Reading our Way to Christmas! 2013

2012 Book Display

Last Christmas we began the wonderful tradition of counting down to Christmas that involves learning.   As you see from the picture above there are 25 wrapped items, what are they???   BOOKS!!!!!

Yes, 25 wrapped books.  Each book is a Christmas themed book.  Some include traditional stories like The Nutcracker, The Night Before Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and A Christmas Carol.  Some are activity books, music books containing Christmas carols, and most are of the true meaning of Christmas JESUS!

Collecting 25 Christmas books could be expensive so I shopped at used book sales, garage sales, Resale Shops (Salvation Army), and Mom2Mom sales.  Anytime I found a Christmas related book I purchased it!  Books cost me between ten cents to one dollar.  When it came time to wrap I had collected over 25 books and I was able to choose the best ones.

How To Make Your Own Count Down to Christmas...

1. Collect 25 Christmas themed books (or check out 25 Christmas books at your local library)
2. Choose a wrapping paper to match your Christmas home decor (I found my wrapping paper at my local dollar store.  I choose 2 different paper prints and alternated them.  If you have multiple children you could assign each child their own wrapping paper and when you get to that wrapped book it's that child's turn to be the opener)
3. Wrap each individual book (if you want your books in a particular order you may want to number the backs or stack them in the order you want them to be opened.  For example "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I wanted to be opened on day twelve)
4. Die-Cut a Christmas shape (I choose a white Christmas tree to match my wrapping paper)
5. Number your Die-Cut shapes 1-25
6. Tape your Die-Cut shape to each wrapped book
7. Pick out a place to display your Countdown (I chose our buffet in our kitchen but you may place them on your fireplace mantel or even in a book basket if space is limited)
8. On December 1st allow your child to unwrap the first book (book #25) and read together as a family (this might be your bedtime story or a read-aloud story to start off your day!)
9. Continue your opening & reading, counting down all the way to Christmas!!  Happy Reading!

Alternate Ideas...

"I don't have 25 Christmas books this year" -- It doesn't have to be Christmas themed books, wrap up any books in your home for fun!  OR Check out Christmas books at your local library to wrap!

"I don't have time or patience to wrap 25 books" -- Use a gift bag instead!  You may use multiple gift bags and have a treasure hunt in your home for them or simply re-use one gift bag and change the book each day!

"I wasn't able to wrap all 25 books by December 1st" -- Simply wrap 7 books for the week leading up to Christmas.  Choose your favorite, special, memory making books!

What a great way to celebrate Christmas and the joy of reading in your home! I'd love to hear if you will be doing the Christmas reading countdown with me!  

2013 Book Display

A special thank you to Aunt Theresa who gave our family a book to wrap this year titled:

A special thank you to Ma and Papa who also gave our family a special book to wrap this year titled:

Personalize your Child's Alphabet Books!

Does your child recognize the first letter in their name?  This is the first letter I taught my daughter!  A fun and simple idea to help your child learn the first letter in their name is through this easy activity!

1. Choose a picture of your child and print out "wallet sized" prints from your computer (or local photo center)
2. I printed mine on regular computer paper so I decided to laminate the paper photo pages for durability
3. Collect all your alphabet books 
4. Tape your child's picture to the letter page that their name begins with in each alphabet book (see picture below)
5. Now when your child's flips through their alphabet books they will see their picture and the first letter of their name!

Homemade Listening Center

 

Listening to reading is a great way for children to learn how to read.  When a child listens to someone read they hear how a fluent reader sounds.

Fluent Readers Have...

1. Speed- The rate of reading, this can be assessed by how many words a child can read in one minute
2. Accuracy- Correctly identifying words on the first attempt
3. Expression- When a reader uses phasing, tone, and pitch so the reading sounds conversational
4. Comprehension- When a reader understands what is being read and is able to construct meaning (This is the ultimate GOAL of reading!)

There are many ways for a child to develop reading fluency but the focus of this post is LISTENING to good readers through a "listening center."

A listening center includes a...

• Tape and/or CD player
• Headphones (optional)
• Tape or CD with the book being read
• Book to follow along with the tape/CD

You can find a "book on tape" at your local library but what if you can't find a book that correlates with what you are studying?  Well, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN!

As an elementary school teacher I often made my own "books on tape."  I enjoy coordinating everything, including the listening center, so when I couldn't find a book for the listening center that matched my theme/focus I would create my own. 

