Tag Archives: reading

Take a Trip to the Library

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Melinda

Weekly field trips are easy ways to introduce your children to culture, science and animals. Museums are chock full of fun and learning for any subject matter that comes to mind. Checking out your own community will produce lots of interesting places to visit. But don’t forget about your local library.

Libraries are often forgotten about when it comes to finding new places to explore. Books are looked at as work and education from kids. My own son used to groan at the thought of reading before bedtime. He would much rather watch television or play a video game. It took introducing new characters and storylines to develop an appreciation of books and how they can make you feel.

Trips to the library are now treats for my children. They each have large bookcases in their own rooms, filled with books of all kinds but they get excited when it’s time to discover something new on a shelf.

Row and row and shelf after shelf of colors and words draws them in. They judge books by their cover and illustrations inside. If it doesn’t catch their eye they keep moving. I sit and wait until armfuls of books are brought back to me. We go through each selection together to make sure the subject matter is appropriate and interesting.

Lately audio books have been making their way into our bags. My son now likes to fall asleep to the rhythmic soothing voices of someone telling him a story. He may not finish a story that night but will just start over again the next night.

The library is a museum, a museum of stories of life before us and events that will never happen. The stories will open up your child’s mind and encourage them to create stories of their own or share the stories they’ve fallen in love with.

Next time when you are thinking of a new adventure to take with your children keep the library in mind. Yours may offers classes, story times, author readings and more. You may be surprised at what you find.

A Family Challenge – Reading Together

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Michelle

When my son was in preschool we discovered he had a love for these short chapter Scooby Doo Books. We could rarely get him to sit down for a simple book, but if we pulled out one of these Scooby Doo Books, he would sit for 10 minutes or more. It surprised us mainly because these books had very few pictures in them to hold his attention. Since then, we have had our own personal Family Challenge to read chapter books as a family. We try to aim for books they cannot read on their own and usually read a chapter or two each night. My children look forward to this time!

We have recently been reading the Percy Jackson series and the kiddos love it. I am constantly amazed at what they remember from previous chapters. Plus, it is so much fun to bring a feeling of adventure and excitement into our night time routine. It is better than watching a movie because we can drag on these feelings every night. And it is so much fun to have my children beg me to read one more chapter even though the one we just read is sixteen pages!

Another thing that has been helping our Family Challenge is if we choose a book every now and then that was made into a movie. Then we have some incentive to get through the book so we can watch the movie. That is all it took to help us get through the Percy Jackson book and now my children are hooked and have read through book four of the series with me. They have been begging for a second Percy Jackson movie and we are excited to find out that there are plans to release one later this year.

If you do pick a book that was made into a movie and watch the movie after, make sure you take the opportunity to talk about the differences between the book and the movie. It was fun to see what my children noticed. They caught details that I missed completely!

Other books that I am hoping to read to my children in the future are “Charlotte’s Web”, “How To Train Your Dragon”, “Ella Enchanted”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Eragon”, “Escape to Witch Mountain”, “The Night at the Museum” and more from the Nancy Drew series just to name a few. I am hoping to stay with the books/series, for the next few years, that have at least one movie just to motivate my children through the first book. Our reading together as a family has turned into a very special time for us and am so grateful for it.

If you have taken on your own Family Challenge to read together, what books have your family enjoyed?

Top photo courtesy of Master isolate d images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The value in wordless books

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Julie Meyers Pron

My mom and I ventured to the library at least once a week. It was a tiny, two story building with the children’s books and story hour hidden upstairs. These were the days before people set up workstations at small libraries. Little research was done at this one. It was, simply, a lending library.

I recall the moms shushing their children. I’d like to think that I was as difficult to settle into quietness at this tiny library as my kids are at our much larger one.

When I think back to my time at the library, I remember only one book. A book I borrowed repeatedly. A book with pictures so splendid and engaging. A book so tiny it fit in my little hand and I could proudly carry it. I knew every word.

The book, mind you, was wordless. It’s likely now out of print, but oh! The story. It was about two little mice. I believe they were having a tea party, all dressed up. Or, perhaps they were on an adventure.

A wordless book? you wonder. What’s the point? How will children ever learn the value in reading if they’re holding and cherishing a book without words?

