Category Archives: Reading with Children

Back-to-School Jitters…Get the Inside Scoop on How Teachers Feel!

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Back-to-School Jitters are experienced by many children.

Even parents have them.

But did you know that many teachers also fall prey to Back-to-School Jitters?

If you’d like to find out what some teachers are thinking before the first day of school, please check out some of the teacher blogs that are part of the linky party organized by “A Turn To Learn”.

I joined in on the fun also!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to copy with linky picture AND put my own words in…tech savvy I am not…although A Turn to Learn did provide a great tutorial…I’m sure almost everyone else would have been able to do it.

So here are my answers to the categories:

I’m excited for…sharing my passion for picture books with eager kindergarteners.

I’m nervous about…finding the time to do school visits and write picture books and work for a living.

I’m loving…encouraging children to become lovers of books and reading.

I need to remember…to speak with each child individually during the storytelling and crafting time.

I’m looking forward to a new year of school visits…this year I plan to include my own picture book stories in the list I provide to the teachers.  Last year I had the privilege of reading The Balloon Man to a Montessori Early Childhood class…the children LOVED it…and I was thrilled to share the story of the balloon salesman whose encounter with a mouse almost ended his career.

Please check out the link to A Turn to Learn.  Her blog provides amazing content…she sounds like a super teacher…the kind we all wish our children could have.  I’ve also put a link to the Back-to-School Jitters linky party on my sidebar…you’ll get the inside scoop on lots of others teachers’ feelings, hopes and dreams if you click on there.

The Show Me How School Initiative is still looking for nominations.  If you’d like your favorite school or classroom library to receive a free copy of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking, please leave a comment on this post.  At the end of September, we will choose a dozen winners using Random.org.

I hope you’ll be back for my next post in the Back-to-School Series…Tips on Having the Healthiest School Year Ever!

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Sunday Post: Collectibles…Picture Books and People

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Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is COLLECTIBLES.

 

Children’s picture books are among some of the most prized collectibles.  Many don’t survive the wear and tear of childhood…others live on to be passed down from generation to generation. 

For me, the value of the book is in the joy each story gives to the children who hear it.

Some collectibles are valued in the millions but the smile on a child’s face is priceless.

 

Books are a window on the world for young children…and the time spent talking about the story and encouraging the child to relate the events in the book to his own life experiences can help strengthen the parent-child connection.  Children who are comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings at a young age will be more likely to come to parents with problems and concerns as they get older. 

Many of you have heard of the horrible tragedy that occurred a few nights ago in my state of Colorado in the theater in Aurora.  Our hearts go out to those who were impacted by this and our prayers are with their families and friends.  

One of our biggest problems in the world today is the inability of people to tell others when they are angry or frustrated or depressed or unhappy.  Engaging with young kids with stories and activities is a great opportunity for this type of communication.

If you need a guide to choosing great picture books and awesome activities, please take a look at my award-winning resource for parents and teachers… Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking

I’m so pleased to announce that it is now available for shipment to Canadian residents…please visit my website and click on the special PayPal buttons for Canadian shipment!

 

If you’d like to see the book in action, please check out a new review of Show Me How!  Erik did several of the activities with his younger sister and took some fantastic photos…the mac and cheese casserole picture will make you hungry!

Show Me How will be featured on Diane Hower’s segment of the local NBC affiliate morning show (Grand Junction, CO at 6am to 7am Mountain Time) on Tuesday, July 24th   http://www.nbc11news.com/news/misc/50648692.html  and will be reviewed on her blog: http://bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com/.

I hope everyone will tune in and I’ll try to post the show’s highlights on my blog next week.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://tacts21.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectables/

http://cyclingrandma.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/silver-coins-for-uri/

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/3006/

http://p0nky.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/camp-collection/

http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/07/collectibles.html

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectables/

http://36beauty5.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://shaanthz.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://flyingsouthforthewinter.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://rondomtaliedraai.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

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Animal A to Z Picture Book Recommendations for Great Summer Reading

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Summertime gives us a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors.  Kids love hiking in the park, going down the slide and playing ball at the playground, building sandcastles at the beach…sometimes it seems as if they have a boundless well of energy.   But even kids need to sit down in a cool spot to relax…that’s the perfect time to get out the books!

If you have young children, what will you are reading with them?  Studies show that reading to kids on a daily basis helps children succeed in school as it helps develop their literacy skills, build self-esteem and strengthen the parent-child connection.  What’s even better is that it is SO MUCH FUN for the kids and the adults!

Here’s a list of wonderful picture books…all about animals (a favorite subject for most kids) from A to Z.  Most can be found for FREE at your local library…I hope every parent is taking advantage of the amazing summer programs available at many libraries.

I’ve added a link if I found a review and activities for that particular book…many of the reviews are mine and a few of the links will take you to a review done by one of the contributors to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday posts.  If you need any other picture books for summer reading and beyond, please check out her Perfect Picture Book page.  

  1. ARMADILLO: Milo Armadillo by Jane Fearnley
  2. BEAR: Gift-Bear for the King by Carl Memling
  3. CAT: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
  4. DINOSAUR: Dinosaur vs. The Library by Bob Shea
  5. ELEPHANT: Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
  6. GOLDFISH: Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly DiPucchio
  7. HORSE: Indian Two Feet and His Horse by Margaret Friskey
  8. IGUANA: I Wanna Iguana by T.E.Watson
  9. JELLYFISH: Joy the Jellyfish by Kristen Collier

10. KANGEROO: Yes We Can! by Sam McBratney

11. LLAMA: Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

12. MOUSE: Frederick by Leo Lionni

13. NEWT: Newt by Matt Novak

14. OWL: Owl Moon

15. PIG: Sloppy Kisses by Elizabeth Winthrop

16. QUAIL: Looking After Me by Denise Leroy

17. RACOON: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

18. SHEEP: Can’t Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill

19. TIGER: Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

20. UNICORN: Unicorn! Unicorn! By Geraldine McCaughean

21. VOLE: The Vole Brothers  by Roslyn Schwartz

22. WHALE: Pipaluk and the Whales by John Himmelman

23. XIPHIAS (SWORDFISH): Swimmy by Leo Lionni

24. YAK: Kami and the Yak by Andrea Stenn Stryer

25. ZEBRA: How the Zebra Got Its Stripes by Justine Fontes

Badge created by the talented Loni Edwards

I also wanted to add a note about a great creative writing activity going on right now…Susanna Leonard Hill has organized Summer Short and Sweets…if you have been thinking about writing for children and want to get your feet wet, this is the perfect opportunity.  The kid lit community that gathers there is generous, helpful, caring and inspiring.

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