tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73895638552393735562024-03-14T09:40:23.415-04:00TRC Read to KidsTRC Read to KidsThe Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350756720907861951noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-36784597120914484022017-05-30T10:30:00.000-04:002017-05-30T10:30:30.357-04:00Flipping Your Lid: An inside peek at stress and your brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4pnv4jvsNhprSGYxYAtBj9IFT1HNpSU5u4AMpdgnu9hSD9YvQ31heqKykarS7JNNcTZkk0m25d6sSjq3B3IMTjOnC10-ZeIL_z92aG_osxUU01s4Ax6R8pCFaN7wwOFAnbpiba_HKO-z/s1600/cat+flip+lid.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4pnv4jvsNhprSGYxYAtBj9IFT1HNpSU5u4AMpdgnu9hSD9YvQ31heqKykarS7JNNcTZkk0m25d6sSjq3B3IMTjOnC10-ZeIL_z92aG_osxUU01s4Ax6R8pCFaN7wwOFAnbpiba_HKO-z/s320/cat+flip+lid.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s more to Spring Fever than just restlessness. If you’ve noticed kids at your Read-Aloud or at home acting more rambunctious than usual, there’s a reason. For kids, this time of year includes l</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ots of testing; the excitement of the end of the school year; anxiety about changing grades, classes, or maybe even schools; and the unknown of the ten weeks of summer looming ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kids are processing all of these changes, often unconsciously, while they make their way through the day. Does it seem like they have more trouble following directions or regulating their behavior? They are, because handling all of these stress factors increases the demands on their brains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When people are stressed, their brains are managing that stress while trying to complete other tasks. Their ability to do those other tasks, like follow directions, is slowed and sometimes diminished. And the brains of people who experience chronic, or "toxic," stress suffer damage to neural connections, further impairing brain function. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition, stress takes the thinking part of the brain “off-line,” and gives priority to the amygdala, the part of the brain that manages the fight, flight, or freeze reflex that keeps us safe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s a great model of what happens in your brain when you are stressed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qYfX4Dr8lZSvzY_fVXJkDiWKfWUv69cC3jftZLukzdrVVag8iIf0c0zv0wSscjZa1o1BtHlj__fH6fVWWjFnjIfrUg63EeuDOmh9K3WqIuWEcTXSroCQRwi5Q7XVK2AKYDW-5aebE911/s1600/flipped-lid-PFC-horizontal.001-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qYfX4Dr8lZSvzY_fVXJkDiWKfWUv69cC3jftZLukzdrVVag8iIf0c0zv0wSscjZa1o1BtHlj__fH6fVWWjFnjIfrUg63EeuDOmh9K3WqIuWEcTXSroCQRwi5Q7XVK2AKYDW-5aebE911/s400/flipped-lid-PFC-horizontal.001-copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your arm is your spinal cord.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your palm is your brain stem, which regulates basic life functions like breathing, circulation, and heart rate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your thumb is the amygdala, or reptile brain. It’s the most primitive part of the brain whose purpose is survival. It regulates the fight, flight, or freeze impulse.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The back of your hand is the back of your brain, and your fingers are the prefrontal cortex, or “The Wise Leader.” This part of the frontal lobe is the last to develop in the human brain (so a kid’s prefrontal cortex isn’t yet fully developed), and it is responsible for making reasoned decisions and anticipating and understanding consequences.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you are calm, all the parts of your brain are integrated and communicating (feel your fingers wrapped around your thumb and touching your palm), and your prefrontal cortex is running the show. When you are stressed, you “flip your lid” </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(straighten out your fingers, leaving your thumb in your palm), </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and the prefrontal cortex gets upstaged by the amygdala trying to keep you safe. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Communication between the prefrontal cortex and the rest of the brain shuts down, and the amygdala calls the shots. It is in close communication with your brain stem, making your heart rate go up and sending more blood to your limbs so you can run away, but it’s not communicating with the part of your brain that helps you make reasonable decisions based on consequences.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInrMDVYoz2YxgOKP8cKUq2XvF7j68c2dtGtzfwrgQOd7XZG0WE77-E6imbhu1mJyr7AUWzCSfElFKrabdVlUFax2TDnfnwmQ_-FJ-rPg2MN9JWJTQLEf5VmILafDpxGFf0yGoilS44Ynm/s1600/keep-calm-and-don-t-flip-your-lid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInrMDVYoz2YxgOKP8cKUq2XvF7j68c2dtGtzfwrgQOd7XZG0WE77-E6imbhu1mJyr7AUWzCSfElFKrabdVlUFax2TDnfnwmQ_-FJ-rPg2MN9JWJTQLEf5VmILafDpxGFf0yGoilS44Ynm/s200/keep-calm-and-don-t-flip-your-lid.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To get your Wise Leader back in charge, you need to reduce the cognitive load on your brain and, optimally, relax and work through some of the stressors. Imagine a kid at your Read-Aloud who isn't following directions. Instead of scolding him (increasing his anxiety and fueling his fight, flight, or freeze impulse), </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">offer some humor, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">provide an opportunity to move,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">break down the task into smaller steps and only give one instruction at a time, and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">help him feel safe and welcome</span>.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before you know it, his developing prefrontal cortex will be back calling the shots, and Spring Fever will recede.</span><br />
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<span 15px="" bold="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;" verdana="">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a 15px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" none="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" text-decoration-line:="" verdana="">fill out the form here</a><span 15px="" bold="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;" verdana="">.</span><br />
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<br />The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-49987190315279431602017-04-25T10:00:00.000-04:002017-04-25T10:00:18.472-04:00Easy hands-on science at your Read-Aloud<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to play with lasers? Have you ever blown up a balloon using yeast or baking powder, or looked for surprising patterns in stories or nature? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOTxSKC1fV7zKFf_5cu1VgArtGnTtUrjZX9SGgPd3DVYGlM9QSTXjc5DbKy-Daqa2vywx47BIEYSbdg1xjTliJI5pt_zhjNgUbhQiaN0E2G2pFiCeITVcPhfPSyS7uiOHYdWU_tBUck35/s1600/Emily+Ward+demonstrating+yeast+STEM+%2528002%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOTxSKC1fV7zKFf_5cu1VgArtGnTtUrjZX9SGgPd3DVYGlM9QSTXjc5DbKy-Daqa2vywx47BIEYSbdg1xjTliJI5pt_zhjNgUbhQiaN0E2G2pFiCeITVcPhfPSyS7uiOHYdWU_tBUck35/s320/Emily+Ward+demonstrating+yeast+STEM+%2528002%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AHC's Emily Ward demonstrates the expanding power <br />
of leavening agents in a hands-on demonstration</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A science-themed Read-Aloud lets you have all that fun while building reading skills. Many science concepts and skills are the same skills needed for reading comprehension: careful observation, noticing patterns, prediction, and problem solving. A kid who might not be wild about a London, baseball, or poetry Read-Aloud, may come alive with a science theme because it allows him to investigate and experiment. And, best of all, science feeds imagination, creativity, and curiosity by encouraging kids to ask "what if?"</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCD3WgtVLxyVkzKCdZ5gDL2NkpiVym7KdRdYUAQRl0pbcfpaaLaEXwcVjSyhXQidjhkVeOzETfwSEUDGOWzlLS5cFpisOfY5PPlKbwdbrVyVDi82SISd6dFUobpokABhzZUJsKMACz1sZ/s1600/IMG_9339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCD3WgtVLxyVkzKCdZ5gDL2NkpiVym7KdRdYUAQRl0pbcfpaaLaEXwcVjSyhXQidjhkVeOzETfwSEUDGOWzlLS5cFpisOfY5PPlKbwdbrVyVDi82SISd6dFUobpokABhzZUJsKMACz1sZ/s320/IMG_9339.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Michael Berman plays with light and lasers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some volunteers have told us they are too intimidated to do a science-themed Read-Aloud because they find the topic too complex and worry an activity would be too elaborate or time-consuming. At a recent volunteer seminar, special guests demonstrated how easy it is to do simple but fun science activities at your Read-Aloud. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z8jGS3YNmJZ0GAP5gbGRk7wAvhgFc5_6te-9cnuF0CnA3iOTJ6ncjJzK6lQmfLNv_FJlFcPuA3ccjT0hG6NWTVERhApsHIWzkR0zlWHiWZlBOaWdlTfpdHkoXg7Z_7u8YX4cwISvTZqY/s1600/caps+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z8jGS3YNmJZ0GAP5gbGRk7wAvhgFc5_6te-9cnuF0CnA3iOTJ6ncjJzK6lQmfLNv_FJlFcPuA3ccjT0hG6NWTVERhApsHIWzkR0zlWHiWZlBOaWdlTfpdHkoXg7Z_7u8YX4cwISvTZqY/s200/caps+for+sale.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z8jGS3YNmJZ0GAP5gbGRk7wAvhgFc5_6te-9cnuF0CnA3iOTJ6ncjJzK6lQmfLNv_FJlFcPuA3ccjT0hG6NWTVERhApsHIWzkR0zlWHiWZlBOaWdlTfpdHkoXg7Z_7u8YX4cwISvTZqY/s1600/caps+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z8jGS3YNmJZ0GAP5gbGRk7wAvhgFc5_6te-9cnuF0CnA3iOTJ6ncjJzK6lQmfLNv_FJlFcPuA3ccjT0hG6NWTVERhApsHIWzkR0zlWHiWZlBOaWdlTfpdHkoXg7Z_7u8YX4cwISvTZqY/s1600/caps+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z8jGS3YNmJZ0GAP5gbGRk7wAvhgFc5_6te-9cnuF0CnA3iOTJ6ncjJzK6lQmfLNv_FJlFcPuA3ccjT0hG6NWTVERhApsHIWzkR0zlWHiWZlBOaWdlTfpdHkoXg7Z_7u8YX4cwISvTZqY/s1600/caps+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Emily Ward explored the expansive power of leaveners with yeast, baking powder, baking soda, and balloons. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sol Livingston showed volunteers how to build pattern-building skills for the youngest Read-Aloud participants while reading <i>Caps for Sale</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr. Michael Berman played with lasers and light reflecting, refracting, and diffusing, using common items like water and Febreze.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Attendees were also able to look at TRC science resources, such as science books, fiction books to go along with science themes, and materials to create hands-on experiences for the kids, like balloons, pipe cleaners, Lincoln Logs, and a popcorn popper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Online Book and Activity Resources</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>You don't even need to plan the science Read-Aloud yourself</i>. There are lots of resources for you online. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are the science <a href="http://files.constantcontact.com/b625f869001/4951f2ab-8a18-4107-bf9e-e3c1df46f296.pdf?ver=1492532639000" target="_blank">Reading Road Maps</a> we gave out at the seminar. All of the Reading Road Maps were created by TRC and have been conducted successfully at our Read-Aloud sites. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The TRC Blog has multiple <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=STEM" target="_blank">posts</a> about science books and science Read-Alouds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-adventure-packs-families" target="_blank">Reading Rockets Family Reading Adventure Packs</a> and <a href="http://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning" target="_blank">Start with a Book</a> have lists of science-themed books and reading activities already prepared for you, with appropriate age levels noted.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>If you'd like to plan your own science Read-Aloud, there's a host of science book resources.</b></span><br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc0rVCb7jLdggnEO_0gEBY_nGWe618XKzslm0aT_0UKCiHcQtpSJcxCJQyZdgTLxEMncGzlFsetW_8ce-06dqyxzFOEeU6usphWX9g-w7MCp4Faao1LW-lsg4HWz71tgBRdA2y3JaSSgQ/s1600/ada-twist-scientist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc0rVCb7jLdggnEO_0gEBY_nGWe618XKzslm0aT_0UKCiHcQtpSJcxCJQyZdgTLxEMncGzlFsetW_8ce-06dqyxzFOEeU6usphWX9g-w7MCp4Faao1LW-lsg4HWz71tgBRdA2y3JaSSgQ/s200/ada-twist-scientist.jpg" width="163" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/extras/stem_series" target="_blank">Reading Rockets has some great book and activity resources</a> in addition to the Family Reading Adventure Packs, including short videos of children's book authors talking about science books they've written.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/" target="_blank">What We Do All Day</a> has a <a href="http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/stem-books-for-kids/" target="_blank">great list of STEM books for kids</a>, including picture books and early chapter books, and cool ideas for activities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to feature women in the sciences and math? <a href="http://www.hbook.com/2017/03/choosing-books/recommended-books/women-in-steam/#_" target="_blank">Look at these books!</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And, finally, if you'd like to explore science and math in children's book illustrations, check out this <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/new-exhibition-explores-science-and-math-childrens-book-illustrations-180962389/" target="_blank">exhibit on at the Smithsonian</a> (closes August 7, 2017).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Try science. It is fun and oh-so-doable. Go on, build a rocket, take a closer look at a pine cone, bake! The kids will thank you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span 15px="" bold="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" quot="" sans-serif="" verdana="">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a 15px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" none="" sans-serif="" text-decoration-line:="" verdana="">fill out the form here</a><span 15px="" bold="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" quot="" sans-serif="" verdana="">.</span></span><br />
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The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-87258125496375882602017-03-13T11:20:00.001-04:002017-03-16T15:36:37.480-04:00Voices of homeless youth<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reading Connection works with at-risk children in different settings, including homeless shelters. Most of the information we find, and eventually provide to you, comes in the form of research studies or news reports. We rarely hear from the kids themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the video featured below, you'll hear candid, and sometimes heartbreaking, descriptions of the stark realities kids face, as well as insights into the far-reaching effects of homelessness and caring adults in a young person's life. This video has been provided by <a href="http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/" target="_blank">The SchoolHouse Connection</a>, a new national organization promoting success for children and youth experiencing homelessness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This video spotlights the <a href="https://vimeo.com/188923159" target="_blank">voices of homeless youth</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From SchoolHouse Connection's <i>Education and Homelessness: Young Children to Young Adults </i>series, "this video features four young people talking about their homeless experiences and sharing advice for educators and service providers</span>.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lRE3FaVHyePc6nMog42JiUO1E14DECmv7-BwIChAedMuwfLaxL-sWJ6BVtrG9jy5BqGKhBiUbZq__I2QEa33y798t-weqCgap-0hc6xfaTftz-P8NlNFLnpuT09bbeT9wq7PmAVqScHm/s1600/no+place+to+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lRE3FaVHyePc6nMog42JiUO1E14DECmv7-BwIChAedMuwfLaxL-sWJ6BVtrG9jy5BqGKhBiUbZq__I2QEa33y798t-weqCgap-0hc6xfaTftz-P8NlNFLnpuT09bbeT9wq7PmAVqScHm/s200/no+place+to+sleep.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although the young people featured in this video are older than those TRC typically serves, many of them were homeless as younger children. They provide important insights to what it is like to be a homeless kid and shine a light on the fact that experiencing homelessness in a family can contribute to a teen becoming homeless on their own -- an "unattended youth." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a 0px="" baseline="" border-box="" border:="" box-sizing:="" href="http://gradnation.americaspromise.org/report/hidden-plain-sight" margin:="" none="" outline:="" padding:="" target="_blank" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="">recent study of homeless and formerly homeless youth</a> found that 47 percent experienced homelessness both with their family, and on their own. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/unaccompanied-youth/</span></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JtGQ_yX0PeVeolU-3NiIQtmFljX-rWUnn5Zgzs5O5qYzviLEk36warcxIrvUz_AfQvr9oO1cTrLjh5TuxhfR6UF1Hlb6mEHBjJazh1dVMbxYOL5-3RL_wWR8s9VBMdY9QFcbkITvUZKK/s1600/o-HOMELESS-YOUTH-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JtGQ_yX0PeVeolU-3NiIQtmFljX-rWUnn5Zgzs5O5qYzviLEk36warcxIrvUz_AfQvr9oO1cTrLjh5TuxhfR6UF1Hlb6mEHBjJazh1dVMbxYOL5-3RL_wWR8s9VBMdY9QFcbkITvUZKK/s320/o-HOMELESS-YOUTH-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7UGu1NGzpsKzP-XzaLDdBzMO54f5kaYG5LJ-jKzuAh_eu0DzIDSxvwF9YNx9fK9Xg-Xtt5dADlZhyphenhyphenOZezmOI-koyl5JPczWPguKfZdSs4l4ixN7edMt9iplkwSytJ5eE88VYvnrcV7yU/s1600/teens+in+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7UGu1NGzpsKzP-XzaLDdBzMO54f5kaYG5LJ-jKzuAh_eu0DzIDSxvwF9YNx9fK9Xg-Xtt5dADlZhyphenhyphenOZezmOI-koyl5JPczWPguKfZdSs4l4ixN7edMt9iplkwSytJ5eE88VYvnrcV7yU/s200/teens+in+school.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the video, the teens talk about what </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">education means to them: stability, opportunity, escape. Not only did school provide structure, safety, heat, food, and support, <i>learning itself was empowering</i>. By supporting reading development, TRC's Read-Alouds help kids be more successful at school and make learning more enjoyable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The teens also offer some advice.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't single kids out -- use discretion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Encourage -- the challenges of homelessness can damage a kid's confidence</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Respect -- sometimes when a victim receives service, it feels like they are being treated like the criminal instead</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Provide support, but respect boundaries -- don't become a parent figure for a child if you aren't able to fulfill that role</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Follow through -- that's essential to building trust</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be empowering -- teach kids how to advocate for themselves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't judge a book by its cover. Never assume. Just be yourself and have a conversation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listen -- and seek to understand, not judge. Then advocate for the child throughout their journey through homelessness</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/188923159" target="_blank">Watch the video</a> to hear these young people share their experiences. Their message is important and powerful, and it tells you so much more than a research report ever could.</span>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-44087005178080557622017-02-13T11:46:00.000-05:002017-02-13T11:46:15.686-05:00Picture Books as Powerful Portals<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sharing and exploring diversity with children’s literature</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Children’s literature serves as both a mirror and a window. To develop a sense of identity and self-esteem, children need to find <b>mirrors</b> in which they see themselves and their experiences reflected in the books they read for both pleasure and school. Equally important, however, is the ability of books to open <b>windows</b> into new worlds and experiences. Picture books are powerful portals that transport children to special places, both internal and external, where they can explore familiar terrain, experience new adventures, and discover unknown treasures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLujrv5f3yLfNk3THQMPHcw9Wz78AFuhT26MeKmdX-NZRljBXbwmhvGW7GlfP5WYm1BbgD_CduJMO4DdGJvK9MvhGCN5hHlIBKef2B00ZtjeKD2PFsSBs02OijZgB6sco_TGhn6xvHtQE/s1600/mirror+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLujrv5f3yLfNk3THQMPHcw9Wz78AFuhT26MeKmdX-NZRljBXbwmhvGW7GlfP5WYm1BbgD_CduJMO4DdGJvK9MvhGCN5hHlIBKef2B00ZtjeKD2PFsSBs02OijZgB6sco_TGhn6xvHtQE/s320/mirror+window.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the goals of TRC’s Read-Aloud Program is to help kids “discover the magic of books and reading.” By integrating diverse picture books into our programming, we can help our children discover this magic but also expand their horizons and open their imaginations. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Volunteers can build the children’s self-esteem and cultivate empathy, respect, and cultural and global awareness through their book choices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choosing diverse literature focusing on a variety of perspectives allows volunteers to explore different cultures by incorporating multicultural resources in Read-Alouds, as well as recognize that children are shaped by personal experiences and culture. Sharing these books shows an appreciation for the diversity of the cultures found at TRC sites and celebrates that diversity as well as our shared experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finding diverse books isn’t difficult, but beware -- not all diverse books are created equally. There is a large diversity gap in children’s publishing. In 2015, only 26 percent of children’s books published depicted children of color, and the number of books published annually by authors of color is even lower. Older books can unfortunately propagate outdated and inappropriate cultural stereotypes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some useful resources to get started:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiQjqVaZa0bjLmLKOLjK7KTK5IftxvDhqtQuDuGkD0Vn9PrAC7ix62dGA8GBcQla49pe1rodDD4jRiCphyJf7zdm2CobzGEin9DYYMatXPkiqjux2UiWEmp47wMQBc8E8ozLqYhLh5RFE/s1600/diverse+books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiQjqVaZa0bjLmLKOLjK7KTK5IftxvDhqtQuDuGkD0Vn9PrAC7ix62dGA8GBcQla49pe1rodDD4jRiCphyJf7zdm2CobzGEin9DYYMatXPkiqjux2UiWEmp47wMQBc8E8ozLqYhLh5RFE/s400/diverse+books.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We Need Diverse Books</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">: Check out the "</span><a href="http://weneeddiversebooks.org/where-to-find-diverse-books/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Where to Find Diverse Books</a>"<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> page for an extensive list of resources and suggested websites. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>CBC Diversity</b>: The <a href="http://www.cbcdiversity.com/resources" target="_blank">resources</a> section of this Children’s Book Council site has recommendations for parents and caregivers and for teachers and librarians that would be helpful at Read-Alouds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/browse/yma?showfilter=no" target="_blank">Youth Media Awards</a></b>: Announced annually by the American Library Association, these awards include the <a href="http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskbookawards" target="_blank">Coretta Scott King Award</a>, the <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal" target="_blank">Pura Belpré Award</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award" target="_blank">Schneider Family Book Award</a>. The 2017 awards were announced on January 23rd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These resources will help you find great books suited to the kids at your Read-Aloud sites. To get you started, here are some child-tested and -approved recommendations.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0rWdx5JwyMaL1I-f6CuR8H2zdO00rgCg4qaCn3k8JigqzSg4L9r7SbZS-e9FcK-Daqt64IQp2QkKOTDdIOwnvwzWSoBJOxxfUT9v_KIWhmXkVg8wGMB1OZ2vSEkbfppJ-2A4186WNEpl/s1600/radiant+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0rWdx5JwyMaL1I-f6CuR8H2zdO00rgCg4qaCn3k8JigqzSg4L9r7SbZS-e9FcK-Daqt64IQp2QkKOTDdIOwnvwzWSoBJOxxfUT9v_KIWhmXkVg8wGMB1OZ2vSEkbfppJ-2A4186WNEpl/s200/radiant+child.jpg" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Javaka </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Steptoe </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year's Caldecott winner explores the childhood of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The vibrant collage and painted illustrations are perfect for playing “I Spy” with the kids using repeated symbols.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaXfi1rCX_eE-PiNR0ui1EtQVlYV_MhO5Dol0EmHPzwmtpRLFWG3wXJZuOiNYZ00dVhY8nIVO0KS0NmEhTVljIy5mxHQSASE-xhD48rbX3pWl6KBPpulDoE2BMQoAs5tDbS-D6bMHnzrT/s1600/princess+and+warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaXfi1rCX_eE-PiNR0ui1EtQVlYV_MhO5Dol0EmHPzwmtpRLFWG3wXJZuOiNYZ00dVhY8nIVO0KS0NmEhTVljIy5mxHQSASE-xhD48rbX3pWl6KBPpulDoE2BMQoAs5tDbS-D6bMHnzrT/s200/princess+and+warrior.