What do you prefer?

I am working on my second biography for the summer.  I found I really enjoy reading about people and their lives.  I enjoy reading nonfiction books.  I think my attraction to nonfiction books is my love of learning.  When I find something I'm interested in I want to learn more. 

The other day as I was bird watching out the windows of our three seasons room, I spotted a hawk.  After researching the hawk in a nonfiction book, I learned it was a Cooper's Hawk.  I read Cooper's Hawks like to prey on small mammals.  This is why the chipmunks are disappearing from our yard.  I also learned if we removed our bird feeders for a few days the hawks will leave. 

I am curious as to what type of book you prefer to read. 

Rainy Day

Another Rainy Day.  Another rainy week is expected.  I thought I would share activities and a song for another rainy day.

My rainy day suggestions...

Make a blanket tent! When my daughter was young one of her favorite things to do was to create a blanket tent.  We would use a sheet, and pillows to create the perfect spot for reading.

Have any old magazines or newspapers around the house?  Create an "I spy" page with your child.  Encourage your child to find and cut out at least 8 pictures or words from old magazines or newspapers.  Paste the 8 pictures or words on a piece of paper.  Write a sentence at the bottom of the page with the items or words you want to spy.  Complete the page using additional pictures from the magazine to cover the empty spaces.

Get in the kitchen with your child!  Another favorite pastime in our house is to bake together.  We've been known to make gingerbread cookies in July!  Baking is a fun, educational (think measurement), lifelong skill with a tasty outcome.  Who knows...maybe you'll inspire a budding chef!

Move the coffee table to create a dance floor!  Put on your favorite music and have a dance party with your child.  Dancing is a great form of exercise-especially on days when we are stuck inside. Here's that song I found that is perfect for rainy day dancing!




Put on your rain boots and go outside to jump in the puddles!  On the hot humid days, jumping and splashing in the rain is a fun way to spend the afternoon.               

Try one or two of these rainy day activities this week and share your favorite rainy day fun with me!

Headed to the Opera!

 You may have noticed my profile photo and wondered why I was so dressed up.  At the end of the school year, I received an invitation to the 1st grade Opera.  Yes...Opera!  Of course, I had to pull out the opera glasses, my long gloves, my best dress and well...the tiara and boa!   

Heading to the 1st grade Opera!

Mr. Stubbe's 1st grade students we eager to share their performance, an opera based on the folktale, The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  I enjoyed hearing those 1st graders belt out songs about the troll and the goats looking for grass to eat!  The charming costumes were created by the characters-paper, glue, and the right color of shirt does wonders!  I was delighted to be invited to such a fabulous production.  Kudos to Mr. Stubbe and his former class.  It's not everyday I get to go to the opera!         

Who I Am

According to Prensky,  I am categorized as a  “Digital Immigrant.”  That stings just a little.  I’m one of those teachers who other teachers come to for assistance with technology.  I’m one of those teachers who embrasses and dives into the new apps, and new technologies without waiting for the “training.”   This categorization stings because reading Prensky’s article, “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” I find I don’t align with all of the generalities of the immigrant.  I don’t print emails, drag people to my computer to see a website, or call to ask, “Did you get my email.”  Yes, I do have an accent, a foot in the past, as Prensky states but I also think my feet are in the present.

Just like Steven Wheeler suggests in his “A Convenient untruth” post,  I don’t want to be “branded” by this immigrant category.  I am a teacher who uses a variety of methodologies.  I am a teacher who provides learning experiences for her students that encourage opportunities for growth. 

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6). Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

A convenient untruth. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2018, from http://www.steve-wheeler.co.uk/2011/11/convenient-untruth.html

Hand in Hand

Wherever I go, I am witness to people with a phone in their hand and their eyes glued to the screen. Just this week as I was on the beach, traveling in a car, eating in a restaurant, and catching a plane, I was hard pressed to find someone without their phone in their hand. I know this is nothing new. This phone in hand act is our new normal.

Why does this bother me so? Admittedly, I too spend time scrolling through my feed, catching up on email, and reading the latest headlines. This new normal bothers me as I watch children who are vying for attention from the physically present yet interpersonally disconnected adult next to them. This new normal was brought to my attention this year as students wrote about things they would like to change. The assignment was not geared toward changes within their family structure just free write about something they would like to change. Many students wrote about changing how much time their grown-ups spend on their phone. The students expressed their yearning to spend time with their grown-up interacting without a device between them. When a seven year old recognizes this new normal act as a barrier to building a strong, caring relationship with their grown-up, why can't the grown-up recognize this deteriorating behavior?