I was reminded of this a few days ago, when my 3-year-old picked up my first grader’s copy of Captain Underwear–a story told in comics. She couldn’t read a word on the page, but she sat for at least 15 minutes reading the story aloud. Her eyes followed the panels from left to right. She turned pages correctly. She added drama, vocabulary and meaning to each image. She created a story very different from the one my son reads the words to, but loved the story just as much. Maybe more.

Wordless picture books offer opportunity to help children learn through context. They learn to look closely at the images, deciphering the illustrator’s meaning. They learn tracking cues (where the eyes search and follow through a story). They learn about character development, plot, suspense. They become summarizers. Even better, they become storytellers.

Each year when I was teaching I’d hand my students a large packet. The top of each page was images of Tomie dePaola’s Pancakes for Breakfast. The bottom half of the page was blank lines. I asked the children to put their pencils away, find a comfortable spot in the room, and read the story. Many of the kids questioned me. How could they read? Why? But after 15 minutes, they were excited about the story they read.

Next, each child brainstormed the plot, the beginning, middle and end. They created a character description. They thought of alternative endings.

Finally, they wrote their stories. Only after everyone was finished did they share with each other.

Oh, how amazed they were at the differences! They had the same pictures, but such different ideas on each page!

Through wordless books, children learn the art of storytelling and unique thoughts.

7 great wordless picture books for your home library

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola

Tuesday by David Wiesner

The Red Book by Barbara Lehman

Chalk by Bill Thomson

Home by Jeannie Baker

Sector 7 by David Weisner

The Chicken Thief (Stories Without Words) by Beatrice Rodriguez

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Dictionaries, children, and the online option

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Julie Meyers Pron

This week for homework, my elementary schooler was tasked with a fun project to follow up on a class reading book, Donavan’s Word Jar (Trophy Chapter Book), which is suggested for grades 2 and up, age 6 and up. The story’s main character, Donavan, is obsessed with words and learning their meanings. He creates a word jar where he keeps slips of paper listing his favorite words and their definitions.

Following the reading, my son’s assignment was to create his own jar, selecting 10 words that are interesting to him and looking up their definitions.

Big selected the following words:

mythology
hilarious
puzzle
dictionary
Neptune
Geb
exploration
proportion
spurious
candy

While Geb and Neptune are mythological gods, nearly all of the words were listed in the dictionary supplied by the school. All except for candy.

Big was perplexed. Internally, he knew the meaning of candy and could create his own definition, but was it the proper definition? When he came to me asking what to do, I didn’t quite trust his searching skills. How could spurious (a word he found in the dictionary and thought it sounded cool) be listed but not something as simple as candy? I searched the dictionary, twice. Candy really was left out of the dictionary.

We did what any other family of the 21st century would do, we pushed aside the several hundred page listing and pulled out our iPad. In seconds, we had a definition for candy:

After Big copied the definition, I watched him pick up the student dictionary, turning it as he sat quietly.

“Mom,” he said. “I don’t think I actually need this any more. Should I return it to school? If can find all the definitions online, what’s the use for a dictionary?”

I convinced him not to rid the ancient guide just yet, but asked my Facebook friends for opinions.

All good points. Of course, to each of the replies we could easily offer a retort–even for the backpacking through Europe suggestion. I mean, who would send their kid backpacking through Europe without a Smartphone?

What do you think? Should dictionary skills continue to be a focus of the elementary curriculum? Or will they be phased out in the next 20 years?

Reading to your children

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Julie Meyers Pron

About 2 years ago, the kids and I spent hours laying across my bed while I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to them. Often times I’d notice their eyes closed in a dream like stance, but the minute I’d pause to make sure they were still awake, their eyes would pop open, always wanting more.

Before long, however, my older son learned to read on his own, and read ahead of us, completing the first 3 books in the series. Now a big third grader, he loves reading books on his own. But he still makes time for read alouds, sometimes joining in the reading, but, mostly, listening to my voice take on the characters and storyline.