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Princess and the Warrior: The Tale of Two V</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">olcanoes</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Duncan Tonatiuh</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This retelling of the classic Mexican legend of the creation of the Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes, located near Mexico City, won the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pura Belpré Award </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">this year. Tonatiuh uses Mixtec influences to recreate the love story between the beautiful Izta and the warrior Popoca.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVl2NTYHoMzFU5DbQ7iJCPB-L61RF55W8WSqApJe9NP5VEXH22qGBA52JBg1RJmPehwdhYpVlFbJI4PClcQxJ18KWM4hf1BjpwWEMkmThUGbIe8okaUwC2571MjOjv3V0KtGQQOuvcmt/s1600/drum+dream+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVl2NTYHoMzFU5DbQ7iJCPB-L61RF55W8WSqApJe9NP5VEXH22qGBA52JBg1RJmPehwdhYpVlFbJI4PClcQxJ18KWM4hf1BjpwWEMkmThUGbIe8okaUwC2571MjOjv3V0KtGQQOuvcmt/s200/drum+dream+girl.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This book is based on the true story of a young Chinese-African-Cuban girl, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who grew up with the sounds of drums pounding in her heart and aspirations of playing the drums dancing through her dreams. <i>Dru</i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>m Dream Girl </i>won the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pura Belpré</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> illustration medal for 2015, along with the 2016 Charlotte Zolotov Award (CCBC), and the Asian Pacific American Honors.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMWP5luppldOBBv3c7s9K6XO3cxfbRhtDW0Jxn-oOnuxN5685zY-HzqqQ2-sGaz6cPqUpqOkmoh1LpmY3OID43rE75yX_MWdmujy4lDmHnwbJrQ-BH7_GOAqoTsK4BG5fPm8UzfiVByNE/s1600/ada-twist-scientist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMWP5luppldOBBv3c7s9K6XO3cxfbRhtDW0Jxn-oOnuxN5685zY-HzqqQ2-sGaz6cPqUpqOkmoh1LpmY3OID43rE75yX_MWdmujy4lDmHnwbJrQ-BH7_GOAqoTsK4BG5fPm8UzfiVByNE/s200/ada-twist-scientist.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ada Twist, S</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">cientist</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ada is a young girl with lots of questions. Wanting to know what the world is about keeps landing her in trouble. Will Ada find the answers she is looking for? This is a book for curious scientists everywhere. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeULx5CiuVg-9Fr-fcGCPWOfCiE5lgC19asyvhj6BvSJRGc7AzxhVgPgbPMKOGe5gAEXb-FwxDhHOdYBHrTZPIqjihnPJ4eBQDTYVFs6Jcj1Nax1fVBqNy5msKUDVprgB4SJCbQPolVaF/s1600/giant+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeULx5CiuVg-9Fr-fcGCPWOfCiE5lgC19asyvhj6BvSJRGc7AzxhVgPgbPMKOGe5gAEXb-FwxDhHOdYBHrTZPIqjihnPJ4eBQDTYVFs6Jcj1Nax1fVBqNy5msKUDVprgB4SJCbQPolVaF/s200/giant+steps.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Giant Steps to Change the World</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">written by Spike Lee and illustrated by Sean Qualls </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every person has the power to change the world, and many people have taken that brave first step. What does it take? Bravery, strength, and intellect. Read <i>Giant Steps</i> to learn about how many heroes took their courageous first step to make the world a better place. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHR1jvE4Qb99yIMoMGq7G6LYZgb_s8s2pThLeCgn9ywKOH5-XrlHX_pDECA_PgNKMVdoJbSVvZNYB85o7f-aV66kjudupKbnhl10kSbNBFbRWqQpaqUEyXSihaJoyvcRaAsnc1PvXE2lI/s1600/africa+tooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHR1jvE4Qb99yIMoMGq7G6LYZgb_s8s2pThLeCgn9ywKOH5-XrlHX_pDECA_PgNKMVdoJbSVvZNYB85o7f-aV66kjudupKbnhl10kSbNBFbRWqQpaqUEyXSihaJoyvcRaAsnc1PvXE2lI/s200/africa+tooth.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I Lost My Tooth in Africa</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Penda Diakité</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amina is on her way to visit her father's family in Africa when she discovers a loose tooth. She wants to lose her tooth in Africa because the African Tooth Fairy will bring her a chicken. As she visits family and friends and experiences daily life in an African village, she wiggles her tooth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The books volunteers bring to a Read-Aloud can do so much more than represent a theme like music or loose teeth when they are chosen carefully to reflect the experiences of the kids. Including diverse books at Read-Alouds will help TRC kids become regular and passionate readers by affirming their experiences and providing a path to exploring others'.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Cjo6-5kvQ0ixCzDaUQrMdG6wiV5SL4ODbVvyj530miv2bc8qQNMsFG70cEpxK4vD7qvaA5tuJrGGzup4jlg5d-ZCxB5ox7g1b5Vx0_F6lo76y9ieexsguW3ZsSFcPw2539Wtbk8EbhZS/s1600/julie+esanu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Cjo6-5kvQ0ixCzDaUQrMdG6wiV5SL4ODbVvyj530miv2bc8qQNMsFG70cEpxK4vD7qvaA5tuJrGGzup4jlg5d-ZCxB5ox7g1b5Vx0_F6lo76y9ieexsguW3ZsSFcPw2539Wtbk8EbhZS/s200/julie+esanu.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post was written by </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Julie M. Esanu, MLIS, lower school librarian at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School and TRC board member.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-46817012282914403472017-01-03T17:07:00.000-05:002017-01-09T11:10:44.498-05:00Fun (not frantic) Read-Alouds<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When kids
walk in to a Read-Aloud, they may be in a rambunctious mood from playtime,
stressed or hungry after a long day, or antsy after sitting in a classroom for
hours. Getting everyone calmed down and on task can sometimes seem
impossible. In fact, in our recent volunteer survey, calming and engaging
high-energy kids was the most requested training topic. Our December 2016
training covered skills and strategies for welcoming, calming, and engaging
kids at Read-Alouds--here are some highlights.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk to
your fellow volunteers about the skills and strategies in this post. If your
entire team is aware of these techniques, implementation will be much easier.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What are your expectations?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before we start talking about strategies, the expectations you start out with should be appropriate, realistic, and consistent. Expectations should be</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Age-appropriate.</b> The physical, social, and intellectual needs of the kids you work with will vary. A 4-year-old and an 8-year-old won't behave the same way or be interested in the same things.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Culturally aware</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Remember that you are in their home or in their space, not at a school, library, or your home. Different social, cultural, and ethnic groups have varying social norms about the volume and give-and-take of conversation, especially with family and friends. Just because kids might be louder than you would be doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Trauma-informed</b>. Some TRC kids are experiencing stress that is, in some cases, persistent and toxic. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/" target="_blank">Toxic stress</a> damages brain development, including the connections between parts of the brain. That affects a kid’s executive function. <a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-executive-function-skills-for-life-and-learning/" target="_blank">Executive function</a> is the ability to follow directions, manage one’s emotions and reactions to situations, and defer gratification.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To best ways to accommodate our kids’ needs include the following: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have appropriate expectations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be consistent. When the kids know what to expect, it is easier for them to positively engage. You can increase consistency by </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">h</span>aving a standard welcoming process used by all the teams at your site and by consistently enforcing rules and boundaries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prepare a structured Read-Aloud.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Give simple, short instructions.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beginning the Read-Aloud </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One tried-and-true way to draw kids into your Read-Aloud is to engage their curiosity. Try one of the following tactics at your Read-Aloud:</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlbBdsvs-CKYG-q480vdaUB9K0Fc4F7hEtqPeYLtjFsliUws9THjVrxIsI2lSUe3P5tc-AojUrSESOD_gXFJsInjG8bA3oo1xDl4nm2zCaHRXOjMkEt90X-jpt-rGbKNdUA904hw8L14P/s1600/book+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlbBdsvs-CKYG-q480vdaUB9K0Fc4F7hEtqPeYLtjFsliUws9THjVrxIsI2lSUe3P5tc-AojUrSESOD_gXFJsInjG8bA3oo1xDl4nm2zCaHRXOjMkEt90X-jpt-rGbKNdUA904hw8L14P/s200/book+box.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A book box for <i>Zin, Zin, Zin A Violin</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">contains sheet music, rosin, a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">violin string and other related items</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Using a <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2016/06/reading-and-brain-development.html" target="_blank">book box</a>, show items related to the theme and encourage kids talk about what they know about the items. Then they can guess the theme.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Display the books for the Read-Aloud. Encourage kids to look at the books as they come in. A volunteer or two can talk with the kids about the books and ask them to guess the theme.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw7zFHzcxmAkJjsDU_2cDiUQvmJ63CG9-RUn42t_9gtcnrgWpfAuajrwZF1SxXWSEwe2c8xSg7kqDJfIsXKhC8NXCZbw5JixQP5e0QKt7yPZ94zn6PJ-VfRfT1jnaLknhNMxZ7kTQ5RU8/s1600/DSCN2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw7zFHzcxmAkJjsDU_2cDiUQvmJ63CG9-RUn42t_9gtcnrgWpfAuajrwZF1SxXWSEwe2c8xSg7kqDJfIsXKhC8NXCZbw5JixQP5e0QKt7yPZ94zn6PJ-VfRfT1jnaLknhNMxZ7kTQ5RU8/s200/DSCN2195.JPG" width="181" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Start reading right away in small groups as kids come in and get their name tags. Once everyone has arrived, gather the group, review the Promises, and introduce the theme.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Provide word searches or mazes for the kids to work on right away, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or tell riddles or jokes related to your theme and ask the kids to guess the theme. A quick internet search will provide lots of options for word searches, mazes, and riddles. For example: type “pirates kid word search” in your Google search box. You’ll come up with results like <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pirates%20kid%20word%20search" target="_blank">this</a></span>.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only will you get the kids excited about the theme, but you’ll increase their comprehension by helping them remember what they already know about the topic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Atten--tion!!</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you need to get the group's attention, use a consistent “attention-getter,” such as <a href="http://files.constantcontact.com/b625f869001/35bb67d4-423a-4b95-abcf-3b5153a4f582.pdf?ver=1483558112000" target="_blank">these call-and-response phrases</a>, or use the attention-getter currently used by the site staff. Here are some favorites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Call: Bump budda bump bump Response: bump bump</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Call: 1,2,3, eyes on me Response: 1, 2 eyes on you</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Call: If you can hear my voice, clap once Response: clap </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Call: If you can hear my voice, clap twice Response: clap clap</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Calming activities</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To calm kids before or during your Read-Aloud, try the following physical activities:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_OGHLRlH8foyKTHFdHK4pPY3lU9NIYW93dG5NupdMIRo0Vbjm4V-wFIvJeS3CaokmqPBVV-o2TwKILrxB8gDRl6_bOGlHmxCAzTdk8nfPUnBtB8wu8O7liQcWHukn43PNJasl9CoXTZD/s1600/calm+yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_OGHLRlH8foyKTHFdHK4pPY3lU9NIYW93dG5NupdMIRo0Vbjm4V-wFIvJeS3CaokmqPBVV-o2TwKILrxB8gDRl6_bOGlHmxCAzTdk8nfPUnBtB8wu8O7liQcWHukn43PNJasl9CoXTZD/s320/calm+yoga.jpg" width="89" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ilslearningcorner.com/2015-11-why-crossing-the-midline-activities-helped-this-child-listen-to-his-teacher/" target="_blank"><b>Movement that crosses the midline</b></a> builds neural pathways between the two hemispheres of the brain and increases focus and concentration.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Yoga</b> can relax kids and increase focus and concentration. At the training, Charlie demonstrated <a href="http://learnyogaathome.com/yoga-for-kids-benefits-teaching-and-poses/" target="_blank">several poses</a>, including tree, eagle with arms and legs, mountain with prayer hands, rag doll, warrior poses 1, 2, and 3, and child’s pose.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Focused breathing </b>can calm kids and improve their attention. Stephanie taught several <a href="http://files.constantcontact.com/b625f869001/d0057150-c301-4ade-ba45-2044fa6a6ac1.pdf?ver=1483558287000" target="_blank">breathing techniques</a> that the kids can do individually, in pairs, or as a group.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Energy-burning activities</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After sitting all day at school, sometimes kids need to burn off some excess energy. Try these ideas before and during your Read-Aloud.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEE902A6A1FCE0445" target="_blank">Energizers</a></b> are short songs or rhymes with movement. They are perfect for vigorous but limited activity. "<a href="http://files.constantcontact.com/b625f869001/74a5dde2-da1c-4bca-88fd-9dbb403c0aa8.pdf?ver=1483558303000" target="_blank">Go Bananas" </a>is one of our favorites. </span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Games,</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> like "Simon Says," "Red Light Green Light," or "Mother May I?" can provide a needed outlet for energy in a structured way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Incorporating kid movement WHILE you read aloud</b> can be as simple as </span></li>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5faWoWMYrJ7PqxK2IRlcAP0vW26LTHg7T8IyKJvJbDDI0SSRzqWbnUk7IuNcNA82bHwc5TMK9cMtOUsg88aCAbh61x-JovrHi-gFlTc-wIwl8wqxOLTMxzHciqeVNzh1SuKBI5uS3esR4/s1600/turn+and+talk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5faWoWMYrJ7PqxK2IRlcAP0vW26LTHg7T8IyKJvJbDDI0SSRzqWbnUk7IuNcNA82bHwc5TMK9cMtOUsg88aCAbh61x-JovrHi-gFlTc-wIwl8wqxOLTMxzHciqeVNzh1SuKBI5uS3esR4/s200/turn+and+talk.JPG" width="200" /></a>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Asking the kids a question and having them </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">turn and talk</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to each other, instead of selecting one child to answer for the whole group.</span></li>
<ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Identifying a part of the book you will be reading that lends itself to the kids</span> <b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">acting out</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and encouraging them to do so when you get to that part. Look for repetition or active language when you pre-read the book. </span></li>
<ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Involving the senses</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Let kids snack while listening or give them items related to the story to hold during reading.</span></li>
<ul>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When all else fails...</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes you will still have to redirect disruptive behavior. When you do, follow these guidelines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Connect, then correct</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Develop your relationship with the kids from the get-go. Engage BEFORE there is a problem. Don’t let the first time a kid is talked to at the Read-Aloud be to be corrected.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Call the kids by name, look them in the eye, sit at their level, and LISTEN to what they have to say.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Put the child to work</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAz3XC9sbJwNM-I1lK4wzxMRrkd-WRag4huAb4wU9IdnpueVzZ5Rgq1dqFerAcQjG56AcMBIL5oHedIOL1N8yuq8LPCunV7f8SXqQMyvyAndzB1o22rm3Cj7RCjes7gzCRlorkJNzVJv2/s1600/Promises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAz3XC9sbJwNM-I1lK4wzxMRrkd-WRag4huAb4wU9IdnpueVzZ5Rgq1dqFerAcQjG56AcMBIL5oHedIOL1N8yuq8LPCunV7f8SXqQMyvyAndzB1o22rm3Cj7RCjes7gzCRlorkJNzVJv2/s200/Promises.jpg" width="162" /></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Turning the page,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pointing out something in the illustrations,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Helping set up the activity,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Helping pass out snacks or set up the book give-away.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Abide by the promises yourselves</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Model positive behavior </b>-- your words and behavior can model positive behavior and conversation</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Leverage site staff involvement</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Use your site's attention-getting strategies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Use your site's behavior guidelines or incentives </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ask staff for help</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Getting to know the kids at your Read-Aloud, welcoming them each week, piquing their curiosity, and including movement to calm your kids or burn energy, along with consistent and appropriate expectations and rules, can make your Read-Alouds fun, not frantic. Talk with the other volunteers at your site and identify some strategies you'd like to use, and then give them a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span></div>
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The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-81948092114010014122016-12-12T10:30:00.000-05:002016-12-12T10:30:23.631-05:00At your fingertips: Abundant Read-Aloud themes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAGTSmj5FmGFgCspL6ormvoIYaAUS77B0wSkVc3SC2AOXFYumOF2xTMwjP-vIukBHs2iCmOAvn5ULfkVwgtOFW7cqu6S3cGz-H8lCxGRPOQULzPAlufPSIKaX4u6gcbnJ56iFDNnZGG07/s1600/fingertips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAGTSmj5FmGFgCspL6ormvoIYaAUS77B0wSkVc3SC2AOXFYumOF2xTMwjP-vIukBHs2iCmOAvn5ULfkVwgtOFW7cqu6S3cGz-H8lCxGRPOQULzPAlufPSIKaX4u6gcbnJ56iFDNnZGG07/s400/fingertips.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a Reading Connection volunteer, you know how important it is to come to your Read-Aloud prepared. Having a great theme, a variety of good books, an engaging activity, talking points, and sometimes a tasty snack, can make all the difference between a rollicking good time and a stressful evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All that planning takes time, though, especially if you are starting from scratch. But there's no need to make it hard on yourself. <b>TRC has dozens of Read-Alouds, planned out, in detail, waiting for you.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Volunteer Central</span><br />
<span 13.2px="" font-size:="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;" verdana="">TRC’s volunteer database, Volunteer Central, contains a bank of themes collected from your Read-Alouds and Reading Road Maps compiled over the past several years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To search for a theme for your next Read-Aloud,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEycNu1QxcYAccgJXBEZroccw4rksxQvI2Kd2o6KtlPd-SWVLD8iH8proMXFeLBqtJ33kFXnTY6R7xXmGdi8cHB9eRQHNC69BoJeSn1II1r9BTYpkt5ASj6stGG327PYvdUkuAhK0R2LP/s1600/Find+ideas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEycNu1QxcYAccgJXBEZroccw4rksxQvI2Kd2o6KtlPd-SWVLD8iH8proMXFeLBqtJ33kFXnTY6R7xXmGdi8cHB9eRQHNC69BoJeSn1II1r9BTYpkt5ASj6stGG327PYvdUkuAhK0R2LP/s320/Find+ideas.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Log in to <a href="https://volunteer.thereadingconnection.org/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Volunteer Central</a>.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Click the "Find Ideas for an Upcoming Read-Aloud" button on the upper right, or select “Read-Aloud Themes List” from the Read-Alouds menu at the top of your screen. The right-hand column of the table indicates if the themes have a Reading Road Map. To only show themes that have a Reading Road Map, click the "Reading Road Map Included?" column header.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Click on a theme. You'll find a list of the books read and activities done at any Read-Aloud that used this theme. A <span style="color: purple;">purple</span> Reading Road Map link next to the theme name will take you to a printable PDF of the Reading Road Map.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can also search recent Read-Alouds that have been held at your site or at other sites by</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ZQdCwjwsrER5x6x6HCfUUl79ofd6WafxuE-nT69VIMFRwTZg7VtRasINQSl-BOOwGFOipp8sfJSUFPXrgx_95coFJ2-aMNnagMPkqQL62-z7d6dRMalhRdsG3QOy7pWbJnkZYq5YoVr/s1600/updated+VC+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ZQdCwjwsrER5x6x6HCfUUl79ofd6WafxuE-nT69VIMFRwTZg7VtRasINQSl-BOOwGFOipp8sfJSUFPXrgx_95coFJ2-aMNnagMPkqQL62-z7d6dRMalhRdsG3QOy7pWbJnkZYq5YoVr/s400/updated+VC+header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Selecting "Recent Read-Alouds" in the Read-Aloud menu. The system will default to show only your site, but you can select all sites to see themes from other sites. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Selecting the date will bring you to the report summary of that Read-Aloud.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Selecting the theme will take you to a compilation of books and activities used with that theme.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg609Bwm-zt8yWywYI6pGa5m5MF-BqHkX3XdQPc8PIt6hHG878PqadPh8A25Z1QfSBmg-Az_tkyn-A9-v2faMFXgn1kLBjRmdcXVkYcAGdURAzOLGp5BFvpN1L2wXda-aUS5icItfSACniQ/s1600/recent+themes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg609Bwm-zt8yWywYI6pGa5m5MF-BqHkX3XdQPc8PIt6hHG878PqadPh8A25Z1QfSBmg-Az_tkyn-A9-v2faMFXgn1kLBjRmdcXVkYcAGdURAzOLGp5BFvpN1L2wXda-aUS5icItfSACniQ/s400/recent+themes.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reading Road Maps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to being stored on Volunteer Central, Reading Road Maps come right to your email every other month. TRC sends Reading Road Maps to all of our volunteers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oaqgzgXtVvj4aM1vFBjdq4Tawh7BpGaMLMOpDjScBldvtWix0GeOgQ9gHBaobFJi0lcs3etFWI8ZovPeYmCGvw2go-kKqixNg84fE2HxIiI7qgZuEj8Etxy4rTQQcpaocLM8DMCkDDPv/s1600/Reading+Road+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oaqgzgXtVvj4aM1vFBjdq4Tawh7BpGaMLMOpDjScBldvtWix0GeOgQ9gHBaobFJi0lcs3etFWI8ZovPeYmCGvw2go-kKqixNg84fE2HxIiI7qgZuEj8Etxy4rTQQcpaocLM8DMCkDDPv/s320/Reading+Road+Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you don't always keep the Reading Road Map emails, another way to find Reading Road Maps in Volunteer Central is to sort the themes so that the ones with Reading Road Maps show up first. If you haven't been receiving the Reading Road Maps, check your spam folder or your Promotions tab, if you use Gmail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">TRC's Blog</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TRC's blog</a> -- yes, the one you are reading right now -- also has lots of Read-Aloud themes and outlines. You can sign up to get it delivered to your email. Just put your email in the field labeled, in purple, "Follow by E-mail" on the right side of the page.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For posts specifically about planning, search for Read-Aloud reports or Read-Aloud themes. Two Summer Reading posts (<a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2013/06/summer-read-aloud-outlines.html" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2013/07/more-summer-read-alouds.html" target="_blank">this one</a>) also have links to outlines. You can click on the theme (<a href="http://files.ctctcdn.com/b625f869001/93118fb4-70fe-41c1-89f9-c12535d826c8.pdf" target="_blank">picnics</a>, for example) and it will take you to an outline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have a theme, but need <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=activities" target="_blank">activities</a>, <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=movement" target="_blank">movement</a> ideas, <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=crafts" target="_blank">crafts</a>, or ideas about how to best engage <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=preschoolers" target="_blank">preschoolers</a> or <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=older+kids" target="_blank">older kids</a>, you can search the blog for helpful posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Outside Resources</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7ZX79hK2OYpW5tzHjk4LnP7MDP8T3BI3umisX_cityIqd0dqG4kVeIBjSdGHxfsDTBPkAwKmduG0R4ma2imMmZUtVGWAvybFpxh2qqCWnijQ0NrUfbYWNsJFpHHT0kqWBfbMprep7pNv/s1600/startwithabook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="32" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7ZX79hK2OYpW5tzHjk4LnP7MDP8T3BI3umisX_cityIqd0dqG4kVeIBjSdGHxfsDTBPkAwKmduG0R4ma2imMmZUtVGWAvybFpxh2qqCWnijQ0NrUfbYWNsJFpHHT0kqWBfbMprep7pNv/s400/startwithabook.