Poetry For a Reluctant Reader

Hello,

Today, one of my students made a wonderful breakthrough with his reading!

This is a third grade boy who is not shy about telling me how much he does not like to read. I told him that’s fine, but I love to read so I asked if he would mind if I read to him. He said no, he wouldn’t. So, I read a picture book and part of a chapter book he had been trying to read and then I read some poems. Last week I introduced to him Shel Silverstein’s, Where the Sidewalk Ends. I read a few of my favorites to my student and he really enjoyed them. I suggested he take the book home and share them with his family.

Today, I asked him if he had any favorites. Right away he turned to a page with two and he read them both to me! And, he read them quite well. I was nearly teary-eyed with joy for him and I told him so. Of course he thought I was silly but at the same time, he was beaming with pride. We spent some time reading more poems together and he borrowed the book for another week.

My student’s success today was a very much needed boost to his reading confidence. Sometimes as educators or parents we forget about the value of poetry reading, especially with the tomes on the bookstores with movie tie-ins are luring kids in. Often times those books are too challenging and frustration ensues. For now, this student and I will be reading more poetry and the smaller the book, the better.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Student Storyboards – From a First Grader!

Dear Readers,

I am always very excited when any of my students make progress using a new strategy. This is a storyboard book completed by Mac. He is a first grader getting ready to start second grade in the fall.

Mac chose to make a storyboard book after he read Mouse and Mole, Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee.

 

 

Mac did a fine job of summarizing the story in pictures.

 

Mac needed more squares so he divided two squares into halves. Great way to incorporate math into the literacy lesson!

In the story, Mole misspelled the word cardinal. As is common with young readers and writers, the letter b and d are interchanged.

Luckily for Mole, Mouse saw the mistake and helped him out. I like how Mac included this very important detail in his storyboard. Great work, Mac!

As you have probably guessed by now, I am a big fan of using storyboards as a comprehension tool. They engage the kinesthetic learner, they make assessing comprehension fun for the student and the teacher, and the student has a project to add to portfolio to reflect upon for many years to come.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Book Recommendations for Reluctant Readers and Everyone Else, Too!

Hello,

I want to share with my readers a wonderful website, www.KeenReaders.com. Each month the site posts book reviews by their team of readers; and I’m thrilled to be a member of the team! The books we read are chosen for their readability for the reluctant reader, both boys and girls, ages middle grade to young adult.

I hope you visit the site and the book reviews. If your child finds a book on the site that sparks his or her reading interest, you can share your success story here and I’ll pass it on.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Student Storyboards to Check Comprehension

Hello,

Storyboarding is a great tool to check a student’s comprehension of a story. Kids love to draw and color so it’s win-win for everyone!

As you know, Fiona is one of my students who is reading all the books in the Poison Apple series. She recently finished NOW YOU SEE ME by Jane B. Mason.

Here is Fiona’s first storyboard:

I discovered she is quite the artiste, too! Great job, Fiona.

Fiona is nearing the end of the series with MIDNIGHT HOWL by Clare Hutton.

And, here is her second storyboard:

Great story detail in your pictures, Fiona!

Readers, I hope you have a chance to use storyboards with your students and children at home. Share with me your success stories, too.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Another Student Book Recommendation

Hello,

One of my students wrote another wonderful book recommendation for her peers. The book is MISS FORTUNE by Brandi Dougherty. This is another Poison Apple book.

Fiona started reading the Poison Apple books a couple of months ago and is now reading the second to the last one in the series, until August, that is, when another book is due to be released. I am so pleased with how voraciously Fiona is now devouring books! Keep up the great work, Fiona.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Two New Book Recommendations!

Hello Readers,

I want to share two book recommendations written by one of my students. Fiona has really taken off with her reading! When I first started working with Fiona I learned that she enjoys creepy, scary books with a mystery. So, I introduced her to the Poison Apple series. Fiona has taken off  with her reading! She has read the first two and she is currently reading number three. She has waiting in her “books to be read” pile numbers four through six and in August, number seven!

Here are Fiona’s recommendations:

I’m definitely going to recommend this book to my students!

Vampires are still alive and well in the kids’ world of reading! This one is in my “to read” pile.

I hope you enjoy these books as much as Fiona. Send me a comment about which is your favorite book in the Poison Apple series.

Happy Reading,

Kathleen

Book Recommendation

Hello,

I would like to share with you a website for parents and kids that is filled with great resources for both. The website is called Keen Readers and here is the link: http://www.keenreaders.org/

I also want to share my book review on the site.  Here is that link:  http://www.keenreaders.org/youth/book-reviews.

I plan to write more book reviews and recommendations.  I invite you to visit the site regularly for more great books to read!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen