our workshop reflects that. I can guarantee that anyone who participates in the workshop will leave with the knowledge, the skill, and the inspiration to present Mother Goose on the Loose programs at their own libraries.
Non-Spanish-speaking participants in the Spanish workshop will leave with the toos and inspiration to start their own programs. The workshop covers how to look for a community partner who speaks Spanish, (knowing how to look and where to look), what points to keep in consideration, how to work together with a partner, how to prepare yourir library for this type of program, what type of content is needed, and how to organize and present the content of this specific program (Eschucha y Disfruta - Mother Goose on the Loose en Español. Anyone who does not yet run Spanish langauge programs for families with young children but would like to start, would find this workshop very helpful.
Workshop dates and times are as follows:
Monday May 18th 2009 English Workshop 9 am -4pm (1 hour break for lunch)
Tuesday May 19th 2009 Workshop for learning how to run Mother Goose on the Loose in Spanish (Eschucha y Disfruta) 9 am -3pm (1 hour break for lunch)
Location: Port Discovery Children's Museum, 35 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Please return completed registration form by email.
Checks can be made out to: Mother Goose on the Loose, LLC, and can be sent to:
Mother Goose on the Loose
P.O. Box 20857
Baltimore, Maryland 21209
Questions? Call: 443 928-3915
REGISTER HERE!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
One Hour Telephone Course
Comments include:
-Speaker was clear, spoke quickly but was easy to listen to and understand. Covered a lot of info.
-We had a great time! We now have many new songs (with lyrics) to offer our toddlers at storytime.
-Enjoyed the enthusiasm of the speaker. it was very well organized and presented.
-Enjoyed this session very much. It was great to see that we are on the right track here in our library as we follow a similar, though not exact, way of doing our baby and toddler programs.
-Reassuring to know that we already incorporate many of the suggestions in our program; great to get new rhyme ideas.
-I appreciated the balance of theoretical information as well as practical examples of stuff I can use in my programs.
-I appreciate the enthusiasm and new ideas. I'm looking forward to trying them.
-Enjoyed it!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pictures from the South Carolina Workshop
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Tony Chestnut
Try it some time at your library!
Workshops in Pennsylvania
If anyone lives in Pennsylvania and would like to attend the workshops, check for more details on this Website:
http://mgolworkshops.wetpaint.com/
Sunday, March 8, 2009
NEW Training workshops in Baltimore
On Monday, May 18, the very first Mother Goose on the Loose training workshop for individuals will be held in Baltimore, at the Port Discovery Children's Museum. If you would like to learn how to run Mother Goose on the Loose programs at your library, museum, or childcare center, this is your golden opportunity!
And, if you would like to learn how to run Mother Goose on the Loose programs in Spanish (even if you don't speak Spanish), come to the "Escucha y Disfruta con Mamá Gansa: Mother Goose on the Loose Program for Spanish-speaking Families"">which will be held at Port Discovery on the following day (Tuesday, May 19)!
For more information and registration, write to: mgol@mgol.net
Chickens in New Hampshire
Now it's time for the busy work... listening to every single bit of the recordings, deciding what to keep and what to discard, making note of the times and position of each relevant piece, and deciding what needs to be edited.
This morning I read a new review of Booktalking Bonanza from School Library Journal. It's a nice review, but my last name is spelled incorrectly!
DIAMONT-COHEN, Betsy & Selma K. Levi. Booktalking Bonanza: Ten Ready-to-Use Multimedia Sessions for the Busy Librarian. 240p. illus. photos. reprods. appendix. bibliog. further reading. index. Web sites. CIP. ALA. 2008. pap. $40. ISBN 978-0-8389-0965-2. LC 2008015371.
Librarians looking for ways to engage media-obsessed children need search no further. Originally a presentation called "Booktalking with Pizzazz," presented at the 2004 American Library Association's Annual Conference, this volume is a collection of scripts for multimedia-enriched booktalks. After an introductory chapter that explains the reasoning for this approach, 10 scripts are outlined. Books, music, video, and Web sites are included for each one. The programs are geared toward elementary-aged children, although suggestions for adapting them for a middle or high school audience are included. The script for the ALA program is included, as is a concluding chapter with further advice and tips. Librarians can follow the scripts included in the book, adapt them for their own resources and needs, or use them as a place to start their own programs. Of particular interest to teachers and school library media specialists, especially those who are experienced booktalkers, this guide will help lead the way to a new kind of presentation.—Melissa Rabey, Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick, MD
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Chicago
Minnesota
Thursday, February 19, 2009
GREAT NEWS!!!!
Charles Harmon from Neal-Schuman Publishers just sent me an email saying that my book:
Mother Goose on the Loose : a handbook and CD-ROM kit with scripts, rhymes, songs, flannel-board patterns, and activities for promoting early childhood development
has just sold through it's first printing and it now on it's second printing! Hooray!Thursday, February 12, 2009
BOOKTALKING BONANZA
Midwest Book Review had a review at http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Booktalking+Bonanza.-a0191955287 and gave our book 5 stars in their Amazon.com review!
