books worth reading

This year I finished reading 55 books.  Here are a few that I would recommend reading.

• Runaway Saint by Lisa Samson-I read this novel for the second time this spring and was glad that I did.
• The More of Less by Joshua Becker-If you want to live a more intentional life, this is probably for you. 
• Gentle Ben by Walt Morey-A novel that I will likely read again some day.  Next time I make personalized reading lists for my family, it will be on my nephews' lists.
• The Rent Collector by Camron Wright-My book club read this one and enjoyed it...lots to think about regarding povety and literacy.  I first read it three years ago and it was worth a second read.
• Redeeming How We Talk by Ken Wytsma and A. J. Swoboda-Everyone is willing to talk and share opinions.  These authors talk about why what we say is important.  It would make a good book to read with a friend and discuss.
• Love Lives Here by Maria Goff -If you have read Love Does by Bob Goff, you would likely enjoy this one as well.  Maria and Bob sure make me think a lot more about how to love people well.   
• Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin -Martin has woven another story worth reading and probably rereading. He does such a great job at creating characters and developing a story that is full of surprises.

Sing a Song of Seasons

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year selected by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon is a book any English teacher or poetry lover is sure to enjoy.  Waters selected 365 poems, one for each day of the year.  Some are well-known, others not so much, but it is a fun way to put a little bit of poetry into your day.  Preston-Gannon's illustrations make the book worth looking at over and over again.  If you need a book for your coffee table or someone who likes poetry, this would be a great book to buy.   

The Tree Lady

The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins and illustrated by Jill McElmerry is a picture book for adults and children.  This biography tells Kate Sessions' story.  She lived in California in the 1800's and moved to San Diego to teach school.  After two years, she quit teaching and made it her goal to change San Diego from a dirty, dusty town to one filled with trees.  Now that I know about Sessions, I want to go back to San Diego and visit Balboa Park again.  It made me realize a person with the right amount of determination can really make a difference in the world around them.  If you are a fan of Barbara Cooney's book Miss Rumphius, you will enjoy this story, too. 

The More of Less

The More of Less by Joshua Becker is a book I came across at the library a couple of weeks ago.  Becker has written the book to help people get rid of things, not simply for the sake of having few possessions, but to allow you to have room for the things that are really important to you.  Becker's journey began when he realized the amount of his belongings caused him to spend time dealing with them instead of spending time with his son.  If you want to live a simpler life, a more intentional life, or just a less stressful life, I suggest you look for this book at your library.  Even if you don't agree with everything he says, you will find some of his suggestions worth doing. 

If you don't have time to read the book, or want to know more about Becker's thoughts on minimalism, you can also look at his blog called Becoming Minimalist.  If you like this book and need other ideas for living lighter, I would also recommend Peter Walsh's book  It's All Too Much.

Great Things to Do Outside

Great Things to Do Outside: 365 Awesome Outdoor Activities by Jamie Ambrose is a book I found at the library.  It is written for children.  Teachers and parents who want to encourage an appreciation of nature would like looking through this book as well.  It is easy to browse, and like all DK books, full of color photographs.  Many of the ideas don't seem new to me, but are reminders of things.  There were a handful of ideas that were new, including the following...

• 29. Make a bug hotel
• 49. A balloon pinata
• 136. Stack a stone tower
• 301. Make a sundial
• 327. Build a bivouac

Gentle Ben

I just read Gentle Ben by Walt Morey and it was the best novel I read this summer.  The story is about thirteen year old Mark Andersen who lives in Alaska, and his best friend, a bear named Ben.  Of course, most teenagers in Alaska don't have pet bears, and it creates some challenges for the whole family.  If I taught middle school, I would use it for a read aloud for my students.  This classic is worth reading for anyone thirteen years and older middle who likes the outdoors or animals.

memorize a poem

Memorizing a poem is a good activity for children (and adults) to do over the summer.  Learning something from memory is good brain exercise (see here for an article that extols the virtues of memorization).  For younger children, I would start with something short, but my hunch is that younger children will memorize things just as easily as older ones or adults.  The Poetry Foundation has a part of their website dedicated to poems for children.  Some poetry books for children that I like are written about here.  I also like this book, Falling Down the Pages.

