Revisiting Read Alouds

Hello,

I hope everyone is off to a fabulous school year. I know I am.

I think it is important to revisit the benefits of Read-Alouds to our young readers. Research supports that “… reading aloud is a powerful way to engage children in the literacy process.” (Reading Teacher, Vol 63, No. 2)

The key benefits for read alouds are:

· Increases language usage.
· Enhances listening skills.
· Engages listeners in the process of reading.
· Promotes critical thinking and deeper understanding through discussions.
· Helps the reader make connections to self, other texts and the world.

Here are a few suggestions for how to engage your reader with you:

· Sit side-by-side.
· Read with expression.
· Pause along the way to discuss what has happened so far.
· Make predictions for how the story will end.
· Let your child/students help in the selection process for the next read aloud story.

If you have questions, be sure to send me an e-mail or a comment on my blog.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

A New School Year Has Begun

Hello!

Most of us are getting reading to begin our first full week of school. I'm very excited to try new research-based strategies for literacy in the classroom. I also plan to teach my student how to crochet again and to incorporate that into our literacy block. It was a great success last year and their assessment scores reflect their growth as readers.

In October we will begin our preparations for NaNoWriMo which will begin on November 1. This year I'm teaching 3rd grade so our daily word count will probably be less than the 250 words for my 4th graders. NaNoWriMo is an excellent project for young writers to build their confidence putting words on paper. As a writer, I know how daunting that blank sheet of paper can be. With NaNoWriMo, there is no right or wrong and it's pure imagination at its best. After the first week the students beg to have more NaNoWriMo time in the day!

I know Sleepy Bear is also excited to start-up his book club again for boys and girls. Moosey-Moose has had a fun-filled summer but that was mostly because he skipped out on doing his chores and left Sleepy Bear to do all the work. My students are already reading and responding to both Sleepy Bear and Moosey-Moose. You can do the same by clicking on the links in my list of websites.

I hope everyone has a fantastic year reading and writing.

Kathleen

What Is Currently In my Reading Stack

Hello,

I hope you are enjoying your summer and making your way through your stack of summer time reading books. I know I am!

Of course I've been reading along with Sleepy Bear and his book club for girls at Mockingbird Books. You can read his blog for all the details at http://SleepyBearWrites.blogspot.com Plus, I'm reading MY LIFE FROM AIR-BRAS TO ZITS by Barbara Haworth-Attard. This is a YA novel about a 14-year-old girl and her angst-ridden sophomore year in high school. It's quite entertaining! And, I'm reading LOCKED ROOMS by Laurie R. King to satisfy my Sherlock Holmes craving. Oh, and I mustn't forget my daily dose of the New York Times.

I'd love to hear from you and what you're reading.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Blogs and Book Clubs

Hello,

I want to remind everyone about Sleepy Bear's book clubs for kids. He hosts one for girls ages 6-10 in collaboration with Mockingbird Books in Seattle. Sleepy Bear posts his blog for this book club every Thursday. Currently the group is reading THE PUPPY PLACE books. Last month we read BABYMOUSE. Sleepy Bear asks questions of his readers, shares his thinking about what he has read, and learns new vocabulary words.

Sleepy Bear also hosts another book club for boys and girls, no age limit. Be sure to read along with him on his blog at http://sleepybearwrites.blogspot.com/


Of course I can't neglect to mention Moosey-Moose's blog, too. Now, Moosey-Moose is the adventurous one of the two. He loves to travel, but mostly he loves to get into mischief. He often finds himself in some peculiar situations. But, he learns how to problem solve and learns what he should do "next time." You can read all about his travels and adventures at http://Mooseymoosewrites.blogspot.com

If you would like one of Sleepy Bear's and Moosey-Moose's bookmarks (they're double-sided on business card stock, and glossy!), send me an e-mail with your address and I will mail as many as you want, free! My e-mail address is Kathleen@KathleenHunterWrites.com \

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Summer Reading Is Here

Hello,

School is out for the summer - the time we've all been waiting for. Finally, a chance to catch up on our reading. And that goes for children of all ages, too. But with so many books to choose from, where should we begin?

A great resource for reading lists is your local library. I know the Seattle Public Library has pamphlets with reading lists for children of all ages. From preschool to middle school. Also, many of the local branches have specific summer reading programs.

And of course, you can join Sleepy Bear's book club online. Currently he has a book club for girls ages 6-10 in collaboration with Mockingbird Books in Greenlake, a neighborhood of Seattle. This month we are reading THE PUPPY PLACE books by Ellen Miles. Each Thursday Sleepy Bear writes about what he has read. Children can write to Sleepy Bear with their questions or findings. I personally read each blog comment to check for appropriateness before I publish them.

