Here it is! For those of you who have been concerned about why I don't have a picture of myself on the blog...well, there you go! What's up with that little split frame action at the bottom?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
If Everyone Else Can Do It, Why Can't I?
Here it is! For those of you who have been concerned about why I don't have a picture of myself on the blog...well, there you go! What's up with that little split frame action at the bottom?
Friday, May 23, 2008
More Reading with Kids
My friend, Linda, is a reading specialist for the Manitowoc Public School District. She works hard to stay current on all the latest research about reading. She shares the information with teachers district wide, and I am often the lucky recipient of her bits of wisdom. Over the years, I have discovered many new authors and books through Linda. She even invited me into her classroom one spring. I chatted with many of her 4th grade students one-on-one. They were so eager to talk about books, and each student had a favorite book handy, to show me, and to describe in enthusiastic detail.
Some time ago, Linda shared the following poem with me. It seems a nice follow up to the previous blog about reading with children. It was written by the US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Reading with Claire and Earle
A customer shared this great picture of her grand- daughter reading. Claire has a twin sister, and both girls enjoy books.
- Conditions child to associate reading with pleasure
- Contributes background knowledge on a variety of subject matters
- Provides child with a reading role model
- Creates empathy
- Increases vocabulary, improves writing skills
- Improves probability of staying in school
- Improves problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Offers laughter and entertainment
- Improves attention span
- Stimulates the imagination
- Nurtures emotional development and improves self-esteem
There you have it. I know husbands and wives that read to each other daily over breakfast. What a nice tradition. We have many book groups in Manitowoc, and each has a unique way of operating. One of the groups that has been together for many, many years has a fascinating format. Books are selected, and one book is assigned to each member. She then edits the book down to a 1 1/2 hour reading. At their meeting, the reader does just that...she reads. Everyone else listens. Unless we tune in to "Chapter-A-Day" on public radio, or play book CD's as we drive I bet most of us haven't been read to since grade school. What a wonderful gift that group unwraps each month...90 minutes of being read to. No distractions, no pressures, no expectations...just the joy of closing one's eyes, and being transported somewhere unexpected.
What am I reading? Besides a bunch of catalogues prematurely announcing Christmas must-haves for the store, I am reading a Midwest Comnnections title, River of Heaven, by Lee Martin. Martin's book, The Bright Forever, was a Pulitzer finalist. I am also puttering with the exercises in Caffeine for the Creative Mind... and next up, Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffett. I can't think of a better deck book than that!
Friday, May 16, 2008
We Missed You, Valerie!
I really did think I would cut straight to the messages for Val, but it just didn't turn out that way. But as promised, here come our little message to Valerie......
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
From the Basement to Coney Island
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Royal Savvy
**********Summer vacation is coming, and already, my junior
Reading this fantastical tale of the Beaumont family will leave you as changed as is you had discovered your owns savvy. What if your grandma moves mountains, one of your brother causes hurricanes, another creates electricity? What Savvy would you wish for?