Thursday, May 31, 2012

Donna Smith's Billy Cart Derby Tour

Today we welcome Donna Smith of Jelli Beanz Publishing for a pit stop on her Billy Cart Derby tour.  Donna is talking about language development.


Language Development in Children.
It is interesting to know that research shows us that children do in fact have an innate biological clock of sorts which triggers the development of language acquisition.
The biological trigger usually appears at around the age of eighteen-twenty months of age. This innate trigger tends to be a universal occurrence. Research studies show that children from various cultures and countries experience the same onset of language speech in children at the same age.
What does  vary however is the rate and depth to which the language develops once the onset has commenced. The onset of language itself begins well before the child needs language skills. Often babies from around six to eight months will begin to babble syllables and single utterances. True language of speech is classed as the stage to which two words are joined together clearly.
This cannot be brought forward by repetition. Language speech development will not emerge before it is programmed to emerge.
Studies show us that this not triggered by external factors. The child will begin to speak regardless of environment. The triggers for development tend to be associated with a growth spurt of the brain. To understand the brain growth spurt, let us look at the brain at birth. The brain contains millions/ maybe billions of cells and weighing around 300 grams. Not all of the cells are connected at birth; this is what makes the brain light in weight. The brain itself does not develop any further cells after birth; however the growth spurt changes are evident in the weight mass. Between birth and two years of age the brain increases from around 300grams to almost 1000grams (1 kilogram). This is the result of the cells interconnecting. It is at this point that studies show, language begins to develop.
A common myth is that parental intervention of direct teaching including expansion and corrections by imitation and repetition, is not only fruitless, but it can also prevent the natural progression of language develop in their child.

Expansions are often done unconsciously by parents/ adults.
For Example:
Child: Want spoon.
Adult: Do you want a spoon?
Child: Want spoon.
Adult: Say, I want a spoon.
This type of corrected speech can hinder the child’s progress. Parental expansions do not teach a child to speak. Studies show the children acquire the utterances and words themselves naturally. Those children in an environmental ‘rich’ situation (meaning exposed to talking, children learn a high percentage of their speech from just listening, and exploration) will progress more quickly with a greater vocabulary. Those children that lack the surrounding stimulus of speech and listening can begin to fall behind to language progression.
Direct teaching with correction and expansions and or repetitions does not kick start language development in children. Research shows that those who try to ‘coach’ their children actually interfere with their natural development.
The best model you can set for your child is to speak to them ‘normally’, in a natural manner. Children will extract the grammar themselves and their speech will develop naturally when they are individually ready. The more stimulation (sensory) that you provide your child, the richer environment your child will have to draw upon. Children reach regular ‘milestones’ at certain ages and innate behaviour will take its natural progressive course.
Helping children develop a love of books and reading:
There are many ways that parents can help children develop a love for reading and books. The most enjoyable way is sharing. Sharing books together and enjoying the journey they take you on is a wonderful way to spend time with your child. Escaping into another world, taking wild balloon rides, walking in space with space animals, being a mighty king of a large castle and kingdom or a beautiful princess who rides in a pumpkin are all wonderfully exciting adventures you can share with your child.
There are many ways you can help your child enjoy reading and books:
1) Show a keen interest in your child’s reading and what they are reading.
2) Let your child choose books that they are interested in.
3) Books, comics, magazines and fliers are materials that children can read.
4) Joining your library is wonderful experience for children. Borrow books regularly; make it a part of your week.
5) Instead of buying lollies for treats, buy your child a book and suitable comic book. Children can never have too many books.
6) Sit with your children when they are reading and prompt them to tell you about the characters in the story and what they enjoyed most about the book.
7) Let your children draw characters and write about their favourite stories. This will also develop their comprehension skills.
8) Get to know the book. Show your child the author and illustrator names, the spine, back blurb and talk about the title of the book. Look at the book’s illustrations and discuss what the story might be about and who the characters are.
These are a few ways that you can share reading with your children and help them to develop a love of books.
           Reading together is a special time you and your child can spend together without any distractions. Make it part of your daily routine and enjoy the experience together.
“my favourite thing about books is that you go on a magical adventure every time you read a story. I like all books thick long ones and thin short ones.”

Jazmine 9 yrs.

  
Jelli-Beanz Publishing
'where imagination comes to life'
 
Submissions email: jelli_beanzbooks@aol.com

Follow the Tour!