Sleepy Bear is also in the process of starting his independent book club for boys and girls. Check out his blog for past selections. http://Sleepybearwrites.blogspot.com

Speaking of blogs. The research supports using blogs as a way for readers of all ages to increase their literacy skills and their technology skills! So, if you can't make it to the library, they can read the adventures of Moosey-Moose, too. He's at http://Mooseymoosewrites.blogspot.com

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Notes From the Classroom

Hello,

Today is our last full day in the classroom so I thought it appropriate to write about the classroom.

I don't use the word "amazing" very often because I think it is often over used. But in this case, I find it appropriate. My students have been truly amazing the past few months with their crocheting activities. I have watched them persevere through their frustrations of not being able to start a single chain stitch, their coasters looking like triangles instead of squares, lost hooks and knotted balls of yarn. Today, they are making gifts for each other of perfectly stitched scarves, square coasters, hats, blankets, and gifts for Sleepy Bear and Moosey-Moose!

During a portion of our literacy block I give them the choice of either reading independently or with a partner, blogging, or crocheting. I also ask them to "mix-it-up" so they are not always doing the same activity. Eventually, they came up with a way of doing it all! For example, a group of girls might sit in a circle at a table to crochet, except one girl will read while the others crochet. After the first girl reads 1-2 pages (they decide beforehand how much each person will read), then she passes the book to the next girl and the first girl will crochet. They continue around the circle until the literacy block is over. And it's not only the girls who are doing this. The boys are equally engaged in their crocheting/reading activity.

For those who choose to blog, they are writing to Sleepy Bear and Moosey-Moose about their crocheting projects and making them their own coasters and a scarves! Check-out their blogs for pictures and comments from the students.

The crocheting/blogging/reading combination has been a great success. My students' literacy skills improved, (we have test scores to prove it, too!), their verbal as well as written communication skills have greatly improved, they have advanced in their technology know-how, and their overall community in the classroom has been a pleasure to watch and be around.

Happy Reading!

Kathleen

Notes From the Classroom

Hello,

In addition to writing about literacy research, ideas to try at home or in the classroom with your child, I am also going to begin writing about situations and anecdotes about the students in my classroom. These are those teachable moments or those 'AHAS" that are priceless.

I'll begin with my student who is a reluctant writer and reading used to be a close second for his least favorite things to do. This student is a 3rd grader.

If you've been reading my blog then you know about my students crocheting in the classroom during our independent reading block. Well, a couple of weeks ago my cat, Angelo, broke his arm from a fall. Yes, cats are supposed be invincible when it comes to landing on their feet but not when they are trying to land on hardwood steps and avoid being caught by their sibling cat. This happened on a Friday night. On Monday morning, my students and I share one item from our weekend. I shared my story about Angelo and how he was going to need surgery later in the week. Needless to say, my students were very sympathetic and passed on their well wishes for Angelo. But one 3rd grade boy really surprised me when he gave me a ball of yarn for Angelo as a get well present. But it wasn't an ordinary ball of yarn. He had crocheted multiple colors of yarn together in one very long chain. Then he rolled up the chain into a ball. He also explained how he secured the ends so the ball would not come apart when Angelo played with it - after his arm was better.

I asked my student if he would write a note to Angelo that I could read to him when I showed him his gift. So, throughout the afternoon my student wrote the note. He asked how to spell Angelo's name and crocheted. At the end of the day he gave me his letter. I was shocked! I asked if he had help writing the letter and he said he wrote it all by himself. Well, the letter was perfect. It had capital letters, punctuation, and all the words were spelled correctly.

It just goes to show, given a purpose, kids will rise to the occasion. And, by the way, reading is now one of this student's favorite pastimes, especially when he gets to read to a group of students who are crocheting!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Graphic Novels for Boys and Girls

Hello,

I've mentioned before the power of the graphic novel for the reluctant reader but I want to mention briefly how some are especially appealing to both boys and girls.

Sleepy Bear co-hosts a book club for girls at Mockingbird Books in Greenlake, Washington. We meet once a month and it is for girls ages 6-10. Our first book selection was the BABYMOUSE books. The students in my class also read Sleepy Bear's blog so they learned about the book club. Well, it's not only the girls who are enjoying the book club via Sleepy Bear's blog, but the boys are reading BABYMOUSE, too. I can't keep enough of the books in my classroom.

Fortunately for me, I enjoy reading the books just as much as Sleepy Bear and his book club buddies. The authors are a brother and sister team, Matthew and Jennifer Holm.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Parent Talk While Reading Aloud - Part 2

Hello,

Last week I wrote about parent talk during a story book read aloud to your child. Today I want to mention the expository book. This genre is sometimes overlooked when choosing a book to share with your child.

