Language and Thinking for Young Children [Paperback]

Ruth Beechick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0880621524 | ISBN-13: 978-0880621526 | Publication Date: January 4, 1988

Jam-packed with wonderful language activities, this book provides parents and teachers with a year's course of oral language study for children who do not yet read or who are just beginning to read. Learn how to turn every day experiences into valuable learning experiences. Lights the spark of creativity in the parent as well as the student. Working together in the home schooling movement, Beechick and Nelson saw a need to help homeschool parents round out beginning programs with rich language experiences. This book is the result of the collaboration of their educational expertise.

Product Details

• Paperback: 71 pages
• Publisher: Mott Media (January 4, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880621524
• ISBN-13: 978-0880621526
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Ruth Beechick spent a lifetime teaching and studying how people learn. She taught in Washington state, Alaska, Arizona and in several colleges and seminaries in other states. She also spent thirteen years at a publishing company writing curriculum for churches. In "retirement" she continues to write for the burgeoning homeschool movement. Her degrees are A.B. from Seattle Pacific University, M.A.Ed. and Ed.D. from Arizona State University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars language, thinking and more for everyone, May 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Language and Thinking for Young Children (Paperback)

This manual can be used for the entire family. The author's give real-life examples and, thus, make learning fun. For example, when one is introducing someone, my children dressed as an older person, a dad and mother. They would then practice introducing several people in orderof importance. I.E. older people first, ladies and then men. The author's suggested doing this as a way to add fun to the practice. A second example, is practicing prepositions. In this activity, the author suggested making a circle on the floor with a jumping rope. Then using commands with prepositions. For example, I told my children to put their hand in the rope. Other activities include reading classic fables, which are included in the book, vocabulary and thinking skills, language games, memorizing, learning about telephones, enjoying poetry and learning on trips. My children, ages, 3, 7 and 8 have enjoyed this book.

52 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best Resource, January 17, 2003

By 

Simple Man - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Language and Thinking for Young Children (Paperback)

I gave this book 3 stars because it is average. It isn't a rotten resource, but it isn't one of the best I've seen either.

I suppose if you aren't planning on homeschooling and are looking for ideas on how to help get your pre-schooler ready to learn in school and want to maximize what little time you may be able to spend with your child, this book would be good for you. If you homeschool, you may find this book a ho-hum resource.

It is redundant considering what we have already been learning as part of a well-rounded curriculum in our homeschool. The book suggests things most homeschool families already do-- they already read stories together, try to memorize worthwhile poems, talk WITH children (not AT), cook together, shop together, look for opportunities to learn together, etc.

The activities this book suggests that WOULDN'T be routine family activities for a homeschool family WOULD be covered in homeschool/preschool during readiness games, lessons and workbooks, pre-school math, etc. They would also be more thoroughly done in that medium, with less work on behalf of the parent-teacher.

One last note: I found the stories at the beginning a little too rough to share with my pre-schooler. I feel some fables/stories will never be worthwhile to share with that age, no matter how long they have been around. (How do you read a story ending with most of the characters having their head snapped off by a fox to a 3.5 year old? I know I don't want to be up with a child having nightmares, and don't want to see the child acting it out in make believe play, so why bother with those things when there are so many other wonderful stories available?)

I will be returning this book, knowing I'm not going to take the time to dig it out and flip through it for the handful of ideas that may be useful to our homeschool.

I think for people who are just making the switch to homeschooling or want ideas for things to do with their young children, this book will do just fine. For people who are looking for a real curriculum (as this book claims to be for the younger set), remember you get what you pay for, and 8$ for a year's curriculum probably will not be what you are hoping it will be. You will find a better bang for your buck with other sources.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good as a Checklist, April 25, 2007

By 

Rachel B. Ramey "a2jc4life" (Winchester, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Language and Thinking for Young Children (Paperback)

This is not a book that is likely to be appreciated by those who feel the need to do "school at home" and/or major academics with their kindergartners. It IS a resource that will be appreciated by those homeschoolers who prefer a more laid-back "lifestyle" approach to homeschooling but would like something to help keep them on track.

The activities described in this text are organized into "units," making them easy to find even if you don't actually DO them as units. They are simple, "time with mommy," real-life types of activities. Most young children will find them fun. Although most of them are ideas that many mothers COULD come up with on our own, many of them are also easily overlooked (especially once you have several children and can't remember who knows what). It had never crossed my mind, for example, to introduce my preschooler to nutritional vocabulary (such as the wording on food labels), despite the fact that our family is very conscious of these concepts and eats a very healthy diet.

I gave the book four stars instead of five due to two factors. First, the telephone section needs updating. (Is anyone actually still on a party line?) Second, I would have preferred a different collection of reading selections in the stories and poetry sections. Some of the stories/poems are good, but we will be skipping over many of them.