I'm over at Virginia is for Teachers with the 2020-2021 Virginia Readers' Choice picture books with some easy ways to use them in your classroom! Pop on over by clicking here or on the picture above! See you there!
This Literacy Life: picture books
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
5 Reasons Your Older Students Need Picture Books!
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Snowman's Story to Tell on Book Talk Thursday
It's that time of year: time for snow and fun. I've never been good at building snowmen, but I always try to make one with my kids. They usually come out looking kind of wonky, but at least we give it a try. At this time of year, I like to ready many books about snow and snowmen with my daughter and students. Today' Book Talk Thursday book, Snowman's Story, is a beautiful picture book with a fun story. {Affiliate links provided to help fund future book purchases.}
Book Talk Thursday ~ Hank Finds an Egg
I was browsing the library with my kids the other day and found the perfect book for Book Talk Thursday this week!
Our library loves to put out books on top of the shelves for people to choose. Some libraries I have been to actually put out seasonal books, but ours just puts out books the people have turned in. I know this because I have seen the librarians do this. AND... there was a Christmas book out this past week!
Anyway, the point is that they had this fun little book out, and I thought it was perfect for this springy time of year: Hank Finds an Egg
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This wordless picture book is absolutely adorable! I "read" it with my three year old daughter last night, and we had so much fun with it. The book is about a bear, which looks a lot like my husband's old teddy bear, who finds an egg on the forest floor. He tries to get to the bird's nest in the tree in different ways but is unsuccessful. He takes care of the egg overnight and finds a unique way to return it to its nest. In the end, the hummingbird babies hang out with Hank and seem to be thankful.
Earlier during the day, I found my three year old looking at the pictures and making up the story. While reading it with her, I asked her inference type questions, and she got it! Her answers weren't spot on, but she showed understanding of the book. It just shows that no matter how young, children understand the world around them.
I plan to read this book again and again to see if the story and ideas change. I love wordless picture books for all ages because they lend themselves to so many different lessons ~ inferences, storytelling, predictions, the list goes on...
How do you use wordless picture books in your classroom to help with reading and reading comprehension?
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Our library loves to put out books on top of the shelves for people to choose. Some libraries I have been to actually put out seasonal books, but ours just puts out books the people have turned in. I know this because I have seen the librarians do this. AND... there was a Christmas book out this past week!
Anyway, the point is that they had this fun little book out, and I thought it was perfect for this springy time of year: Hank Finds an Egg
.
Earlier during the day, I found my three year old looking at the pictures and making up the story. While reading it with her, I asked her inference type questions, and she got it! Her answers weren't spot on, but she showed understanding of the book. It just shows that no matter how young, children understand the world around them.
I plan to read this book again and again to see if the story and ideas change. I love wordless picture books for all ages because they lend themselves to so many different lessons ~ inferences, storytelling, predictions, the list goes on...
How do you use wordless picture books in your classroom to help with reading and reading comprehension?
Mentor Text Monday: Inferences
I know, I know! It is Tuesday, and I really should be doing this on Monday, but I am a day late. But, better late than never, right?! I am linking up with my friend Emily from The Reading Tutor/OG for Mentor Monday.
I was so excited when she said that she was going to be focusing on making inferences this week because it is one of my FAVORITE skills to teach! Most people dread it, but I LOVE it! I love to make my students think beyond the literal and "read between the lines".
One of the texts I love to use when beginning any unit on making inferences is a favorite picture book: Tuesday by David Wiesner
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The students have to look at the pictures in the book to figure out what is going on. Using wordless picture books to help students make inferences is a perfect way to introduce the concept, even to the youngest readers. In the book Tuesday, frogs fly around on lily pads throughout the city. Students have to think about what is happening in the book. It is always fun to listen to the ideas the students have for what is happening in the book.
We then talk about what they did to make those inferences and create a simple chart to help them remember what it takes to make inferences. This is an example of a super simple one, but as the students go up in grades, we add to them.
This book is perfect to use with any grade level because even emergent readers can "read" the pictures and tell the story.
Another great picture book series that is perfect for younger students are the Carl the dog books. My son "read" these to me when he was really young. These were the first books he read, and he loved that he could "read" them. He was always spot on with the stories and really focused on the feelings, something that a some books don't tell the reader. Kids will enjoy this fun Carl book at this time of the year. There are a few words, but the main story is crafted by the reader. How cool is that?!
What books do you use to help students make inferences?
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One of the texts I love to use when beginning any unit on making inferences is a favorite picture book: Tuesday by David Wiesner
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We then talk about what they did to make those inferences and create a simple chart to help them remember what it takes to make inferences. This is an example of a super simple one, but as the students go up in grades, we add to them.
