From the category archives:

reading

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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Verdi by Jane Cannon

Why we love this book:

Verdi is written by the creator of the beloved Stellaluna. Verdi learns the hard way that regardless of how you change and look on the outside, you’re always you on the inside, “I may be big and very green, but I’m still me!”

The pictures are fabulously green, bold and bright.  Verdi is a wonderful read aloud or independent reading book for older children as the text is longer and the story is deeper than beginning picture books. More difficult picture books like Verdi introduce new vocabulary, develop more complex characters and present more intricate plots. Verdi is the perfect book to highlight this week as we are continuing the Components of a Balanced Reading Program with Independent Reading for older children.

Independent Reading for Older Children

Key Components to a Balanced Reading Program

Have you noticed that children want to read books that are too hard for them? One might think that students would want to “take the easy way out” and select books that are easy reads for them. But my experience is quite the opposite. Children don’t want to read “baby” books. They’re always pushing themselves ahead to read more challenging books. They want to read the books that the “big” kids read. Children are also drawn to nonfiction books which tend to be more challenging reads.

Guided Reading is the time to introduce challenging books; books that offer children opportunities to problem solve without loosing the meaning of the story. Guided Reading allows parents and teachers to guide children through the process of reading new and challenging text.

Independent Reading Goals:

  • reading for enjoyment
  • learning how to make good book choices
  • reading to develop fluency
  • Independent Reading is all about striking a balance

Reading for Enjoyment

  • Miss Enigma is totally in love with Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo. We return it to the library and then she checks it out upon our next return. We’re talking true looooooove here!

  • Nope, Miss Enigma cannot read this beginning chapter book. However, we’ve read it so many times that she knows the story by heart. The pictures guide the way.
  • There’s a constant balance between reading for enjoyment and reading independently. It’s all about a good mix of books
  • Bink & Gollie is a good transition book for those children wanting to read chapter books. The pictures and limited text make it an easier read for those just branching out into chapter books.

  • Every night both of the children are allowed a quiet time at bedtime to read independently.
  • This picture was just too darn cute to pass-up.
  • Bink & Gollie spend many nights with Miss Enigma.

Teaching Children How to Make Good Book Choices

  • Introduce Easy, Just Right and Challenge books
  • Most children are not taught how to make good book choices. This is an important skill!
  • You can find a step by step lesson in our detailed post: Teaching Children to Make Good Book Choices

Reading to Develop Fluency

  • All children need time to read easy, familiar books that help them develop their reading fluency.
  • Parents and teachers often push children away from easy books. Why?
  • Imagine if everything you read was challenging! Would you enjoy reading?
  • Children need the opportunity to feel confident. They need to feel like a “good” reader!
  • When children read challenging material, they start and stop and start and stop. They need the opportunity to read fluently.
  • During Independent Reading time children may choose to reread familiar books or books that have been read aloud to them.

Independent reading time is all about balance!

Life with Jeannine

We’re GIVING AWAY one hardcover copy of  Verdi by Janell Cannon.

To enter this contest, just answer the following question in the comments section of this post.

Happy Easter! What will the Easter Bunny be stuffing in the Easter Baskets around you home this weekend?  (Or just say “Hey.” We’re flexible around here.)

The Rules:

One entry per person, please.

No entries after 8:00 pm Central Time, Sunday, April 8, 2012

The winner must be a resident of The United States.

The winner will be selected at random and announced Monday, April 9, 2012. Check back to claim your prize. It might be you!

 Sharing this week at:

ABC and 123 Learning

Hip Homeschool Moms

Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

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Indpendent Reading Book Pack GIVEAWAY of the Week

March 27, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barett Puddles by Jonathan London Water’s Way by Lisa Westberg Peters Why we love these books: Joyce has once again dipped into her library books and selected a Weather Book Pack GIVEAWAY. Since April Showers bring May Flowers, it seems only appropriate [...]