And here's another review from:
The Tech Static
Your collection development resource for technology titles
Review - Booktalking Bonanza
Diamant-Cohen, Betsy, and Selma K. Levi. Booktalking Bonanza: Ten Ready-To-Use Multimedia Sessions for the Busy Librarian. ALA Editions. 2009. 240p. ISBN 978-0-8389-0965-2. $40.00/$36.00 ALA members.
You will indeed be a very busy librarian if you decide to recreate all of these multimedia booktalking presentations, which incorporate music, video, and computer clips, as well as readings from multiple books. They cover topics as varied as Lightning, Immigration, and — my personal favorite — Body Parts: Missing, Extra, and Just Plain Strange. Organized in a straightforward manner, Booktalking Bonanza provides whole scripts for each multimedia booktalk, along with websites for the video and music clips suggested; each presentation provides enough material for two or three real-life booktalks. While I wouldn’t recommend this book for a beginner booktalker, it is perfect for those of us who have been around the block a few times and are looking for some new and invigorating ways to spice up our delivery. Most booktalks target a younger audience, but the authors also give ample examples of booktalks for older grade school, teens, and even adults to adapt to your situation. One plus: the authors included readings from the actual books (which many booktalking books do not suggest or recommend, but which I have found useful in capturing students’ attention) — even including page numbers from the books. I’m only sorry I haven’t had the privilege to see this team in action as they present these multimedia booktalks.
Tasha Squires is a young adult consultant for Shorewood-Troy Public Library District. Her book Library Partnerships: Making Connections Between School and Public Libraries, will be published by ITI in early 2009.
Written by rachel, January 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am, Posted in ala editions, multimedia, professional,Tagged with ala editions, booktalking bonanza, diamant-cohen, levi, squires
Audio Course Being Offered
Friday, Feb. 20th, 2-3pm ET
Mother Goose on the Loose
with Betsy Diamant-Cohen - 1 hour AUDIO CONFERENCE
BACK AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Learn about the award-winning early literacy program, Mother Goose on the Loose. After a brief review of theories of learning based on findings in brain research, hear about the structure of Mother Goose on the Loose and how it combines language, books, illustration, music, movement, drama, and creative interaction to create an optimal learning environment. Experience program songs and rhymes created by Canadian music educator, Barbara Cass-Beggs. Connect the program components with best practices for developing school readiness skills. Learn how to incorporate all this into your own early childhood programs.
REGISTER AT WWW.THEPARTNERSHIP.CA and scroll down to the 'Education Institute'
Fees for AUDIO Conferences
Member: $54.00 + GST
Non-Member: $74.00 + GST
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Back from California
Based on that, I am going to revise the original program to include many more traditional Spanish language songs from around the world. Since the Spanish spoken in different countries varies in both vocabulary and spelling, finding someone to proofread the book I am writing will be a challenge. If anyone reading this blog knows a good translator who is aware of the nuances and slight variations, and familiar with Spanish language children's songs, please let me know!
Also, if you know of any Spanish language songs that are terrific that fit in with one of the 10 sections of a standard Mother Goose on the Loose program, feel free to send your suggestion to me!
Betsy
Monday, January 19, 2009
Congregate in Colorado!
I look forward to meeting people who are successfully using Mother Goose on the Loose in their libraries, and will be happy to speak with others about booking training workshops or purchasing CDs.
See you there!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mother Goose is really on the Loose!
When budget cuts meant the closure of the Exploration Center, I was tranferred to Pratt's Central Library where I worked as the Children's Programming Specialist until recently.
Now that I am only receiving a salary for part-time employment, I hope to do many more training workshops with the extra tmie to spread the word (and also to help support my family!)
So, if you would like to schedule a training workshop, or know of someone else who would like to schedule a training workshop, please feel free to contact me!!! All requests can be sent to info@mgol.org, or you can respond directly to this post.
Why is Mother Goose on the Loose great? Rather than me telling you (I am obviously biased), I will ask some librarians to post their comments. Please feel free to add your stories as well.
Thanks!
Betsy
Mother Goose on the Loose Blog
I will give updates of upcoming events here and welcome any comments or questions you have about Mother Goose on the Loose.
-Betsy
About Me
- Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen
- Baltimore, MD, United States
- Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen created the Mother Goose on the Loose ® program while working in Jerusalem in the late 1980s at the Israel Museum Youth Wing Library. She holds a doctorate in Communications Design and a Masters in Library Science. Betsy was named a 'Mover and Shaker' by Library Journal in 2004; her book, Mother Goose on the Loose : a handbook and CD-ROM kit with scripts, rhymes, songs, flannel-board patterns, and activities for promoting early childhood development was published by Neal-Schuman in 2006. Check out her Website at www.mgol.net!