This is my last post for summer learning.  I start back to work next Monday, most students I know will be back to school soon, too.

A Boy, a Mouse and a Spider

A Boy, a Mouse and a Spider: The Story of E.B. White by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Lauren Castillo is a book for children and adults alike.  This story by Herkert is a picture book biography about the author of Charlotte's Web.  I enjoyed learning more about White, but I enjoyed Castillo's illustrations as well.  Children who like to write may be inspired by this story.  Children and adults who have enjoyed Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web or The Trumpet of the Swan would find this book worth reading.

learn something new

If you are still looking for something to help your kids do something that would benefit their minds this summer, it could be time to learn something new.  The library is full of books that can help children learn something like origami, yo-yo tricks, balloon art, cooking, magic or juggling.  Your child may have something else that they have always wanted to learn, days free of school and homework are a great time to do this.  If a child has a penchant for performing, having a magic or juggling show could be a way to share what he or she has learned with friends or family.

Pie is for Sharing

Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and illustrated by Jason Chin is a book to share with preschoolers and kindergarteners. Ledyard starts the story by saying pie is for sharing, but the book talks about what other things are meant to share as well.  This could be used as a start for discussion about things that are good for sharing as well as things that are not. 

play board games

Playing games with your children is a good way to build language skills and interpersonal skills, while using thinking skills.  Here are a few I would recommend.

Checkers
This is a two player game, but children as young as five can learn to play.  There is a need to pay attention to the other person's moves and keep your checkers safe while capturing your opponents checkers.

Guess Who?
Also a two player game, this is a game of asking and answering yes/no questions.  It is recommended for ages six and up.  After repeated playing, there are some strategies that can be applied to increase your chances of winning.

Chess
This two player game is one that requires strategy, my nephews prefer it over checkers.  It is more difficult to learn than checkers cause each type of piece can move in a different manner.

Scrabble
A word game for two to four players. Players must make words with the letter tiles that they have to add on to the crossword puzzle on the board.  It says for ages 8 and up, those who struggle with spelling may find it too much of a challenge.  When my family plays, it takes about an hour from start to finish. 

Apples to Apples Jr.
This is my favorite of the games, but you need at least four players (it can be up to ten), and all players need some reading ability.  It is a good game for using and developing language. 

There are many other games that can promote learning.  Chutes and Ladders is good for counting.  Sorry is good for counting and strategy.  Monopoly and Life are games where you are continually counting money and making change.

games in the car

Another way to engage children in learning over the summer is playing games while going places in the car.  There are a variety of games to play, depending on your children's ages or interests.  Here are few that I have played with a variety of children.  (These can be played while walking, too.)

The easiest game to play is the Alphabet game.  The goal is to find the entire alphabet on signs and vehicles outside the one you are in.  Start with looking for the letter A.  After that is found, then look for B, followed by C, until you get to Z.  It can be done individually or as a group.  

The license plate game is for longer trips.  Make a list of all the states in the United States.  Then everyone looks for cars with plates from other states.  Every time a new state is noticed, it is marked off on the list.

Another way you can play with words is by choosing a topic or category.  In two or three minutes, try to think of all the thing that would fit in the category.  A few categories to get you started thinking are vegetables, things that swim, transportation, things that are triangles.

There is also the geography game.  The first player names a place anywhere in the world.  Then you take the last letter of that word and the next person names a place that begins with that letter.  Players take turns naming places but cannot repeat places.  For example, the first player says Madagascar.  Then the next player says Rhode Island, the next says Delaware.

