If Slugs Can Read...

I mentioned on Tuesday that some of the kids read How To Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson. I wanted to share the ideas that one of the 4th graders came up with for reading at home!

We talked about deciding on a family reading time when him and his family can all gather together and read books together. I'm a mom with two kiddos and I know how busy both of them keep me but I read to my sons every night. It's a quiet part of my day that I look forward to. It might only be 10 or 15 minutes a night - or once a week - but spending time together reading and talking about books is one of the most important things a parent can do for their child. And, if slugs can teach their kiddos to read...shouldn't we be trying to, too?

How To Read To Your...

...3rd grader?

...4th grader?

...6th grader?

...7th grader?

...high schooler?

Believe it or not, parents should be reading with their children - or at least reading what their children are reading or talking to their children about reading - long after they leave kindergarten and first grade. Just because kids can read to themselves doesn't mean parents shouldn't be involved in their reading lives'.

Several students read this book with either Miss Brennan or I and then we brainstormed some ideas for what they would love when it comes to reading with their parents. Lots of kids said they would want to sit with their mom or dad on a nice, cozy spot to read together. Many talks about choosing a book together - and especially choosing a book that is interesting to them. One student thought it would be fun to act out a book after reading it and most wanted help sounding out words or figuring out what new words while reading.  

I encourage parents to try and find at least one night a week to sit down with your child or children (family reading fun!) and to read together, to listen to an audiobook together, or to simply talk about the books your child is reading. Parents should be reading role models for their children. Here are some of my favorite books to share:

For young children or lower elementary school kids I strongly recommend any of the books in the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. The text is simple, but the stories are fantastic. I dare you to read We Are In a Book and not crack a smile! Everyone of all ages will love this book!

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom is the first in a great series that I have just started reading by Eric Wight. So far there are three Frankie Pickle books and he is so much fun. These books are chapter books with some graphic novel parts mixed in. He is super imaginative and so funny to read. You'll fly through these books, waiting to see what happens next to Frankie.

These next too books are great middle grade fiction by Tom Angleberger. If you have forgotten what it means to be in middle school - these books will bring you right back.  Origami Yoda is a little guy that Dwight has folded up. He carries him around on his finger and gives advice to kids. Tommy is trying to figure out if he can trust Yoda's advice by collecting stories of other kids' experiences with Origami Yoda.

Guess what? Students in U-46 will have a chance to attend an author visit with the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back! It's just another reason to read these books! You'll be able to think of some questions for Mr. Angleberger and ask him when we meet with him!

For older students, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the first in a brilliant series that looks at what could happen if society doesn't reign in reality shows. Miss Brennan heard about this series from Nathan and is already onto the second book in the series and loving it. If you've read The Hunger Games, then I think you might like Divergent by Veronica Roth. It is also set in the future, actually a futuristic Chicago! Society has been divided into five factions. Kids can choose to stay in the faction they were born into or to move into another faction when they turn 16. I'm about halfway through and loving this book!

What other books do you love to read together? Do you have a favorite book to read aloud or that you remember loving when it was read aloud to you? 

Do you have a time when you read together? What is your goal for reading together or discussing reading this year? Please share!

Go Team Read!

Back to School 2011-2012!

Welcome back to school! I am excited to be starting a new school year. You may have noticed that the blog has a new look and a new name. Adrian, one of my fourth grade students, came up with the name Team Read. I love it. I love reading, I love sharing books, I love the idea of connecting through reading. We are all in this together. We are a team of readers!

This year I will continue to post slideshows of students and the books they have been reading on Fridays. Last Friday, I posted our first slideshow! The kids are already reading and excited to share their books! I love looking back at the books we have talked about through the week. I have a student teacher, Ms. Brennan, working with me for the first nine weeks of school so you'll see her in the Friday slideshows as well! She is from Illinois State University and loves to read, too!

When we met with the elementary students in the last two weeks, we read Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin with them. We love Pete and they love Pete! He's such a cool cat. We were singing and dancing along with Pete. You can visit the Pete the Cat site at the Harper Collins Children website to hear Pete's song!

Next, they'll be reading How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson and developing some ideas to share with their parents about what they love about reading with their parents. Being read aloud to is one of the most important things for a child. Unlike flossing, reading together is actually a fun activity that also happens to be one of the best experiences in helping students find success in reading. I strongly believe that parents should read with their children all the way through high school. While reading to your child when he or she is young will look different than reading with your child when he or she is older, it's still worthwhile to continue your relationship as readers. As kids get older it's a great idea to read what they are reading and take time to talk about the book. One of my favorite parts of reading is being able to talk to others about books that I love...or sometimes books that I don't like. I usually learn something new!

I'd love to hear what kids think about Pete the Cat or other books they are reading! Please share! What do you love most about reading together? What do you do that works for you as a family?

It's not just about sharing the book, it's about sharing the experience together as readers. Go Team Read!

Being Thankful

Next week, students will not be at school because of Thanksgiving break.  This week, I'll be talking to students about what they are thankful for.  One thing I would like to focus on are people, places or experiences that have shaped us as readers.  I am thankful for people, places and experiences in my life that have helped me become a reader.

Lake Forest Library-my library growing up!  

It was old and I felt important when I went there!

Growing up, both of my parents encouraged me to read.  My mom took my sister and me to the library A LOT!  I remember finding my favorite books, reading in their big, rocking chairs, and participating in the summer reading program.  I am thankful to my mom for taking us to the library.  And I am so thankful to the library for being a place where I could find books that interested me and a place to quietly sit and read.

My dad and mom eating ice cream, not reading books...

I remember trips to bookstores with my dad.  He would go look at adult books while I would wander through the children and then young adult sections.  I would excitedly find a book that I would ask him to buy for me.  I am thankful to my dad for taking me to bookstores, letting me look freely at all the books, and for buying me books that I could call my own.

As a teacher, I have been able to share books and reading with many students.  I love hearing what students are reading and being able to tell them about a book I think they might like.  It has been exciting for me to see students become readers who can't wait to get back to their books.  I am thankful for the experience of being able to interact with students and books.

Talk with your child about people, places or experiences that shaped you as a reader and ask them about their favorite reading memories.  Who or what do you have to thank for helping you become a reader?  If you child can come to school and tell me about who or what he or she is thankful for when it comes to reading, he or she will earn one sticker towards a reading reward!

National Family Literacy Month

November is National Family Literacy Month!  I'm excited to share family literacy because I honestly believe reading aloud to kids at home, modeling reading for them, and taking family visits to the library are so important in helping students learn to read and love to read.

I have great memories of reading with my family, going to the library with my mom and to bookstores with my dad.  Now, as a mom, I love getting comfy on the couch with my sons snuggled next to me to read books...we even read with the baby!

I encourage parents to read aloud to their kids everyday, and if not everyday, then at least try for once a week.  When I was pregnant with Jordan in 2007 I went to my library to listen to Jim Trelease speak about reading aloud to children.  I will never forget his message about reading aloud to kids: it doesn't matter how old they are, we need to be reading to them!  Trelease talked about reading aloud to his kids after dinner while they did the dishes.  I love it!  You can visit Jim Trelease's website to see more about what he has to say about reading aloud.

I hope you all read aloud as a family at least once a week, and if you don't, this month is a perfect time to start!  It doesn't matter if your child is in kindergarten or 8th grade!  If your child can come to school and tell me what book you read together this week or about his or her favorite memory of reading with a family member, he or she will earn a sticker towards a reading reward!