Quantity, Quantity, Quantitiy

I have the pleasure of talking with concerned Mommas, Daddies, Teachers and Grandparents EVERY SINGLE DAY. It seems each family has a child that is struggling with reading. Here's the advice I give them. Read. Read a book. Read a magazine. Read a newspaper. Read a graphic novel. Read a cereal box. Read. Read some more. Your child should be reading every single day outside of the classroom. Your child should see you reading. Make sure your child is surrounded by books that interest him. Give your child the opportunity to buy or check out books. I know you want your child reading "War and Peace", "Little Women" and other valuable classics. However if she's not interested, let her start with Henry and Mudge, The Dish Series or My Weird School. The key with getting your child interested in reading, building fluency and increasing comprehension is quantity, quantity, quantity. It is not quality. I love to give book recommendations. If you're looking for some book recommendations for a specific need, please email me. raisingreaders.estes@gmail.com

Happy reading,
Susanne

Have you got 10 minutes a day to make a difference?

I am reading an amazing book, The Read-Aloud Handbook. I heartily recommend it for all parents, teachers and homeschoolers. In addition to stressing the value of reading orally to your children, (I wrote about this on a previous blog - look it up!) this book stress the importance of encouraging your child to read silently 10 minutes per day. Here's the kicker~ you should read silently aside your child. Why? What do you think it teaches your child when you sit down next to her and read? I believe it teaches her that SHE'S a priority and reading is a priority. I'm attaching a link to an article about SSR (Sustained Silent Reading). Thomas O'Neill is discussed in the article. You'll read about how Mr. O'Neill transformed his school through SSR. The article fails to mention, however, that Mr. O'Neill required his teachers to participate in SSR! Ooohh! I'd love to hear that faculty meeting when he mentioned this additional "requirement"!

Are you thinking that you don't have time to sit down with your child and read for 10 minutes? How many times did you check your email today? What about ESPN or Fox News? We have time to do what's a priority for us. Are you thinking that your child doesn't have time to sit for 10 minutes and read with you? Did he go to baseball today? Did she play on WebKinz? What about watch his favorite television show? Is that really more important than learning the life-long skill of reading? Are you thinking you really don't like to read books? How about a magazine? The newspaper? Any form of print media will work! (That applies to our kids, too.)

Now, go snag your kids, sit on the couch and READ!

Happy reading,
Susanne

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/poland.html

If you feel like digging a little deeper. Here is "The Read-Aloud Handbook" in Google Books. Go to pages 19 and 20 to read about Mr. O'Neill.

http://books.google.com/books?id=B2_yUfmc6dsC&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=thomas+p.+oneill+lewenberg+middle+school&source=bl&ots=joqZ5KsUie&sig=zCfhF_aQ59pcz4oE0aUNvk7zcG4&hl=en&ei=XbXQS4LyO4ea8ASyr52ECg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Book Review: How to Steal a Dog

Last week, I read "How to Steal a Dog" by Barbara O'Connor. The reading level is 4.0. However, a fourth-grader would have to be extremely mature to understand the concepts in the book. I would recommend it to fifth-grade and up.

The premise of the story is about a young girl who lives in a car with her mom and brother. They are desperate for a home but don't have enough money for the down-payment on an apartment. Georgina, the main character, creates a plan to steal a dog and use the inevitable reward money for the down-payment. As the plan progresses, many expected and unexpected hurdles come her way.

This is a sad book. No other way to put it. I was very sympathetic to Georgina and her struggling mom. Unfortunately, it seemed rather believable... I believe it's helpful for our children to see how other people live. If your child reads this book, please read it together. There are some wonderful opportunities to discuss struggles of other families and ways we can help them.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Steal-Dog-Barbara-OConnor/dp/0374334978/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

Happy reading,
Susanne

How can you help your struggling reader?

I frequently talk to parents about their concerns for their struggling reader. There is one exceptionally easy and exceptionally effective way to strengthen your child's reading skills: read-alouds! All you have to do is find a book that is interesting to your child and read it to him. There you go~ that's it! You can do that! Scott and I both read to one of our children each night. You and your child can go to the library or Books-a-Million together and pick out a book. Then, read a chapter or two each night at bedtime. Currently, I'm reading "The 39 Clues" to Harrison and "Hotel for Dogs" to Anna Grace. We always look forward to our time together. One last tip: be sure to pick out a book y'all will both enjoy. Most of the time, I go to the library by myself and peruse our options. Then, I'll surprise the kids with my selection. Here is a sweet article about a father's commitment to oral reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/fashion/21GenB.html?pagewanted=2

