The Forest of
Friends Alphabet stories, alliterations and songs are the result of a desire
to synthesize ethics, science, and art in each lesson as we introduce the
children to phonics and writing the letters. They also represent the intent
to go to where the young child naturally spends a considerable amount of
time – in his/her imagination.
Above all,
we seek to stimulate the heart of the child. We live in a wonderful era
when science has at last recognized the heart as the seat of intuitive and
inclusive consciousness. The songs are a way for the children to enjoy the
melodies while learning meaningful lyrics.
The songs
are a very important part of our Friends of the
Forest curriculum.
The booklets with rhyming, rhythmic lines are based on the Whole Language
approach. Years ago, we found this approach with its rhyme, rhythm, and
repetition to be a wonderfully child-friendly approach. In this approach
the ability to read emerges naturally from enjoyable immersion in the
written word. It’s just the way the young child learned to speak.
Whole Language
activates the whole brain, with the right and brain working in unison.
Music adds one more helpful element to carry the child through the script.
Our experience has been that the children love singing these songs again and
again. It’s helpful if you and the child sing them enough the memorize most
of the lyrics.
The little books
we have created are still in the experimental stage.
This is a
lifelong project, but one of surpassing joy. May our work stimulate the
hearts of future Stewards of the Planet and Ambassadors for Peace.