The Year Comes Round

The Year Comes Round by Sid Farrar and illustrated by Ilse Plume is a book to add to your poetry collection.  Farrar has written 13 haiku for the year.  Each of the first twelve poems represent a month in the year.  He does well with word choice in each poem. I liked all the poems, but my favorite is the one about cornfields.  Read this book to enjoy a journey through the seasons in a temperate climate.  Even if you don't have children to read to, it is worth checking out from your local library.

writing letters

This summer you and your children could spend some time writing letters.  Writing letters to relatives who live in another town or state will probably gain a reply.  You could also pick favorite authors and write to them.  Sending a letter to some authors will mean a return letter.  On occasion, my students have received a signed copy of an author's book.  Many author's have websites with contact information.  If you cannot find an address you could also send the letter to the publisher, who normally forwards it to the author. 

Green Eyes

Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum is not a new book (it was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1954), but it is a book that children will still enjoy.  It is the story of a kitten in his first year of life.  He describes what he likes to do each season, from one spring to the next.  He then explains what he will enjoy during each upcoming season.  The book reminded me of Kevin Henkes' works, especially Waiting and Kitten's First Full Moon.  The text is simple enough for preschoolers to understand, yet not so simple that elementary students will find it too babyish for their tastes.

science experiments

Science experiments are engaging for children to do at home.  There are many simple experiments you can do at home that don't take a lot of extra stuff and will nurture you child's interest in science.  A book I found at the library, 365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials, has more that enough experiments to last for the rest of the summer.  The directions are straightforward and explain the why for each experiment.  Even children not too interested in science at school should find something to pique their interest.  If you look online, there are plenty of websites with experiments to do as well. 

The Little Red Fort

The Little Red Fort is written by Brenda Maier and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez.  Ruby finds some boards and decides to build a fort.  At every step of the process she asks her three brothers for help.  Every time they refuse, until it is time to play in it.  This is a new twist on the well known story of the Little Red Hen.  Anyone who likes new versions of old stories will enjoy this book.  I added this to books I will read to my students next school year.   

making books

Making books with children is a perfect activity for a rainy or really hot summer day.  You can make a fairly simple book by stapling multiple pieces of paper together.  A simple sewn book can be made with the directions at this page.  Here I blogged about a book that tells how to make mini books, too.  Once you get the book made, the possibilities are endless.  You can make books together or alone, as detailed or as simple as you like.

Summer Supper

Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer with pictures by Mike Austin is a picture book that may impress adults more than children.  Pfeffer wrote a story in which all words begin with the letter S.  A family plants a garden, cares for it, and has a summer party.  The text is concise due to all words beginning with the same letter, but children beyond preschool can enjoy this story.  Teachers could use this book when the class is focused on the letter S or when doing a unit on gardens or teamwork.

nature walks

Nature walks are a great way to enjoy the outdoors with your children while feeding their curiosity and wonder about our world.  With younger children, look for signs that animals have been around or listen for nature sounds, regardless of whether you can see what is making the noise.  Give older children a checklist and mark off the things you see.  Whether you live in town or the country, this can be done by walking around your neighborhood.  If your children enjoy this, try to go the same route at different times of the day to see the difference in animal sightings.  For a longer walk, drive to a nearby park or trail and take along water and a snack.

Bunny's Book Club

Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro and illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss is a book I enjoyed.  Bunny loves stories.  During the summer, Bunny listens to the lady from the library when storytime is outdoors.  Once fall comes, he can't figure out how to still enjoy stories.  He sneaks into the library through the book drop so he can get books.  Soon, Porcupine and other friends accompany him on his nightly trek to the library.  One night, the librarian comes in while they are there, and explains to the animals that they need library cards if they want to use the library.  This book is for preschool and elementary students, and any adult who loves books would likely enjoy it as well. 

visit new places

If you want to enrich your child's summer, you can make a list of five to ten places your family hasn't visited yet, then go to each place.  It doesn't have to be far away or expensive.  There are many state parks, bike trails, museums, and other attractions that could be an opportunity to learn something new.  If you and your family are library fans, you could visit other libraries.  You could also go to a new restaurant.  A few places on my list for the summer are the governor's mansion, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Northland Arboretum.  If you live in Minnesota, here are more destinations for you to consider putting on your list.

Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul
Forest History Center in Grand Rapids
Lake Itasca State Park near Park Rapids
Minnesota History Center in St. Paul-it is free Tuesday afternoons from 3-8
Munsinger and Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud
Voyageurs National Park near International Falls
Walker Art Center and Minnesota Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis-it is free on Thursday evenings from 5 to 9 and the first Saturday of the month from 10 to 3

If you are ambitious, you could also make a book to document the places that you visited this summer.

Alphabet Boats

Alphabet Boats by Samantha Vamos and illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke is a picture book you can share with readers of many ages.  Though the text is short, it is written to expose young children to higher level vocabulary.  Letter B is for barge, g is for gondola, and y is for yacht.  If you have a child who likes boats, or teach children and have a unit on transportation, this book is worth looking for.  The author has also written two more similar, Alphabet Trains and Alphabet Trucks.

eggs in a nest

I went to get some rhubarb when I was at my dad's house and discovered this nest.  Last week there had only been one egg, now there are four.  Later, I saw the bird sitting on the nest.  I am fairly certain the nest belongs to a chipping sparrow.  Hopefully nothing disturbs the bird and the eggs hatch.   

summer reading program

It is Tuesday and this is my second installment about summer learning with children.  My suggestion today is to have your child (or children) participate in a summer reading program.  Most public libraries have these to encourage children to read over the summer.  Children sign up for the program and get a reading or activity slip.  When the child reads or is read to, he or she colors in the amount of time read.  When the slip is complete, the child turns it in for a chance to win a prize.  Something extra my library has is weekly trivia questions, where a child can answer a question for a shot at a small prize.  At the end of the summer, some libraries give bigger prizes like tickets to the Minnesota State Fair or a marble run.  Programs are going to vary from library to library.  There are also some bookstores like Barnes and Noble (click here for form) and Half Price Books who have reading incentives as well.  Whatever program you choose, your child is going to be better off for having read this summer.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park by Lisa M. Herrington is a book I would recommend reading with any elementary aged child.  It could also be used with adult students who are learning English as a second language.  In addition to talking about unique features of the park, it does mention what many people do when they go to the park, as what animals you could see.  The photos make me want to go to the park and spend a couple of days.  This is just one in a series-some other parks include Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia, Yellowstone and Glacier.  All of the books would make a good addition to a third, fourth, or fifth grade classroom library.

summer activity jar

Here are directions on how to make a family activity jar.  I came up with the idea after doing some reading about summer learning with children.  To start with, I made a list of 70 learning activities, some in each of the areas of science, math, literacy, and social studies.  (There are a few just for fun activities, too.)  Then I wrote each idea on a strip of paper.  After that,the activities strips can be put in a jar or container with cover.  The idea is for the family to choose a slip of paper each day and completes the activity.  I made the activity ideas fairly simple...most do not take more than a paper and pencil, a map, or a book.  Most activities would be completed in under 15 minutes.

Here are a few ideas I used-

• count how many pairs of shoes each person in your family has
• read four books by the same author
• listen to some music from when your parents were young
• learn some words or phrases in another language
• make shadow pictures on the wall using a flashlight and your hands
• call an aunt or uncle
• list 20 or more foods that are grown in Minnesota

This takes a little preparation initially, but then the daily learning activity is ready and you don't have to think about something new each day or week.  My guess is doing this would lead to more learning in other parts of the day, whether it was child or parent directed.

If you decide to make one of these for your family and need ideas, let me know and I would be willing to share my list with you. 

This is the first post in a series about summer learning with children.  Check back each Tuesday throughout the summer for more ideas.

My Pet Wants a Pet

My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach and illustrated by Eric Barclay is an entertaining book for preschool and elementary aged children.  A boy wants a pet and his mom finally lets him get a puppy.  Then his puppy wants a pet, so the puppy gets a cat.  After a while, the cat gets a bird, the bird gets a worm, and the worm gets a flea.  The flea doesn't get a new pet, but decides the puppy is his pet.  The mother is not at all happy until the boy figures out a way to make her feel included.  Most children would enjoy this story because it is about pets, but also because the impossibility of pets owning pets.

