One of my favorite ways to teach my girls is through books. Children love the wonder that is captured between the cover of a book to the final “the end”. One book I chose to use as a week long Book Focus was Bertie Bumble Bee: Troubled by the Letter “b”, Written by K.I. Al-Ghani, Illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani.
Here is more about the book:
Book Description
Bertie Bumble Bee was full of excitement at the prospect of starting school, but soon becomes disenchanted and demoralized. He realizes he cannot learn in the same way as the others in his class. One day he makes a mistake in front of the whole class and becomes a victim of the class bully, Willy Wasp. Bertie feels humiliated and rejected when even his best friend laughs at Willy Wasp’s cruel jibes. Bertie develops a school phobia but Mummy Bumble realizes there is a problem and shows Bertie how to overcome his confusion with the letters b and d. Mummy’s solution works and Bertie becomes “alphabet smart.” This vital children’s book, accompanied by 14 bright illustrations, also contains a structured and fun program to help children to develop the ability to recognize and write the letters of the alphabet, an important prerequisite to good reading and spelling. Grades K-5.
Lessons I wanted to touch on with this book:
Becoming Alphabet Smart
Phonics
Difference between b and d
Bullying
Bees
Day One: Becoming Alphabet Smart
The book is about a little bee who finds out he learns different from other bees yet he learns to be come alphabet smart. Since, preschoolers are too young to understand learning styles; I did not focus on having my children recognize their learning styles. However, I did briefly ask each one if they thought they learned better by singing the alphabet, writing it out, or working with big foam letters. I did explain that some people learn in different ways. We then practiced singing the alphabet, writing the letters in our name and recognizing foam letters. I had my older child spell out her name in the big foam letters.
To be continued.