I challenge you-put down that phone. Foster the need your child has for quality time. Read a book, play a board game, or just take a walk with nothing but your child's hand in your hand and your eyes glued upon them!

Reading for the Future (guest post)

by Larry Nath

As a high school English teacher, I can’t overemphasize the importance of building habitual readers in the early grade levels. In many cases, by the time students enter the secondary English classroom, they have not developed either the reading fluency or stamina needed to read more complex material. Books or essays written in the periods from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century often contain archaic (or nearly archaic) vocabulary and complex sentence structures that make decoding the language difficult for non-habitual readers. This often leads to an avoidance of more sophisticated writing styles that rob students of some of the most valuable; if not essential, reading experiences the literary world has to offer. Promoting and encouraging early grade students to read habitually helps to instill a sense of value for what the literary world has to offer.

Larry Nath is entering his 21st year of teaching high school English. He is currently teaching AP Language and Composition, Creative Writing, Public Speaking, and Journalism at Indiana Area Senior High in Indiana, PA.

Share what are you reading!

I'm curious as to what different books you have been reading this summer.  Share what you are reading and add a quick reason why you chose the book to read. 

I'll go first-the book I am currently reading is Seeing Home the Ed Lucas Story by Ed Lucas and Christopher Lucas.  I chose this book to read after meeting one of the authors, Christopher Lucas while visiting New York City.  Chris shared the amazing story of his father, Ed Lucas.  I couldn't wait to read about this remarkable father who didn't let anything-including blindness get in his way.      

What are you reading?

What are you reading? At this point you are well into your summer routine.  I hope a visit to the public library is part of your routine.  If you are looking for reading suggestions-try one of the 2018 Caldecott Medal and Honor books:

• A Different Pond by Bao Phi
• Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
• Crown: an ode to the fresh cut by Derrick D. Barnes
• Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
• Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell  

or any Caldecott dating back to 1938.  The list of Caldecott award winning books will keep you busy reading!

Caldecott award books are always a must on my reading list.  If you have an incoming second grader they can look forward to learning all about this book award in the Spring.  If you have an incoming 3rd grader, ask them to share what they know about the Caldecott award-I know they will have much to share!  Caldecott award books are always a perfect choice for anyone.

When reading a Caldecott award book spend time examining the illustrations-after all the illustrations are the reason the book was chosen for the award!  See if you can figure out what medium the illustrator used.  Were the illustrations painted, or did the illustrator use pen and ink, or did the illustrator use photographs to convey their message?  After enjoying your chosen  Caldecott, challenge your child to create their own work of art based on the illustrations from the book.  If you read Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper try to draw one of the cats.  Then spend time learning about the author.  Click Elisha Cooper to learn more about him.  Feel free to share your creations with me!  I love to see artwork inspired by books our students read. 
Keeping reading,

Mrs. Nath

Read Anywhere...Anytime!

Have you ever been stuck somewhere without a book or something to read?  I've had many appointments where I had to wait only to think I wish I would have brought my book with me.  How about when you travel?  I love to spend time on the beach or pool side reading a book.  However it is not always easy to stick a few books in that overcrowded suitcase!  Of course, I would much rather have the book in my hands than on a screen but in the above instances online books are a perfect solution!  You can access hundreds of books anywhere...anytime from your mobile device!  Here are a few of my favorite online sites for children.  

Online book sites offering free access-

Aesop's Fables Interactive for Children

This site contains over 80 interactive fables perfect for helping to teach morals. 

Storyline Online

Storyline Online offers a wide variety of current fiction read aloud by members of the screen actors guild.  

Subscription based online book sites-

Tumblebooks

Tumblebooks is a subscription based site our school provides access to for our students.  Please contact me, Mrs. Nath directly for our username and password to access our account.

EPIC!

EPIC is a subscription based site for families to join.  This site offers unlimited access to a wide range of books, videos and quizzes for a low monthly fee.  

The next time you are stuck somewhere without a book-try one of the sites above.  I'm sure you will find something of interest for you and your children!  Happy reading!