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMIBxU0ChCZLt5exQStRpfk3oFNjoeXSzNgNPn4vnf1FeH1_8UgyyYGDW56QX0p2DvPTxGJVh87VlIXNZmkVqiwgMSbfHf8bEiD5OLc9JRTEby0H3YqoWzuHiqGiPBVhEA5Wcp826v6_l/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMIBxU0ChCZLt5exQStRpfk3oFNjoeXSzNgNPn4vnf1FeH1_8UgyyYGDW56QX0p2DvPTxGJVh87VlIXNZmkVqiwgMSbfHf8bEiD5OLc9JRTEby0H3YqoWzuHiqGiPBVhEA5Wcp826v6_l/s1600/rocks.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally, other organizations and blogs produce themed readings outlines. <a href="http://startwithabook.org/" target="_blank">Start With a Book</a> is one of our favorites, and it happens to be based out of WETA, the PBS station in Arlington. Also available through WETA's Reading Rockets website are <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-adventure-packs-families" target="_blank">Reading Adventure Packs</a>, which also have a list of fiction and nonfiction books related to a theme, and activities.</span><br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9MwZ9jOJuXkgW7dHeEMSsrPE2NjUiIeLxAwPJOIpDtaSUv-mHuFPWckkUw_QnYzEY3MhWpB1TidZPNBKvy4SYFwbSeHVgGi0nh2F6UBppRVH5KYD0RwMzN79JHyCUQktKqkiqprNkd7-/s1600/world+cat.png" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=WorldCat" target="_blank">WorldCat</a> is an international library database that lets you search for books, read reviews, preview contents, and see themed recommended book lists that others (<a href="https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/TheReadingConnection/lists" target="_blank">including TRC</a>) have created. If you are looking for books to beef up your Read-Aloud choices, you can even find links to similar books and related subjects. And the best thing about WorldCat is that you can see which library near you has the books you want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't stress</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next time you have a Read-Aloud to plan, remember, we've already done the work for you. Check out Volunteer Central, your email, or Reading Rockets' Start with A Book or Reading Adventure Packs for fully planned Read-Alouds. Gather the books and materials listed on the outline, Reading Road Map, or Read-Aloud report and get ready for a rollicking good time!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-26851825500390295702016-11-14T10:00:00.000-05:002016-11-14T10:00:20.313-05:00Read-Aloud Report: 1, 2, 3, Read with me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhec8yZMmxCW-Wpoj4SnvUutSRYu-D3naG-c0AyDOWtsATNv8Ovxd3R7WEVKmBZ7D0ECigD1iYE0lemj5h3scUaAb8qm_7Inm5ERRMoM_DkqhUPyAIkgDlLpAWtlDkmAZqjR1QeqQ8CNCq/s1600/numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhec8yZMmxCW-Wpoj4SnvUutSRYu-D3naG-c0AyDOWtsATNv8Ovxd3R7WEVKmBZ7D0ECigD1iYE0lemj5h3scUaAb8qm_7Inm5ERRMoM_DkqhUPyAIkgDlLpAWtlDkmAZqjR1QeqQ8CNCq/s400/numbers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to Kristin Stadum, a long-time Read-Aloud volunteer at Freedom Place, for this Read-Aloud report. TRC spotlights Read-Alouds that successfully build reading skills and motivation while also being fun for kids and volunteers. These Read-Aloud reports act as a resource for other volunteers and provide examples for the public of our program.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can't remember what I had originally intended for the theme for the night, but it certainly wasn't numbers. I thought numbers would be too dry, too staid, too nerdy by far! But when I was at the library, great titles kept jumping off the shelves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56qmXIj6m6B8HZoC_FFQ1B8qPONT5B1jaPT05LqN3YSAIEzZ7wf8UpkQ9zw9jCd_F3BbvO6cBxjt7VNU83T6A4KXwdmhjpLHzx6vzLo76_uDoADZaXMo_Y3pymBmQg886XT8dO9K4Gaba/s1600/3+pgs+Marshall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56qmXIj6m6B8HZoC_FFQ1B8qPONT5B1jaPT05LqN3YSAIEzZ7wf8UpkQ9zw9jCd_F3BbvO6cBxjt7VNU83T6A4KXwdmhjpLHzx6vzLo76_uDoADZaXMo_Y3pymBmQg886XT8dO9K4Gaba/s200/3+pgs+Marshall.jpg" width="199" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxxuzn7foHe1nruTzPWVEC2uIRhVE93mUV91FWsOv5ONEo20NQNfOtkkO8J-bXYS9-g57yXdcFVHqv_bpJwY1EB54GIjnD49yF8X-7mVPdbJu-qrBlm0RJAbzySfY1x8aOd9GOabScONF/s1600/flight+1+2+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxxuzn7foHe1nruTzPWVEC2uIRhVE93mUV91FWsOv5ONEo20NQNfOtkkO8J-bXYS9-g57yXdcFVHqv_bpJwY1EB54GIjnD49yF8X-7mVPdbJu-qrBlm0RJAbzySfY1x8aOd9GOabScONF/s200/flight+1+2+3.jpg" width="199" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqzon6Vt0Ir7H3yw9I99SY4ZT3yuffaqAGR5298RvZWMob3WJNYasmpTZMULSQ8OA30qKI-j09H_e0cRxI4vQkzN-IH51lTRhmU79CYjzI3C4RcO0o0DQp16JdeE2UgCbLHa6J3mCpTUg/s1600/two+boys+booed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqzon6Vt0Ir7H3yw9I99SY4ZT3yuffaqAGR5298RvZWMob3WJNYasmpTZMULSQ8OA30qKI-j09H_e0cRxI4vQkzN-IH51lTRhmU79CYjzI3C4RcO0o0DQp16JdeE2UgCbLHa6J3mCpTUg/s200/two+boys+booed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Well, here goes nothing," I thought and settled on </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">numbers as the theme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the kids picked up their name tags, we had them guess the number of blueberries in one jar and cherries in another. Later, these would form part of the night's snack.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KbkY0vowQRLrlH6rGdH7UYbSuN8Dgc4h1begMqC0nrjjZ9btfkBfbbwwOCMU11w6Xs2n0gbOlg7f52yCfONnvSJehUo5cy6brpYmOiDqHkdTpTKm8onpE9WedbZViI1eR0qrZbXA4N1z/s1600/book+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KbkY0vowQRLrlH6rGdH7UYbSuN8Dgc4h1begMqC0nrjjZ9btfkBfbbwwOCMU11w6Xs2n0gbOlg7f52yCfONnvSJehUo5cy6brpYmOiDqHkdTpTKm8onpE9WedbZViI1eR0qrZbXA4N1z/s1600/book+box.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of a book box for<br />
Zin, Zin, Zin A Violin<br />
contains sheet music, rosin, a violin<br />
string and other related items.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We introduced the topic with a book box (an idea from the a <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2016/06/reading-and-brain-development.html" target="_blank">TRC volunteer seminar on the brain</a>). Before presenting the books, we pulled items related to numbers out of a box and passed them around the room, giving the kids a chance to guess the nature of our theme. An abacus was quickly followed by a ruler, calculator, phone, playing card, dominoes, dice, and foreign coins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each kid held onto a multicolored, multi-sided dice (each one unique) and/or a foreign coin as the evening progressed. While the items didn't exactly keep them from fidgeting, they helped keep the focus on numbers while we read books like <i>100 Things That Make Me Happy</i>, <i>17 Things I Am Not Allowed to Do Anymore,</i> and <i>The Three Little Pigs</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a list of the books we used:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.abramsbooks.com/product/100-things-that-make-me-happy_9781419705182/" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">100 Things That Make Me Happy</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Amy Schwartz</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://us.macmillan.com/andtwoboysbooed/judithviorst" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And Two Boys Booed</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Judith Viorst</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/219771/count-on-the-subway-by-paul-dubois-jacobs-and-jennifer-swender-illustrated-by-dan-yaccarino/9780307979230/" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Count on the Subway</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Paul DuBois Jacobs</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/flight-1-2-3.html" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Flight 1-2-3 </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Maria van Lieshout</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/three-little-pigs-0" target="_blank"><i>The Three Little Pigs </i>by James Marshall</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/eight-days#cart/cleanup" target="_blank"><i>Eight Days: A Story of Haiti</i> by Edwidge Danticat</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/11-experiments-failed" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">11 Experiments that Failed</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Jenny Offill</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/124091/17-things-im-not-allowed-to-do-anymore-by-jenny-offill-illustrated-by-nancy-carpenter/9780375866012/" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">17 Things I Am Not Allowed to Do Anymore</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Jenny Offill</span></a></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We brought a lot of books to be sure there was something that appealed to everyone. A few books were read to the whole group, while others were read to multiple small groups. Some didn't get read at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After reading, we revealed how many berries and cherries each jar contained and divvied them up as part of our snack. Then we played a clapping game* focused on numbers (which failed miserably but centered the kids) and donned pedometers to see who could get the most steps by the time that a song (<i>8 Days a Week </i>by the Beatles) ended. Participants were urged to dance, jump, or run in place –- anything to increase their step count. The winners received foreign coins and individual die as medals. (*See below for clapping game examples.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going into the Read-Aloud, we were unsure how many kids would be attending and whether we would be able to spend time outdoors. We played the activity by ear but planned alternate activities such as playing hopscotch, Go Fish, and dominoes. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(**See below for an alternative activity.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>What makes this Read-Aloud so effective? </i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It has a theme that unifies the experience but is broad enough to accommodate different ages and interests.</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">A wide variety of great Read-Aloud books are available on the topic.</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It incorporates sensory experiences (holding items, eating blueberries and cherries, listening to music) and movement (clapping and dancing or running).</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The activities related well to the theme and allowed the kids to experience the theme in concrete ways.</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It had alternate activities planned to accommodate the kids or the environment.</i></li>
</ul>
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">If you have conducted a super successful Read-Aloud, please contact Stephanie at sberman@thereadingconneciton.org. </i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>*Concentration Clapping Game</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While sitting on the floor, assign everyone a number and start a rhythm by slapping thighs twice and clapping twice. A person says her own number with the thigh slaps and someone else's number with the claps. The second person picks it up and says a third. If a kid misses his/her number or the beat, then he/she is out (but still clapping). It keeps going until only one person is left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Concentration (slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you ready? (slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If– so –(slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let’s– go!(slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, player one, continuing the rhythm, says her own number twice followed by another number in the circle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For example:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Player one: 1, 1, 4, 4 (slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Player four: 4, 4, 7, 7 (slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Player seven: 7, 7, 3, 3 (slap slap clap clap)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anybody who makes a mistake or fails to keep the rhythm is out but remains in the circle, making it more difficult for the other players, who must remember not to use the numbers of the people who are out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">**One Frog</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first person says, "One Frog."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next person says, "In the water."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the next person says, "Kerplunk."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, increase everything by one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, the next person in the circle says, "Two Frogs."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the next person says, "Two Frogs."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The person after that says, "In the water."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"In the water."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Kerplunk."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Kerplunk."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, anybody who makes a mistake or fails to keep the rhythm is out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-28912548697368268042016-10-17T14:55:00.000-04:002016-10-17T14:55:47.355-04:00Fiction and Nonfiction: Better Together<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0aosdNPdFmeF9XV7hWt8Mi3y8emCktb2OzW_pOcQtnA97Vi07vzVu2JMSkpgw0vDyBOO2QVzOZryGkRhfnSExuN5IzxhKrqmUFhLlWT1w9C1HngYsRCuDBzhMo3BNc92TJLG3VbKckx/s1600/lake-eries-water-quality-has-been-in-a-state-of-decline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0aosdNPdFmeF9XV7hWt8Mi3y8emCktb2OzW_pOcQtnA97Vi07vzVu2JMSkpgw0vDyBOO2QVzOZryGkRhfnSExuN5IzxhKrqmUFhLlWT1w9C1HngYsRCuDBzhMo3BNc92TJLG3VbKckx/s200/lake-eries-water-quality-has-been-in-a-state-of-decline.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my school library, I recently overheard a couple of students brainstorming ideas for their science project. They both had visited relatives over the summer who lived in Michigan and were discussing algae growth on Lake Erie and whether they could do their project on algae blooms. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfhtTflwpHYpo8D8AYHxdu-j_Iz8kBaKr8rAzg7xaB1UwWKuweBDBLtz_01dtsSPA3_9xItiP3YUmUKCj6mSiIrencg8nMRiqpcvoozL4h8vCd-rx35BS24UuL2-p787Jiwn5FUoV5q2y/s1600/The_Lorax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfhtTflwpHYpo8D8AYHxdu-j_Iz8kBaKr8rAzg7xaB1UwWKuweBDBLtz_01dtsSPA3_9xItiP3YUmUKCj6mSiIrencg8nMRiqpcvoozL4h8vCd-rx35BS24UuL2-p787Jiwn5FUoV5q2y/s200/The_Lorax.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I heard “Lake Erie,” my mind turned to <i>The Lorax</i>: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“You’re glumping the pond where the Humming Fish hummed! </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No more can they hum for their gills are all gummed. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, I’m sending them off. Oh their future is dreary. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They’ll walk on their fins and get woefully weary. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In search of some water that isn’t so smeary. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hear things are just as bad in Lake Erie.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr. Seuss removed the line about Lake Erie from <i>The Lorax</i> in 1985 at the behest of staff at Ohio Sea Grant. They felt that, thanks to anti-pollution efforts, Lake Erie was much improved. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I asked the students if they knew that this wasn’t the first time Lake Erie had been in trouble and that Dr. Seuss had even pointed out its problems with pollution when the <i>The Lorax</i> was published in 1971.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were very interested to know that one of their favorite authors shared a real-world interest with them, and they had many more questions about what Dr. Seuss’s life was like apart from writing the books they know and love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These budding scientists were focused on facts about algae but found a fascinating connection to the ongoing struggle to keep Lake Erie healthy through fiction. They left the library with books on plants and algae as well as a biography of Dr. Seuss and <i>The Lorax</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some students love to focus on nonfiction. Others love a made-up story. But when you can help them combine and connect to both nonfiction and fiction, you engage and expose them to different types of text while also boosting comprehension and building their background knowledge, vocabulary and critical thinking skills. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Typically, kids’ natural curiosity gets them asking questions about things they discover from books. Often it is a fictional title that will get them wondering. Could it ever really be cloudy with a chance of meatballs? Can you make friends with a robot? Do fish really work together?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can anticipate questions and help introduce and reinforce ideas by having nonfiction titles at the ready. Follow <i><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs/oclc/3707689" target="_blank">Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</a></i> with <i>Weather</i> by Seymour Simon.<i> Robots</i> by Melissa Stewart is great after reading <i><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/rabbit-robot-the-sleepover/oclc/773667618" target="_blank">Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover</a></i>. And don’t hesitate to dive into <i>Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea</i> by Gail Gibbons after reading <i><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/swimmy/oclc/193737" target="_blank">Swimmy</a></i> by Leo Lionni.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRabFhAUgr7H0lvtbTwP3_s4WzroytAe6E5tKwjZb0kdHTEL3tVJNPgclaK3h0ArsUWpx5V2G4KAKr6GGetOZGpsY448w9fydC-nzf60J3qgjYkiwSAuDsLI50YYeG4OJpta2CH5bYYVF/s1600/robots+stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRabFhAUgr7H0lvtbTwP3_s4WzroytAe6E5tKwjZb0kdHTEL3tVJNPgclaK3h0ArsUWpx5V2G4KAKr6GGetOZGpsY448w9fydC-nzf60J3qgjYkiwSAuDsLI50YYeG4OJpta2CH5bYYVF/s200/robots+stewart.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEghwNtVrHQ34vS8RGM9g49Az3WWCJWT3-x7Pqqs2cdosSnyJYqdRjKoA5FSpSxxRLGpWbD8AjE0hy0Vxgz_HhIieQ1kqjeFxRWImizs8ax_mL3U6d4kxCmynB-mqJSnOGEhHar0HWZHD/s1600/rabbit+robot+sleepover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEghwNtVrHQ34vS8RGM9g49Az3WWCJWT3-x7Pqqs2cdosSnyJYqdRjKoA5FSpSxxRLGpWbD8AjE0hy0Vxgz_HhIieQ1kqjeFxRWImizs8ax_mL3U6d4kxCmynB-mqJSnOGEhHar0HWZHD/s200/rabbit+robot+sleepover.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can even take things a step further. Follow up your reading with activities or outings that offer opportunities for kids to take what they’ve learned and own it. For example, hand out big metal spoons after you’ve shared both </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Weather</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Ask kids what will happen if they breathe on the back of the spoon. Have them do it and see if they create their own tiny cloud of water vapor! Talk about what you read about what happens when warm, moist air and cool air come together. They just made a cloud! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwUbiaKeyntFjel_jxRc9aYVIiztblFc7yEp7hiYWLndS4fmclA8vdsG81Z_hb6Y9wqUR-SCH9RIQSgP3_yB-EZhUuD4Ypxxb20WbA87gbbHYlennJg2gXDYJH5eqTeFARILz3jZu_Att/s1600/Weather+Simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwUbiaKeyntFjel_jxRc9aYVIiztblFc7yEp7hiYWLndS4fmclA8vdsG81Z_hb6Y9wqUR-SCH9RIQSgP3_yB-EZhUuD4Ypxxb20WbA87gbbHYlennJg2gXDYJH5eqTeFARILz3jZu_Att/s200/Weather+Simon.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2AxCLKIrN5pdVXHBri9kybm9zafq6HrHvg-qMhsICDhTl_uykNic_UlRNg_6bC0smk2pWeO9GJ9EGuFE_vIwIjmgCETF5UqbJTNh042MQr0j6m2zVts_gevUG6w_JWrBMzZYfABUNEQU/s1600/Cloudy_with_a_Chance_of_Meatballs_%2528book%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2AxCLKIrN5pdVXHBri9kybm9zafq6HrHvg-qMhsICDhTl_uykNic_UlRNg_6bC0smk2pWeO9GJ9EGuFE_vIwIjmgCETF5UqbJTNh042MQr0j6m2zVts_gevUG6w_JWrBMzZYfABUNEQU/s200/Cloudy_with_a_Chance_of_Meatballs_%2528book%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some terrific online resources to help you put fiction, nonfiction and great activities together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Award-winning author <a href="http://www.melissa-stewart.com/index.html" target="_blank">Melissa Stewart</a> has not only written more than 150 science books for children but also frequently speaks and writes about ways to teach science through literature. This article highlights her idea of <a href="http://melissa-stewart.com/pdf/PerfectPairs.pdf" target="_blank">Perfect Pairs</a> and offers example pairs of fiction and nonfiction along with connections, discussion questions and activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://www.startwithabook.org/" target="_blank">Start with a Book</a>, a project of <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/" target="_blank">Reading Rockets</a>, offers 24 kid-friendly themes featuring specific ideas for using fiction and nonfiction books and related downloadable activities to get kids thinking, talking, creating and exploring. Reading Rockets also has <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-adventure-packs-families" target="_blank">Reading Adventure Packs</a> (in English and Spanish), which provide recommended fiction and nonfiction titles along with printable activities and bookmarks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s the thing: as adult readers, we are constantly pairing fiction and nonfiction without even thinking about it. When you’re reading a great historical fiction title, don’t you look up the actual history? If you’re enjoying a novel set in present-day Paraguay, don’t you consult a travel website? And if you really love an author’s books, don’t you look for articles or a biography to read about his life? Just as you follow your curiosity, kids want to do the same. They just need you to help them make the match.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">Guest blog post by </span><span style="color: #43336e;"><a href="http://www.belleofthebook.com/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belle of the Book</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">, Rachael Walker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span><br />
