Genres - Folk Literature

Some of the students have been talking about genres and reading folk tales.  I love the genre of folk literature.  Genres are the different kinds of books there are.  We organize books into the kind of book they are or into the different genres.  For example, I'm reading Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald Sobol which is about a boy who solves mysterious cases that people bring to him.  That book is a mystery.

Folk literature, or folk tales, are stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Here are some other characteristics of folk tales:

*they have been told and retold so much 

that we rarely know the author

*the setting is usual unknown, 

like "once upon a time," or "in a land far, far away."

*characters are usually "all good" or "all bad"

*they usually have a happy ending

*there are magical or unreal elements in the story

*the stories teach us how to treat others 

or explain something in nature

We have read lots of fairy tales and fables.  Here are some of my favorite fairy tales or fables:

If you can come to school and 

tell me your favorite fairy tale or fable, 

you will earn one sticker 

towards a reading reward!

What Are You Reading Good? (05/06/2011)

I'm so excited about the reading that my students are doing!  Kids have been bringing in their books and doing their reading hunts more and more.  I ask them to do a reading hunt every time I see them.  Some kids are really good at doing the reading hunt and others are getting better!  I love to see and hear about what they are reading at home.  

Last week I was excited to give Jeyanna a book that she had earned through reading rewards.  She chose an Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems called Elephants Cannot Dance!.  We love reading books from the Elephant and Piggie series so I was so happy to give Jeyanna a book of her very own to take home and read again and again.

 I hope she's having fun reading it at home!  We always have a blast reading these books!

 This week, I was excited to find Marty McGuire by Kate Messner at the bookstore for Jodie.  I've heard great things about Marty McGuire and so far Jodie has had fun reading it!  I haven't even read it yet, so I can't wait to hear what she thinks of the book.  When she's done I'm hoping she'll let me borrow it!

 It's fun to watch the kids write their names in their very own books!  I just love books.

I seem to have forgotten to ask the students to take pictures of me with my books this week!  I've found some great picture books lately.  One that had me laughing this week was You're Finally Here! by Melanie Watt.  I read it with one of my 2nd graders.  I also have started reading Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald Sobol.  I like that he solves a case in every chapter!  I was listening to One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street by Joanne Rocklin which was about a bunch of kids who live on a street with an orange tree...until the owner of the lot where the orange tree grows wants to chop the tree up into woodchips and the kids stand up for their tree.  Here's the slideshow so you can see what some of the kids have been reading:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Summer Reading Lists

The weather hasn't officially decided to get warm yet...but we have seen some sunny, warm days.  Before we know it, school will be out and summer will officially be here.  In the next few weeks, I will be talking to students about summer reading.  It is so important for kids to read at least 5 books during the summer.  Books are perfect for summer fun because they don't need to be plugged in or charged and you can take them everywhere!  If you have a book, you can't be bored!

I will be bringing in books for students to add to their summer To-Read lists.  They can use these lists when they go to the library to get books to read over the summer.  I will also ask the students to set reading goals and then show them how to fill out a simple reading log where they can keep track of the books they have read.

When I was in school, I remember going to the library to participate in their summer reading program.  Usually, you can sign up after the school year ends. Kids read and tell the library what they have read and then they can get prizes!  I loved it when I was in elementary school.  You can click here for some information about the summer reading program from the Poplar Creek Library.

Barnes and Noble offers their own summer reading program.  Kids have to read 8 books and they can get a free book from their list of books. How cool is that?  I love free things. I love books.  I love free books!  Why not?  You can visit the Barnes and Noble website for more information about their summer program.

Please share books that you think would be great for summer reading!  You can add them in the comments section of this post.

If you can come to school and bring me a book or the title and author of a book that you think I should add to my summer reading list, you can earn one sticker towards a reading reward!

What Are You Reading Good? (04/29/2011)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Reader of the Month April 2011

Our Reader of the Month for April is Jackie!  Jackie is a 6th grader who I have been working with since 2nd grade.  It has been so much fun to see her grow as a reader since I met her in 2nd grade.  She has been reading more and more and more!

Mrs. Read-A-Lot: What is your favorite book? Who would you recommend it to?

Jackie: My favorite book is The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.  I recommend to my friends and brother.


Mrs. Read-A-Lot: Where do you like to read?  Can you describe your favorite reading spot?


Jackie: I like to read in my room and also outside in my backyard.


Mrs. Read-A-Lot: When do you like to read?


Jackie: Every day I like to read.


Mrs. Read-A-Lot: What are the last three books you have read?


Jackie: 1. Holes 2. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda 3. Once Upon a Marigold

Mrs. Read-A-Lot:Do you prefer paperbacks or hardcover books?

Jackie: I prefer hardcover because you hold it better.

Mrs. Read-A-Lot: How do you choose a book?


Jackie: By looking in the back of the cover and reading first page in the book and then read the back, it tells you a little about the book.


Mrs. Read-A-Lot: Reading is...


Jackie: Reading is important because all your life you have to read.  Reading is important to me because I can have a good career for my life.  Everywhere you have to read.

Jackie has been doing some good reading!  We even wrote a letter to the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and he sent us a signed origami Yoda!  Jackie and I were so excited.  I'm excited to share the book with my other students.  The author even includes a deaf character in the book named Caroline.  We had fun talking about Caroline and even asked the author about her hearing loss.  Thanks to Jackie for being the Reader of the Month and answering our reading questions!

If you can come to school and tell me whether Jackie likes paperback or hardcover books better, you will earn one sticker towards a reading reward!

What Are You Reading Good? (04/22/2011)

We had a short week this week and then I forgot to post our slideshow on Friday because we didn't have school!  The kids have been busy with MAP testing so we didn't get to do as much talking about books as usual this week.  

On Friday we said goodbye to Miss Demes who has been working with me for the past 6 weeks.  She had lots of fun books to share with us and we will miss her.  I'm looking forward to some great reads this week!  I have Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt that just came out this month.  I've started it and I love the main character so far.  I also have Phineas and Ferb #1: Speed Demons and Phineas and Ferb #2: Runaway Hit on my Nook to read.  Those should be fun!  

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What are you going to be reading good this week?  I almost forgot that I also picked up Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt from Barnes and Noble.  It's such a funny book about a flying squirrel who's scared to leave his tree!

What Are You Reading Good? (04/15/2011)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com