Badger Loves Jazz: Reading (and Listening) to Duck Ellington and Ella Elephant

By Justine C. Tajonera

I had a lot of fun last night, playing the CDs of Ella Elephant Scats Like That and Duck Ellington Swings through the Zoo and reading the books to Badger. They were great learning tools, just like Charlie Bird Counts to the Beat, and a great way to help Badger learn how to read.

The Ella Elephant book was cute because I could lead Badger through some nonsense words and just focus on the sounds that they made. I pointed out the letters and their sounds and how it would all sound if we put them together (sound recognition). Plus, Badger got to listen to Ella Elephant make the scat sounds and relate them to musical instruments.

Duck Ellington was also really cute because I realized that Badger recognized some of the animals from Charlie Bird Counts to the Beat like the turtles and the seals! And Vier and I just enjoyed the swing sound.

I guess it made an impression with Badge because before I left for work, he wanted me to read Ella Elephant to him first. I hope Badger will have a genuine love for reading books.

(Jan. 13, 2010)

Badger Makes Animal Sounds

Watch this video first.




By Justine C. Tajonera



We really love playing this game with Badger: what sound does this animal make? It engages him in learning what animal is what (based on their images), what sounds they make, what nursery rhymes have these animals and what the first letter of the animal word is.

It's a lot of fun and it's a great way of teaching him and figuring out how he interprets things. We especially love his "meow!" because we know that he observes the cats in my Dad's house and he really gets into the role play of being a cat!

Playing the game of making animal sounds:

• Helps Badger identify animal images (he has to know what the animal is before he can make the sound). 
• Helps him role play
• Makes it easier for him to identify the letters in the animal names
• Engages him in different aspects of learning about animals
• Expands his vocabulary and makes him curious about other animals and animal sounds