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<br />The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-74328139169183541802016-10-03T13:10:00.001-04:002016-10-03T15:19:49.734-04:00No more reluctant readers!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuMTkNLvZokvfj669XpSeSlk_3CCt3WVqHEkSwFJgzdtqLHbFHFmiRPxOUDST6bdeBdlAesRpEOS_KWALG5Tcwxo-jvs9oERlw80GzMIPGII37UMq1Qwek17eK5ekyj8_dPF6pTZo4ZKO/s1600/reader+name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuMTkNLvZokvfj669XpSeSlk_3CCt3WVqHEkSwFJgzdtqLHbFHFmiRPxOUDST6bdeBdlAesRpEOS_KWALG5Tcwxo-jvs9oERlw80GzMIPGII37UMq1Qwek17eK5ekyj8_dPF6pTZo4ZKO/s320/reader+name+tag.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">A</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">vid reader? Struggling reader? Reluctant reader? Bad reader? </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Labels do matter, but so do positive reading experiences and a supportive community.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reading Connection's programs provide</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">opportunities and a community for at-risk kids to see their reading selves in a positive way.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/71235-creating-lifelong-readers.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a>*<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> recently interviewed two seventh-grade teachers about how their goal of creating lifelong readers informs the way they talk to the kids, arrange their classrooms and set their priorities. Their insights, while gained working in school classrooms, offer inspiring examples that can be applied to our Read-Alouds. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Teacher Pernille Ripp describes how kids develop their reading identities as follows:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOBmfQmEOR_RTAFjDcdV99JD3YaW7J0x6iTp5KG8uhVwp6ywlvM2VUiPHSbb2RLWvFqFIkif4N-6wTdtX31KhyW5NybNiiQPxxIgl8ebGvMFX2_Z_8kQZHYmtuNg205s8FmrgQyRon9r6/s1600/CG+opening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOBmfQmEOR_RTAFjDcdV99JD3YaW7J0x6iTp5KG8uhVwp6ywlvM2VUiPHSbb2RLWvFqFIkif4N-6wTdtX31KhyW5NybNiiQPxxIgl8ebGvMFX2_Z_8kQZHYmtuNg205s8FmrgQyRon9r6/s200/CG+opening.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">No child comes to kindergarten and tells us that they are a struggling reader</span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">..</span><i>. </i>Instead, that identity is created within our classrooms, within our groupings, and within our hallway conversations, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">where students quickly figure out which labels should identify them....</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">[T]here are so many readers who are not confident, or who don’t see reading as something they would ever do for pleasure. Does it matter what label we give them? Or do we simply need to help create a positive experience for them? </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can we somehow re-frame the past experiences they have had with books and get them to reinvest, if even for a moment?"</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>(emphasis added)</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reading Connection's programs are all about helping kids experience the joy, excitement and empowerment that reading can provide. Our Read-Alouds provide fun, no-stress experiences with books. We purposely conduct Read-Alouds that are exciting and interactive and include hands-on experiences and lots of conversation to show kids that reading doesn't always have to be solitary or school-related.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Helping kids become regular and passionate readers involves not just supporting their identity as readers but also creating a community where they can share their experiences and be supported by fellow readers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, Ms. Ripp's insights apply to the community building aspect of our programs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKmk5EfHhbIb40QbnokEEdUzpwNxBiXDY5RLe6ErtCchCRZVK2MeDsFK95N4FSiLHcXd7cXulxtMKT4msralVX6xmDnOZO5_A6ZxnH85XTzZjMyRCPl6ah9Y0sIvhk8EMSZDcM6RmK0ZP/s1600/ARHA+friendiversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKmk5EfHhbIb40QbnokEEdUzpwNxBiXDY5RLe6ErtCchCRZVK2MeDsFK95N4FSiLHcXd7cXulxtMKT4msralVX6xmDnOZO5_A6ZxnH85XTzZjMyRCPl6ah9Y0sIvhk8EMSZDcM6RmK0ZP/s200/ARHA+friendiversary.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"...[O]ne voracious reader will never be enough in order to get books in the hands of children. Finding allies in your school or community is important, bringing them in to book-talk books or simply having reading discussions with them is huge for reaching more students. <i><span style="font-size: large;">Creating a visible reading culture is important as well.</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">It seems to me that often our self-identified nonreaders are also the ones that feel school is not a place for them. So <i>we have to find a way of making them feel like they matter, like this place </i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">is</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> for them, and that <span style="font-size: large;">together we can create an experience that they want to be a part of."</span></span></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TRC volunteers play a crucial role in creating that reading culture and helping kids develop a positive reading self-image. By talking with kids about books and kids' interests, feelings and experiences, our volunteers build relationships with the kids around books. These relationships of mutual respect and curiosity foster kids' identities as readers and valued community members.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhsKogn24BfvHAh3uvHdrxLDv8NAZZS6I1Z5hhX4mu3DP1obYZP5sDYVgKADXsh_oFgzAPfKY2zd-ujs9Rfrd5_5jPyUAAe5sCu41AV2l8vIcTRQHsFmGUHEUUeJPKUSzbDbA6YU1fwhE/s1600/avid+reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhsKogn24BfvHAh3uvHdrxLDv8NAZZS6I1Z5hhX4mu3DP1obYZP5sDYVgKADXsh_oFgzAPfKY2zd-ujs9Rfrd5_5jPyUAAe5sCu41AV2l8vIcTRQHsFmGUHEUUeJPKUSzbDbA6YU1fwhE/s320/avid+reader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like Ms. Ripp, TRC wants all kids to be (and identify as) regular and passionate readers. Beyond the mechanics of getting through a Read-Aloud, we always try to build motivation and enthusiasm -- two essentials that can mean the difference between building strong reading skills or giving up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once again, in Ms. Ripp's words,</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><i>In the end, however a reader identifies, it really comes down to us to create an experience that will help them find amazing books, support them as they grow, and create a community of readers<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At The Reading Connection, our goal is that every child will be a regular and passionate reader. All of our programs are designed help kids develop identities as curious, joyful, regular, passionate readers and build reading communities that they can belong to.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>*C</i></span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">reating Lifelong Readers: Two English Teachers Discuss What Works With Their Students</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, moderated by Shannon Maughan, August 19, 2016</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-82415639075472314792016-09-20T10:49:00.000-04:002016-09-23T12:38:41.866-04:00Happy Birthday, Brown Bear!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
September, a special 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary edition of <i>Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?</i> by Bill Martin Jr. and
Eric Carle finds its way to bookstores. In anticipation of a year-long
celebration of the 1967 publication of this beloved picture book, Macmillan
publishers have produced special editions and planned a year of events. They even created a <a href="http://www.brownbeareverywhere.com/" target="_blank">dedicated website</a> for the Brown Bear celebrations to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjszn6OSETQQS5hmfNrMToSGAcRNKCrEKIwUKHuZSAJl_8eNp2Q5ov-eQPjHXrhId9yEWPZ19Rxw1L5V1kYbfqoGhDHWy6GmQrs1jmDNK-SgZeRXLC0sWVvGMAA4QU_lD9RGvBn2l1cUr3/s1600/carle+cookie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjszn6OSETQQS5hmfNrMToSGAcRNKCrEKIwUKHuZSAJl_8eNp2Q5ov-eQPjHXrhId9yEWPZ19Rxw1L5V1kYbfqoGhDHWy6GmQrs1jmDNK-SgZeRXLC0sWVvGMAA4QU_lD9RGvBn2l1cUr3/s320/carle+cookie.png" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Carle celebrating 50 years of Brown Bear<br />
at the Eric Carle museum. Photo by Jim Gipe.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What
makes a picture book worthy of all this hoopla? This classic picture book
appeals as much to kids today as it did 50 years ago, and has introduced
millions of kids to the joy of reading. It is often the first book with Eric
Carle’s distinctive illustrations that kids encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnE0_seoVUoo-llHZ1Sa1YdqqYazteJuyjVzVLmo4IXLDo1hxCHbe-cKcp0jIGg4Q1EDklDQK9KIYXZ5KFLcOPEXgGgzC3jGOaRbK0VFbB9gAyEqKY_RDFJRiX-yEZDEpi7fpESbR2eVB/s1600/ck+brown+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnE0_seoVUoo-llHZ1Sa1YdqqYazteJuyjVzVLmo4IXLDo1hxCHbe-cKcp0jIGg4Q1EDklDQK9KIYXZ5KFLcOPEXgGgzC3jGOaRbK0VFbB9gAyEqKY_RDFJRiX-yEZDEpi7fpESbR2eVB/s320/ck+brown+bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Courtney Kissell, TRC's executive director, shares<i> Brown Bear</i> with kids at ARHA.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At
The Reading Connection, <i>Brown Bear</i> is
our go-to book, whether our topic is the importance
of rhyme and repetition or the appeal of illustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
love <i>Brown Bear’s</i></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.98px;">Vibrant, cut-paper collage illustrations,</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.98px;">Rhyming, rhythmic, repeating text that is fun to chant,</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.98px;">Colors and animals,</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.98px;">Just-right length and</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.98px;">Surprise ending.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.98px;">These qualities </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">build reading skills. Colorful illustrations and familiar animals hold kids' interest, while galloping rhyme and repetition and frequent chances to predict what comes next teach phonemic awareness and build comprehension.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We asked Angus Killick, Vice President at Macmillan Publishing Group, what he thinks gives Brown Bear it's enduring appeal.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's the perfect picture book! Bill Martin, Jr.'s skill was bold rhythmic text and word repetition. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a fine example of his genius in that respect. It is also a wonderful example of the drama of prediction and that's why children who are not yet reading can appreciate the predictive nature of the text and participate in the many readings. Martin's text, paired with Carle's gorgeous illustrations featuring impressionist portrayals of colorful and playful animals ('blue horse', 'purple cat' anyone?), make for nothing more than a perfect picture book to read aloud and share with a small child over and over again.</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74CPjRySirK4Gm104dOl9xdaeYbBFlnRW_vVnf38jvMW1aO1cG7dUC5PZIqJheinsSbaWqmBRx48bIkC_iDrvfSLCkY1J860sJK9TsViVBMdLTByfJcOEgtdFEEMgExd2s8fOGSad5EhZ/s1600/Carle+and+Martin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74CPjRySirK4Gm104dOl9xdaeYbBFlnRW_vVnf38jvMW1aO1cG7dUC5PZIqJheinsSbaWqmBRx48bIkC_iDrvfSLCkY1J860sJK9TsViVBMdLTByfJcOEgtdFEEMgExd2s8fOGSad5EhZ/s320/Carle+and+Martin.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr. in 1992</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Twenty-five
years after Martin and Carle created <i>Brown
Bear</i>, they collaborated again to create <i>Polar
Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?</i> This time, zoo animals make a ruckus,
inviting kids to bellow, flute and snort along with the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next
came <i>Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You
See?</i> This time, 10 years after <i>Polar
Bear</i>, Martin and Carle featured endangered species strutting, soaring and strolling
through the pages, daring kids to romp along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally,
Martin and Carle created <i>Baby Bear, Baby
Bear, What Do You See? </i>Their last collaboration, published in 2007, follows
a baby bear as he looks for his mother among animals from North America. As
with its predecessors, Baby Bear’s simple rhyming text delights children and
invites them to chant and move along with the story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"All together, the four
Bear books have sold 50 million copies in the U.S., including 14 million of<i> Brown
Bear,” </i>according to Kare Rauquist in the August 10, 2016 edition of <i>Publisher’s Weekly. </i>The numbers don't lie. Brown Bear and his relatives have enchanted millions of kids, and at 50, they are still going strong. These books are fun to read and to listen to and a delight to look at, making learning to read a pleasure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Move over, Cat in the Hat. The Bears are coming for you!</span><br />
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</span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-15908364856693892032016-09-07T15:52:00.001-04:002016-09-07T15:52:06.259-04:00Summer Superheroes: We Are Readers 2016<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just a few weeks ago, The Reading Connection (TRC) finished its We Are Readers summer reading program at five participating sites. I am happy to report that it was both super fun and successful! TRC augments its regular Read-Aloud schedule every summer to include two days of reading, as opposed to the normal one day per week during the school year. Engaging kids in reading aloud and related activities is important because they are at risk of losing reading skills during the out-of-school months. These activities are especially important for the disadvantaged, at-risk kids that TRC serves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s a quick look at the success We Are Readers saw this summer. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpTyRfbTaR486SZEtXDKgYKDTtXwXqCEGvqk2IZFENs81RMIwWUN9vNdkSXNcPcy8SoSOcNk-HNNj7DZHOdPcGUM5NESbXSkyvDfW6BJCiihdREb9sjlRODETniQ2ai4WjCWyuc14sBHj/s1600/wAR+infographic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpTyRfbTaR486SZEtXDKgYKDTtXwXqCEGvqk2IZFENs81RMIwWUN9vNdkSXNcPcy8SoSOcNk-HNNj7DZHOdPcGUM5NESbXSkyvDfW6BJCiihdREb9sjlRODETniQ2ai4WjCWyuc14sBHj/s640/wAR+infographic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We Are Readers Kits </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We provided each volunteer team a kit for its Read-Aloud that contained books, an activity and a snack, chosen specially for the day’s theme. Every Read-Aloud at every site had a designated bag, which provided support to both summer-only volunteers and regular Read-Aloud volunteers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Superhero Theme</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the We Are Readers Read-Alouds this summer revolved around a unified theme: superheroes! We kicked off the first week with the subtheme “Be your own superhero.” Volunteers encouraged the kids to reflect and consider what their superpowers are because not all superheroes have the same powers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We reinforced the kids' superhero identities (and tracked attendance) by asking the kids to create a superhero poster that included their superhero name, picture and a description of their super-selves and powers. The kids placed a sticker on the corresponding date on the poster to track their attendance. We also gave every child a charm necklace for which they received a new charm every day they were present.The kids enjoyed both the posters and the necklaces. The Polaroid "instant cameras" used to take their pictures intrigued them, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC-WUavxAKr3z7lXUgbACt1VNAP0Eeb8U-TGnryAADKsJsE49fliapX3SaqOnJtcyonnJ7eidUt7VE5Wl5SI3o_Bep03DLnff2M4y5inZIWSTiehjxsklwqSu08YVAcnhyphenhyphenD3o3V4DKube/s1600/war+superhero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC-WUavxAKr3z7lXUgbACt1VNAP0Eeb8U-TGnryAADKsJsE49fliapX3SaqOnJtcyonnJ7eidUt7VE5Wl5SI3o_Bep03DLnff2M4y5inZIWSTiehjxsklwqSu08YVAcnhyphenhyphenD3o3V4DKube/s320/war+superhero.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After working through the concept of “be your own superhero,” we introduced kids to more superheroes and super things during weeks two through six: superheroes of the community, superheroes of the animal kingdom, super-foods, super-STEM and super-authors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because We Are Readers lasts six weeks and we used six subthemes, we spent a week (two Read-Alouds) exploring each theme. This is twice as much time as kids usually spend exploring a theme in our program, and we found that the kids were very engaged, asking questions and discussing the new ideas presented in the Read-Alouds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For example, I led a Read-Aloud about super-foods during the third week of We Are Readers at Sullivan House. There are tons of interesting books about food, of course, like <i>Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</i> and <i>Stone Soup</i>, which we took advantage of before our activity. A local bakery, <a href="http://www.villagesweetbakery.com/" target="_blank">Village Sweet</a>, provided “super-food muffins” (made with zucchini, carrot and currants) for the kids to try, and they loved them! Trying the muffins and other super-foods provided by our volunteers sparked a conversation about which foods they had and had not tried, and they started to make a game of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since the kids expressed an interest in discussing all the foods they knew, we stopped and read <i>Eating the Alphabet</i> together, which is basically about a ton of fruits and vegetables from A to Z. They really enjoyed thinking of the fruits and vegetables not shown in the book, and it helped them learn a lot about each other’s cultures and backgrounds through food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Using a more unified theme structure this year worked exceptionally well. It allowed the kids to get more immersed in the subject matter than in previous years, when the themes rotated more quickly and were less woven into the overall structure. For instance, connecting the subtheme of super-foods to the overall theme of being your own superhero made it easier for the kids to establish a good background knowledge of healthy foods and how they can help kids' development into super-people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Special Guests </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ivBr-DGFI0DrGL4rK454_V3gawp75Tlc6GbxkWmTNkU3YTU2cFdVPJyRMzl7W5vAuTSV4IqvYOHITkagWD1DjUUDMfHD2fpl-ZE0aOYL8k61jIOuzn7QdYZgqvL4eaV8Ui312RtCFd3K/s1600/war+service+dog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ivBr-DGFI0DrGL4rK454_V3gawp75Tlc6GbxkWmTNkU3YTU2cFdVPJyRMzl7W5vAuTSV4IqvYOHITkagWD1DjUUDMfHD2fpl-ZE0aOYL8k61jIOuzn7QdYZgqvL4eaV8Ui312RtCFd3K/s320/war+service+dog1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To help drive home the ideas from our theme, we invited several special guests to speak during We Are Readers. One set of special guests was Zach and Bentley (pictured on the right), who visited the kids at ARHA during the “superheroes of the animal kingdom” week. From the age of five, Zach has suffered from serious seizures that can be harmful to his health. To help manage the seizures, Zach got a service dog, Bentley, who can help alert Zach when he’s about to experience a seizure. Zach and his mom, Mary, were kind enough to bring Bentley to ARHA and talk to the kids about service animals. Bentley was kind enough to let everyone pet him! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB087tpAc0S-oNbFB2vQKzVQLXx8F27HS3IpjOB7Lyq-HI2evS0JAx-ORi2VqVHgYq-kXyasbdKglnLyTm7INp7cXhXAZBS3dv7fXP31OocPrLdShJN6RoVAxJ8R67ZGbDOEC8J0i6knQY/s1600/berman+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB087tpAc0S-oNbFB2vQKzVQLXx8F27HS3IpjOB7Lyq-HI2evS0JAx-ORi2VqVHgYq-kXyasbdKglnLyTm7INp7cXhXAZBS3dv7fXP31OocPrLdShJN6RoVAxJ8R67ZGbDOEC8J0i6knQY/s320/berman+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kids at New Hope Housing got a special visit from Mr. Berman, a chemist, during super-STEM week. He taught the kids about how light and light waves work, and they thought it was super cool – as you can see. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Firefighter Mike Kelly, a superhero of the community from the Bethesda Fire Department, was kind enough to visit our kids at Greentree Shelter, showing them his firefighting gear and letting the kids try it on. Zookeeper Becky Malinsky from the National Zoo visited our kids at Sullivan House to talk to them about superheroes of the animal kingdom. The Reading Connection staff, volunteers and kids really appreciate all of our special guests! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We Are Readers made an impact in the lives of 114 children and provided them with over 500 books this summer, and we couldn’t have done it without our many wonderful volunteers – thank you! We’d also like to thank the “behind the scenes” volunteers who provided materials for various activities, such as the superhero cape materials provided by Susan Kelly for the kids at New Hope Housing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post was written by Zach Griffin, TRC's AmeriCorps VISTA dedicated to the We Are Readers Program. </span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-44020903022763618812016-08-22T15:47:00.003-04:002016-08-22T15:47:50.174-04:00What's Your Story? Helping kids become storytellers<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Reading books with kids</i> is a good idea for so many reasons. Years of research show that reading aloud with kids daily is one of the most important activities that contributes to their reading success. <i>Listening to books</i> read aloud motivates kids and gives them models for fluency, boosts their comprehension, builds their vocabulary and background knowledge, and gives them the opportunity to wonder, ponder, and question ideas they might otherwise never encounter. <i>But what about telling stories from life -- yours or theirs, past or present?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone has stories to share. It is important to help kids tell their own stories and to encourage parents to share their own family stories with their children. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hearing and telling stories about their family helps kids learn from the experiences of those closest to them and helps them better understand who they are and where they come from. These are the stories that kids will hold onto for a lifetime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But kids often don’t know where to start when telling a story. Whether you are at a Read-Aloud or with kids in your own life, you can help them when you offer the following:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVm7M8qrhh4oBLc_-xCML3YJSYojAAEqq2LrTdhjs0GZ0rePgtK6xajaMb8h1wB2OhW5cy1oOlgL_qS9el6tp9Q7Wo5ZAMKRJBZVMMQnks9fsHI2Dd90yaWe4GojAMCNrN9xFiIipdk1s/s1600/first+grade+jitters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVm7M8qrhh4oBLc_-xCML3YJSYojAAEqq2LrTdhjs0GZ0rePgtK6xajaMb8h1wB2OhW5cy1oOlgL_qS9el6tp9Q7Wo5ZAMKRJBZVMMQnks9fsHI2Dd90yaWe4GojAMCNrN9xFiIipdk1s/s200/first+grade+jitters.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOKuTtJSD_YqWiB1ob3ue6D7g-EGLuGbdu_7SZcA7ABzFeMvNXTcpIYiYKVGDTlLR8au7Dyngg7z494tR39kbUX_Cb8ygCJvwlRFFx5u1TSCdThRRUUBVxaz8LTN144t7RTblKgZrfPKM/s1600/allysaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOKuTtJSD_YqWiB1ob3ue6D7g-EGLuGbdu_7SZcA7ABzFeMvNXTcpIYiYKVGDTlLR8au7Dyngg7z494tR39kbUX_Cb8ygCJvwlRFFx5u1TSCdThRRUUBVxaz8LTN144t7RTblKgZrfPKM/s200/allysaurus.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Share your own stories.</b> Start with a book that has a theme everyone can relate to, such as <i>Ally-saurus and the First Day of Schoo</i>l by Richard Torrey or <i>First Grade Jitters</i> by Robert Quackenbush. Then tell a tale from your own back-to-school experiences. Get kids to help you compare your experience with the characters in the book, and then invite kids to share their own school stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Using objects to start kids on the road to storytelling. </b><a href="https://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=899" target="_blank">Choice Literacy has great ideas about kids using important objects to inspire personal narrative stories</a>. Having something concrete to explain and describe creates purpose and direction for creating a story. If a kid struggles to get past the simple description of his object, ask him to talk about how he got it, who he was with and how he felt , in order to get him going.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj-oIpyuiqVQ6tB_b4vghN3sKsBUz0R68STEsr9uRJttYI-lIPfe_CI4F46yMbNcknw78YzF_TOBwBCfCMRIHTMX3JvPZHWaKYQzn9_HMiKOhC5X4s1cDK_ckSZ20qYJxk5ttWWbF0hX5/s1600/storybagobjects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj-oIpyuiqVQ6tB_b4vghN3sKsBUz0R68STEsr9uRJttYI-lIPfe_CI4F46yMbNcknw78YzF_TOBwBCfCMRIHTMX3JvPZHWaKYQzn9_HMiKOhC5X4s1cDK_ckSZ20qYJxk5ttWWbF0hX5/s200/storybagobjects.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One way to provide three-dimensional objects for the kids is to bring in a storytelling sack. To make a storytelling sack, get a fabric drawstring bag or a pillowcase. Fill the sack with small, interesting items — toy animals, LEGO figures, toy tools, craft items and other random objects. To start the storytelling, unpack the sack! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each person takes a turn removing one object at a time. The first person uses the object to start a story. As each kid removes an object, she uses it as her prompt to add to the story. Practicing making up and telling stories about random objects allows kids to develop their skills. You can also encourage kids to make their own sacks filled with personal items and then take turns telling stories that use some or all of the items in their sacks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we hear each other’s stories, we can't help but care about each other. Show kids you care! Make time for conversations in which you show real interest in what kids are saying and ask substantive questions that lead to kids to share their stories and experiences. Talk about yourself and help them feel safe to share their own stories, happy or sad. The stories they have for you are a gift just waiting to be heard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">Guest blog post by </span><span style="color: #43336e;"><a href="http://www.belleofthebook.com/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belle of the Book</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">, Rachael Walker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
