So I attended a breakout session at the IRA conference hosted by Michelle Kelley and Nicki Clausen-Grace, authors of R5 in Your Classroom.  This session was filled with easy and practical ways to get kids motivated to read and engaged in the comprehension process.  Don't we all want that?

We were so excited about this workshop that we purchased the book as well.  Then, next thing I know, their website was created!  As I read my email one morning, well after the conference, I was reminded of my initial excitement and immediately went to their site.  The main page displayed a visual of an interactive bulletin board idea they showed us at the conference.  This really is a bright idea!  Even better, it's a bulletin board you put up and keep up, hence, no maintenance!  This bulletin board focuses on non-fiction text features and can be added to all year long.  Check it out!  Check out their book from us if you want even more ideas!

Teaching Comprehension

The first week has come and gone. We got them here, fed them, got to know them, and got them home. The week is always a whirlwind of craziness. I can't believe how fast it goes!

So many familiar faces greeted me upon our return.  It was sweet to get hugs and smiles.  Some even came to tell me they read over the summer!  Yeah!!!  Now it's time for us to get going.  When I think about all of the things I want to accomplish this year I get a bit overwhelmed. I always set high expectations for myself and then inevitably feel let down when I don't get it all done.  Yet, I come back to the same thing every year - I want to get kids excited about reading and keep them reading all year long.  Our team is working on some new ideas for this year. 

As I was searching for some inspiration about motivating kids to read, I came across this commercial via YouTube that made me smile and reminded me why I became a teacher in the first place. For the love of reading and writing, what will you do to motivate your kids?

We always say it. Even after those long days with kids who were making us pull our hair out fighting over who got to go first out the door. Where did the time go?  Summer was great!   Minus those days where the kids made me pull my hair out.   It just feels so sad to know that it's over already and it's only August!

Many accomplishments were made this summer. My daughter became a fish in the water learning new tricks and even going off the diving board.  My son has learned to be even more entertaining.  We had a great time heading to the library each week to pick out tons of books.  I learned a lot about\t of my kids just by watching how they did this.  My daughter still picks out pink, purple, princess girly books. Although, she does like to pick a few non-fiction books.  Yet, the ones we ended up reading were the girl books.  She doesn't think too hard about her choices and chooses A LOT of books for me to carry home.  My son, who is two and half, was much pickier about his choices.  I could see him thinking about books, looking at the cover and trying to decide if it interests him.  He's much more particular.  We logged our reading hours and my daughter even won one of the grand prize drawings---a princess book! 

Our summer wasn't all about reading.  We played, colored, painted, laughed, visited many places, vacationed, snuggled and had an overall great summer.  I even look at pictures from the beginning and see how much they have grown.  It's time to say to goodbye to summer officially on Monday as I go back to work and my daughter begins kindergarten.  Now, we will begin watching her go through the academic journey of school.  My husband and I were already discussing when she will learn to read, write and do math, how she will have new friends and new experiences.  It's an exciting time for me as a parent and a teacher. 

It was some summer!

So much to do, so much to see, so little time to accomplish it all!  Isn't that the mantra of everyone's life?  I always have such big plans for summer and then, to no avail, most of what I needed to get done gets pushed to the wayside.  For me right now, I have been reading for pleasure and professionally.  I am working on two graduate classes right now on the topic of reading.  I love learning!  I just wish I had more time in the day.

Aside from playing with my kids, reading, cleaning, doing course work, and keeping up this blog I have been trying to keep up with my Twitter pln by reviewing blog posts, looking at links, and finding great stuff from last week's ISTE conference. This is one of the top technology conferences of the year.  While I did not and have not ever attended, I love the information I get from those who did.  So, in conjunction with my normal rambling on about reading, I want to share with those of you reading the great sites, ideas and articles that have been shared with me from ISTE. 

One of the coolest sites I have seen a long time is the Museum Box.  Here students can create a virtual "box" of artifacts about an event, a person or a time period in history.  What a great way to get kids looking at primary and secondary sources, addressing non-fiction reading skills, and putting that together with digital literacy skills to boot!  I think in all of my free time this summer, I will do one for Lewis and Clark, or maybe Sacagawea, Amelia Erhart, Thomas Jefferson, the Civil War...................I just hope I have enough time to do it all!

It amazes me every time I pick up and read a good book.  Why?  Because I am like a little kid who has figured out what reading is for the first time. Every time I read a good book, or even a great book, I am hardpressed to put it down.  I'll pretty much let the kids do whatever they want just so I can finish my book.  That doesn't make for great mom material, but at least I am modeling good reading.  Right?  Regardless, I have been enjoying little trips to the library to get my hands on good books.  I have read a fun book, an emotional book, cook books, picture books, books about potty training, and books that keep me up-to-date in my profession.  I have just forgotten how much a good book means to me!  I have finished 2 books in 2 days. Working on one that I thought would be a bit more riveting, but I am finding it hard to get into.  I'm interested in, though, to keep going. 

So my other obsession these days, besides reading and finding good books, is going to the library.  I want to state that I LOVE the library.  However, my local library is not a fun place to visit.  The selection of books is not great, there are no displays, and it's just not welcoming.  What saddens me about this is that I should be visiting this library.  But I am not, at least not frequently.  I visit a neighboring library that has been undergoing renovations for more than a year.  It is finally moving back and going to open in July!  Aside from rambling on about this, I want to point out why I love this library.  You walk in and it's bright.  That's always a plus.  Second, there are book displays everywhere!  This is important in drawing in any reader!  I LOVE displays!  There are a wealth of new books, current books, old books, fun books.  There are just books everywhere!  I feel like I am at a bookstore when I am here.  I am happy to patronize this library because it does feel like I am shopping for a great book.  Only,. I don't have to pay.  Unless, of course, I have a fine, which I often do.  Heck, this library is not down the street and drop off with 2 kids in the car is not convenient.  Yet, I am happy to pay the fine for a selection of great books. I have to wonder, do you visit your library?  What is your library like?  Does it encourage you to read every book on the shelf?  

We have been doing the summer reading log with our local library.  I find that my daughter takes a bit more convincing to read a book these days.  My 2 1/2 year old son, on the other hand, loves to sit and read.  He often says he'll read the book, but if he's not familiar with the story he says "you say it."  My favorite is when he recites This is Not a Pumpkin.  He uses the same inflection and voices that I do when I read it.  He also enjoys reading Where the Wild Things Are. He flips through the pages and tells me what he remembers, although it's usually only 3 pages of the book.

Today's trip to the library was a bit challenging.  I had a difficult time finding texts that would be interesting to him.  We settled on a bug book written in rhyme.  I had to visit a neighboring library to really get a better selection of books. However, while there and perusing the shelves, I realized how many books are really unappealing to boys.  Just the graphics on the covers and the font don't indicate to a young boy, "Pick me!" or "I'm just what you're looking for."  While I am sure there were several good books on the shelf to choose from, I was not impressed with what I saw at first glace, from a boy's point of view.

Then, there is my daughter.  As I have said before,she is entering kindergarten in the fall.  I am a reading teacher and try to guide her without pushing her.  She makes it very difficult to model choosing good books when the only ones she will readily pick off the shelf are those that are pink, purple or have princesses on them.  I mean, this is not how we are really supposed to choose books. But for now, I will indulge her because it's what she wants to read.  And isn't that what counts?