Marigold and Daisy

Marigold and Daisy by Andrea Zuill is a new book I found at the library.  Marigold, a snail, becomes an older sister to Daisy.  Of course, life changes.  Daisy gets so much attention, and Marigold is jealous.  Marigold tries to think of a way to solve the problem, but it just gets worse because Daisy wants to be everywhere her older sister is.  When someone decides to pick on Marigold and Daisy defends her, Marigold decides a little sister isn't so bad.  Any child who has a younger brother or sister would enjoy this book.  It was a good story, but I think it also appealed to me because snails are rarely found as main characters in a book.

And Then Comes Summer

And Then Comes Summer written by Tom Brenner and illustrated by Jaime Kim is a perfect celebration of summer.  Flip-flops, parades, lazy days, lemonade stands, fireworks, ice cream trucks, vacation and camping all show up in this book.  The illustrations made me want to enjoy summer immediately, though the first time I read it was in March.  It is a book that children will enjoy and make adults wish for the idyllic summer days of their childhood.

Up in the Leaves

Up in the Leaves by Shira Boss and illustrated by Jamey Christoph is a new book I stumbled across at the library last week.  Bob Redman is not someone I had heard of, but after reading this book I want to know more about him.  As a boy, Bob lived in New York City.  He loved the outdoors and climbing trees.  One summer, he decided to build a tree house in one tree in Central Park.  It was discovered and taken down.  He did that again, and again, and again, making each one more complex.  Finally, he got a job offer to work in the park taking care of the trees.   This picture book is based on Bob's youth and written by his wife.  One girl read the book and thought it was a little sad (Bob's tree houses kept getting taken down).  A younger elementary boy liked the book-he seemed intrigued by the boy's persistence in building tree house after tree house.  This book could be used as a good discussion starter for students eight and older.   

How to Have a Good Day

The Word Collector

The Word Collector is Peter H. Reynolds' newest book.  Jerome is a collector of words.  He finds them everywhere-in conversations with friends, in books he reads, and on signs.  He writes them all down on small pieces of paper, gathering a large collection.  Then he sorts them into groups.  At the end of the book, Jerome releases all the words so others can also enjoy them.  I liked this story because it is about collecting, words, and sharing. The story is short and worth sharing with a class of any age or your own child.  Those of you who are teachers could brainstorm at least a few activities to go along with this story. 

Willa and the Bear

Willa and the Bear by Philomena O'Neill is a new book that most children will enjoy.  Willa is going with her parents to her grandparents house, but loses her doll on the way.  She is sad because she has lost her favorite doll (made by her grandma).  Later that evening, Willa's doll is returned by an unexpected friend.    Even though the main character is a girl, this book has appeal for both boys and girls.

I Love to Read month

February is I Love to Read month at my school.  This year I came up with a new idea to help kids find reading interesting.  I collected a bunch of used picture books.  Then I wrapped each book.  Each time a group comes, one student gets to choose a book to unwrap.  I read the story aloud, and then another student's name is chosen.  That student gets to take the book home to keep.  By the end of the month, everyone will have at least one chance to open a book, as well as take a book home.

meet English and French

It has been over a year since I have had fish in my classroom.  English and French came to live in my classroom last Friday, adopted from Wal-mart.  They are definitely more interesting than the collection of plants I have on my desk and table.  The fish generate a lot more conversation, but I am sure that it would have been easier to take pictures of my plants than these squirmy little creatures.

Where Are All the Minnesotans?

Where Are All the Minnesotans? by Karlyn Coleman and illustrated by Carrie Hartman is a celebration of winter activities here in Minnesota.  From ice fishing to sledding, it depicts a variety of ways people spend time outdoors during Minnesota's long winters.  Though marketed as a children's book, adults who live in Minnesota will appreciate it as well.