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The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-51056429278970723582016-08-08T10:30:00.000-04:002016-08-08T10:30:00.836-04:00Parental Engagement in TRC Programs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAB4E70h602GdlFaLtak2uVTs6Miyw0F0_OhX2GusTseTAssTD5OO45M3mGr5TAMSqAyg71AJowXQuNCTRP-vOWF5q0UFfg3L-mk1A2Ylz04xVfRM5QIYiXLXHBlvFImzxI-MgflA7sEJ/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAB4E70h602GdlFaLtak2uVTs6Miyw0F0_OhX2GusTseTAssTD5OO45M3mGr5TAMSqAyg71AJowXQuNCTRP-vOWF5q0UFfg3L-mk1A2Ylz04xVfRM5QIYiXLXHBlvFImzxI-MgflA7sEJ/s320/DSC_0160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recently, The Reading Connection (TRC) had the opportunity to work with graduate students in a research methods class at Marymount University (Arlington, Va.) on a project to identify ways to strengthen our efforts to involve the parents of kids who participate in our programs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What are we doing now? Currently, three of our programs help parents support their child's literacy development.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHak9ye64JsL1X5CE22XsmojoW_cFAaiNYQhRDZk9ENmYFBpabGrW-ToaRDiIUWn3ha8CXvrOoKo4Ot08h9PQOOtGZqGdQiiiuI0pZbRj1127bcvu-df35P2dzk6qb8XmTWxSM37GhhwLD/s1600/kid+choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHak9ye64JsL1X5CE22XsmojoW_cFAaiNYQhRDZk9ENmYFBpabGrW-ToaRDiIUWn3ha8CXvrOoKo4Ot08h9PQOOtGZqGdQiiiuI0pZbRj1127bcvu-df35P2dzk6qb8XmTWxSM37GhhwLD/s1600/kid+choice.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our <b>Read-Aloud program,</b> conducted for kids ages four and up, is provided by volunteers who visit housing sites weekly to read aloud with kids, talk, conduct activities and help kids choose a new book to keep. Parents are welcome to attend with their child, but more often, kids come on their own and take a new book home with them. By providing books for kids to read at home, TRC helps parents create a home environment that supports reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the <b>Book Club</b>, parents help their children choose books each month and receive tips on how to share those books with their kids when the books arrive in their monthly package. In addition, parents receive quarterly information about child and literacy development and information about available resources. The Book Club is targeted at families with children ages newborn to 5 years but serves families with kids of all ages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TRC's <b>Reading Families Playgroups and Workshops</b> work directly with the parents of Read-Aloud and Book Club children on literacy development. Each playgroup or workshop includes exploration of several children's books, modeling of effective book-sharing strategies, discussion and the opportunity for parents to choose free books for their children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Marymount students found much in the literature that validates TRC's programming, while also revealing some areas where our programs could be enhanced. Here are some of the highlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">TRC programs support parent engagement</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The research review showed areas of parental engagement that positively affect scholastic achievement, which TRC programs encourage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Home-based involvement</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Studies found a positive correlation between home-based parental involvement and grades and attitude toward education as well as decreased behavioral issues. Home-based involvement was also found to be the most widely used form of scholastic engagement among African American families (<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wang & Sheikh-Khali, 2014 and Ganotice & King, 2014).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l2CWHRl_HG2s6HEJPtRTomkn4_cD3MNlzKwRv6SVMtrMAB0BV8B7qH6NpDp-pO5lqE7rp0N0SG6tJhbqtGIm2Him5bHKUF5tgP4iY0aFdKqTLuANwaYWf3VfCRxuB64VGl_GrngclVma/s1600/dad+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l2CWHRl_HG2s6HEJPtRTomkn4_cD3MNlzKwRv6SVMtrMAB0BV8B7qH6NpDp-pO5lqE7rp0N0SG6tJhbqtGIm2Him5bHKUF5tgP4iY0aFdKqTLuANwaYWf3VfCRxuB64VGl_GrngclVma/s320/dad+reading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TRC programs support home-based involvement by providing age-appropriate children's books to be read at home and by teaching parents about literacy development and book-sharing strategies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Academic socialization</b> refers to parents talking with kids about school work and the importance of education as well as supporting educational goals. This type of engagement had the strongest positive relationship with academic success among adolescents. However, children of all ages benefit from this kind of parental engagement <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Wang & Sheikh-Khali, 2014; Reece, Staudt, & Ogle,</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />2013; Ganotice & King, 2014).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-20aUUPiXvbLx13T6vrih3LT7Hy-YZ-Bvi9tSwGtQ7HBaLHVVbf4PtxJAISczJn3w9ZzifBzyc0ed1EcLsObvQCLLhYzkeUPhUMtkkO1e8z2E_9skOiVRDvpbhzuMmNYi4Whr0BWdKNu/s1600/WAR+bookmark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-20aUUPiXvbLx13T6vrih3LT7Hy-YZ-Bvi9tSwGtQ7HBaLHVVbf4PtxJAISczJn3w9ZzifBzyc0ed1EcLsObvQCLLhYzkeUPhUMtkkO1e8z2E_9skOiVRDvpbhzuMmNYi4Whr0BWdKNu/s320/WAR+bookmark.jpg" width="163" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TRC’s programs (described above) help parents understand literacy development and create supportive home reading environments, which includes the crucial importance of conversation between parent and child. We encourage this conversation through the tips provided with each book from the Book Club and by providing bookmarks each week for the kids to take home from the Read-Aloud program. With a little information about the Read-Aloud theme and prompts for parents, we hope this bookmark, provided in Spanish and English, will help parents talk with their kids about their experience at the Read-Aloud and support their learning and curiosity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In reviewing the literature, the student researchers also found a Parent Reading Belief Inventory. This inventory demonstrated that parents’ beliefs were significantly associated with the reading practices between parent and child, along with the child’s attitude towards the book.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgg0l2jlcBdXOG82tS4M6CWV7Y9gVskUPHTgzPf3iPYTJEwO-1A8uVfBc0pltHfmtYCvEMkV9Sxo8pJ_XJYkqQRifMdUriFZbD6yczxlMS33ZzBijlaXG-yt0BhmABATx-y3KBh2zvTlv/s1600/mom+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgg0l2jlcBdXOG82tS4M6CWV7Y9gVskUPHTgzPf3iPYTJEwO-1A8uVfBc0pltHfmtYCvEMkV9Sxo8pJ_XJYkqQRifMdUriFZbD6yczxlMS33ZzBijlaXG-yt0BhmABATx-y3KBh2zvTlv/s320/mom+reading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When socio-economic status is held constant, parental beliefs were significantly related to reading practices and child’s attitude and motivation <span style="font-size: x-small;">(DeBaryshe & Binder, 1994)</span>. The higher scoring parents (those with more positive beliefs about reading) read to their children more frequently, had more books, had higher quality interactions and discussions with the child that stimulate language skills, and had a higher reported interest in books by their children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For TRC, this means when we can influence a parent’s beliefs about reading, we can make an impact. Reading Families Workshops and Playgroups are designed to foster parents’ positive attitudes and beliefs about reading in addition to teaching skills and providing resources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where socio-economic status does matter is in parents’ access to resources to promote literacy and in their teaching style with their kids <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Lam, Chow-Yeung, Wong, Lau, & Tse, 2013; Vandermaas-Peeler et al., 2009).</span> TRC's programs target at-risk families to provide free, high quality books and teach effective teaching strategies to parents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Barriers to participation </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The literature about parental engagement also identified several factors that prevent some families from fully engaging in school or community programs, including schedule conflicts, child care responsibilities, working or going to school, and lack of energy in parents <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Lamb-Parker et al., 2001).</span> It also identified income as affecting the various resources and opportunities available to families. Libraries were not frequently used for a variety of reasons <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sonnenschein and Schmidt, 2000).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By bringing our services to families where they live, TRC's programs remove some of these logistical barriers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While the Marymount literature review found research supporting TRC’s programming, it also identified areas where we can adjust our curriculum and programming with intensified focus on enhancing parental engagement. These areas include, but are not limited to,</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">•</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Renewed effort to encourage libra</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ry use,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strengthening parents’ understanding of literacy development to enable them to more effectively advocate for their children at school,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Explicitly encouraging conversation and shared reading activities by providing prompts and teaching an increasing variety of book-sharing techniques.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As TRC continues to grow, adding Read-Aloud and Book Club partners in the Washington, DC metro area, we also will continue to deepen and enhance our programs to better serve developing readers and their families.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a bibliography of studies cited in this post, <a href="http://files.ctctcdn.com/b625f869001/5aab725e-8e0a-4587-9ad4-2017d90e0b33.pdf?ver=1470247919000" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span><br />
<br />The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-70081121988169650082016-07-25T09:59:00.003-04:002016-07-25T09:59:45.605-04:00Have a ball reading!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMpBaRh95nXnuWPSTa7p4iJI6lqDEkCmY3lNJdgG-6zOImnPMlxmKIqNI0IG-KwxkBfrlmMuldwY_qmSbvKQ0mnLnUY-1d0SIw2OicSEKk636bsFAM1wNbWQKefcEU5a_hGIZh927Nnxx/s1600/beach+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMpBaRh95nXnuWPSTa7p4iJI6lqDEkCmY3lNJdgG-6zOImnPMlxmKIqNI0IG-KwxkBfrlmMuldwY_qmSbvKQ0mnLnUY-1d0SIw2OicSEKk636bsFAM1wNbWQKefcEU5a_hGIZh927Nnxx/s400/beach+balls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2016/07/read-aloud-report-be-yourself.html" target="_blank">last blog post</a> featured a Read-Aloud about being yourself. For the activity, kids and volunteers took turns answering questions about themselves based on questions from a paper cube they rolled like a die.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxVKIQn13CxdaWtUD0PnVJHzjS3Sa4bo4UNlxxsIPzj9CFIdwk7UVVqJu1uU7UpXhJRKC8P7m936ukFF-fHbgGpu_aAuN_SvvHS3fKIHHY35U9uY5bqlAnifptqg8Ymu4lLT1vLEvrJKx/s1600/i+like+me+cube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxVKIQn13CxdaWtUD0PnVJHzjS3Sa4bo4UNlxxsIPzj9CFIdwk7UVVqJu1uU7UpXhJRKC8P7m936ukFF-fHbgGpu_aAuN_SvvHS3fKIHHY35U9uY5bqlAnifptqg8Ymu4lLT1vLEvrJKx/s320/i+like+me+cube.jpg" width="299" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Volunteers found the cube with questions <a href="http://www.kiddiematters.com/self-esteem-building-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank">online</a>. They discovered that having the cube to roll to prompt kids to answer questions was a great tool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You don't need a theme-specific prop to use this idea at your Read-Aloud. You can get the kids talking with each other and moving at the same time by using a beach ball to prompt questions. You can use it at any point or at several points during your Read-Aloud. For example:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the kids standing or sitting in a circle, toss a beach ball around to each kid and have them answer a question about themselves or about the Read-Aloud.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before, ask a theme-related question to start the Read-Aloud and get the kids thinking about what they already know about the theme.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What lives in the ocean?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What is your favorite food?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During, ask questions while you are reading:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What will happen next?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree or disagree with the character's choice?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does this remind you of another book you've read?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After, ask questions about books the books you've read:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What was your favorite character?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you could change the ending, what would happen?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why did a character make a certain choice?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What did you like or dislike about this story?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can also use the beach ball to get the kids to:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Answer questions about themselves (likes, dislikes, etc.);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Think up rhymes with words you provide;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Name things in categories related to your theme like nocturnal animals or feelings;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Name something they learned during the Read-Aloud.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can use any kind of ball to do this, even a tennis ball, but a beach ball is easy to catch and store and isn't likely to break anything if it gets away from the group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can just ask one question at a time and throw the ball around, with each child or volunteer answering as he or she catches it, or you can use a dry-erase marker to write specific questions on your beach ball. The person catching the ball would answer the question his right thumb is on when he or she catches it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcpiW_HT6FWB4Nk6WtvVXFt7mj854f8pZVg8WbA2j9-eX8y0VRJoJ4owraSjL4ZDIc3Iw8V0086hnw5iuLdNeTe3ejQS5huW0DJSE6YQi3ry7uPSH-tEAt-jyHuHrezFgZE4oc1wc5mBo/s1600/beach+ball+questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcpiW_HT6FWB4Nk6WtvVXFt7mj854f8pZVg8WbA2j9-eX8y0VRJoJ4owraSjL4ZDIc3Iw8V0086hnw5iuLdNeTe3ejQS5huW0DJSE6YQi3ry7uPSH-tEAt-jyHuHrezFgZE4oc1wc5mBo/s1600/beach+ball+questions.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to being a way to encourage and organize conversation at your Read-Aloud, using a ball has the added benefit of integrating physical activity into the reading experience. So have a ball at your Read-Aloud and get some conversation rolling!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-14844081740577703912016-07-11T07:30:00.000-04:002016-08-02T16:39:40.073-04:00Read-Aloud Report: Encouraging Kids to Be Themselves<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Volunteers on Team B at New Hope Housing recently put together a captivating Read-Aloud session with the theme “Be Yourself.” It was a follow-up to a Read-Aloud presented the previous month on the theme “Positive Self-Esteem/Self Love.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inspiration for some of the book choices came from <a href="https://pernillesripp.com/2015/10/03/great-picture-books-to-teach-theme/" target="_blank">this </a></span><a href="https://pernillesripp.com/2015/10/03/great-picture-books-to-teach-theme/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">site</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCOenG_KhFWAN7wbMpcQbqs3saoY2fa8Eii3aNtADsqFDdTmq9aVhPey2DXau9lqsPO1uus9ZtSfXKgv07i84-4gy7ZEBtx8Kx_y_EKT4na3UJlvnDPc7ZCXtsWduNlZcyw4QkVyEAKy3/s1600/gaston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCOenG_KhFWAN7wbMpcQbqs3saoY2fa8Eii3aNtADsqFDdTmq9aVhPey2DXau9lqsPO1uus9ZtSfXKgv07i84-4gy7ZEBtx8Kx_y_EKT4na3UJlvnDPc7ZCXtsWduNlZcyw4QkVyEAKy3/s200/gaston.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We began the session by reading the book <i>Gaston</i> by Kelly DiPucchio. This humorous book features two dog families, a family of poodles with one boxer sibling and a family of boxers with one poodle member. The kids enjoyed the characters and the message that your family loves you just the way you are. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6D6xpqK674buYQ0xEr52UcuYVmyyhet2uXv_Nv-dmuUmZJzRDiZtzf3dUxqfZ2qCcNDVi5zEEbqXckkcCS-ewpyGncT3skVDCgXcOV-rLM6HxsTQMXI8UbCheGxgrooSkZtAWMjK5cSD/s1600/Mr.+tiger+goes+wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6D6xpqK674buYQ0xEr52UcuYVmyyhet2uXv_Nv-dmuUmZJzRDiZtzf3dUxqfZ2qCcNDVi5zEEbqXckkcCS-ewpyGncT3skVDCgXcOV-rLM6HxsTQMXI8UbCheGxgrooSkZtAWMjK5cSD/s200/Mr.+tiger+goes+wild.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next, we read <i>Mr. Tiger Goes Wild</i> by Peter Brown. In this story, a tiger is tired of being “proper” in the city, wearing clothes and a top hat. He becomes a troublemaker when he tries to loosen up. He gets dismissed from the city into the wilderness, where he can let go and be himself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2fkxw3ud4UqKDuX8jRcqfAnVbyCjLp2tE3Fn_IJGRykYlEct2xBbpCueIrckPaHgogv8-xmy_6Uhae4VqYmateDEYfOkheSYHMTjiiK1iilLhmTyDV12BOaTkD-CJabWLTCRhtAWaQRV/s1600/wild+about+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2fkxw3ud4UqKDuX8jRcqfAnVbyCjLp2tE3Fn_IJGRykYlEct2xBbpCueIrckPaHgogv8-xmy_6Uhae4VqYmateDEYfOkheSYHMTjiiK1iilLhmTyDV12BOaTkD-CJabWLTCRhtAWaQRV/s200/wild+about+us.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The colorful book, <i>Wild About Us </i>by Karen Beaumont, came next. This book is beautifully illustrated by Janet Stevens, and depicts all the warty differences of animals in the zoo. A <i>Kirkus</i> review said that “ultimately the animals conclude that they are glad for their differences. After all, wouldn’t it be a shame if everyone at the zoo — or people, too — looked exactly alike?” </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was also fun to look for the hidden fly in each illustration of this book. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwYgx1gv68MfGRwLEgn28LmH0jqXE0wKHbUiDBPpifT11ST-XpuWVp06go9JU41i8e69gThp4882xf5x6BrkXD-TId5hyphenhyphenUJCHz7C-gCBOVJTIlFsIZu7vzh6qMhS_393NHo_R_NTAOl3v/s1600/red+a+crayons+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwYgx1gv68MfGRwLEgn28LmH0jqXE0wKHbUiDBPpifT11ST-XpuWVp06go9JU41i8e69gThp4882xf5x6BrkXD-TId5hyphenhyphenUJCHz7C-gCBOVJTIlFsIZu7vzh6qMhS_393NHo_R_NTAOl3v/s200/red+a+crayons+story.jpg" width="144" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally, we read <i>Red: a Crayon's Story</i> by Michael Hall. This story is told by a pencil about his friend, the crayon, who had a red label but was actually blue. The story is, of course, about being true to yourself in spite of the obstacles. As with the other books, the kids had a great conversation. They wondered why no one noticed the mislabel sooner. They showed empathy for Red and were happy when someone finally saw him for who he was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other books about being yourself can be found <a href="http://alldonemonkey.com/2015/06/08/childrens-books-about-being-yourself/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0WolsflsnVZq7GuMH0nHX3xXR7ffW8dRSr3OMKN4N6_SZdMgGNAB6Hym8bin1ObGjHNsNO4A9RaiIhjIFQ0dSnYn4BqSf3JRen2ws97ur7n_fMCWMLQ39AZD2Xqd_z6FZO5HiW3CDMF-/s1600/i+like+me+cube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0WolsflsnVZq7GuMH0nHX3xXR7ffW8dRSr3OMKN4N6_SZdMgGNAB6Hym8bin1ObGjHNsNO4A9RaiIhjIFQ0dSnYn4BqSf3JRen2ws97ur7n_fMCWMLQ39AZD2Xqd_z6FZO5HiW3CDMF-/s200/i+like+me+cube.jpg" width="186" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kiddiematters.com/self-esteem-building-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank">Our activity</a> allowed the kids and volunteers to learn about each other. We brought in a giant paper cube and all of us, adults included, rolled the cube and answered the prompts on the cube (such as “I am good at…", "Three words that describe me are…", and "I am great because…”). </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This activity captured everyone’s attention. The kids were great listeners while everyone took turns sharing their responses.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER8pZ7PQBRnse54ff_ge5Z9L9ytvVvYtZrDzwsp2539BJ5zlsVl1t2a7pEV9IrZwNnHOk2pe2CunzzmYi1wiFlB4PKlbjSlL1cVtpe0HbcAmDK4K3zq0fmaaZ0bDWa391gvWEY3k0IhUo/s1600/i+love+myself+worksheet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER8pZ7PQBRnse54ff_ge5Z9L9ytvVvYtZrDzwsp2539BJ5zlsVl1t2a7pEV9IrZwNnHOk2pe2CunzzmYi1wiFlB4PKlbjSlL1cVtpe0HbcAmDK4K3zq0fmaaZ0bDWa391gvWEY3k0IhUo/s200/i+love+myself+worksheet.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this activity, the adults served as models for the kids. We were also able to provide positive suggestions for the kids to use, based on our observations during the session or what we already knew about the kids. For example, we were able to supply such suggestions as “You are a good listener." "You are good at predicting." "You are helpful because…” As we answered the questions, we colored in a heart on the worksheet with the corresponding number from the giant cube. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we progressed through the questions, the kids began to come up with answers that told us a little more about each of them. The boys shared examples of their athleticism. One child helped her brother when he was at a loss for words on what made him special. She said he was funny and caring. Other kids said that they helped their friends and were kind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before the kids left, the volunteers slipped an award over each kid's head. The award was made of a box of Cracker Jacks with a ribbon around it and a colorful “I am SPECIAL” label attached. This was a great hit!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone enjoyed this evening! We feel it was valuable for the conversations we had as well as providing an opportunity to honor the individuality in all of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Guest blog post written by Patsy Quick, a volunteer on Team B at New Hope Housing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-35744446396532854802016-06-20T11:18:00.001-04:002016-06-20T11:18:31.877-04:00Reading and Brain Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcar06nVyd8eKlhLdf08G072qe_XD_h3UOk6eHfPKWc3usLyYtjzOKDOptdASYBo83TOsLRqLBuDZhYOSgAYDhxafEL6C-1M8YQLqn9UnZ1OqJB4pFHtzo2lBb-WuTU1jj47QqhRZRlpAA/s1600/reading+brain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcar06nVyd8eKlhLdf08G072qe_XD_h3UOk6eHfPKWc3usLyYtjzOKDOptdASYBo83TOsLRqLBuDZhYOSgAYDhxafEL6C-1M8YQLqn9UnZ1OqJB4pFHtzo2lBb-WuTU1jj47QqhRZRlpAA/s400/reading+brain.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have you ever wondered what is going on inside children's heads when they are reading? Or when they are learning to read? Jennifer Gray, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at Marymount University, discussed reading and brain development at the most recent TRC volunteer seminar on May 18. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many parts of the brain are involved in reading, requiring rapid-fire coordination of centers involving speech, hearing, vision, language, concentration, motor control, facial recognition and coordination. This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kB7GgLlR7M" target="_blank">video</a> illustrates how the brain works to create the miracle of reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How does the human brain development affect reading ability? Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child has identified three core concepts in brain development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Experiences build brain architecture.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The experience of reading and being read to builds and strengthens synapses and creates connections across different parts of the brain. L</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ife experiences also build those connections</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. When we include hands-on activities at a Read-Aloud to build enthusiasm and background knowledge, we're also building brains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Video #1 from the <a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/" target="_blank">Center on the Developing Child</a> at Harvard University explains how life experiences stimulate brain development, allowing different parts of the brain to communicate more easily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At our training, Dr. Gray suggested the following hands-on activities to provide book-related experiences: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Book Boxes </b>containing items related to the story. Show them <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDz1dfST9jen-bwt_1hiQNNF-gHFJ-6Rb57jILmqfyTp95QWoXcbXqIuDFIGx0XgeqaG8ogZzEg9Cam4ISfZ-DL_CNUs9RsoLN97xjiuUB_T9MOLvajoukk_8oi79TOiH_5W_h1c5ev0/s1600/book+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDz1dfST9jen-bwt_1hiQNNF-gHFJ-6Rb57jILmqfyTp95QWoXcbXqIuDFIGx0XgeqaG8ogZzEg9Cam4ISfZ-DL_CNUs9RsoLN97xjiuUB_T9MOLvajoukk_8oi79TOiH_5W_h1c5ev0/s200/book+box.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A book box for <i>Zin! Zin!</i><br />
<i>Zin! A Violin </i>contains items<br />
related to playing a<br />
violin like a violin string,<br />
rosin and sheet music.</td></tr>