Happy reading,
Susanne

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I've had quite a few parents ask me for an opinion on "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", the book. As a librarian, I can tell you that "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" has done more for reluctant readers than anything I've ever seen. The font is manuscript in a larger size than traditional type. Also, there are illustrations on every page. And, finally, it's extremely funny. However, you've got to have "6th-grade boy humor" to find this book funny. (Apparently, I do!) There are multiple scenarios that could be offensive. Again, "6th-grade boy humor" offensive, nothing illegal. I have seen kids that would NEVER read a book pick up these books and read the whole series! So, do I recommend this book? Yes! My husband and I are teaching our values to our kids. If a glorified comic book shakes up their faith, then we've got a lot of work to do. From an educational standpoint, the only thing this book will teach them is that READING IS FUN! Whoa! I'm all for it! :) The movie is coming out March 19th. I've "Wimped Myself" and here's a trailer. (I haven't seen any reviews of the movie and don't know if I'll let my kids see it.)

Happy reading,
Susanne

http://www.wimpyourself.com/?w=03016bb5377e5416ecd476512
(This is where I wimped myself.)

Book Review: January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco's current book, January's Sparrow, is a painful reminder of an ugly chapter in America's history. Ms. Polacco's illustrations beautifully and horrifically portray the story of the Crosswhite family and their quest for freedom. The story begins in Kentucky in the 1840's. The Crosswhite family is potentially going to be broken up by a slave trade. They decide to leave for Canada but settle in Marshall, Michigan. After leaving, Sadie realizes she has left her wooden sparrow, a gift from her beloved January Dunn. When the sparrow mysteriously appears at her house, concern grows that slave trackers have found them. The Crosswhite's and Marshall come together to face this threat.

I must confess that Patricia Polacco is my favorite children's atuhor. Her gift for words and pictures is unparalleled. I would recommend this book for children in third grade and up. The pictures and story offer a graphic depiction of the despicable actions of this era. However, it also shows the passion behind the Underground Railroad.

Educators could use this book as a support element during Black History Month (February). Other ways to integrate would be through research of the Underground Railroad, a timeline of the Civil War, methods of transportation duing the 1800s and geography. Finally, this book is told from a dialect appropriate from slave narratives, another option for study.

Check it out at your public library today!

A listing of books I'm reading right now...

I thought I'd give y'all a peak at the books I'm reading right now. I'll give you the title, author and a brief summary.

Knowing God, by J.I. Packer: I'm reading this book for a ladies Bible study. It is a pretty easy read but incredibly full of depth. I highly recommend this contemporary classic to anyone!

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches, by Russell D. Moore: My sweet friend Joy Portis recommended this book for me. An eye-opening book about the need for Christians to adopt. As you may know, my husband works in a ministry related to foster care/adoption. This book has been incredibly validating for me as my husband's biggest supporter.

Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World, by Judy Halliday: Since my kids don't have a regular PE/Health class, this book is helping me teach them some concepts related to using our bodies in the way God intended.

The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn, by Ridley Pearson: Harrison and I are working on the second book of the Kingdom Keepers series. It's an adventure-fantasy about a group of children that are attempting to save Disney World from the "Overtakers". It is a l-o-n-g book, but we are loving it. It would be most appealing to kids in grades 3+ that love Disney World or are planning a trip to Disney World.

Hotel for Dogs, by Lois Duncan: My kids loved this movie! (Scott and I thought it was a snoozer.) So, Anna Grace and I are reading it together. It is very cute and much, much different than the movie. Any age child would enjoy this book.

Chronicles of Faith: Paul, by Barbour Publishing: I'm reviewing this biography series intended for middle to upper elementary. I will give a full review in the upcoming weeks. So far, I'm really enjoying it.

January's Sparrow, by Patricia Polacco: I was at the library and just couldn't resist this book. I will give a full review in a couple of days. She is one of my favorite children's authors!

Teaching Struggling Readers, by Carol A. Lyons: The subheading of this book is equally as fascinating, How to Use Brain-based Research to Maximize Learning. Well, this one is no surprise. I'm reading this book to help me find ways to help struggling readers.

Well, there you go! Eight books that I'm juggling. Each one is so different. I must confess, I'm enjoying each one. I try to take a book with me everywhere I go. So, whenever I have some down time I can catch up on my reading. However, after documenting them for y'all I realize I've really got to finish up some of these...

Happy reading!
Susanne

Great biography series for elementary readers!

