No Fake Reading Here

I actually have a poster in my room that says, "No Fake Reading Here".  We all have them...you know what I'm talking about.... those students that hate to read so they fake it!!!  Here are some signs to look for...

So confession time....when I was young, I didn't like reading...yeah, you read that right....THIS reading teacher didn't love reading!!!  I was a good reader...I just didn't like it!  I'm not exactly sure why, but I didn't.  I remember one day in third grade, we got to choose a book from the teacher's "book cart".  I chose a book that had several stories in it.  The story I chose was about a girl that visited her grandparents and got to ride a horse.  I wasn't a huge horse lover or anything...but I visited my best friend's home, on a farm, often!  It was such a different life for me because I lived in town.  I loved being on her farm!  I remember being so involved in the story when the teacher called time...we had to put the books away.  I remember the next time we got to choose a book, I went back to that book to finish it.  To this day, I can even recall the story.  The next year in fourth grade, I had a teacher that turned out to be my favorite of all time...Mrs. Beth Jackson.  I'm still in contact with her today...I give her most of the credit for me wanting to be a teacher!  She read to us every day after lunch...I couldn't wait for her to read...that was it!  I looked forward to going to the library to check out books...I would ask my parents to even take me to the public library to check out books!  So....I think my number one tip is....

Have a variety of books to offer choices for all readers...not just interest...but reading levels, as well!  Set aside time for students to have a CHOICE of what they read!

Share your story...if you didn't like reading (like me) then share that!  If you did like reading, share why!  Connect with your students!  This can go a long way!

Offer other things than books!  There are lots of other types of text...authentic reading....menus, catalogs, comic books...etc. etc. etc.

Build stamina!  Practice this in class!  Start off with one minute...then increase...until you reach 20 minutes.  

Be patient!  Don't give up!  It doesn't happen at the same time for everyone...and it might not happen while they are with you....but lay the ground work!  

Keep reading/modeling aloud for your students daily!  And...never give up! Chatterbox Blessings,

Anticipation...It's Making Me Wait...

If I close my eyes, I can go back in time and think about how I felt as a child on Christmas Eve...Oh the Anticipation!  Sometimes if my family was going on a trip that required several hours of driving, my parents would pack the car the night before, and we'd get in bed early.  Around 3 or 4 a.m. we would be carried to the car to lay down in the back-seat-turned-makeshift-bed on the road...Oh the Anticipation...  And then there's that yummy ketchup.....  

Ok....so now I'm really showing my age!  LOL
My point is....that anticipation really gets you excited for the things you love!  So, why not get kids really excited about a story?!?!?!
I love to use Anticipation Guides before reading (even though you can use them during and after reading too).  

• Anticipation guides stimulate students' interest in a topic and set a purpose for reading.
• They teach students to make predictions, anticipate the text, and verify their predictions.
• They connect new information to prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic.

1. When preparing an anticipation guide, think simple for younger students. Write four to six statements about key ideas in the text.  When I make mine, I have a place for them to choose if they agree or disagree with the statement before reading...and then the same for after reading.
2. Begin by Modeling!  Introduce the text or reading material and share the guide with the students. Model the process of responding to the statements and marking the columns.
3. Read each of the statements and ask the students if they agree or disagree with it. Provide the opportunity for discussion. The emphasis is not on right answers but to share what they know and to make predictions.
4. Read the text aloud or have students read the selection individually. If reading aloud, teachers should read slowly and stop at places in the text that correspond to each of the statements.
5. Revisit each statement during Closure.

Here's a good video of a teacher with her whole group during an Anticipation Guide.  You could also use a guide in a small group setting, as well.

Anticipation...Is it making you wait???
Chatterbox Blessings, Rebecca

Beginning On The Barn...

Recently, I shared a picture of a barn that I found on a teacher's blog.  So, I talked my sweet hubby into making it.  We worked together on the design to make it fit my needs, and we went to work.

Cutting out the first side of the barn...

So then we used the first one for a template for the next one.