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one by one to help the kids guess what the story is about.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Sensory bins, buckets or bags</b> contain items related to a story. Let the kids touch these items, in covered containers so they can't see them, and guess what they are and how they relate to the story.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Scent bottles</b> engage the sense of smell. Place items with strong fragrances in a closed bottle. Let kids smell the open bottle and guess what the smell is and how it relates to the story.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/search?q=finger+plays" target="_blank">Finger plays</a></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Manipulatives </b>are anything related to the story that a child can hold. If you are reading a book about cooking, give the kids spoons, measuring cups and whisks to hold.<b> </b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Physically acting out concepts in a story</b></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXtu5kjsci9rmsMplNbfz_C5b5AKq67DqzJSwJZ_rJ39ZOvM6XONBmeWP99ve1xLRAbYR2DbO6MTnas9ugqsBWFgO44VhUBw35yh7bVehr825Z_nBNef5-sCybOsnAgqYiw27_o-Ge6tq/s1600/oobleck.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXtu5kjsci9rmsMplNbfz_C5b5AKq67DqzJSwJZ_rJ39ZOvM6XONBmeWP99ve1xLRAbYR2DbO6MTnas9ugqsBWFgO44VhUBw35yh7bVehr825Z_nBNef5-sCybOsnAgqYiw27_o-Ge6tq/s1600/oobleck.png" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEHU7J9ooUHWDM5g-mD5GEtJuqEr6MwRUotZmPOOv-rN76H3CiGwUnGR3NgNUnT8a5F-K1qkavNLdCVdgwoTHLnljiIoDHJW3iCZ1stsHeX91awC1mva66Xf_oeu0TGq3WtcgZdUi5jG7/s1600/tent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEHU7J9ooUHWDM5g-mD5GEtJuqEr6MwRUotZmPOOv-rN76H3CiGwUnGR3NgNUnT8a5F-K1qkavNLdCVdgwoTHLnljiIoDHJW3iCZ1stsHeX91awC1mva66Xf_oeu0TGq3WtcgZdUi5jG7/s200/tent.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hands-on activities work well at Read-Alouds because they can be completed quickly, they are aimed at developing conceptual knowledge, and they provide kids with the chance to use new vocabulary and to talk with the other kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Serve-and-return" shapes brain circuitry. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The brain develops through interaction. When a baby coos and a caregiver smiles and answers the baby, the baby's brain circuitry is strengthened. When you ask a child a question, listen to his answer and respond, you are strengthening connections in his brain. <a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/" target="_blank">Video #2</a> on the Center on the Developing Child website explains how this process works for literacy development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr. Gray suggested the following "serve-and-return" activities to support healthy reading brain development:</span><br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimUJzzpoFLyFju3iZStOdobOpJ4bFOAeQaGy0_oCXqdJ1Y5W9DRFLbNqmdigE8b6-y87aZL3EUW-IjxaaS-CnWg40809FWB3qk4Pj-1YGSSeZg33PqvQPAgrPaN_AiJFxcxTLPd24wEej/s1600/click+clack+moo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimUJzzpoFLyFju3iZStOdobOpJ4bFOAeQaGy0_oCXqdJ1Y5W9DRFLbNqmdigE8b6-y87aZL3EUW-IjxaaS-CnWg40809FWB3qk4Pj-1YGSSeZg33PqvQPAgrPaN_AiJFxcxTLPd24wEej/s200/click+clack+moo.jpg" width="168" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Model making predictions before and during reading and encourage kids to do so.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choose texts that employ "call-and-response" or other features that encourage participation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ask questions before, during and after reading and give kids opportunities to “turn and talk” with peers. Allow kids to BOTH ask and answer questions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Encourage the kids to use props, manipulatives and physical responses like clapping or snapping during reading.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Toxic stress derails healthy brain development.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a child experiences prolonged exposure to unrelenting stress, such as extreme poverty or neglect, her body's stress management system becomes overtaxed. Without relief, eventually her body will remain in a state of high alert, even when no threat is apparent. This constant flood of adrenaline and other hormones can weaken the architecture of the developing brain, affecting learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. </span><a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Video #3</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> shows how toxic stress affects the brain.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA56Q_NUDVhSOTjyFFr8olRYgFBtsSNT6JOHG6fdvOIfgbBrz4VlGMNrltzk1E8g6-_2lQCZvRtlCiDPtF99P1hbHiSc2dwfDrqnxk3ZBxkLvX-Tsh2xXW0oRpZkiQBy8FvR1Hx8XYFSt/s1600/toxic+stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA56Q_NUDVhSOTjyFFr8olRYgFBtsSNT6JOHG6fdvOIfgbBrz4VlGMNrltzk1E8g6-_2lQCZvRtlCiDPtF99P1hbHiSc2dwfDrqnxk3ZBxkLvX-Tsh2xXW0oRpZkiQBy8FvR1Hx8XYFSt/s320/toxic+stress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the areas of development significantly affected by toxic stress is executive function -- a child's ability to regulate his responses to situations and behavior and to make decisions. This <a href="http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-executive-function-skills-for-life-and-learning/" target="_blank">video</a> explores executive function in kids. Kids whose executive function has been affected by toxic stress may demonstrate problems with a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cting out, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">impulse control or following directions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When working with at-risk kids, it is useful to remember that their behavior may reflect the impact of toxic stress on their brain and executive function development. To compensate, you can include lots of opportunities for physical engagement, be consistent and give simple one- or two-step directions. These will help support their ability to participate fully in the Read-Aloud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The experiences and conversations kids have shape their brains and directly affect their reading development. By choosing to include hands-on experiences and conversation in your Read-Aloud, you are building kids' brains and positive associations with books and reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span></div>
The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-21971497685898953852016-06-06T13:02:00.000-04:002016-06-06T13:02:54.767-04:00Reading aloud: Take it outside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BxQCzmDeSj-E3PfhlOL9vAJfxqe7x4ViA6Qj6G4F4pwmwPEecrgfk4Cq5INEuweJmZPIXVzqk6IG7m7fxAD_ZYqC_MtgpWoK2MoGGWFqWomOvhHsYmwokcfjXf8GVrCIDHDOxKwcuU0S/s1600/kids+summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BxQCzmDeSj-E3PfhlOL9vAJfxqe7x4ViA6Qj6G4F4pwmwPEecrgfk4Cq5INEuweJmZPIXVzqk6IG7m7fxAD_ZYqC_MtgpWoK2MoGGWFqWomOvhHsYmwokcfjXf8GVrCIDHDOxKwcuU0S/s320/kids+summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With summer days on their way and the anticipation of beautiful weather, kids should be clamoring to spend time outdoors. Yet kids spend less time outside each day than inmates in maximum security prisons. Prisoners get 2 hours of outdoor time, whereas a <a href="http://www.dirtisgood.com/uk/truth-about-dirt.html" target="_blank">recent survey</a> of 12,000 parents who have children aged five to 12, found that one-third of kids spend fewer than 30 minutes outside each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The list of benefits for kids who spend time playing outdoors is impressive. Playing outside</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strengthens the immune system</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Provides opportunities to practice solving problems</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Builds language skills and vocabulary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Teaches respect and empathy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Contributes to fitness, overall health and fewer behavioral problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What can you do to get kids outside? Fortunately, the book is an enticing portable technology that can go almost anywhere! Here's a selection of titles and ideas that will help you take reading outside.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXFC22aYMeJNLmZLnckhsTy7CUxMOlVDU3UDP4wOF2XVTYvi46g6JKpl3zi7SHquzmM3A4xOiRTJ-5N5A6rAJNPHkSvy2sTTb13zDgYRftXGtJSq6BX36sZfpMtfBdZzhf8KQYSX7zbCe/s1600/bear+hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXFC22aYMeJNLmZLnckhsTy7CUxMOlVDU3UDP4wOF2XVTYvi46g6JKpl3zi7SHquzmM3A4xOiRTJ-5N5A6rAJNPHkSvy2sTTb13zDgYRftXGtJSq6BX36sZfpMtfBdZzhf8KQYSX7zbCe/s200/bear+hunt.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Go on a bear hunt</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take advantage of the beautifully illustrated call-and-response title <i>We’re Going on a Bear Hunt </i>by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and get physical outside as kids search for a bear in the great outdoors. No cave in sight? Have them use their imagination to “discover” grass, a river, mud, a cave, etc. on their adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have a wild rumpus</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV2MhBrrCbhYkmIH0hJF7ochnzQSruFFkuUdWHZMRP-v6ki8TQJ3oQwwmYPrk3idSJ5dPD0vF2yE-5K26p8lR-IoLJkl-Oedp1gej18gU3bwkFnFzFfgVmwRv5AkgddLAuFERxMv8drg0/s1600/wild+things+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV2MhBrrCbhYkmIH0hJF7ochnzQSruFFkuUdWHZMRP-v6ki8TQJ3oQwwmYPrk3idSJ5dPD0vF2yE-5K26p8lR-IoLJkl-Oedp1gej18gU3bwkFnFzFfgVmwRv5AkgddLAuFERxMv8drg0/s200/wild+things+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Max cried, “Let the wild rumpus start!” he and the wild things begin dancing wildly. Take your wild things outside to read <i>Where the Wild Things Ar</i>e by Maurice Sendak and encourage kids to respond to the words and pictures with their own expressive movements. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8Bo2L4IQrPxim2RHxzJAY3eFFZlMjTQ0aeg8o1x7zLv2aKPiReGWlR8lOC36R2r2WlvrUqQ54rBslfrN4eacHC7YNzoR3TfvAzfKnsWEFWjomXfoN7Ig8GGEEW8OpdSVnZjDFObpFZ1B/s1600/AB+camping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8Bo2L4IQrPxim2RHxzJAY3eFFZlMjTQ0aeg8o1x7zLv2aKPiReGWlR8lOC36R2r2WlvrUqQ54rBslfrN4eacHC7YNzoR3TfvAzfKnsWEFWjomXfoN7Ig8GGEEW8OpdSVnZjDFObpFZ1B/s200/AB+camping.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pitch a tent with Amelia Bedelia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pitching a tent isn’t like pitching a baseball, but both are fun to do outside. Warm kids up with a few baseball tosses, read aloud <i>Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping</i> by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Lynn Sweat, and then pitch a tent together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kng7Uf2MZeAVc-57dAcCMYPURau64A__F-N_wK3nV7LZOPjvWrjYZNnzCAb-n_Wb77CyX990_YRkgaBRO_BHFD0JLlFQZ4B_kNFjiFN13y4Zbm0RnB28KZMiQAIczwj7381BXpaqR1bw/s1600/gumpy+outing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kng7Uf2MZeAVc-57dAcCMYPURau64A__F-N_wK3nV7LZOPjvWrjYZNnzCAb-n_Wb77CyX990_YRkgaBRO_BHFD0JLlFQZ4B_kNFjiFN13y4Zbm0RnB28KZMiQAIczwj7381BXpaqR1bw/s200/gumpy+outing.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Punt with Mr. Gumpy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Turn you outdoor setting into a riverbank and take a boat ride with Mr. Gumpy. Read aloud <i>Mr. Gumpy’s Outing</i> by John Burningham, then designate spots along your riverbank where the animals decide to hop on board. Reread the book with everyone taking a part to act out as the boat tips and everyone falls into the water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmQt8fAZNT7Eo89mqpJnWDtT3x6FQMbj_Vz9NK6dc0ly8_7u94t3Pv-BWmXeQ84UCsPWrUZFgCDX_HKPUfd2c31fPWaSj8MwyDIg7k5_Fb6U4pH40rQBGnGbV8ymPzzhrXMCBVvrDIbRK/s1600/play+outside+elephant+and+piggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmQt8fAZNT7Eo89mqpJnWDtT3x6FQMbj_Vz9NK6dc0ly8_7u94t3Pv-BWmXeQ84UCsPWrUZFgCDX_HKPUfd2c31fPWaSj8MwyDIg7k5_Fb6U4pH40rQBGnGbV8ymPzzhrXMCBVvrDIbRK/s200/play+outside+elephant+and+piggy.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Play outside with Elephant and Piggie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather keeps changing Elephant and Piggie’s plans to plan outside in <i>Are You Ready to Play Outside?</i> by Mo Willems. Read this title aloud outside then have kids act out how they would change their outdoor play with changes in the weather. Call out “Rain!” “Wind!” “Snow!” etc., and see what interesting pantomime kids come up with.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOteIzkyYsGEj10cdPw6eFPjRgLVrkica00_oWhuAsml8iOKEMRf9d2xkqujE5D8QvCkgyfmjfxgdiVfbsFpCJRzr7W9JhW2ssGN1tQPqCpdC-g-u2X2pyeiucLGP3LcBKE5hB7cLcJVPk/s1600/Sam-and-Dave-372x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOteIzkyYsGEj10cdPw6eFPjRgLVrkica00_oWhuAsml8iOKEMRf9d2xkqujE5D8QvCkgyfmjfxgdiVfbsFpCJRzr7W9JhW2ssGN1tQPqCpdC-g-u2X2pyeiucLGP3LcBKE5hB7cLcJVPk/s200/Sam-and-Dave-372x500.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dig a hole with Sam & Dave </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is something enormously satisfying about digging a hole. Read <i>Sam & Dave Dig a Hole</i> by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen, and pass out the shovels! If there’s no digging spot available to you (please check before digging anywhere), set up a digging station or two in wastebaskets or other large containers filled with sand or soil. You can even hide a few treasures so kids can discover something spectacular! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are, of course, also many excellent nonfiction titles to share about the great outdoors, but try first to build wonder and connection before filling in too many facts about nature. Story can do a lot to inspire kids to engage with the natural world — even your own personal stories about a hike you took, a bird’s next you found, or a wonderful wet walk in the warm rain can spark a connection and kids’ imagination. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhhd-uk9TGoCQ5-FnuEC8k4L4nvpmxC62JPDzARznPIVkRqoxo9pbRe84Db6NkFdqX8SJrpWerIK2wANxxRMvcilXDzftV0d8uTVUwoTlrfeQuxWCF7K2HlMLBqOkOU8BSsstkpO0Uloi/s1600/play-outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhhd-uk9TGoCQ5-FnuEC8k4L4nvpmxC62JPDzARznPIVkRqoxo9pbRe84Db6NkFdqX8SJrpWerIK2wANxxRMvcilXDzftV0d8uTVUwoTlrfeQuxWCF7K2HlMLBqOkOU8BSsstkpO0Uloi/s320/play-outside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But the best thing to do is to take kids outside to observe budding flowers, follow an ant’s trail or turn over rocks and let them find their own nature stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">Guest blog post by </span><span style="color: #43336e;"><a href="http://www.belleofthebook.com/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belle of the Book</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">, Rachael Walker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
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The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-85453911348204069912016-05-23T11:57:00.001-04:002016-05-23T11:57:57.590-04:00Author Profile: Jarrett Krosoczka<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meet Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author-superhero.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reading Connection is lucky to be on a first-name basis with this beloved author and illustrator. He was featured at Of Wine and Words in 2012 and, as a part of his visit, participated in a Read-Aloud. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAql3iIuuggSly4jTTHiyskq6UHNUczeUgLkrhtiyn4ReMeHTM9f2H6JWeYjKmrk2Xhp5vTKXKjUmRWuvQtFfeO3cejFNSGo7N_r6SkiXm9hY6xFqc608dKhmMtrdAwqGbCV_8wAauSsE/s1600/baghead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAql3iIuuggSly4jTTHiyskq6UHNUczeUgLkrhtiyn4ReMeHTM9f2H6JWeYjKmrk2Xhp5vTKXKjUmRWuvQtFfeO3cejFNSGo7N_r6SkiXm9hY6xFqc608dKhmMtrdAwqGbCV_8wAauSsE/s200/baghead.gif" width="153" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From his offbeat, hilarious picture books to his goofy chapter books, Krosoczka books are favorites at TRC. It's not just that his books are funny; his</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/jarrett_j_krosoczka_how_a_boy_became_an_artist" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">own personal story</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">of considerable hardship</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, his </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">characters and his books are meaningful and motivating to kids.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> From bed- or bath-time struggles and bad hair days to surviving the perils of student government, Jarrett's books reflect kids' experiences and foster resilience and creativity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Jarrett was a newly published author, a chance encounter with the lunch lady </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">from his own elementary school sparked the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, which feature a cafeteria worker who fights evil villains and serves up justice as well as nutritious meals. Tapping into a common childhood experience and spinning it with secret crime fighting, cool gadgets and a graphic-novel format resulted in a wildly popular series.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRKDmeFp2iGJF8KLBh5saRtiEymQwb_g6v81vsA6sEqzCfXBlSiIeyRmfF2lojb2KsMRXUU6wSAApDFSfNv0NPi7d7q-wKla_Uyzt7veH1CxWiXx3XB5iRDU_DEvwdC-bR7vKyPTABI7Z/s1600/LL_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRKDmeFp2iGJF8KLBh5saRtiEymQwb_g6v81vsA6sEqzCfXBlSiIeyRmfF2lojb2KsMRXUU6wSAApDFSfNv0NPi7d7q-wKla_Uyzt7veH1CxWiXx3XB5iRDU_DEvwdC-bR7vKyPTABI7Z/s320/LL_image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over time, the Lunch Lady series has grown beyond the books to include <a href="http://www.schoollunchheroday.com/" target="_blank">School Lunch Hero Day</a>, recognizing the crucial role nutritious food and dedicated cafeteria staff play in nourishing growing bodies and minds. This event, held on the first Friday in May, encourages kids to thank their lunch ladies (and gentlemen) in creative ways. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you, Jarrett, for your playful insight, your terrific books that really connect with kids, the fabulous and free resources you create to get kids excited about reading, and for your support of schools, libraries and organizations like The Reading Connection. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While the Lunch Lady series may be Jarrett's most well-known, many of his other <a href="http://www.studiojjk.com/picturebooks.html" target="_blank">books</a> are favorites with TRC kids, too. Here are a few of his titles. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7AMsQojRb9LxipnJlqdavqY8oFmpAVRibsQtn3u94l5GlgbdyUlBwP5E_ZAZzxeTlpJcdjBy8c5GxNw6s-NpXFnn0L9wscx1KWXz6mklkDTszqyJgxhL1BY0DVWUq-79xJD2Lzyqzi1K/s1600/punkfarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7AMsQojRb9LxipnJlqdavqY8oFmpAVRibsQtn3u94l5GlgbdyUlBwP5E_ZAZzxeTlpJcdjBy8c5GxNw6s-NpXFnn0L9wscx1KWXz6mklkDTszqyJgxhL1BY0DVWUq-79xJD2Lzyqzi1K/s200/punkfarm.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Punk Farm </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Punk Farm on Tour</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These titles, featuring five farm animals who like to rock, are crazy good fun for reading aloud. And for singing and dancing! <a href="http://www.punkfarm.com/song.html" target="_blank">Download free Punk Farm music</a> to hold a sing-along or dance party to familiar tunes with a twist, such as ”Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “The Wheels on the Van.” Be ready for plenty of encores!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Max for President</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j8DXymStR6oodPR1kXgmfAuhk7p4KDxTkcDGlEMo34chtdqcqir6Otf1ZcOwBT3yXxa3IpuAmFiiLSKjwdEi71zas2xn4VWivpS5F9pzRiuuWktViDya1QFkkt_kxgcfGL4z_o3MypXz/s1600/maxforpresident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j8DXymStR6oodPR1kXgmfAuhk7p4KDxTkcDGlEMo34chtdqcqir6Otf1ZcOwBT3yXxa3IpuAmFiiLSKjwdEi71zas2xn4VWivpS5F9pzRiuuWktViDya1QFkkt_kxgcfGL4z_o3MypXz/s200/maxforpresident.jpg" width="153" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With so much focus on elections these days, reading about Max’s experience running for class president is a great way for kids to learn a little about the process and gracious ways to deal with winning, losing and working together. You can also hold an election of your own and let kids vote on a favorite book or favorite book character. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl0aXuOcy-IDnKsP5DYk9nzXgSew0YvznVelHFDaYfT8Ui1dbfHXE_zwY7mRxZ4_PExom6272h-NKU23cr2wv70-Sh-7x0BpqLo6b8KLaVHICLzzZvs01lorR7Jzz0ACEm8n-CJQb_x_-/s1600/lose_balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl0aXuOcy-IDnKsP5DYk9nzXgSew0YvznVelHFDaYfT8Ui1dbfHXE_zwY7mRxZ4_PExom6272h-NKU23cr2wv70-Sh-7x0BpqLo6b8KLaVHICLzzZvs01lorR7Jzz0ACEm8n-CJQb_x_-/s200/lose_balloon.jpg" width="158" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>It's Tough to Lose Your Balloon</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This book is a series of vignettes that will give kids lots of ideas about how to turn everyday setbacks into opportunities. Your balloon disappears into the stratosphere, but . . . Grandma will smile when she sees it flying by her airplane window. Bad things can become good things if you change the way you look at them. The frustrating situations that are presented will resonate with all kids. After reading the first few vignettes aloud, see if kids can predict the silver linings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Lunch Lady </b>series</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA3YpFZExaKCHYT_OR8nFJTOo_dH8qpA9BPQrCrxq-Y0C30GEP-Qnlnb8LBRIi_y1ALT1Z3-PI6f1iwolDSj_ec3fA2yISDDFcXATIbwJaaEYCnKDxCptxK_YvJD0ZaIe9LTTpSPmWVhc/s1600/LL10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA3YpFZExaKCHYT_OR8nFJTOo_dH8qpA9BPQrCrxq-Y0C30GEP-Qnlnb8LBRIi_y1ALT1Z3-PI6f1iwolDSj_ec3fA2yISDDFcXATIbwJaaEYCnKDxCptxK_YvJD0ZaIe9LTTpSPmWVhc/s200/LL10.JPG" width="159" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are 10 titles in the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, beginning with <i>Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute</i>, whi</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ch introduces our hero, her sidekick Betty, and kids Hector, Terrence and Dee. When reading this or any graphic novel aloud, create different voices for the different characters, and change or lower your voice to read narration. As you read aloud, be sure to "read" the images as well as the words, commenting on the details, and give kids a chance to point out what they see. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Give kids a chance, too, to create their own Lunch Lady gadgets. </span><a href="http://lunchladycomics.homestead.com/bettysblueprints.pdf" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Betty’s blueprints</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> can help get them started!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not enough Jarrett for you? Try these resources.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.studiojjk.com/" target="_blank">Studio JJK</a>: Jarrett’s website is packed with activities, videos, music and more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thejjkblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The JJK Blog</a>: Jarrett’s blog is full of interesting info about his work, travels and life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Interviews: Jarrett gives great <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/krosoczka" target="_blank">interviews</a> and he conducts them too on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/studiojjk/sets/the-book-report-with-jjk-on" target="_blank">The Book Report with JJK</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OPGa2N9R7TZA7_9zR8iSNOBP3QafD0_NkU9BnyKHG7CO1lf9GyUCSBmXcrY4RrsK4kpMS3m6q86ZQyoTTtztxjwUK1RYFCfLVEBRmFJ74C0qzqEMP7bLPzfOM7V2RZFG26ZhxKSjkKO3/s1600/RWW+and+Jarrett+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OPGa2N9R7TZA7_9zR8iSNOBP3QafD0_NkU9BnyKHG7CO1lf9GyUCSBmXcrY4RrsK4kpMS3m6q86ZQyoTTtztxjwUK1RYFCfLVEBRmFJ74C0qzqEMP7bLPzfOM7V2RZFG26ZhxKSjkKO3/s320/RWW+and+Jarrett+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And something to look forward to: Star Wars: Jedi Academy: A New Class by Jarrett J. Kros</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">oczka will hit bookshelves on July 26th! Return to TRC's blog post about <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7389563855239373556#editor/target=post;postID=1287814964110731818;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=12;src=postname" target="_blank">Star Wars</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to use it in a Read-Aloud. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">Guest blog post by </span><span style="color: #43336e;"><a href="http://www.belleofthebook.com/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belle of the Book</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">, Rachael Walker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-60134003370728054742016-05-09T11:16:00.000-04:002016-05-09T11:16:12.215-04:00Go Wild with Books: Jungle books and crafts from TRC's Community Reading Festival<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year marks The Reading Connection’s 6th Community Reading Festival. The June 4th festival is targeted at families with children aged two to six years old and will be held at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please join us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our theme this year is “Go Wild with Books!” and with the help of some balloons, decorations and awesome safari crafts, we'll have everything we need to transform the multipurpose room into the deepest parts of the jungle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Similar to a Read-Aloud, the Community Reading Festival will have guest readers, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">snacks and themed crafts. Although these crafts were created for the Community Reading Festival, they would go great at a jungle Read-Aloud of your own.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5KL0kY5fM9UFjaN-xSsE92I1b_KxXLtgIP17cAhk_xtM9XX_PYtIbSNjEcfWsrM9l_3gGRmQr6O6OHKnJRxGIkV3HEYxIjnNMg4he5fWKNrEl8SA-PqBMMv2TP0TSgLqXk7_mn_nsOpW/s1600/Actual-Size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5KL0kY5fM9UFjaN-xSsE92I1b_KxXLtgIP17cAhk_xtM9XX_PYtIbSNjEcfWsrM9l_3gGRmQr6O6OHKnJRxGIkV3HEYxIjnNMg4he5fWKNrEl8SA-PqBMMv2TP0TSgLqXk7_mn_nsOpW/s200/Actual-Size.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmaq3wb7LqQNRqlhc-7-m-pP_KFxIyU4rzCWDX3tRNYYAswDUezXfTzJVNdipdqhCz7a1tHVWZ6ZaQqVz0IY_ak7efECsh1KqyoqbiPbe3S0nZdtnGuVsRaaQIHJxH7P5O8e1J-INZ9Cm/s1600/in+the+wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmaq3wb7LqQNRqlhc-7-m-pP_KFxIyU4rzCWDX3tRNYYAswDUezXfTzJVNdipdqhCz7a1tHVWZ6ZaQqVz0IY_ak7efECsh1KqyoqbiPbe3S0nZdtnGuVsRaaQIHJxH7P5O8e1J-INZ9Cm/s200/in+the+wild.jpg" width="179" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa_4tsXpe6vKJaKEbDxzIRdNvW4VtFNJDHUka1IGRFzLtx9Rl_SUk6wxMzaSoEYxdDPXXxNBZ2I7eXWvIR9oNdOn1giQyvKiMqMj_pLbCXJUdnkPswlSckCPUvwruEdRh0EWy8eGpqYoj/s1600/wild+about+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa_4tsXpe6vKJaKEbDxzIRdNvW4VtFNJDHUka1IGRFzLtx9Rl_SUk6wxMzaSoEYxdDPXXxNBZ2I7eXWvIR9oNdOn1giQyvKiMqMj_pLbCXJUdnkPswlSckCPUvwruEdRh0EWy8eGpqYoj/s200/wild+about+books.