Expository texts have the benefit of pictures with labels, captions, keys and dialogue bubbles to help the young reader make connections between the words and the pictures. These features can be especially appealing to the young reluctant reader.

The story books and expository books are equally beneficial as texts to engage your young reader. As with everything in life, balance is the key.

Refer to my book list for kids for some nonfiction books you might enjoy, too.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Parent Talk While Reading Aloud

Hello,

Reading aloud to children is more than just "reading a story" to pass the time. The content and amount of the adult's language is very instrumental to the child's developing language skills. The article in the April/May/June issue of READING RESEARCH QUARTERLY, published by The International Reading Association, goes into great detail about the content of talk while reading aloud. I will summarize a few of the points in today's blog and in next week's blog.

The higher the cognitive demand in the types of questions you ask, the more your child will be engaged in an analytical type discussion. For example, ask your child to make predictions, hypothesise, summarize or explain what is happening in the story. If your child is a preschooler, then you can be the one to model how to think analytically. After reading a part of a story you can say, "I think the momma bird will eventually want to teach her baby birds how to hunt for worms."

This type of language will give your preschooler a head start in comprehension strategies. As an older reader, your child will continue to build on analytical skills and interest in reading.

The story reference above is from Moosey-Moose's blog post today. Yes, we have a new family of robins in our garden! Check out his blog at Mooseymoosewrites.blogspot.com.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Sleepy Bear Hosts a New Book Club

Hello,

Sleepy Bear is hosting a book club for girls ages 6-10 at Mockingbird Books in Greenlake, WA. We will meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8pm. Sleepy Bear will then post questions and answers on his blog.

If you live in the area, we hope to see you at Mockingbird Books! If not, be sure to visit his blog every Thursday for the latest news. His blog is: SleepyBearWrites.blogspot.com

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

A Few of My Favorite Things at the SCBWI Conference

Hello,

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the SCBWI Western Washington Regional Conference. It was two full days of meeting fellow authors, agents, and editors.

I will highlight some of the authors and their books that I'm sure you will enjoy reading for yourself or for the kids in your world.

On Saturday we had the pleasure of being entertained by the keynote speaker, Adam Rex. He is the author of THE DIRTY COWBOY, FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, a New York Times bestseller, THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY and his newest book, FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE.

On Sunday, Jon Scieszka, the first National Ambassador of Young People's Literature, gave the keynote address to close the weekend. He is also the founder of GUYS READ, a literacy initiative for boys. A few of his titles are, THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, THE STINKY CHEESE MAN, the TIME WARP TRIO series, and the TRUCKTOWN series, just to name a few.

Other authors and or illustrators who attended the conference were Justina Chen Headley, Sundee Frazier, Ellen Hopkins, Nina Laden, and Grace Lin, just to name a few. I highly recommend their books!

Until next week,

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Do Crocheting and Literacy Really Have a Connection? - Update

Hello,

A quick update on the progress of my students and their crocheting.

The students are creating a variety of projects. Some have decided to make coasters, others scarves, and others are making hats!

During our choice time in the classroom, some students will sit around a table to crochet while one student reads aloud to them. They take turns passing the book around the table to read.

Another positive for the students learning how to crochet is that they talk about how relaxing it is to sit and crochet while they visit with friends during recess or watch TV at home.

All in all, a great success!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Do Crocheting and Literacy Really Have a Connection?

Hello,

In an earlier blog I mentioned the article in The Reading Teacher about the students who learned how to crochet and how that facilitated their reading and writing. I decided to give it a try with my 3rd and 4th grade students.

I first bought myself a new crochet hook and some yarn and one for my students. One by one, I taught my students the chain stitch. When one student learned, he or she taught another student. I was surprisde by their interest in learning and teaching. Yes, even the boys are becoming crochet masters!

My students wrote letters to their parents requesting a few dollars to buy their own crochet hook and yarn and today they will each receive their own supplies! I was lucky enough to get a discount at the local fabric store so today my students will write "Thank You" letters to the store managers.

I am happily surprised at how this project has taken off with my students. They are learning how to communicate instructions in a sequential manner, how to listen to a read-aloud while crocheting, and how to write a persuasive letter and a thank you note to adults.

I'll keep you posted on our progress!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

A Nifty Strategy To Help Your Child Read Fluently

Hello,

When children first learn to read, we check for one-to-one correspondence; is the child saying a word for each word on the page? Usually, the reader uses his finger to point to each word as he says it. But, as the reader becomes more accomplished, this is a habit that we want to change. We want the reader to read like he is talking - fluently.