It’s true that children should learn to read on their own, to not just decode the words but to also comprehend what they’re reading. But just as important as developing those skills is developing listening skills and listening comprehension. A child who only reads to himself misses out on opportunities to hear a different voice or a different method of reading. He also needs to continue to develop strong listening skills to become a strong student in lecture halls, in conversation and in every day life. We all need to learn how to follow another person’s words.

While many teachers assign reading as homework each evening, there are a variety of ways a child can read. Reading aloud to himself or others, reading silently to himself, listening to a story and following along on the computer (like in software such as Rusty & Rosy) or books on CD that have follow along prompts and books attached. Listening to an adult read aloud is a skill that needs to be practiced several times a week so children learn to not just listen, but to read with rhythm and learn to discuss what they’re listening to.

While nearly every story makes a great read aloud, look for books that are written with suspense. Mysteries and adventure offer a higher interest level for children and keep them coming back for more stories. A few great stories to pick up and read with your Kindergartner through third grader are:

Harry Potter & the Sorcer’s Stone
Nancy Drew Mysteries
Little House on the Prairie series
Cam Jansen series
Magic Tree House series
classics such as Treasure Island, Gulliver’s Travels, Sword in the Stone
Stuart Little

By continuing to read with your child you’ll not just share a story, you’ll share moments that enforce a strong bond between you and your child. Enjoy reading aloud as often as you can. It won’t be long until he rolls his eyes and walks away (though I recommend that you keep reading. He’s likely really listening outside the door.)

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Learning While on Camera – Be a Movie Star

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Michelle

Ready, Action! I have yet to meet a child who does not like to see themselves “on film.” My two young children are constantly asking to see video of themselves and they get such a kick out of it! In fact, they will ask to see the same video clips over and over again.

A great activity is to create a short film and let your children be the stars and even the directors, if they desire. With the wide availability of digital cameras and their video capabilities this can be a pretty entertaining activity for even older children/teenagers. We have made a couple videos so far and have really enjoyed the results. You can base it off a favorite book or recently read story. We usually base our videos off of a nursery rhyme, because it is the easiest to put together with young children and the children also choose how to act out each line. Eventually, we will do something a little more difficult, but for now this is perfect. It keeps them entertained, gets their brains working and they always love the results!

For this particular “film” we made below we captured no more than 2 minutes of video and edited (with software already on my computer) down to less than 1 minute. If you want to do it all in one take to avoid editing, everyone always enjoys bloopers! As you can see, it is not perfect. This was a quick film and by the time I realized we accidentally missed the end of one line, the kiddos were already in bed, but I am sure they will still enjoy this. For another example of a film we have done you can check out our This Little Pig video, too.

What You Need:

A digital camera or camcorder
Actors and actresses
Props (optional)
A script/plan (we used a nursery rhyme)
Editing software (optional)

Directions:

Step 1: Gather your actors and actresses and discuss what you are going to do. Let them gather props they think they need.

Step 2: Practice it once or twice or a lot if you want it perfect. My actors/actresses wanted to do this fast, so we quickly discussed and let them have one practice and then I recorded them right there (personality and all).

Step 3: Lights. Camera. Action.

Step 4: If you would like to edit (cut parts out) it, there are usually programs on your computer and sites that are pretty easy to figure out. I have a free software on my computer called Windows Live Movie Maker and there are free sites, too, like One True Media, that are easy to use.

Step 5: Have fun. I love hearing them giggle every time they watch this film.

This is even a great activity for older children, too. I have even watched my older nieces and nephews create their own short films many times. They will spend hours prepping scripts and props and then recording their short film (usually in one take, so they do not have to edit). They will usually do this all by themselves, too. I can see my 6 year old wanting to do this, too. He really wanted to take charge of the camera with the above video. As soon as I find my camera stand, I will let him have a go at it!

Top digital image credit of: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Giving Kids an Extra Hour of Your Day

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Melinda

This summer is flying by and not in the way I imagined. I had hoped for lots of daytrips to the park, pool, local orchard, zoo, beach and friend’s houses. I researched free and low cost activities that would appeal to kids of all ages and even signed up for newsletters from local attractions.

Something happened to my master plan. I started working a job. The work is flexible and I do it from home but it really cuts into prime time during the day. I feel guilty that the sun is shining and I’m sitting in front of a computer and the kids are asking if there is anything to do.