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After listening to great books such as </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wild About Books</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Judy Sierra, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Wild</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by David Elliott and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actual Size </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Steve Jenkins, kids will be ready to create some jungle crafts of their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TRC has these books and materials for the crafts available at the office if you would like to do a jungle Read-Aloud at your site. Contact Stephanie for materials and then follow the instructions below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First, when setting out on a safari through the jungle, it is important to have some binoculars to see all of the fascinating wildlife.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Safari binoculars</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDY_8HcVh_M28iQknQJz1T70IHW4IDvI_XMM9mprQqGqEhluyw1gU1VadvT4niMTNd8mbXyvM7BOTc59DTH2OlMPP8akgGgTJsPjlDuTFJqv2wF0nxWX8NdCWrZGOz-a84L7cwl1jMSHC/s1600/binoculars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDY_8HcVh_M28iQknQJz1T70IHW4IDvI_XMM9mprQqGqEhluyw1gU1VadvT4niMTNd8mbXyvM7BOTc59DTH2OlMPP8akgGgTJsPjlDuTFJqv2wF0nxWX8NdCWrZGOz-a84L7cwl1jMSHC/s200/binoculars.JPG" width="150" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Supplies</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Duct tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hole punch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">String</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Markers/glitter pens</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Label stickers</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instructions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Take two toilet paper rolls and stand them next to each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Wrap duct tape around them to form the binoculars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Use the hole punch to make a hole on each side of the binoculars (the outside of each roll).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Cut a piece of string 18 to 20 inches long and knot one strand of string through each hole.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Put a label sticker on the duct tape for the child’s name; some kids will probably need help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. Decorate using the markers and glitter pens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that the kids can see the animals up close with their binoculars, it is time for the kids to create some animals for themselves. Here are tiger masks, monkeys and paper chain snakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Tiger Masks</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVnD0HlbGRvcCGHZT_wKOM3TMcWzK2yK0R5KX1c_0Ar9BPOH7uKYXn9MLcmb6uWdrYuNO7hIL2g_zdpo8gF9M4mZVJF7efVKBK3jjonzqXuXCvKeJox-OI7DM60hoA67dqk66prnw-aYp/s1600/lion+mask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVnD0HlbGRvcCGHZT_wKOM3TMcWzK2yK0R5KX1c_0Ar9BPOH7uKYXn9MLcmb6uWdrYuNO7hIL2g_zdpo8gF9M4mZVJF7efVKBK3jjonzqXuXCvKeJox-OI7DM60hoA67dqk66prnw-aYp/s200/lion+mask.JPG" width="150" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Supplies</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paper plates</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yellow and orange construction paper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Glue sticks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Duct tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Popsicle sticks</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before this craft: cut the center out of paper plates, cut yellow and orange construction paper into varying 2- to 3-inch strips and cut out orange triangles about 3 inches across for ears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instructions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Starting with a pre-cut paper plate, have children paste construction paper strips on to their paper plate. This will make the tiger “fur.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Give kids two half triangles each to glue on the top as ears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Take one Popsicle stick and tape it on the back of the mask, using a 1- to 2-inch piece of duct tape. This makes a handle for the mask.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bendable Monkeys</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD37UOxcZvbp9O7pCBjLLHKvlvG0Vs96kuX1NqCebS3EK4vEpo3UZE5SqhiJ2gwUapY1c_4IbaNFZaWkwd4Ss5Z4R9TK50f_u9CzOR39qcDXDIpy3KMqTj0qrFaXODOV5L0orsWu25j4o/s1600/monkey+craft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD37UOxcZvbp9O7pCBjLLHKvlvG0Vs96kuX1NqCebS3EK4vEpo3UZE5SqhiJ2gwUapY1c_4IbaNFZaWkwd4Ss5Z4R9TK50f_u9CzOR39qcDXDIpy3KMqTj0qrFaXODOV5L0orsWu25j4o/s200/monkey+craft.JPG" width="150" /></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Supplies</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pre-made monkey template</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brown pipe cleaners</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Glue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Markers, stickers</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before this craft: print templates of the monkeys (see below for template), and cut out monkeys for smaller children who cannot use scissors. (http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/support-files/bendablemonkey.pdf)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instructions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Give each child a front and back of a monkey and two pipe cleaners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Decorate the front and the back with the markers and stickers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Take the two pipe cleaners and place them in an X formation on one of the monkey templates. Glue the other half of the template on top of the pipe cleaners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Bend the arms and legs of the monkey in shapes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjntBijg_JGFXIQBlOYGD0QRYw__75xGG-FdR4LxGA3yZqNqjc-B2vMs25udt8xbGFpAG9RhgUPmqO7PuYQ3RHnGsgM3S00Bh_2tznicuDCljb3pZgsQyUM-ZvNTk-2BQjVESnVzu5M9IY/s1600/paper+chain+snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjntBijg_JGFXIQBlOYGD0QRYw__75xGG-FdR4LxGA3yZqNqjc-B2vMs25udt8xbGFpAG9RhgUPmqO7PuYQ3RHnGsgM3S00Bh_2tznicuDCljb3pZgsQyUM-ZvNTk-2BQjVESnVzu5M9IY/s200/paper+chain+snake.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Paper Chain Snake</b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Green and red construction paper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Googly eyes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Markers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Glue</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before this craft: Cut green, red and yellow construction paper, holding it landscape-oriented, into four strips per page; cut red construction paper into 2-inch by ½-inch strips; and cut a small triangle out of one side of the red strip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instructions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Have children take 6 strips of colored paper and decorate them on one side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Taking one strip of paper, make one complete circle and tape the ends together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Thread another strip of paper through the first circle, and tape the ends shut. Repeat until there are six chains on the snake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Glue two googly eyes on one end of the snake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Glue one red tongue near the eyes of the snake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With these crafts in hand, kids are ready to go on their own jungle safari! When we go wild with books, who knows what we will discover!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span><br />
<br />The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-46840865296258143052016-04-25T10:30:00.000-04:002016-04-25T10:30:00.213-04:00Guess who's coming to our Read-Aloud: Having special guests at your Read-Aloud<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post is the second in a series that began with a post on March 8, 2016, called </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Guess who's coming to our Read-Aloud: Finding special guests.</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In that blog post, we discussed how to choose, invite, inform your colleagues, etc. In this follow up, we cover planning the Read-Aloud to take advantage of this special event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having a special guest at your Read-Aloud will likely change the usual session structure. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your guest might converse with the kids longer than is typical. The activity may also take more time than usual, or you might not have time for an activity at all. These changes will affect the amount of time you'll be able to devote to reading. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfwtYt0JrrhIIx3uqnq7xcj1UBbs4lDIHPdN3-zsSpESs8QY3fyX6NAWZ9GW4pixl4_P3pNXDl9_GNusYE3Yym-dpBS8d3dWvdrhFd0clmkwI3JYjjeEFji1axeFQ4snOBNnERWFISpFd/s1600/firefighter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfwtYt0JrrhIIx3uqnq7xcj1UBbs4lDIHPdN3-zsSpESs8QY3fyX6NAWZ9GW4pixl4_P3pNXDl9_GNusYE3Yym-dpBS8d3dWvdrhFd0clmkwI3JYjjeEFji1axeFQ4snOBNnERWFISpFd/s200/firefighter.JPG" width="185" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> E</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ven if you're unsure of how much time you'll read, be sure to bring books related to the theme. It's important for the kids to see books related to the special guest's theme, because this encourages the kids to explore the subject through books if they are interested. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the Read-Aloud is dominated by conversation between the guest and the kids, that's completely appropriate. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Building literacy entails expanding background knowledge and vocabulary.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By hearing new subject area vocabulary and learning about a new topic, kids are building their background knowledge and vocabulary so they will be better positioned to enjoy reading and learning in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarize, prepare as usual by bringing a few books that will work to read to the whole group, as well as some that would work in small groups, but don't be distressed if less reading than usual takes place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Activity time</span></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnYRNFJzDDvzrQjwianfFE67SO3DfJbpcoZZU4GLNoWIu8BH7LV-gKDId5gemMdcCex06pWa7qDRvhBPKXJaqvLS9473YI_VjAiIbtq6nwo8Ey8R436r3maxrs_64vfWNhrAmbQzmfxgj/s1600/becky3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnYRNFJzDDvzrQjwianfFE67SO3DfJbpcoZZU4GLNoWIu8BH7LV-gKDId5gemMdcCex06pWa7qDRvhBPKXJaqvLS9473YI_VjAiIbtq6nwo8Ey8R436r3maxrs_64vfWNhrAmbQzmfxgj/s1600/becky3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, simply interacting with the guest will be your activity. Or, a hands-on activity may be the best way to let the kids experience the guest's subject. Think carefully about what kind of activity would work best with your guest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Activities should be interactive so they bring the subject to life. For example, when Becky, a zookeeper from the National Zoo, came to Greentree Shelter, she brought bamboo for the kids to touch. Then the kids prepared foods that the animals eat (and they could eat too!). This hands-on activity got kids engaged in thinking about the lives of animals and the work zookeepers do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even if your plan for the activity is for the kids to interact with the guest, bring a simple back-up activity. You never know how long a guest will speak or if an unexpected turn of events (like firefighters having to leave because of an emergency call) will cut that interaction short. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Including your team members</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although one or two volunteers may take the lead in scheduling the guest, planning and orchestrating the Read-Aloud, all of the volunteers can help keep the kids focused and engaged. All team members should be encouraged to help with the following: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look for books related to the theme,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brainstorm short additional activities to be used if the special guest and main activity don't use as much time as expected.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take photos, if allowed at your site. Send them on to TRC and to the special guest. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanking the special guest</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Send a thank you to your guest for coming to the Read-Aloud. In the past, we have had guests come back time and again because they had a such a great experience. Fostering a positive experience for the guest and showing our appreciation can increase the likelihood that he would be willing to come back again or to visit another site. If you were able to snap a picture with the guest and the children, or of the children engaged during the Read-Aloud, send it along with a thank-you letter to the guest. Also, at your next Read-Aloud, ask the kids sign a group thank-you card. (If you do this and wait a month, send a note from you and your fellow volunteers right away.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4RKtb9U3_WdGhC0W1Kum0JfYtCfsERePAz0iJy-jnSPP58x-K3e7n_-M3sFS9IhUA8ENSl8cRa5FbmacxLWyGkpKfOMITpSqg3In4lkRABuR6Ciqwhr_1PDdWyrLDY6YhWXoO0JAXSWI/s1600/berkeley+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4RKtb9U3_WdGhC0W1Kum0JfYtCfsERePAz0iJy-jnSPP58x-K3e7n_-M3sFS9IhUA8ENSl8cRa5FbmacxLWyGkpKfOMITpSqg3In4lkRABuR6Ciqwhr_1PDdWyrLDY6YhWXoO0JAXSWI/s320/berkeley+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read-Aloud report</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When completing your Read-Aloud report, be sure to describe how the guest interacted with the kids, what kind of activity you did, how the kids reacted and which books worked well<i>. </i>This will help other volunteers who might want to do a Read-Aloud on that theme, with or without a guest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the guest was a big hit, call or email Stephanie about her! If the guest is interested, TRC may try to coordinate another visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bringing a special guest to your Read-Aloud can open up a whole world of experiences and excitement for the kids you serve. And volunteers often enjoy the visit as much as the kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">This post was written by Rachel Fishman, TRC's AmeriCorps VISTA. </span><br style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span>The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-41431677878612929812016-04-11T10:00:00.000-04:002016-04-11T10:00:27.853-04:00Kids at heart: Celebrating Beverly Cleary at 100<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Where are the books about k</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ids like us?"</span></blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cesfKsrzU-0EIrQBNmnkRsa9jUkEe1llZKq-CSQVu50N8l7zfsrAfWAWkatkRoPi7SHmg2Fcj17qFnTb93wic6ksQGNHKZONMXAm__aOf8xinvD8_ISEr7yRQihgFWoWBGl6JEu2eiRc/s1600/beezuz+ramona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cesfKsrzU-0EIrQBNmnkRsa9jUkEe1llZKq-CSQVu50N8l7zfsrAfWAWkatkRoPi7SHmg2Fcj17qFnTb93wic6ksQGNHKZONMXAm__aOf8xinvD8_ISEr7yRQihgFWoWBGl6JEu2eiRc/s200/beezuz+ramona.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> That’s what the young patrons at the public library in Yakima, Washington asked fledgling librarian Beverly Bunn in 1939. Beverly, who had asked that question herself as a child, remembers longing for the same thing. Where are the funny stories about average boys and girls just knocking around the neighborhood? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This question stuck with the young librarian, whom you might know as <a href="http://www.beverlycleary.com/" target="_blank">Beverly Cleary</a>, the beloved creator of characters like Henry Huggins and Beezus and Ramona Quimby. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVVrqLo8cE2AXHyOd54ALxlnQV2Reo9Uyw9zEPcVk27-oiinnN3uPIi0CmeWRDTt8DwvqYMj-euyiljRf3mwrAkmJGpwHj2ZqeZudEWeCB80VVwiwwdVNV9ClLKaO0-lCCGSmIyfUjymr/s1600/rachael+and+ramona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVVrqLo8cE2AXHyOd54ALxlnQV2Reo9Uyw9zEPcVk27-oiinnN3uPIi0CmeWRDTt8DwvqYMj-euyiljRf3mwrAkmJGpwHj2ZqeZudEWeCB80VVwiwwdVNV9ClLKaO0-lCCGSmIyfUjymr/s400/rachael+and+ramona.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blog post author, Rachael Walker, with Ramona</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like the kids we were and many of the kids we know now, Cleary’s characters put their curiosity to work and exercise their imaginations — and then have to deal with the consequences. Often, her young characters’ good (or at least reasonable) intentions don’t turn out as expected and there are misunderstandings, especially when the adults involved see honest mistakes as silly, naughty or exasperating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beverly Cleary’s books are great fun to read aloud. Each chapter can stand on its own as a funny story. These tales of everyday kids are sure to stimulate lots of laughter and knowing looks when shared with young readers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ll probably be laughing too, but what about those knowing looks? Do you see Ramona as lively and feisty or annoying and challenging? Do you have appreciation for the honesty of someone who takes one bite out of each and every apple because “the first bite tastes best"? Can you empathize with Ramona, who explains, "Because when I ask, you don't let me do things," when questioned as to why she didn’t ask if she could have a party?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you remember what it felt like to be smaller than everyone else? Many grown ups <i>really do forget</i> what it's like to be a kid. Through Ramona, Beverly Cleary reminds us of how we wanted to be treated when we were kids.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBfoy4BeVnZawdG5CYw8otq32IqnU4ZHAg-XnFugB7Jp3MdVFbyr_YBh-h7CwIcKifVP-Fd8USFslz2Pi7QM6WVeDr1FtwESELq7U5ptq7LEjq7qfpJznt7Wh2DjZG4ZNTVE7ZbldVHsx/s1600/ramona+father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBfoy4BeVnZawdG5CYw8otq32IqnU4ZHAg-XnFugB7Jp3MdVFbyr_YBh-h7CwIcKifVP-Fd8USFslz2Pi7QM6WVeDr1FtwESELq7U5ptq7LEjq7qfpJznt7Wh2DjZG4ZNTVE7ZbldVHsx/s200/ramona+father.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Wanting to help.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember being anxious about your parents’ well-being and what you could do to get your father to be healthy and quit smoking? (<i>Ramona and Her Fathe</i>r)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Wanting to learn.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember asking important questions, like how did Mike Mulligan use the bathroom when digging the basement of the town hall? (<i>Ramona the Pest</i>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfFxOQ7ATjFMrPKi55zFJv3GlZ0sLtA1KlSqUtfloSjQo9Hvce-4t6shF4HSXTmD6wrRWZC8-pTZ5aWCfec6oRCWMHjeTbYG73f_pbjLr_1cxiTvhu2_msTrERC1PLUw39FJ5gd6JAib2/s1600/ramona+pest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfFxOQ7ATjFMrPKi55zFJv3GlZ0sLtA1KlSqUtfloSjQo9Hvce-4t6shF4HSXTmD6wrRWZC8-pTZ5aWCfec6oRCWMHjeTbYG73f_pbjLr_1cxiTvhu2_msTrERC1PLUw39FJ5gd6JAib2/s200/ramona+pest.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Wanting to have input.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember when, as a littler person, you sometimes had to be a bit noisier and a bit more stubborn in order to be noticed? (<i>Ramona the Pest</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Wanting to choose.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why shouldn’t you wear rabbit ears to the library and get to pick out your own book? (<i>Beezus and Ramona</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Often the responsibilities of adulthood have us romanticizing our own childhoods and get us thinking that children's lives are generally idyllic and carefree. But kids in crisis are dealing with lots of problems — in addition to all the issues and worries involved in growing up. Be sure to have some appreciation for that and for kids being kids.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPeLeOST2ZFsm4T0Gk3ULGeNbswYci3ris62dTIhV0eYi-bU8EEgH0Wwi4fKfRS3vwKyujPlft-gZiITDMJSuEPKD1Yu5_Af-VR5_fATV5N2dJfwawEDGeLRZ7ukq8vXxtd_2-RHlO7zq/s1600/beverly+cleary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPeLeOST2ZFsm4T0Gk3ULGeNbswYci3ris62dTIhV0eYi-bU8EEgH0Wwi4fKfRS3vwKyujPlft-gZiITDMJSuEPKD1Yu5_Af-VR5_fATV5N2dJfwawEDGeLRZ7ukq8vXxtd_2-RHlO7zq/s1600/beverly+cleary.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Beverly Cleary turns 100 years old on April 12, make some time to read about Ramona’s antics. Enjoy her high energy and spirit! As you read and think about why someone would want to put jelly on her mashed potatoes, turn a worm into an engagement ring or bake a doll into a cake, remember: she’s just a kid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">Guest blog post by </span><span style="color: #43336e;"><a href="http://www.belleofthebook.com/" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belle of the Book</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 18.48px;">, Rachael Walker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
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The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-9235454715533424982016-04-04T10:00:00.000-04:002016-04-07T14:54:16.248-04:00Repurpose, reuse, recycle: Earth Day Read-Aloud activity ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLUf732c5n7PBvhNwEd97lk31vDbkpUUKPTlkkzUp5__9NMsL51OI85lG8lhGEhH-QqVEwpL6W9-nwr6vP0rn_MPZpwM0txoEZINh3vVJW_RpmKbAxsU6DNLTLvCSKOumXedVXQZEaOPy/s1600/earth+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLUf732c5n7PBvhNwEd97lk31vDbkpUUKPTlkkzUp5__9NMsL51OI85lG8lhGEhH-QqVEwpL6W9-nwr6vP0rn_MPZpwM0txoEZINh3vVJW_RpmKbAxsU6DNLTLvCSKOumXedVXQZEaOPy/s200/earth+day.png" width="160" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In honor of Earth Day, April 22nd, here's a bonus blog post with ideas to help you plan a Read-Aloud that repurposes materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill for your activity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some ideas for activities using often-discarded items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Bubble wrap</b> lends itself to all kinds of crafts and games. Check out <a href="http://www.craftykidsathome.com/2015/04/12-brilliant-bubblewrap-activities.html" target="_blank">these websites</a> for <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1004585/bubble-wrap-crafts-for-kids" target="_blank">ideas to use bubble wrap</a> to paint, sculpt, print and create animals, bugs or clouds -- all great Earth Day topics.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kYQ3RZY66LOiJ9rPlZ8i4lL2U2I6yQFpvIQ0zKX3tCWYdmNMuqOV9b9X_xEq-7UjXAN0QI4x4ktqF2BS7WwOuscpwdjIaUSgEf1O5Xul5Fx5TuRA6OiQx9ICEK5W8IPqF_3jBaikCdBA/s1600/bubble+wrap+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kYQ3RZY66LOiJ9rPlZ8i4lL2U2I6yQFpvIQ0zKX3tCWYdmNMuqOV9b9X_xEq-7UjXAN0QI4x4ktqF2BS7WwOuscpwdjIaUSgEf1O5Xul5Fx5TuRA6OiQx9ICEK5W8IPqF_3jBaikCdBA/s200/bubble+wrap+butterfly.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can also <a href="http://movinginsider.com/2012/12/08/bubble-wrap-games/" target="_blank">use bubble wrap for a hoppin' poppin' dance party.</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's right: put bubble wrap on the floor, turn on some music and dance! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read some books about music, dancing or noise and get dancing! The kids will love the satisfying snap the bubble wrap makes at they cut the rug.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>TRC has lots of bubble wrap on hand at the office for you. Just call or email Stephanie for your supply.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Empty<b> toilet paper and paper towel rolls</b> can morph in to all kinds of cool stuff. Here's a <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-praise-of-toilet-paper-tube.html" target="_blank">TRC blog post with lots of ideas</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BdZO5GQgMEmotq0WrYbke18I_y68GRbjTESvxNqKOcp-lU4VvsyCEwq7QQ6pz1r3c75iXfYnOxAPqki1pMhhuo9py6licXv-e_DzzOUGT9dTuNZp9lKnz6j4RqXwYmwMpiULcbr2bFqE/s1600/growing+veg+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BdZO5GQgMEmotq0WrYbke18I_y68GRbjTESvxNqKOcp-lU4VvsyCEwq7QQ6pz1r3c75iXfYnOxAPqki1pMhhuo9py6licXv-e_DzzOUGT9dTuNZp9lKnz6j4RqXwYmwMpiULcbr2bFqE/s200/growing+veg+soup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn9e1uIEP2NYg7Bt9XAgkZQQ52U86BTcFqput4tAyO11Fd3Gw_idXo2oUSzMoHamxrYWgV21e53KUBj7P5C98iZnsRsc6xeBHdYyCZdDERMyIzEyY81UCjilgHBk7yp900fKXbh5c3ON7/s1600/tp+seed+holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn9e1uIEP2NYg7Bt9XAgkZQQ52U86BTcFqput4tAyO11Fd3Gw_idXo2oUSzMoHamxrYWgV21e53KUBj7P5C98iZnsRsc6xeBHdYyCZdDERMyIzEyY81UCjilgHBk7yp900fKXbh5c3ON7/s200/tp+seed+holder.jpg" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For an ecology oriented Read-Aloud using tubes, f</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ind your favorite version of <i>Jack and the Beanstalk</i> or </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">read <i>Growing Vegetable Soup</i> by Lois Ehlert and then </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/homemade-seed-starter-zmaz08fmzmcc.aspx" style="color: #8766dd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">grow some seeds</a> in a tube.