Reading Aloud to Your Children
Reading aloud is a wonderful teaching tool. Children learn the basic concept that letters make words, words make sentences, and these combinations impart factual information and imaginative stories. Reading aloud often introduces new vocabulary, new ideas, and opens minds to new possibilities.
These are 3 of my favorite books for the beginning of the year:
"I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont
Full of fun illustrations, this little girl likes herself in all possible ways and delivers the message that she cannot be bullied or teased because she appreciates herself. An extension to this story is to use the Number One from Number Art (free sample on website) and let the students make themselves on the number one.
"Jeepers Creepers - A Monstrous ABC" by Laura Luck
This book uses rhyme and wonderful pictures to go through the alphabet with names and a description of each of the monster kids in this monstrous class. The rhymes cause lots of giggles and then they have to guess who the creepiest monster might be by their standards! For a fun extension to this story use the letters from Alphabet Art Upper Case to give each child the beginning letter of their name. Provide crafty items like glitter, small fabric pieces, beads, etc. and let them create and name their own monster. First graders may be able to create their own rhyme as well.
"The Z Was Zapped" by Chris Van Allsburg
This is a great introduction to using adjectives, adverbs and alliteration for older kids. Wonderfull graphics illustrate the statement about each letter. As an extension, provide a letter for each student from "Alphabet Art Upper Case" and let them make their own version of the letter using adjectives, adverbs and alliteration.
Have a wonderful year!!
