MGOL for Home Daycares

A sample “script” for one program for a home daycare – by Dora Garraton

Each MGOL session lasts approximately 30 minutes. After greeting the children, if there is an introductory song, we do it. Then I get out my portable flannel board with a laminated picture of Mother Goose. I ask if anyone knows what a boy goose is called and explain about the gander. (After a while, they catch on and yell out, “A gander!” to my question.) Then we do our gander rhymes, “Old Mother Goose when she wanted to wander”and “Goosey, goosey gander” with hand motions. Next, I remove the laminated Mother Goose picture and under it I have the “Five, Fat Sausages” felt pieces already up behind the Mother Goose picture. After the  “Five, Fat Sausages” song, I put my pieces back so they will be ready for my next MGOL class. This is an activity of its own: I ask the children help me count the sausages as I put them back on the pan, then put the picture of Mother Goose back and put my flannel board back in the bag.

Occasionally, I sing the fish song before putting away the flannel board and use different colored fish.  We follow with Rum, pum, pum on the tambourine, and after having the kids tap their names on the drum, I put it away and display introduce the book that will be read aloud. Initially, I memorized the book, but now I type out the words, print them, and tape them to the back cover. This way, I can hold the book out in front of me, closer to the children, without having to flip back and forth.

These are not big books. The words to the book are printed out on a single sheet of paper and minimized to fit the back cover. I just feel more comfortable not having to look at the words. I tend to memorize the book after a few reads, so this is more of a cheat sheet, I guess. I like looking at the children’s faces as I read, rather than look at the pages in the book. Of course, I will point things out in the pictures, but the story itself, I like looking around at the children. It’s just a matter of preference for me.

After the story, we play a percussion instrument with rhymes or music. Typically, egg shakers, ‘rain’ shakers, rhythm sticks, and sometimes castanets, tambourines, or sand blocks are used. After collecting the instruments, if there is time, I’ll read another book. Otherwise, we sing songs with scarves. Then we recite a few more rhymes to wind down the class. At some point during the session, I interject a tip for the caregiver or parent, usually relevant to the activity we’re doing.

Initially, parents or caregivers may be hesitant with unfamiliar songs or feel a little silly, but they warm up quickly. It’s great to stress how important early face-to- face talk is for little brains and that these informal interactions are extremely valuable. Rather than being worried that it’s not a ‘structured’ or ‘educated’ lesson, parents feel pride that they are doing something that will aid their children’s development.

Recipe

Here is an example of typical program for home daycares:

  1. Welcoming Comments

(Name of child) has a pig/chicken/goat (whatever stuffed animal is used that month) on his/her head…

2. Rhymes and Reads

    • Old Mother Goose when she wanted to wander…
    • Goosey, Goosey Gander…

3. Body Rhymes

    • (Hands) Five, Fat Sausages…
    • (Knee Bounces) Mother and Father and Uncle John…(with babies)

7. Animals

    • (Hands) One yellow fish swimming in the water…(change colors each time) and do motions with hands.

4. Drum Sequence

    • Rum, pum, pum…

2. Rhymes and Reads

    • Book

6. Musical Instruments and Colored Scarves

With egg shakers:

    • We shake our shakers together…high…low…in the middle…
    • Pitter, Patter…
    • Pop, Pop, Pop
    • Milkshake (with babies)
    • Shake! (from We Kids Rock – Everybody Clap Your Hands album)
    • Shakers Away…
    • MGO

Scarves:

    • Wind, Oh Wind…
    • Popcorn Kernels…
    • Balance a Scarf (from Never Mind the Bobbins – Rainbow Stripes)
    • I Put My Scarf on My Head (from I Am Happy! With Sukey Molloy)
    • Wiggle It High, Wiggle It Low…
    • Roll Your Scarf Into a Ball…
    • Scarves Away…

8. Lullaby

    • Baa, Baa (Insert color) Sheep…

9. Interactive Rhyme

    • Humpty Dumpty … or Hickory Dickory Dare…

10: Closing Sequence

    • We’re So Happy Everyone is Here