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">TRC has lots of TP tubes on hand at the office. Just call or email Stephanie for your supply.</i><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Who doesn't have a drawer full of <b>old t-shirts</b>? With nothing but a pair of scissors, you can <a href="http://www.mommypotamus.com/no-sew-t-shirt-tote-bag-tutorial/" target="_blank">transform old t-shirts into tote bags.</a> To go along with the project, read <i>Max's Dragon Shirt</i> by Rosemary Wells or other favorite books about clothes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While we're talking about bags, read a book about plastic or other non-biodegradable trash, like Eric Carle's <i>10 Little Rubber Ducks</i>. Talk about why stores are trying to cut back on use of plastic bags, and then help each kid make his own reusable tote bag.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DZSORbBudz4RlRkt_wKWgJLgGt6PupPaYy60Bu3x7Jmhy1laiiA_3PzJDHLVO9rbJv42TKiFk8ktbRoyDmJ7Vs0h8qKqHJpwXIPs75foDdZEJGt5axiNvz6LmgMGxxfPy3I-KWQ4BxBs/s1600/tshirt+totebag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DZSORbBudz4RlRkt_wKWgJLgGt6PupPaYy60Bu3x7Jmhy1laiiA_3PzJDHLVO9rbJv42TKiFk8ktbRoyDmJ7Vs0h8qKqHJpwXIPs75foDdZEJGt5axiNvz6LmgMGxxfPy3I-KWQ4BxBs/s200/tshirt+totebag.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh938rBB4P7aA_9ptf4C4tIENe3AN5EfUBEN4HsEhmzrtSao1hVD6ljYbU2xrieDelFVoKM64G3TvygLM5aJ4p9u_laF2xQWstIAC_IHd770sH-Y09v_323Cv3RqUIkD79-WyfwfwDJv8X0/s1600/maxs+dragon+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh938rBB4P7aA_9ptf4C4tIENe3AN5EfUBEN4HsEhmzrtSao1hVD6ljYbU2xrieDelFVoKM64G3TvygLM5aJ4p9u_laF2xQWstIAC_IHd770sH-Y09v_323Cv3RqUIkD79-WyfwfwDJv8X0/s200/maxs+dragon+shirt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBxCwxPz2m60A4PpQTWAkDb-AqaXYIl0mIjlMpPLxA6vKmuK0JmhT7uU3Nt5Zp0UbvX-jwwKMGtn38EzxkAMdLUFNW0k7t1cZi4qZAIqVJ7fkSNPDrMRl1pndFE0iJZ2b2EJigud22jjO/s1600/not+a+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBxCwxPz2m60A4PpQTWAkDb-AqaXYIl0mIjlMpPLxA6vKmuK0JmhT7uU3Nt5Zp0UbvX-jwwKMGtn38EzxkAMdLUFNW0k7t1cZi4qZAIqVJ7fkSNPDrMRl1pndFE0iJZ2b2EJigud22jjO/s200/not+a+box.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Cardboard boxes</b> are full of creative potential. If you receive lots of boxes in the mail or have recently moved, you have all the boxes you need. Bring different sized boxes and encourage kids to make their own sculptures or city scapes, or <a href="http://movinginsider.com/2012/08/01/5-more-fun-ways-to-reuse-moving-boxes/" target="_blank">try some of these ideas.</a> Read books about architecture, sculpture or imagination, and let the building begin.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9B1JuA4kIohM_06DpGJPem97zqUHt3zBIwx2JVK5MaUKhgOvRds5UxetP-Ebqv2ThL74E65d8afxsUHnEs4OAlnqOamCTcjjB9oL2Dt-Nh6X_lR9hUhKhFgz_rByHfhsZ7U11pXzkBm_/s1600/galimoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9B1JuA4kIohM_06DpGJPem97zqUHt3zBIwx2JVK5MaUKhgOvRds5UxetP-Ebqv2ThL74E65d8afxsUHnEs4OAlnqOamCTcjjB9oL2Dt-Nh6X_lR9hUhKhFgz_rByHfhsZ7U11pXzkBm_/s200/galimoto.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Galimoto</i> tells the story of a boy who creates a toy from <b>found objects</b>. Your team could collect various items (wire, string, bottle caps, empty cans, plastic bottles, paperboard boxes, <a href="http://diydelray.com/2014/05/12/diy-kids-making-toy-boats-with-found-objects/" target="_blank">sticks, leaves</a>, <a href="https://7100islandsblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/third-world-living-toys-from-found-objects/" target="_blank">shells</a>), supplement them with craft supplies at your site and encourage your kids to create toys of their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For ideas for books about the environment and ecology, check out these lists from </span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/bookfinder/green-reads/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">PBS</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl-picks/top-children-s-books-on-the-environment" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">A Mighty Girl</a>. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/2011/04/08/earth-day/" target="_blank">This site</a> also has a list devoted to children's books appropriate for Earth Day. Feel free to call TRC's office or enlist your local children's librarian to help you find just the right books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whether you do a Read-Aloud specifically about ecology or just use recyclable materials for your craft or activity, let the kids know that you purposefully chose an activity that repurposed materials and take time to brainstorm with them other ways to care for the planet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Earth Day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span><br />
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<br />The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-84512691294547972212016-03-11T16:22:00.002-05:002016-03-14T14:20:36.131-04:00The Reading Connection opens 14th Read-Aloud program site in Silver Spring<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our newest Read-Aloud site opened on Thursday, March 10, 2016. Our program partner is the YMCA's Youth & Family Services, located at the community center at the Northwest Park Apartments in Silver Spring. The children who attend the Read-Aloud attend the JoAnn Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres, where 95 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced price meals. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eleven enthusiastic kids, ranging in age from 4 to 11, came to the first Read-Aloud. They had a great time listening to books about bears (the theme), which volunteers read to groups of kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next came a theme-related activity, which was making a small bear out of a toilet-paper tube, with the addition of construction paper eyes, ears and paws. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, volunteers helped each child choose a new book, provided by TRC, to take home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Read-Aloud program is designed to bring together volunteer readers and at-risk children, with the aim of providing the children positive experiences with reading and free, new books to keep. Thank you to our great new volunteers, the staff at the Y and kudos to Stephanie Berman, TRC director of program operations, for handling all the details of the new site opening! Happy reading! </span></div>
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Judy Hijikatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598659853639200143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-45620288752353415272016-03-08T11:43:00.000-05:002016-03-08T11:43:11.318-05:00Guess who's coming to our Read-Aloud: Finding special guests<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Considering inviting a special guest to your Read-Aloud? While there are many factors to consider and you'll need to consider more scheduling details than usual, special guests are a real plus for Read-Alouds. When planned well, a special guest at your Read-Aloud can elevate the level of child engagement and spur the kids' interest in a particular topic area. It is a great opportunity to provide lots of background knowledge and expand the real-life experiences available to the kids at your site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What type of special guest would be able to capture and maintain the kids’ attention throughout a Read-Aloud? Who would give the kids insight into an area to which they otherwise might not have access? What type of person might be off-limits? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thinking through all these issues (as well as making sure there are children's books available on the topic), is key to a successful special guest visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brainstorming about special guests</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you are brainstorming about prospective guests, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">stay open to all types of professions or expertise. Anyone who is good with kids and has a job or skill set that lends itself to a kid-appropriate, interactive activity during the Read-Aloud can be considered. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've had reporters, chefs, athletes, artists, a bus driver and a nurse visit Read-Alouds. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe you have a great dentist, hair dresser or well-traveled friend who would make a great guest! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some examples of special guests who have previously visited Read-Alouds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFEf4FzUSNQm1aBIgdXXZRjiqDaVCT_-oEkCFTjEXen8TVY1Qrp0Ow4xeGENpn4W25Y7gL6lylqB1uUzN4RUQePhd4H66YNsJjgIZVWbKHZ22ZA_nagrb7FTQkBzSR15BvZdtWjB1yMiN/s1600/firefighters+ra.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFEf4FzUSNQm1aBIgdXXZRjiqDaVCT_-oEkCFTjEXen8TVY1Qrp0Ow4xeGENpn4W25Y7gL6lylqB1uUzN4RUQePhd4H66YNsJjgIZVWbKHZ22ZA_nagrb7FTQkBzSR15BvZdtWjB1yMiN/s200/firefighters+ra.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Firefighters visited ALIVE! House and taught the kids about their daily work. The kids got to tour the fire truck, try on turnout gear and learn about fire safety.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NH0e98TP50HelzjuYF3BY9MXMiYfXB4YUW1Vonpf7HaxTPSbLJ3dCV7A5uCXKRWpjXsgRPeeu1J4YHQMJnbK_atBwtBvm3KfaOjKGGXKLE8hDrJqpp_4N8cSoyAN6uXM6HapUvEAW5Ec/s1600/paws+to+read+ra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NH0e98TP50HelzjuYF3BY9MXMiYfXB4YUW1Vonpf7HaxTPSbLJ3dCV7A5uCXKRWpjXsgRPeeu1J4YHQMJnbK_atBwtBvm3KfaOjKGGXKLE8hDrJqpp_4N8cSoyAN6uXM6HapUvEAW5Ec/s200/paws+to+read+ra.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paws To Read, a literacy program featuring dogs as reading partners, came to Columbia Grove last summer. During the visit, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">kids read aloud to the appreciative </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">audience of dogs! All the local library systems have a version of this program, whose goal is to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">let the kids enjoy quality time with dogs while strengthening</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> their reading confidence. Contact your library for details. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4CFzGHsWHSeK7dQFuXufyFM65ZLnHTFS-UmMgNZHAtoAC6K6IlHZWwnmrBSFgf7ThnN1BxRZeIqBW_5a-CrpGcZZHjTYO5BkspwSCw3g5bDHTAc7d21Ujx7Dsfk62nH8JOHCVME03nbb/s1600/chet+ra.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4CFzGHsWHSeK7dQFuXufyFM65ZLnHTFS-UmMgNZHAtoAC6K6IlHZWwnmrBSFgf7ThnN1BxRZeIqBW_5a-CrpGcZZHjTYO5BkspwSCw3g5bDHTAc7d21Ujx7Dsfk62nH8JOHCVME03nbb/s200/chet+ra.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blues musician Chet Chandler sang with the ARHA Ruby Tucker Center kids. He provided a glimpse into his background, as well as into the history of the blues genre. The kids got a better understanding of music and had fun clapping and singing along.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiiRYCsNyJTqNYqJLygJ9OQ6sDeKABDt_YHcbmMYcHrSSx31W5jMLA5QNlMuwhyoCWa1ftKI-QK9dVkYvuhaFws7apAdhQ6c0aTT-cuyyI9AulVz8Bfgh4EgZW4B4fUEIuacH_FQvryWx/s1600/becky+ra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiiRYCsNyJTqNYqJLygJ9OQ6sDeKABDt_YHcbmMYcHrSSx31W5jMLA5QNlMuwhyoCWa1ftKI-QK9dVkYvuhaFws7apAdhQ6c0aTT-cuyyI9AulVz8Bfgh4EgZW4B4fUEIuacH_FQvryWx/s200/becky+ra.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A zookeeper at the National Zoo, Becky Malinsky, visited </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Greentree Shelter to talk to the kids about the animals at </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the zoo and the day-to-day work of a zookeeper. The kids </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">made (and ate!) food for the pandas and asked questions about </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">their favorite zoo animals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These guests worked well for the following reasons: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">they had knowledge about a topic that interests kids, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">they could relate to the kids and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">their visit provided an opportunity for the kids to experience something new.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When brainstorming about potential guests, it's important to <b>remember that not everyone is a good prospect</b>. Based on previous experience, police should not be special guests at domestic violence shelters because some of the residents might be uncomfortable with their presence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once you brainstorm some potential guests, search to find <b>ap</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">propriate children's books</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> related to the specialty. Even though having a guest at your Read-Aloud may change how much reading happens that night, you will still need a couple of related books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Finally, run your ideas by Stephanie. </b>You'll need her permission to invite a guest to the Read-Aloud. She knows what specific sites allow, and she can tell you whether or not you need to get on OK from site staff. You might have a great idea, such as a naturalist who will bring snakes, but a site rule (no animals) or previous situation might mean that you won't be granted permission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Including your team members</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Make sure to k</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">eep your fellow volunteers and site coordinator in the loop. Contact them after you’ve gotten permission from Stephanie and the site staff. It is best for you to remain the main contact and organizer so the guest isn’t overwhelmed by multiple volunteers planning with him or her. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Contacting a special guest</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Planning ahead as much as possible is key. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Try to start this process at least two months early. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When reaching out to the potential special guest, share the following information:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Reading Connection's <b>mission</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> The typical </span><b>Read-Aloud structure</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <b>Your expectations</b>. Make the guest aware that he </span>should be prepared to explain what he does, what makes him unique and what his field means to the kids. He should also be prepared to read a book that you'll provide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Facts about the site</b>. Describe the site, its location, whether its location is confidential, logistics about arriving at the site, the number of children who usually attend and any other key information. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <b>Dates</b>. </span>Give your prospective guest a couple of dates so that she has options. Ask her to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the Read-Aloud and to stay until the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Save the date</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once your guest agrees to a date, let Stephanie and your fellow teammates know the details. Also, make sure to pass along this information to the site staff (which you can do via Stephanie or your site coordinator) so that they can prepare for the guest and encourage kids (and maybe parents) to participate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You'll want to confirm with your guest a few days before his visit to make sure he can still participate, and then reconfirm with the site staff as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that the date has been set, you can start planning the actual Read-Aloud. We'll explore that process in a future blog post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post was written by Rachel Fishman, TRC's AmeriCorps VISTA. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389563855239373556.post-33137858731614631982016-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:002016-02-22T10:00:15.345-05:00We like to move it, move it!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kids need to MOVE! It doesn't matter whether they've been snowed in or sitting all day at school. Including movement in</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> every Read-Aloud gets blood circulating, bringing oxygen to the brain and helping kids stay engaged. Movement also makes many kids more comfortable. And</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> it’s fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is a collection of our favorite movement ideas from previous blog posts, plus a couple of new ideas.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrSAptzSW1QtbHWg82Hi2NfOrEyrDDllUT8JSHO5eCcw76J6MTbZxGUyemn5Z2bnqYjExF1dF4c2yA15p1PdG0CAgz8conZZ-AV8iCn6I804i4pNCRnXFGp4mJO3smSh84gild8sLOzOP/s1600/12-31-13-+Bubble+wrap+dance+party-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrSAptzSW1QtbHWg82Hi2NfOrEyrDDllUT8JSHO5eCcw76J6MTbZxGUyemn5Z2bnqYjExF1dF4c2yA15p1PdG0CAgz8conZZ-AV8iCn6I804i4pNCRnXFGp4mJO3smSh84gild8sLOzOP/s320/12-31-13-+Bubble+wrap+dance+party-L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://movinginsider.com/2012/12/08/bubble-wrap-games/" target="_blank">Bubble Wrap Dance Party</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's right: put bubble wrap on the floor, turn on some music and dance! TRC has lots of bubble wrap on hand at the office for you to use at your next Read-Aloud. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read some books about music, dancing or noise and get dancing! The kids will love the satisfying snap the bubble wrap makes at they cut the rug.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyntDqj4FbyIIoxiloR8ZWRlqlbUbBZ-sXTp6ZqnePS3PLbIyjX3t-DQRSZICH5NGEwZFh5ikj3Qi5YKgOGguGyNjUiXbwqyQviQxjhQ7SN2fdOXX4T8KNQ_Xca76wizBADPIdTSW1X3o/s1600/yoga+at+RA+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyntDqj4FbyIIoxiloR8ZWRlqlbUbBZ-sXTp6ZqnePS3PLbIyjX3t-DQRSZICH5NGEwZFh5ikj3Qi5YKgOGguGyNjUiXbwqyQviQxjhQ7SN2fdOXX4T8KNQ_Xca76wizBADPIdTSW1X3o/s1600/yoga+at+RA+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some days, you might be looking for a more serene option than a bubble popping dance party. Why not try yoga? Have the kids take five or six deep breaths, stretching their hands high on the inhale and rounding their hands back to "heart center" during the exhale. That kind of movement works wonders in calming down a group of kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more kid-friendly yoga moves, here are some poses that elicit group movement and concentration: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Use these <a href="http://www.kingscliffyoga.com/JOYTIME/warmups_joytime.html" target="_blank">yoga warm-ups</a> to imitate things kids are familiar with. such as a tree and a pea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finish with a seated position so kids are ready to listen to a story right after finishing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more detailed instructions on how to incorporate yoga in your Read-Aloud, check out <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2013/11/use-yoga-to-help-kids-focus-at-read.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a> or <a href="https://volunteer.thereadingconnection.org/login" target="_blank">TRC's Volunteer Central</a> (search for "yoga" under Read-Aloud themes).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Energizers</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa5ZSH1z9WHUKKQHjC1FpNhabfwlkSQ3M_HOS55hnB1PX0UhCjn4ykFFZy_3VodpX5A_MlJ-xDwC_J0e0MVosUCEmpUz5y6bvQQxfCs3E9am5uK_jWx87jUIz24oUyApuuZT29SVfPI5/s1600/tootie+tah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa5ZSH1z9WHUKKQHjC1FpNhabfwlkSQ3M_HOS55hnB1PX0UhCjn4ykFFZy_3VodpX5A_MlJ-xDwC_J0e0MVosUCEmpUz5y6bvQQxfCs3E9am5uK_jWx87jUIz24oUyApuuZT29SVfPI5/s200/tootie+tah.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of our favorite sources of movement activities is a book entitled <a href="https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/product/energizers/" target="_blank">Energizers! 88 Quick Movement Activities that Refresh and Refocus</a> by Susan Lattanzi Roser</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Many of these activities have accompanying videos online</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> so you can see how they work in action. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To see some of our Energizer favorites, including "Tootie-Tah," "Go Bananas!" or "Dum Dum Dah Dah," check out <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2011/07/training-tidbit-calmers-and-energizers.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Active Themes</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BqCuxbsn6PXEqZi5x63PCbVR4naKSeppbzrfWgvxzYdBMTBhN8oKG79NHO5TpCaitMN1GFAnLczx8hCL9URyUoLjRhybh7z0-m4y7iLoOoTRGimnR5Zer3Lv82LrG9TMy3wZnS82VKYT/s1600/Berkley+ninjas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BqCuxbsn6PXEqZi5x63PCbVR4naKSeppbzrfWgvxzYdBMTBhN8oKG79NHO5TpCaitMN1GFAnLczx8hCL9URyUoLjRhybh7z0-m4y7iLoOoTRGimnR5Zer3Lv82LrG9TMy3wZnS82VKYT/s200/Berkley+ninjas.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another way to get the kids moving is to choose a Read-Aloud theme that is active by its very nature. Try a Read-Aloud about <a href="http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102037602923-880/Soccer+Read-Aloud+Outline+2014.pdf" target="_blank">soccer</a>, <a href="http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102037602923-875/Running+Read-Aloud+outline.pdf" target="_blank">running</a>, <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2014/02/get-up-and-dance.html" target="_blank">dance</a> or <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2013/01/ninjas-read-aloud.html" target="_blank">ninjas</a>. Even a Read-Aloud about cooking or painting gets hands and brains working. Or <a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2015/04/moved-by-books.html" target="_blank">l</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2015/04/moved-by-books.html" target="_blank">ook for books related to your theme that encourage movement and get the kids moving to them <i>while</i> you read. </a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSOrOgLYKoAjok3FpaUy8zEFQwR0j28arhai2TjMzNkn4ShJVIyWXldS2RHr2b5OmUxSEYRQdet2QPOyHFBq8ztipwfSNFjWbiScee95_ZIwimIyjzTaZLm2QTebhd89a24Os8KCKp6Jm/s1600/jump+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSOrOgLYKoAjok3FpaUy8zEFQwR0j28arhai2TjMzNkn4ShJVIyWXldS2RHr2b5OmUxSEYRQdet2QPOyHFBq8ztipwfSNFjWbiScee95_ZIwimIyjzTaZLm2QTebhd89a24Os8KCKp6Jm/s200/jump+frog.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdv13a8_wepz8IWQTawvJpJUm5U3wDPiNSWP30MI_mHFpoRMf1hsmJYtN7_shZfKIdDy5xRB9V2m56j_wiuqo_ZjlYtmF1X2ehR8E_bYJ4tyKBlLmTGwk8dwZP_KrE4Xdp3Z9aZwKMwZ/s1600/Silly_Sally.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdv13a8_wepz8IWQTawvJpJUm5U3wDPiNSWP30MI_mHFpoRMf1hsmJYtN7_shZfKIdDy5xRB9V2m56j_wiuqo_ZjlYtmF1X2ehR8E_bYJ4tyKBlLmTGwk8dwZP_KrE4Xdp3Z9aZwKMwZ/s1600/Silly_Sally.png" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZby_Nf6i2GACp6IChpWTsMWLuYKQ-NIV8F-kjLIKlzGlCv0MtkRowD5E_JuzIV2rIRM-waY0G4eo74w4EgjOjk2UnggoP2yR1qdpm7uDoQpivXLHUnYJ39FUndoLQhcMIsB8IXDVWjZmq/s1600/biggest+strongest+fastest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZby_Nf6i2GACp6IChpWTsMWLuYKQ-NIV8F-kjLIKlzGlCv0MtkRowD5E_JuzIV2rIRM-waY0G4eo74w4EgjOjk2UnggoP2yR1qdpm7uDoQpivXLHUnYJ39FUndoLQhcMIsB8IXDVWjZmq/s200/biggest+strongest+fastest.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Move at every Read-Aloud</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeQA-FV2-4nbeXxtXKUHZK8XBw3l3Q5rtW3sXdLEEsvMj8gk3J1e7J305ww7XyQ7I30MrGpeIa-jcxnN1MQ1CzFmWzokZUQM5DNic6kxXxRzImVsAIaqa1dG0WNY8rgsBU_nhEhuY_ijJ/s1600/twinkle+twinkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeQA-FV2-4nbeXxtXKUHZK8XBw3l3Q5rtW3sXdLEEsvMj8gk3J1e7J305ww7XyQ7I30MrGpeIa-jcxnN1MQ1CzFmWzokZUQM5DNic6kxXxRzImVsAIaqa1dG0WNY8rgsBU_nhEhuY_ijJ/s200/twinkle+twinkle.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Include movement in any Read-Aloud, regardless of theme, with the following: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Encouraging kids to act out the stories read </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fun-stuff-to-do.com/kids-charades.html" target="_blank">Playing charades</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">based on words or characters from the books you’ve read or</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://trctraininghub.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-songs-fingerplays.html" target="_blank">Singing theme-related songs with movements or finger movements</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to help the little ones get the wiggles out. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Incorporating movement into your Read-Aloud in any way will improve the experience for the kids. It will meet their physical needs, allowing them to enjoy listening to stories, and demonstrate to them that reading doesn't always have to be a sedentary activity</span>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">To receive credit for this online training, please </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtvUGl2eVJEZjNYMjU4RDVrLTRNQnc6MQ" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #8766dd; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">fill out the form here</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">.</span></div>
The Reading Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823265330744499620noreply@blogger.com0