As a former elementary librarian, I am very familiar with biographies for young readers. It is often difficult to find biographies that are interesting and engaging. The "Childhood Of Famous Americans" is a fabulous series that takes a prominent individual in American history (Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Harry Houdini, etc.) and chronicles their early years. Please be warned, some of the conversations and details are fictionalized. However, all of the information is relevant to the details of the subject. These books can be used as primary resources for elementary book reports. They are intended for children ages 8-12. Also, Accelerated Reader has tests for these books. Their AR book level range is approximately 3.5 to 6.5. They are typically less than 200 pages and contain many illustrations. My son has read a variety of these books: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dr. Seuss and George Washington. Currently, he's reading Thomas Jefferson. His favorite was Theodore Roosevelt. You can look on Amazon to see the books available.
Happy Reading!
Susanne

More easy readers, part I

Yesterday I gave recommendations for beginning easy readers (AR level 0.1-0.5).  Today, I am bumping up the level to 0.6-1.0.  There is much more variety in these books.  Today, I will go through the first half.  Next, I'll go through the last half.  Finally, I'll show you how to search by grade level at home.

Linda Alexander~ her books focus on a letter of the alphabet; particularly helpful if you've got a child struggling with specific letters
Susan Blackaby~ her books will appeal to a broad range of children because they are about a variety of subjects (fishing, kickball, setting the supper table, etc.)
Stella Blackstone~ these books are about animals
Larry Brimner~ another broad range of books on a variety of subjects
Alyssa Capuccilli~ she is my favorite author of easy readers; the Biscuit series is great for all children
Joy Cowley~ she writes some silly books and some books about regular events in the life of a young child
Edana Eckart~ a great series of nonfiction books on camping, baseball, fishing, etc.
Jill Eggleton~ she writes realistic fiction to appeal to a broad range of children; also a series about a "flea" title character
Helen Frost~ she writes nonfiction books about animals
Jenny Giles~  she writes realistic fiction books about real-life events in the life of children; she also writes books about various adventures of animals
Sharon Gordon~ she writes the "Guess Who" series of nonfiction books related to animals
Margaret Hillert~ (referenced in the previous blog)
Alan Hofmeister~ (referenced in the previous blog)
Susan Hood~ she writes fiction about common life experiences of young children
Sarah Hughes~ she writes nonfiction about occupations

Books for new readers

It is such a struggle to find books for new readers.  Most of the time, these new readers have a limited vocabulary and few word choices.  There are some authors who excel at books for these new readers.  Here are my author recommendations. 
Margaret Hiller:  She has a huge variety of books.  These appeal to girls and boys.  Many of her books are based on fairy tales.
Alan Hofmeister:  He also has quite a variety of books.  Typically, he writes about animals.
Carol Greene:  These books are fiction but would appeal to those children interested in nature and science.
Dave Sargent:  He writes a series called, "I Can Read, Too."  These books deal with animals and what they can do.  In addition, he writes another series about animals.  Each book starts with "young".  (Young Dawn, Young Sammy, etc.)

For those of you that use Accelerated Reader, these books would fall in the 0.1 to 0.5 range.  Tomorrow, I'll spotlight books in the 0.6 to 1.0 range.  Please email me for specific recommendations.

Happy reading,
Susanne

A Book and a Hug

I'm always on the lookout for new websites that share book recommendations.  I've found a great website called, "A Book and a Hug".  http://www.abookandahug.com/  The author, Barb Langridge, has 30 years experience in the book industry.  Her goal was to create a website that helps parents find books for their kids.  She has books grouped by genre, reading levels and various keywords.  I found this site extremely easy to use and quite informative.  In addition, under "Books Alive" she has taped interviews with authors.  One of my favorite features is that she doesn't stick with the typical genres.  She also has poetry and short stories!  To me, it's easiest to search by category.  She gives a reading level, keywords and a summary for each book.  The optimal way to use this website is to search through the different books with your child.  It would give y'all the opportunity to look through the books together.
Happy reading,
Susanne

Finding Wholesome Books

As a librarian, I am always on the lookout for new books.  I love juvenile fiction and treasure finding books to inspire readers.  I have been disappointed lately in the Newbery winners.  As you may know, the Newbery Medal Winner is given to an author that has written a distinguished book for children's literature.  The most recent book to win is "The Graveyard" by Neil Gaiman.  Here is the description (quoted from the ALA website):  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.
 "A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising," said Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño.
What?  Does this sound like a book you want your child reading?  If you'll check out the previously mentioned link, you will see the "Honor Books" for the Newbery.  Most are equally disturbing.