How to make your own book on tape for your listening center at home...
1. Purchase a blank tape ($1 store)
2. Find/purchase a bell for turn the page signal (I have a call bell I use)
3. Choose a story
4. Begin recording (most tape players have a record button)
5. Start by telling the listener, "When you hear this sound /ding/ turn the page."
6. Begin by introducing the title and author then read the story
7. Don't forget to ring the bell as you turn the page
8. Customize your tape by adding an assignment at the end or comprehension questions!!
9. TA-DA you have your own homemade listening center!
(I usually re-record over the story for my next book so there is only one story on the tape.  This makes it easier to rewind and get to the beginning for repeated listening and it cuts down on having multiple tapes.)

Looking to make it more fun?  Have grandma or grandpa record a story or any special person!
Enjoy!!

March is Reading Month!

 

In honor of "March is National Reading Month" I have decided to share with you  a wonderful program I am currently using in my 2nd grade classroom and at home with my toddler!  The program is designed by Scholastic titled BookFLIX (I've accidentally called it NetFlix a few times in my 2nd grade classroom and with a few giggles I'm corrected).  Below is a short description found on their web-site.

"Scholastic BookFLIX is a new online literacy resource 

that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston 

Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from 

Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. 

 The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFLIX

reinforces early reading skills and introduces children 

to a world of knowledge and exploration."

 

Pictured above is the "home" page where a child can choose a topic of a book they would enjoy listening to and reading about.  Topics include; Animals and Nature, Earth and Sky, People and Places, ABC's and 123's, Family and Community, Music and Rhyme, Adventure, Celebrations, and Imagination.

 

Once a topic is chosen several book choices are given (seen above).  You will notice there are two books on the same theme.  The first book pictured above is titled, "Antarctic Antics" which is paired with, "Antarctica."  Each book pair features one fiction and one non-fiction book! The program gives you the option to listen to the books OR read the books on your own.  Once you have finished reading there is a comprehension component labeled "puzzlers!"  This features vocabulary review for the non-fiction book and sequencing for the fiction story.  Lastly, there is a link to learn more about the author of the book and a link to learn more about the selected topic.

Overall I think this is a GREAT resource.  Children need to hear stories and listen to what fluent reading sounds like.  When you enable the sound ON feature they are able to do just that!

My local public library offers BookFLIX through their website for FREE by entering your library card number.  Check with your local library to see if this is available for your family.  If your library does not offer BookFLIX visit the BookFLIX website for a one month free trial then after that there is a fee required.

I would love to hear what you think of this program if you decide to try it!  Happy Reading Month!

Christmas Countdown

Although we are just finishing up Thanksgiving I wanted to make an early Christmas post just in case you wanted to prepare this idea!!  Last Christmas I found a wonderful idea of how to countdown to Christmas that involves learning.  I was so inspired by the idea that I literally have worked on it all year!  As you see from the picture above there are 25 wrapped items, what are they??? I'm sure you are wondering.  Well....you know I'm a teacher and you know I love teaching my precious daughter so it has to be teaching related...have you guessed yet??  BOOKS!!!!!

Yes, 25 wrapped books.  Each book is a Christmas themed book.  Some include traditional stories like The Nutcracker, The Night Before Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and A Christmas Carol.  Some are activity books, music books containing Christmas carols, and most are of the true meaning of Christmas JESUS!

Collecting 25 Christmas books could be expensive so I shopped at used book sales, garage sales, Resale Shops (Salvation Army), and Mom2Mom sales.  Anytime I found a Christmas related book I purchased it!  Books cost me between ten cents to one dollar.  When it came time to wrap I had collected over 25 books and I was able to choose the best ones.

How To Make Your Own Count Down to Christmas...

1. Collect 25 Christmas themed books
2. Choose a wrapping paper to match your Christmas home decor (I found my wrapping paper at my local dollar store.  I choose 2 different paper prints and alternated them)
3. Wrap each individual book (if you want your books in a particular order you may want to number the backs or stack them in the order you want them to be opened.  For example "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I wanted to be opened on day twelve)
4. Die-Cut a Christmas shape (I choose a white Christmas tree to match my wrapping paper)
5. Number your Die-Cut shapes 1-25
6. Tape your Die-Cut shape to each wrapped book
7. Pick out a place to display your Countdown (I chose our buffet in our kitchen but you may place them on your fireplace mantel or even in a book basket if space is limited)
8. On December 1st allow your child to unwrap the first book (book #25) and read together as a family (this might be your bedtime story or a read-aloud story to start off your day!)
9. Continue your opening & reading, counting down all the way to Christmas!!  Happy Reading!

Alternate Ideas...

"I don't have 25 Christmas books this year" -- It doesn't have to be Christmas themed books, wrap up any books in your home for fun!

"I don't have time or patience to wrap 25 books" -- Use a gift bag instead!  You may use multiple gift bags and have a treasure hunt in your home for them or simply re-use one gift bag and change the book each day!

What a great way to celebrate Christmas and the joy of reading in your home! I'd love to hear if you will be doing the Christmas reading countdown with me!