December 2015 iMater Elementary

■ Book ■ Like Pickle Juice on a Picks Cookie (Julie Sternberg) Learning from authors Eleanor is sad and Did you know that your child has grumpy when her long-time writing teachers on his bookshelf? babysitter, Bibi, moves The next time he sits down to away and a new babysit- read, suggest that he keep his ter takes her place. But eyes open for ideas and inspi- over time Eleanor realizes that even ration to try in his own though Bibi isn’t her babysitter anymore, writing. Here are areas she can still turn to her for help. The he can explore. first book in the Eleanor series. Choosing words ■ Circus Mirandus (Cassie Beasley) A precise word has a big Are Grandpa’s stories of a fantastic impact on what the reader circus really true? Micah imagines. Maybe the author says believes they are, especially a character tiptoed or he stalked. Or when he learns that one that the lake glimmered or was stagnant. circus performer owes Each word conjures up a different image. create a handy reminder of different Grandpa a miracle. Hoping Your youngster could collect vivid words ways to write his own tales. that the miracle will heal his and phrases from books and consult the Selecting point of view list when he’s writing. sick grandfather, Micah sets Every person will tell the same story a out to find the circus and make the Deciding on structure little differently, depending on his point performer keep his promise. How did the author organize the of view. Shel Silverstein’s poem “Point of novel? One book might tell a story View” tells what Thanksgiving dinner ■ Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science through a series of letters or emails. would look like from a turkey’s view- of Saving Lives (Elizabeth Rusch) Another may start in the present and point, for instance. Recommend that your In 1985, a sleeping volcano in Colom- flash back to the past. Encourage your youngster examine his own ideas from bia suddenly woke, killing 23,000 child to jot down titles, along with notes different angles to decide whose point of people. Were there clues that could about the books’ structures. For exam- view works best. Will his pirate story be have prevented this tragedy? U.S. ple, “The Neverending Story (Michael more interesting if told by the villain, the Geological Survey scientists work Ende): a story within a story.” He’ll hero, or a captive on the ship? to uncover early warning signs of an eruption in this book from the Scien- tists in the Field series. Science fact or science fi ction? ■ How to Talk to an Autistic Kid Science fiction is full of futuristic technol- (Daniel Stefanski) ogy to spark the imagination. But could it Fourteen-year-old Daniel Stefanski is really happen? Send your youngster on funny, curious, and good at building an investigation to find out. things. He also has autism, so he may 1. Help her get a science fiction book talk too loudly or stand too close to she’ll enjoy. For example, if she likes history, she may like a story where the char- you. This young author’s upbeat book acter travels back in time. uses anecdotes, explanations, and advice, along with humor, 2. After she finishes reading, she could look for nonfiction books, magazine articles, to help readers better or websites to investigate the science behind the story. She might follow up a book understand about life in space by researching space stations and rocket travel. autism. 3. Let her tell you about the science in the story vs. the real-life facts she uncovers. Will time travel be possible in the future? Is the space station in the story realistic?

© 2015 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Reading Connection INTERMEDIATE EDITION December 2015 • Page 2

“Because Mars has no atmo- Understanding sphere, nothing lives there” cause and effect or “The kids were bored, so Sam played a song.” Then, The ability to recognize cause and pair each cause with a differ- effect will boost your child’s reading com- ent effect to make illogical prehension whether she’s reading fiction combinations. “Because Mars or nonfiction. These fun ideas will give has no atmosphere, Sam played her practice. a song.” Mix and match. Together, write zany sen- Show a chain reaction. Suggest tences involving cause and effect. (Hint: Cause that your youngster make a paper and effect sentences use “signal words” like then, because, trail to track the causes and effects in a story she reads. She if, since, so, consequently, as a result, or the reason for.) First, could write each cause on one color of paper and each effect on brainstorm 10 “real” cause and effect sentences, such as another color. Cause: “Hansel and Gretel are left in the woods.” Effect: “As a result, Hansel and Gretel become lost.” Cause: “Since they have no food, they are hungry.” Effect: “They eat the gingerbread house.” As your child lays down her paper Fun trail, she will see how cause and effect drive the plot. with Comma quest Words Play this game to help your youngster remember the sometimes tricky rules on when and where to use commas. Parent Stellar presentations Materials: index cards, pencil, books, 2 Our son Cameron became nervous when magazines, newspapers Parent he had to make presentations in class. I 1. On separate index cards, have your mentioned this to his teacher, and she recommended child write rules for using commas. He having him practice by making presentations for might find rules in a our family. textbook, in class So when Cameron wanted to do something spe- notes, or online. cial for his grandma’s birthday, I suggested he make a Examples: Use a presentation about fun times they’ve had together. He comma after intro- decided to do a full-blown multimedia production. First, ductory phrases he wrote a script and recorded himself reading it. Next, he (“In the morning, we created a slideshow complete with music, sound effects, and photographs. broke camp”). Use a On the day of the party, Cameron pretended to be a newscaster and gave his birth- comma before a con- day presentation. It went so well that his aunt wants him to create one about our junction when it joins two independent family tree for our family reunion this summer! clauses (“He wanted to read, but he had no books”). 2. Shuffle the cards, and spread them Real-world writing out facedown. Take turns flipping one Q over. Then, race each other to find an & A ●Q My daughter thinks writ- And be sure she sees you writing, too. example of the rule in a book, magazine, ing is just something she does for Point out when you type a new recipe or newspaper. school. How do I convince her that writing into a computer file so you’ll remember 3. The winner reads the sentence and is an everyday thing? how to make it again. Let her see you the rule aloud and claims the card. The fill out job applications or A Your child probably doesn’t realize person with the most cards at the end is ● update your resume. how much writing happens outside the the comma champ! Occasionally, read what classroom. Give her a look you’ve written and ask OUR PURPOSE at real-world writing by your youngster for To provide busy parents with practical ways pointing out the different input. You’ll reinforce to promote their children’s reading, writing, ways people write every and language skills. the idea that writing day. For instance, you Resources for Educators, and revising go a division of CCH Incorporated might show her a letter 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 together—and that from your neighborhood 540-636-4280 • [email protected] you can improve upon www.rfeonline.com association or an email what you’ve written. ISSN 1540-5583 from her soccer coach. © 2015 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated