Reading Connection

September 2020 Ladera del Norte Elementary School Mrs. Phyllis Maestas, Principal Read-aloud favorites Adventures in reading ■ The New Small Person (Lauren Child) What’s between the pages Life as an only child is going well for of a book? An adventure Elmore, until a new little person comes that your youngster could along to interrupt go on—without leaving his TV shows home! These ideas will and knock show him all that he can over his toys. learn on his nonfiction But as his brother gets older, Elmore reading expeditions. realizes that a sibling can become a Take an animal safari friend—maybe even enough of one to Together, look for animals share his prized jelly beans with. outside, and help your child ■ The Word Collector (Sonja Wimmer) make a list of the ones you see. Luna loves to collect magnificent Then, read books or look online to words, but one day she notices words learn facts about each one. What does it disappearing from her collection. eat? What are its babies called? Does it Soon she discovers that they’re miss- sleep at night or during the day? Encour- or pretend) to the person that includes ing because people are too busy to age your youngster to write each fact questions he has. remember them. Can Luna bring (or dictate it to you) in a notebook to Visit new places carry on future walks. How many new love, friendship, and fun back into Let your child plan an imaginary trip animals can he “meet”? their lives through the power of to a book’s setting. After a story about a words? (Also available in Spanish.) Meet people rain forest, read a nonfiction book on ■ Even Superheroes Have Bad Days Scientists, artists, civil rights leaders … jungles. He can use facts he learns to (Shelly Becker) biographies are full of fascinating peo- make a packing list for his journey. He’ll Superheroes could use their ple. Suggest that your youngster make have to think about the climate (hot, powers to do naughty things, a trading card for each person he reads rainy) to decide what he needs (wide- like change the weather or about. He could write facts like the per- brimmed hat, lots of water, umbrella). cause chaos when they are son’s name, birthplace, and accomplish- He could also write a pretend postcard ♥ sad or mad—but do they? ments. Or he might write a letter (real from his destination. Readers will find out how even the mightiest superheroes work through their emotions to Fine-motor fun make a difference in the world. w Playing with tiny objects strengthens little hands—build- ■ How Did That Get in My ing the fine-motor skills your child needs for handwriting, Lunchbox? The Story of Food drawing, and more. Try these activities. (Chris Butterworth) ● Cotton-ball race. Give each player an empty bowl and a Where do common foods like bread, bowl containing 12 cotton balls or other small, soft items. cheese, and carrots come from? This Using tweezers or your thumb and forefinger, race each nonfiction book describes their jour- other to transfer them—one at a time—to the empty bowl. Who will win the race? neys from farm to lunchbox. ● Yarn wrapping. Your child will discover Let your youngster use safety scissors to cut long pieces of col- that it takes a lot of orful yarn. Then, have her tape one end of each to the outside of a cup, wrap the work to grow and pro- yarn around and around, and tape down the opposite end. Idea: She could use ♥ duce yummy foods. her creation as a pencil or crayon holder.

story: “Who is in your drawing?” Ready, set, write! “What are their names?” Tip: As your Drawing is the first way children youngster learns to write her name express their thoughts on paper. You in school, have her start printing it may also have noticed—or will on pictures she draws at home. soon notice—your youngster Scribbles. Is your child adding writing scribbles, letters, or words scribbles or letter-like shapes to on her pictures. Use these strate- her pictures? Combining drawing gies to support your little writer and writing is a big step toward at every stage. learning to write. Acknowledge her Drawings. Invite your child to tell efforts by asking, “Can you read you all about pictures she draws. Ask that to me?” questions that encourage her to tell a Writing. When your youngster begins writing actual letters or words, help her list words she uses frequently. Examples: the, like, Mommy, Daddy. She can label her list “Words I Know”—and Reading refer to it to help her write captions for her pictures.♥ aloud—together ●Q My son loves when I read to him. Any tips for using story time to help him learn to read himself? Plant an alphabet tree

Read an alphabet book with your child, ●A Sure! Start by asking your child to join in when you read. Try reading a then encourage him to build his own alphabet tree to book with a refrain, perhaps The Very identify and remember letters. Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle) or If You 1. Let your youngster plant a “tree trunk” (an Give a Mouse a Cookie (Laura Numer- empty cardboard paper-towel tube) in a cup filled off). After a few pages, pause before the with dirt or sand. Then, help him cut small slits repeating part—your son will feel into the trunk and insert craft stick “branches.” proud to finish the page himself (“But 2. Have your child draw 26 “alphabet leaves” on Tip: He could flip he was still hungry!”). green paper, cut them out, and write a letter on each leaf. through the alphabet book to remind himself what each letter looks like. 3. Together, recite the alphabet (or sing the alphabet song) while he tapes each leaf to any branch. ee?♥ 4. Read the book again—can your child find each letter on his tr

Your child will also learn from listen- Family show-and-tell ing to you read rhyming books. Stop before you say each rhyming word to let When my daugh- ask questions, such as, “What do you your youngster fill it in. ter Erica began kindergarten, she was like best about it?” or “Where did you Finally, develop his reading compre- hesitant to speak up during show-and- get it?” We’ve shared books, drawings, hension by talking about stories. Share tell. Her teacher suggested that we prac- souvenirs, and more. your reactions (“That part really tice at home, so we decided to hold a What began as a way to help Erica cracked me up!”), and listen while he weekly family show-and-tell night. practice speaking has turned out to be a tells you his response.♥ Every Friday, we gather great family conversation OUR PURPOSE in the living room and starter. Now Erica is take turns sharing in second grade— To provide busy parents with practical ways to promote their children’s reading, writing, something that’s she’s speaking up and language skills. important to us. more in class, and Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Each person we still look for- 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 explains why her ward to family 800-394-5052 • [email protected] www.rfeonline.com show-and-tell item show-and-tell ISSN 1540-5648 is special. Then we each week.♥