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Guided Reading with Older Children: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

March 12, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: On Meadowview Street by Henry Cole Why we love this book: Caroline is a girl after my own heart! Caroline and her family move into a new home on Meadowview Street where all of the houses and yards look exactly alike. When Caroline’s dad decides to mow the yard, she [...]

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Guided Reading for Beginning Readers: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

March 5, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert Why we love this book: The sun is shining and it is warming-up quickly in the Texas Hill Country. That means it’s time to get outside and start digging in the garden! Planting a Rainbow is one of our favorite gardening books for children. [...]

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Reading Aloud to Older Children: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

February 27, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY:Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen Why we love this book: We are continuing our series on Creating a Balanced Reading Program with a focus on Reading Aloud to Older Children this week. Most parents and teachers do an excellent job of reading to their young children, but once children begin reading [...]

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Why Read Alouds are a Key Component to a Balanced Reading Program: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

February 21, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr / Eric Carle Why we love this book: EVERY home and classroom library should begin with a copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See! This week our focus is on reading aloud to children as [...]

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A Balanced Reading Program for Homeschool: Book Pack GIVEAWAY

February 13, 2012 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff A Book About Your Skeleton by Ruth Belov Gross Why we love these books: In observance of Valentine’s Day, the holiday of L-O-V-E, we are celebrating [...]

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Preschool Reading Response Art & Music

November 9, 2011 at school
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Down on the Farm by Merrily Kutner Why we love this book: We love this book because the kids love this book! If you’re looking for a great little book packed full of learning then Down on the Farm by Merrily Kutner is a must have. This book full of rhyme, rhythm and repetitive text [...]

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Taking Reading Response Journals to the Next Level: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

August 29, 2011 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman Why we love this book: Katie loves the new kittens and it makes her so very happy that she just can’t help but howl and chase them around the house, “AROOOOOO!” But each and every time this just scares the kittens and gets [...]

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Teaching Children to Make Good Book Choices: Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

August 22, 2011 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus Why we love this book: Leo is a late bloomer and this concerns his father; however, his mother is confident that Leo will bloom. “Then one day, in his own good time, Leo bloomed!” And that is an important message for both adults [...]

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Getting Children Started with Reading Response Journals: Kevin Henkes Boxed Set GIVEAWAY

August 15, 2011 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Boxed Set Lilly and Friends Box of Fun by Kevin Henkes Why we love these books: Kevin Henkes’ series about Lilly and her friends is charming, witty, funny and true to life. Both adults and children can relate to these remarkably “real” characters. From Lilly and her friends, children learn [...]

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How to Introduce Reading Response Journals (Kindergarten – Third Grade): Book of the Week GIVEAWAY

August 8, 2011 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli Why we love this book: This week we are introducing Reading Response Journals. One of our main goals this week is for children to embrace the belief that reading is FUN! Accordingly we’re going to start the year with an abundance of read alouds that [...]

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Back to School with a 10 Book GIVEAWAY

August 1, 2011 at school
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Last school year, I often blogged about journal writing with children and posted writing samples from toddlers to third grade. We kicked off the school year with two posts: 10 Easy Steps to Introduce Journal Writing: Preschool – Third Grade Books That Inspire Children to Write: Book GIVEAWAY Introducing Reading Response Journals This school year, [...]

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10 Favorite Read Alouds for Children: Skippyjon Jones GIVEAWAY

July 25, 2011 at school
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Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Skippyjon Jones AND THE BIG BONES by Judy Schachner Bonus CD Included Why we love Skippyjon Jones: We love his IMAGINATION! When Skippyjon Jones heads into his closet you know he’s about to take you on a one-of-a-kind adventure. Think, Zorro meets a Siamese kitten, who thinks he’s a chihuahua! [...]

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How to Pick Good Books for Preschoolers

August 1, 2010 at school
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As a classroom teacher, I created quite a good library of children’s literature for myself. I’ve never counted my books, but I probably have at least 1000 books. However, when I had my own children, I found that most of these books were not appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers. They are often too long and [...]

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