What Are You Reading Good? (09/30/11)

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School of Fear Booktalk

We have our first booktalk of this school year! Jodie would like to tell you about School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari!

I listened to this book on audiobook and it was great. I love the unexpected twist in this book. Have you read School of Fear? What book are reading that you love?

Please share what you are reading this week! Go Team Read!

What Are You Reading Good? (09/23/11)

Yet another great week of reading! I love that students are bringing their books every time I see them. Great reading!!! Go Team Read!

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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!

What Are You Reading Good? (09/16/11)

We had such a spectacular week of reading! It was fun to see what kids are reading and to share our books. I'm so excited that kids are visiting the library and checking out the Team Read blog. Go Team Read!!!

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Team Read Blog Info!

Adrian was the first student to post a comment on the Team Read blog! He's really excited about Team Read! I hope you all are, too! Let's practice leaving a comment. Look under this post where it says "0 Comments". It might have a different number once people start commenting. Click there and then type your comment into the box on the page that opens up. Choose "Anonymous" and then press "Publish Your Comment" and you're done! It will send your comment to me and I have to approve it before it shows up on the blog.