There is a wonderful organization called the "Children's Crown Award".  This organization nominates 20 books each year in three different age categories.  The books must display wholesome values, positive themes and character development.  I have been pleased with the variety of books represented in these awards.  The website lists the books which have one (as well as honor books) and books that were nominated all the way back to 2000.  I highly recommend downloading these lists.  There is a brief description of each book, also.  Isn't it nice to see an organization dedicated to helping our children read quality literature?
http://www.childrenscrownaward.org/home.htm

Happy reading,
Susanne

How can you get your older child to read the classics?

There is a new website called, "60 Second Recap". It summarizes various aspects of the classics. I have not reviewed all of the recaps, but I did watch three of them. (Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye) I chose these three because I'm most familiar with them and thought I could give an accurate assessment of their content. I thought they were great! She gives a "teaser". It's basically how a teenager would interpret the book. Then, she gives an overview and various plot/character updates. I think this could be an outstanding tool to give students a basic understanding of the book prior to reading. (Research has proven if students are exposed to a concept prior to reading, their understanding will be much better.) This is not a substitute for reading the book. It is intended as a way to get kids interested in the book and show how it can be interesting. Here's a link: http://www.60secondrecap.com/. Also, here's a link for the background story on how the website began. http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/10/31/a_novel_approach_to_getting_kids_into_classics/?s_campaign=8315
I have bookmarked "60 second recap" and will enjoy using it!

What are my children reading?

I thought you'd enjoy seeing what my children are reading. As you can imagine, we take books very seriously around here. After each book, I'll place the number of pages and book level in parenthesis to see if it's appropriate for your child. Typically, Scott and I pick out books to read them and the kids find other books to read independently.

Anna Grace's room is a pile of books! She borrowed lots of the Junie B. Jones books from her friend Stacey Kate. She's reading Junie B., First Grader at last! (76 p., 2.6) Personally, I'm not fond of these books because Junie has a bit of a mouth. However, I am letting Anna Grace read them because they are great "starter" chapter books. Scott and Anna Grace are reading "Bobbsey Twins: The Secret at the Seashore". (174 p., 4.3) Ugh. These are so boring to me, I can't read them. However, AG seems to enjoy it. "The Adventures of The Bailey School Kids: Knights Don't Teach Piano" is another book on her nightstand. (66 p., 3.9) This is a great chapter book for kids that are ready for a little more commitment. There are quite a few pictures throughout the book and the font size is easy to read. Anna Grace has just finished reading "Young Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop Mystery". (32 p., 2.8) Another great series for first graders. It's in the chapter format, but has lots of pictures and a large font size. In addition, there are some comprehension questions at the end. Anna Grace and I just finished, "Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride" (72 p., 2.7). Loved it! Silly series (chapter book, large font size, lots of pictures) about a pig named Mercy that gets into mischief. Kate DiCamillo is the author and she is fabulous. AG also just read "Magic Tree House: Buffalo Before Breakfast". (76 p., 3.3) Both of my kids have enjoyed the Magic Tree House series. It's a great way to bring historical fiction to the kids. At the end of these books, there are facts related to the story. These chapter books have smaller text and fewer pictures than the previously mentioned books. Yet another book on her nightstand is, "Star Wars: Last of the Jedi". (135 p., ??) Guess who picked this out! Though it's really too hard for her, we're in a Star Wars phase... She hasn't read these last two books: "Young Cam Jansen and the Ice Skate Mystery" (31 p., 2.5) and "What a Trip, Amber Brown" (48 p., 2.6). Both of these books are intro chapter books with silly stories, lots of pictures and a large font size.

Harrison read the Erin Hunters series, Warriors, for about 5 months. It is fantasy that revolves around warrior cats that live in the jungle. There are 16 books in the series. Each is around 300 pages and is on a 5th or 6th grade level. He has now started on Erin Hunters series, Seekers. It is about polar and grizzly bears. I don't like fantasy books, so it's hard for me to be objective... I'm not crazy about them, but can see the appeal. Harrison and I are reading the second book in the Kingdom Keepers series. It's called "Disney at Dawn". (377 p., 5.2) It is a science fiction book based in Disney world. We have enjoyed reading this together. The author, Ridley Pearson, has written other great novels for elementary and middle school kids. Finally, Harrison and Scott are reading, "The Mysterious Benedict Society". (485 p., 5.6) They are loving it. Though I haven't read it, I have heard it is wonderful, fabulous and amazing! There are two more books in the series. All of these books I've mentioned are for "serious" readers. Their text is on the level of adult books: small font size, no pictures and lengthy. Any of these would be great read-alouds.

Well, there you go! I told you we take reading seriously! I haven't decided what AG and I are going to read next. I'm taking recommendations. We like to read books together that are a little above her reading level. I think Harrison and I are going to read "Where the Red Fern Grows" next. Yippee!

Happy reading,
Susanne