One way to help your child reader to read more fluently is to use a bookmark to cover the words just after he has read them.

Ask your child to begin reading the first sentence. You will use the bookmark to cover the first word and the following words just after your child has read each word.

Continue to slide the bookmark over the words, moving along each sentence.

The goal is for your child to read the words before you cover them with the bookmark. Soon your child learn how to see the words ahead in the sentence before he actually needs to read them, which facilitates reading fluently.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

A Unique Way of Encouraging Literacy in the Community

Hello,

I read an article in the February 2009 issue of The Reading Teacher called, "The 42nd Crochet: Getting Students Hooked Into a Literacy Community". The article tells the story of how a second grade teacher taught her students how to crochet as a classroom management tool at the end of the school day. However, it quickly blossomed into a regular part of the classroom's literacy content. The students used their crocheting time as an opportunity to talk about books they were reading, to write about their crocheting projects, to problem solve, and to build relationships with the community outside of the classroom. The students wrote letters to local businesses asking for donations of crocheting supplies. Crocheting also became a big part of the students' home life. Students began crocheting at home either on their own or with other family members. This is a great way to spend some quality time with your child and discuss their literary interests just like in the classroom, to encourage dialogue with your child, and make gifts for family members all at the same time!

When I first read the title of this article, I was a little skeptical and unsure of how crocheting tied into literacy. But, now I'm excited about trying this out in my own classroom of 3rd and 4th graders. I'll keep you posted on our progress!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Motivating the Unmotivated Reader With Graphic Novels and Comic Books

Hello,

Do you have a child who is not interested in reading? There are many possible reasons for the lack of interest but the one with the quickest solution is finding interesting books to read. And if you have a disinterested boy reader, your challenge is even greater. However, do not despair. One of the best ways to get your child interested in reading is with the graphic novel or comic book.

Often times the comic book is poo-pooed and not taken seriously. But if you've ever read a comic book then you know they have plot lines, story archs, character development, and a vocabulary beyond the stereotypical onomatopoeia action words. Plus, the vivid pictures help the struggling reader with comprehension. As I tell my students, read the pictures and read the words!

If you would like some suggested titles, send me a comment and I will be happy to get you and your child started!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Story Boards to Help with Comprehension

Hello,

Many children can read the words on the page, but do they truly understand what they are reading? Do they remember what they read? One of my favorite tools to check for understanding with my students is to use a story board. The kids love using story boards because they are doing art but more importantly they are discovering for themselves how much they understand and remember from what they just read. And, when they learn on their own that they don't remember, they take it upon themselves to re-read.

I use a story board with a total of 6 squares. I have attached a link to a printable story board. Your child sketches the main events in a chapter in sequence. The object is to be able to tell the story using pictures and not words. When the sketches are complete, your child can color the pictures and add more details.

This is a fun, quick, and interactive activity to do with your child. Soon your child will begin to construct their own meaning from the words on the page and you'll have some fabulous art work to display!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Sleepy Bear's Book Club

Hello,

In case you have not heard, Sleepy Bear hosts a book club for kids. He asks for suggestions about which book to choose each month and then he assigns how many pages to read. He asks questions to the kids and makes his own predictions and constructs meaning from what he reads. Kids can blog to Sleepy Bear about their favorite parts of the book or about anything they don't understand. Sleepy Bear is very good about responding to his blog questions. And parents, I moderate all comments before they are published. Check out his blog by clicking on the link to the left.

Currently Sleepy Bear is traveling in New York City with Moosey-Moose, but he plans to start a new book when he returns to Seattle in a couple of days. In the meantime, check out his previous book club blog entries.


Happy Reading,

Kathleen

A Few of My Favorite Books

Hello,

I've added a short list of a few of my favorite books for kids. This is a very short list but I will add to it and update it monthly. If you would like to know more about any of the books on the list, please comment on my blog or send me an email message at Kathleen@KathleenHunterWrites.com.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Story Hour

Hello,

Each month I am hosting a Story Hour for kids at Abraxus Books in Ballard. So, if you live in the area be sure to join me from 1-2 pm for picture book stories, a craft activity, and cookies. It's free and you don't need to bring anything except your love for books! Check-out the website for Abraxus Books at Abraxusbooks.com.

I hope to see you next on April 4, 2009.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Day One of My Blog

Hello Friends,

As you can see, my blog is super-duper brand new and is still under construction. In fact, I just launched it last night. Please be patient. I promise to have info for you later today. In the meantime, check out my website and Sleepy Bear's blog and Moosey-Moose's blog.

I'm looking forward to sharing my knowledge on literacy for kids and my love of reading and writing.

Cheers,

Kathleen