Cutting the two by twos went much quicker!

 The frame went well.

This was the fun part...putting it together.

I will use the top of the barn for holding book baskets.  There's a bar at the top for support, that I can use for hanging things.

Now, it is just awaiting some red paint and white trim.  I'll post pics when we get that completed...but I'm loving it so far!  I think my kiddos will love it too!Many Blessings,

Must Have Picture Books Linky Party

Oh how I adore picture books.  I can't even begin to tell you how many hours I have spent in bookstores such as Books-A-Million, Hastings, Barnes&Noble, etc. in the picture book section!  So, when I saw Lindsey's Linky Party, I had to join in!I am suppose to list my Top 5...OMG...just 5...I'll try!

1.  Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael GarlandZack is not excited about second grade at all.  That is until he meets his new teacher that can really bring a story to life!  You can find this book here.

2.  Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester LaminackNothing ever happens on the Tucker Farm...that is until a peacock shows up.  The hens and the peacock think they work the hardest.  After the old hound dog suggests them to swap jobs, they find out that others jobs aren't as easy as they seem.I adore Lester Laminack!  He is the best storyteller and author.  I have had the great pleasure of hearing him a couple of times at conferences, as well as, as a guest author at our school.  You can find it here.

3.  The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

This book holds a special meaning to me.  Every time my sweet little 2 year old granddaughter goes back home {in another town} she gets a little sad {and so does Gramma}.  I kiss the palm of her hand and gently close it for her.  I tell her that whenever she is feeling sad and wants me, just open up her hand and kiss it, and it will be like me giving her a kiss.That's what happens in this story when Chester Raccoon has to leave his Mommy to go to school.  You can find it here.

4.  The Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinThis story is a bit sad, but shows the unconditional love the tree has for the boy.You can find it here.

5.  Chrysanthemum by Kevin HenkesI know that everyone probably has this book, but I just love it.  I always use this book during the first week of school.  A sweet story to teach about how hurtful it is to make fun of others.  You can find it here.   Oh, I have SO MANY more but I narrowed it down to these five.  They are all great books that are a must have in the elementary classroom.Be sure to head over to Lindsey's to see what books other teachers are suggesting!Loving this linky party,

Classroom Library Linky Party

Mrs. Rider at Literacy and Laughter is hosting a 

CLASSROOM LIBRARY LINKY PARTY!

I LOVE books, so I had to join!  

Bottom shelf holds crates on books for the listening center

Apple Theme vignette

The kids love to read on the reading rug!

Behind me you can see shelves of books.

Self Selected Reading basket

Baskets of books

I also have a cart full of books and BIG books on a rolling stand that I don't have pics of.

Come on over and join in the fun!!!

Author's Study FREEBIES

When we are doing an "Author Study", I add an Author Study Center.  Here students get a chance to revisit some of their favorite books by the author, as well as, engage in fun activities focusing about the author.  Some of my favorite authors are:

Jan Brett

Patricia Polacco

Lester Laminack

Tomie dePaola

Kevin Henkes

Here are a couple of FREEBIES for you to use.

Chatterbox Blessings,

Author Spotlight!!!

Love Me Some Lester Laminack!

I have had the privilege of meeting this author several times.  If you haven't checked out any of his books, you are missing out, friends!  OMG and if you get a chance to ever see him in person...RUN!!  DO NOT WALK!  You don't want to miss out!  He is FANTASTIC and SOOOOOOO fLiPpIn' FUNNY!!!

Here's his latest book.

Now GO GET IT!  

And check out all of his other awesome books!  

*smiles*

Happy Reading,

October Books

I LOVE October!  

Even though we are only in school two weeks in October due to Fall Break {yippee!} I have favorites that I love to share with my class!  Here are my October book picks...

{This is my all time fav!  I do a unit on Bats at the end of October.}

{I AdOrE this picture!!!}

What are your favorite books for October?

To see the picks of other teachers, head on over to Learning With Mrs. Parker!

Enjoyed our book chat,