Summer Reading For Kids

We have our Grade Level lists together early this year, so I can brag about them in May, instead of July like most years!  Our reading lists cover grades k through 6+, with an extra family reads included on the 6+ list.  There are lots of books we didn't have room for - I just finished Chomp by Carl Hiassen and it's on the list, but I didn't include his previous gems Hoot, Scat and Flush.  The list is broad at the bottom - pear shaped rather than an apple - because early readers are more sponges than critics.  Our Summer Workbooks also have lists, and they are up to date, because we try to keep our Summer Workbooks up to date!  A quick Google search let me find some good curated lists - I didn't like Oprah's format - designed to force you to look at lots of advertising - but her list is pretty good.  The bottom line is always read, read read!  I would also like to make a special plea for listen - audio books are a great way to subtract boredom from a road trip.  Sure you could let the kids zone out on their own screen toys, but you will miss the joy of sharing an experience together.  My # 1 recommendation for shared road trip book is Charlotte's Web - read by E.B. White.  Sublime.

Teacher Appreciation Week

It's teacher appreciation week - I'm posting on Facebook all week about my favorite teachers.  Charles Blow from the NYTimes made the suggestion and I think it's a great idea.

Here's a post about my Kindergarten teacher Mrs Macken

Summer Plans!

We've posted our Summer Reading Lists - along with our Summer Workbook comparison chart.  This chart compares our 3 Summer Workbooks -Daily Summer Activities, Summertime Learning and Summer Bridge.  We also have a Summer Class scheduled - two in fact!  Finally, we are creating Summer Bundles to make shopping easier for summer.  Now we just need a pitcher of lemonade and we are ready!

Summer Activities Open House

Summer workbooks have become a staple item for kids in our area.  The joy of a summer break is an almost inalienable right, but the academic down-time does have a price.  Busy parents aren't always able to create a summer curriculum from scratch, and opportunities for quality learning need to be researched.  A workbook like Summertime Learning or Daily Summer Activities can provide a great starting place.  This year we're hosting a series of open house events to show off our resources for summer - workbooks, games and more.  We will also be offering discounts, door prizes and benefit nights for local schools.  Our first open house is this Thursday, from 4-8 pm.  Join us and find out how to make summer learning fun!  We also have started our summer learning page - with a comparison of the 3 summer books.

Summer Workbooks Are On My Mind

March 1st seems like a long way from summer, but we have to plan ahead - just like parents with kids facing almost 3 months of academic down time.  Summers can be a great time for learning - and not school type learning, but outdoors, away from adults, being kids learning.  That has become a rare thing though, and many summer hours are spent looking at a screen.   We're against screen time almost all the time, but in summer, it's a practically a sin!  If you're not reading, or swimming, or throwing rocks in a pond you're wasting a summer day that will never come back.  So what about summer workbooks?  We're going back to basics this year - we'll be discontinuing the summer workbook that encourages kids to spend time online.  We have two updated and expanded summer workbooks that are current, fun and can be worked on with a pencil under a tree!   Summertime Learning from TCR and Daily Summer Activites from Evan Moor will be our two key workbooks this year.  We're in the process of putting together a skills matrix, so parents can compare the books.  We are also putting together some great summer packages - a little work, a little play.  Everything will start to show up on our summer learning pages soon!

Librarians Improve Reading Scores

No surprises here!

Want to see students get higher reading scores? Then make sure their schools have a media specialist.

According to new research from Library Research Services, which reviewed standardized test scores from Colorado schools in 2005 and 2011, reading scores statistically increased when schools retained or gained a school librarian. "There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between advanced reading levels and endorsed librarian staffing trends," reads the report, published last month.

Stepping Up Our Game with Pinterest

We're on Pinterest now.  You may think Pinterest is the flavor of the month, but here's what I've noticed already, and i've only been on for two days  - Pinterest puts you in touch with blogs.  These blogs may or may not have been wallowing in obscurity (I know this one does) but an interesting image, posted to Pinterest, has the power to draw you to a blog that you would have never come across.  Words may have substance, but images have impact, and that's what stokes the fires at Pinterest.    I'm going to search now for a popping image to illustrate this post - and if you found this blog because of what ever it was i found, well, there you have it!