This week I changed things up a little. I gave up an hour to give it back to the kids. I took that hour from my sleep. I love my sleep, it’s something that I hate to give up for anything. I realized that my kids happiness and summer memories relied on it though.

The first morning I get into an elaborate activity with my youngest. We built entire city out of construction paper and crayons, play animals, Matchbox cars and blocks. Truthfully it took way more than an hour to create but then it provided a couple more hours of entertainment as she moved her city around and reorganized streets and built new structures.
The next day was dedicated to my son. He’s an excellent reader but he just doesn’t enjoy it yet. He loves stories and listening to audio books, he’s been listening to Series of Unfortunate Events for over a year, over and over. I started our morning with ME reading out loud a chapter book of his choosing. He choose Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Ugly Truth. We laughed and had some special bonding time over something that we don’t do often enough. I promised him I would read a chapter or two each morning before we get into our regular routines.

These are just small steps but they really made a positive impact on the rest of the day.

Comprehension, Understanding, Internalizing and Making Connections in Reading

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Julie Meyers Pron

Reading is much more than reciting words that one sees on paper. Even before one achieves phonemic awareness and phonics, he’s learning to comprehend, understand, internalize and make connections.

While a child learns to read the letters and sounds, he continues to practice his comprehension skills. While so much time is spent teaching students that symbols that are called letters make sounds and these sounds push together to make words, it’s often forgotten that those word-sounds won’t make very much of a difference if a child doesn’t comprehend what he’s reading,

Last week, I met with our school principal. As we discussed my son’s progress in school and his reading abilities, I was reminded of some very basic questions regarding reading,

The Modus Operandi* of the reading process

Is he able to read?
Is he comprehending?
Does he internalize the stories?
How does he express connections?

Is he able to read?

Reading is a several-step process Parents of a budding readers, no matter their child’s skill or quickness to pick up the process, recognize that students reach an independent reading level at different times. This question, while it seems simple to answer, is quite and in depth one. Reading isn’t only the sounds, it’s recognizing that the sounds make words which together make a story, and truly understanding the story that he reads or listens to. Only when a child can read and understand, is he truly able to read.

Is he comprehending?

Comprehension and understanding go hand-in-hand. A child who listens to what others say, or what he reads and acts on that knowledge is showing signs of comprehending.

Does he internalize the stories he reads?

The next step in reading is when a child takes the story or knowledge and applies it internally. Think back to a time that your dreams revolved around a story that you’ve read or imagined or you began imagining yourself as a part of the story. When a story becomes a part of a reader and lives within, he internalized the reading.

How does he express his connections to the story?

The final step in the modus operandi is reached when a reader takes the story and makes a connection to his own life or surroundings. A child who is reading a story of Greek Mythology may begin explaining that a seed is sprouting with the help of Persephone or a bolt of lightening represents the anger of Zeus. In these cases, the reader is connecting his life and his surroundings to something that he read.

How can parents assist children to progress through the Modus Operandi of reading?

It’s important to remember that reading comprehension is much more than learning letter sounds or even reading the words in a book out loud. Continue to read to your child to help them improve their listening comprehension skills which will, in turn, strengthen their reading skills. Have conversations about what they are reading. Challenge children often with new stories, rather than repeating old favorites again and again. (There’s nothing wrong with repeating old favorites, but throw in some new stories to assess their skills.)

*Modus Operandi is a latin term meaning mode of operating or working. (dictionary.com). For the purpose of teaching reading skills and talking with parents, I created the term “Modus Operandi of reading.”

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

National Library Week Fun

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Kevin John

Did you know that April 8-14 is National Library Week?

National Library Week was started in 1966 by the American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest association of libraries in the world. National Library Week is a week to celebrate literacy and creativity, and to encourage people to see what’s new at their local libraries.

Here are a few activities that will help your child get excited about reading during National Library Week:

Take your child to the library
It may sound simple, but just taking your son/daughter to the library will open their eyes to fun and creative experiences. Let them pick what they are interested in, and they will feel more invested in the experience. You can learn a lot about your kids when you let them “drive” for a bit.

Write your own stories
Books from the library will introduce your child to new characters and settings. Encourage them to think beyond the pages with these characters and/or settings to write their own stories. They will enjoy the chance to use their imagination, and you will have the opportunity to help them through the creative process.

Find/create art projects based on books
Do a search online through blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, or craft-oriented web sites, and you are bound to find projects related to your son’s/daughter’s favorite books. Chances are some parent out there (with a lot more time on her hands) has developed fun and creative art projects based on popular children’s books. Adapt these ideas to suit your own needs!

There are plenty of other ideas out there to keep your child excited about reading, so take a look around. Most local libraries have daily or weekly children’s reading hours, and many will have activities planned around National Library Week. Plan a trip to the library this week and have an adventure with your child!

Rusty and Rosy will also be busy reading books from their personal library (including books from the Rusty and Rosy store).

12 Ways to Nurture a Love for Reading in your Preschooler

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Annie Shultz

I grew up in love with reading books. To this day, I have at least 1-3 books I am reading at any given time. I hope that my children grow up loving to read too! I created a little list of things we do at home to help my kids love to read. Please add your ideas in the comments – I know this list is by far not exhaustive.

1. Read books that are currently movies

We know our kids are marketed to every day. We see the movie characters on t-shirts, shoes and toys. Take advantage of this marketing and get more excited about the books than the movie and products. Engage your preschooler in conversation about why s/he loves this movie and read the book over and over.

2. Let them pick out books

Even if you are tired of reading that really long (and admit it – annoying!) book, be happy they want to be read to. Let your child take ownership in choosing the book. If you are at the library, discuss the book s/he wants and find it together. And be flexible. Kids do change their mind – let them! Let the book choosing be 100% their idea and they will love it more.

3. Let them have their own library card

This goes right along with the ownership. Preschoolers are generally more excited to check out books when they are using something that is theirs to get them. It will make them feel special and like a “big kid.” Play this up! There is nothing quite as rewarding as making the library a place they love to go to!

4. Create your own stories at home

Get out the crayons and notebook paper. Let your child draw and create a story from his/her imagination. The more your child enjoys using their imagination, the more they will love using it when they read books too. Plus, you will be shocked at how much fun it is to get into your child’s head. There are some funny stories your preschooler can tell!

5. Read with funny voices

I can still hear the giggles from my 3 year old son as I tried to sound like the Lorax. Using funny voices bonds your child to the book, helps it come alive in their world, and really makes for some precious memories! Don’t just get through the book, make it spring to LIFE!

6. Leave books around the house

In other words, make reading always accessible. Show your child how much you love books by always having them within hand’s reach. There are a ton of creative storage solutions for books. I browse Pinterest for hours seeing all of them!

7. Create their own special reading place

I wish I had a bay window I could set up with pillows and blankets. That is my dream. But for now we have a recliner in the living room and my daughter’s books are on the stand next to it. She can curl up there whenever she wants to flip through her favorite books. This is all about creating a positive association with books – making them relaxing and calming for times when they need the quiet time.

8. Cook meals based on the books they love

Few things make books come alive like food! Maybe you are reading Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom and you want to drink some coconut milk. Or perhaps you can read a Curious George book and then have bananas for snacks. While you eat your book-inspired snack, talk about the book you just read together. This helps with comprehension.

9. Act out their favorite books

Another way to increase reading comprehension is to help them recall the plot of the book by acting it out with you. Plus, this is also super fun. Dress up like the characters and allow your preschooler to improvise and change the plot to how s/he wanted it to be.

10. Praise their early reading success

As you read together, ask them to read with you out loud. When they recognize sight words and sound out other words, get excited! Make them laugh and enjoy their success.

11. Talk about the book as you read it

Sometimes I just want to get through the book. I read fast and flip from page to page. But it helps the child to enjoy the book if you take your time. Discuss what just happened. Ask “what is going to happen next? Do you think……?” Let your child ask questions and make statements about the story. More time consuming – for sure! – but also way more fun for the child and it helps their creative thinking and problem solving skills.

12. Read with each child one-on-one

This is really hard to do when you have more than one child. But when you make book reading a special time with just you and one child – even if this happens once a week – your child will grow up associating books with that special time with you. S/he will always love this and (hopefully) love to read too!