At a recent MGOL training workshop in Indiana, a discussion on the effect of praise was started. Apparently, according to the HighScope curriculum, praise can be harmful. In a 2011 resource guide (ReSource2011.12winter_72-1.pdf): “Many well-intentioned teachers have used praise to…
Mother Goose on the Loose is “a typical public library program for babies, parents, and caregivers”
A survey sent out by the ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee (ECPS) contained questions regarding current efforts by public libraries to serve parents/caregivers and their babies. Although responses showed that programs varied significantly in frequency, attendance, and length,…
Knee Bounces – are they safe?
Yesterday, a listserv for public librarians questioned the safety of knee bounces. My response was this: When I was in Oakland, California presenting a training workshop, one of the participants spoke about this. She said that she worked with teen…
MGOL is at the Piedmont Library
Rhonda Turley at the Piedmont Library in Oklahoma wrote: I held my first weekly Mother Goose on the Loose program last week. I had 6 kids and their grownups, and received unsolicited hugs from 5 out of 6 kids. Not a bad…
Monkey Business
I received an email recently asking about my use of puppet monkeys in the MGOL program. Below are excerpts from the conversation: I am about to begin my first MGOL session at my library in Connecticut. I am unable to…
Librarian on the Loose
My doctorate in communications design is from the University of Baltimore. They called me a few months ago and asked if they could interview me for an article in their alumni magazine; they were writing on the topic of information…
Puppet Kisses
A librarian in Virginia recently sent an email asking the following question: “I attended the mgol workshop at the Library of Virginia in September of 2010 and am doing the 10 part program a tmy Public Library. It is going very…
Summer Reading for Babies and Toddlers AND a great program at ALA
On the public library listserv (pubyac), there is a link to a blog with wonderful information about a Summer Reading Club for babies and toddlers called Rubber Ducky Club. Check it out here: http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2011/06/doing-summer-thing.html Also, don’t forget to stop by…
The Power of Play
I would like to tell you about an exciting program that I am involved with at the upcoming ALA conference in New Orleans. It is called “The Power of Play” and will be taking place on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from…
Great Workshops
I’ve just returned from some exhilarating workshops! Last week, there were full-day MGOL workshops in Western Maryland and Michigan; this week I presented a 2-day Early Literacy Workshop with my colleague, Saroj Ghoting, in Wisconsin. Now I’m getting ready for…