Hello,
I would like to share an article I read in the December 2009 issue of THE READING TEACHER. A reading specialist in an elementary school in New Jersey implemented a parent/child reading program that helped to increase the reading level of kindergartners.
First, the selects a short passage to her child. This can be a poem, a rhyme or a song lyric. The parent then reads the passage 2-4 times out loud to the child, pointing to the words as they are read. A short chat about the content follows.
Second, the parent and child read the passage together, at the same time, 204 times. This time the child can point to the text as it is read.
Third, the child reads the text out loud to her parent, 2-4 times again. The child points to the words as she reads them.
Fourth, the parent and child talk briefly about one phonics feature in the text. The example given in the article is for the rhyme Little Bo Peep. Using words from the -eep family, "write a list of words from the poem that contain that rhyme, and then brainstorm and write other words" from the same family.
This is a wonderful interactive lesson that is fun for both the parent and the child. Plus, the entire session lasts only 10-15 minutes.
Let me know if you try this activity with your own child. I would love to hear your success stories as well as any challenges you experience.
Happy Reading,
Kathleen
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sunday, October 18, 2009
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
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
Sunday, September 13, 2009
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
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
Monday, August 3, 2009
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
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
Monday, July 6, 2009
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.comIf 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
Monday, June 29, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 22, 2009
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
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
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