24th May – Launch www.jellibeanzpublishing.com 
25th May – Helen Ross www.misshelenwrites.wordpress.com ( The writing process)
26th May – Billy Cart Derby educational materials www.jellibeanzpublishing.com 
28th May – George Ivanoff  http://content.boomerangbooks.com.au/literary-clutter-blog/  (Character Development)
29th May – Angela Hall of Blue Dingo www.bluedingonet.wordpress.com  (Fundraising in schools)
30th May – Library Visit
31st May – Sally Odgers  http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com  (Importance of Literature for Children)
1st June – Sylvie Blair www.donnamsmithauthor.wordpress.com  (Cover design and artwork)
1st June – Donna Smith www.donnamsmithauthor.wordpress.com  (Trailer production)
2nd June – Library Visit
4th June – Blog tour close.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Calling Blog Tourers...

Spinning Pearls is happy to host a stop on your blog tour. Just leave a comment to ask for a spot. Best suited to children's books, mainstream fiction and popular non fiction.

Please note; Read and Reviewed blog is open to guest reviewers. However, we do not generally review unsolicited books.

Writing for Children Virtual Course is open only to paid-up course members ($50.00 gets you in)

Affordable Manuscript Assessments is the blog for how-to writing advice and information from the Affordable Manuscript Assessments and Workshops site and service.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Karen Tyrrell Talks Writing and Editing her Memoir

The prize draw will be held at mid-day Monday 21st EST (Australia)  21/05/2012




Today I welcome Karen Tyrrell who is answering some curious questions about writing and editing her memoir Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness..



Writing & Editing Process ME & HER: A Memoir of Madness
1.        How did you go about reconstructing the scenes that took place during one of your later memory blanks?
My husband helped me to remember those traumatic memories which I had suppressed.  With his hot-poker reminders and fish oil supplements, my memory eventually returned.
2.        Did you find it difficult to distance yourself from the material during the editing process?
I wrote about the most traumatic events in my life, first as flashbacks. When I was emotionally ready I was able to disclose those events in detail.  Beta readers, The Society of Editors and editors like you, Sally offered advice and perspective when I was “too close” to my memoir.
3.        How much, if at all, did you change the order or impact of events to make the story work AS a story?
I wrote my memoir over six years, perhaps with a hundred drafts. I changed the order of chapters and events several times. The earliest draft was a chronological biography, and then my husband suggested I start at a pivotal point when the police thumped at my motel door, demanding me to open up.
4.        How did you know when it was time to write a mental “finished!” on the Ms and go for publication?
I thought ME & HER was finished several times. After I received feedback from a publisher I would rewrite again and submit. I did this several times.  Then, I added a present day epilogue and a short introduction to each chapter from the ME, recovered perspective. Finally I sought a professional assessment, editing and a final proof read.
Writing my own personal journey into and out of mental illness was one of the most difficult things to write about. I wanted the reader to understand the two points of view, the normal ME and the manic HER.
ANNOUNCING … ME & HER eBook

ME & HER: a Memoir of Madness launches this week on Amazon as an eBook. To find out more about Karen Tyrrell and where to purchase ME & HER please check out her website,
http://www.karentyrrell.com .Click on BUY BOOK to purchase an eBook!

eBOOK GIVEAWAYS!
Please comment here or ask Karen a question, to be in the draw for a FREE eBook. Two copies to be won!

Follow the Tour!

ME & HER Blog Tour 14th - 20th May

14th May Kaz Delaney- Writing Inspiration http://kazdelaney.wordpress.com/

                Prachi S.Vaish - Psychologist - Interview www.hopenetwork.in

15th May Tuesday Writing Tips- Writing Memoirs http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/

            Dr Happy – Happiness after the Gloom http://www.thehappinessinstitute.com/blog/

16th May Sally Odgers - Writing & Editing Process http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com.au/

17th May Gabrielle Sheppard, UK - Bipolar Recovery www.bi-polargirl.com/blog

18th May Natasha Tracy, Canada - Writing for Recovery http://natashatracy.com/

19th May Jill Smith- Book Review & Interview http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com

           Kids Book Review- Mental Health Books 4 Kids http://www.kids-bookreview.com/

20th May Ang Hall - ME & HER Book Review- http://bluedingonet.wordpress.com/