Another great picture book series that is perfect for younger students are the Carl the dog books. My son "read" these to me when he was really young. These were the first books he read, and he loved that he could "read" them. He was always spot on with the stories and really focused on the feelings, something that a some books don't tell the reader. Kids will enjoy this fun Carl book at this time of the year. There are a few words, but the main story is crafted by the reader. How cool is that?!
Halloween Picture Books
Wow! I can't believe fall is here! Yesterday in Southwestern Virginia, it was quite warm, but today it is a gorgeous 70 degrees! I am wearing shorts, but I may change into jeans pretty soon!
Fall and the opening of the pumpkin patches make me think about the holiday coming up ~ Halloween! The students love this holiday almost as much as Christmas, and many of them have already started talking about what they will be and where they will go to Trick or Treat. Being rural, many students end up at churches or nearby neighborhoods. Since I am about 10 minutes away in a different county, they come to our neighborhood. I saw many of them last year as I handed out candy!
Anyway, I was looking through book orders the other day, and I noticed a lot of Halloween books. It got me thinking about those that I love to read with my students. Since I work with so many grade levels, here are my favorites for each:
Since I have a toddler at home, I love the first book, Halloween Bugs. The pop ups are great fun. We read it, and she laughs! There is no sound as beautiful as a toddler laughing!
For kindergarten, we are still focusing on learning those ABC's. I love to read ABC's of Halloween with them. Another fun one is H is for Haunted House.
With first grade, I love to read one of my brother's favorite books, The Teeny Tiny Woman. It is a classic with a funny ending. I remember laughing with my brother when we read it.
Second graders enjoy the story Spookley, the Square Pumpkin. It is a wonderful lesson about how we need to include everyone, no matter how different they are. It is perfect for teaching making connections and tolerance.
Third graders spend a great deal of time with life cycles. Two of my favorite books for teaching life cycles are Pumpkin Circle and Pumpkin, Pumpkin. The second book I can use with many grade levels, since it is taught all throughout the school years.
With 4th grade and above, I love to use the short stories for the Nighttime series. I actually have a set of these that I used for guided reading when I taught third and fourth graders. I love the stories in these. Nighttime: Too Afraid to Scream is actually in the September Lucky Scholastic book order for $3.
And who can forget read alouds? I love to read The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson. The Herdmans make us all laugh and then teach us all a lesson about ourselves.
I am linking up with Chrissy at First Grade Found Me for her Holiday Picture Book Linky Party. I know it says picture books, but I can' resist the read alouds or fun stories!
So, what are your favorite Halloween picture books? Let us know by linking up!
Until next time!
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Fall and the opening of the pumpkin patches make me think about the holiday coming up ~ Halloween! The students love this holiday almost as much as Christmas, and many of them have already started talking about what they will be and where they will go to Trick or Treat. Being rural, many students end up at churches or nearby neighborhoods. Since I am about 10 minutes away in a different county, they come to our neighborhood. I saw many of them last year as I handed out candy!
Anyway, I was looking through book orders the other day, and I noticed a lot of Halloween books. It got me thinking about those that I love to read with my students. Since I work with so many grade levels, here are my favorites for each:
Since I have a toddler at home, I love the first book, Halloween Bugs. The pop ups are great fun. We read it, and she laughs! There is no sound as beautiful as a toddler laughing!
With first grade, I love to read one of my brother's favorite books, The Teeny Tiny Woman. It is a classic with a funny ending. I remember laughing with my brother when we read it.
I am linking up with Chrissy at First Grade Found Me for her Holiday Picture Book Linky Party. I know it says picture books, but I can' resist the read alouds or fun stories!
So, what are your favorite Halloween picture books? Let us know by linking up!
Until next time!
Picture Book Must Haves!
Yay! A linky about reading!!! The Teacher Wife is having a linky title "Must Have Picture Books". I love picture books and use them all the time for teaching various lessons, even with the older students in my school. I just can't pass them up!
One of the things that Beyond Leveled Books talks about is using picture books with older kids. Many times we think they are too easy for them, but some of them are actually written at their grade levels. They are perfect for teaching many different concepts.
So, today I am linking up with The Teacher Wife for her:
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One of the things that Beyond Leveled Books talks about is using picture books with older kids. Many times we think they are too easy for them, but some of them are actually written at their grade levels. They are perfect for teaching many different concepts.
So, today I am linking up with The Teacher Wife for her:
So, here are my top five!
1. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. I love reading this book when I am having a bad day with my students. It shows them that no matter what, tomorrow will be better! I have to remember that myself sometimes, so it is quite therapeutic.
2. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems. I read this every night with my son, and it reminds me of his "Baby" that he carried everywhere with him. Even at eight years old, he sleeps with Baby most nights. Trixie is adorable and unforgettable. Of course, Knufflebunny Two is equally adorable, and my husband still laughs at that one.
3. Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner. Who can't resist Skippito Friskito? He is just so much fun as he uses his beeg imagination in his closet. I love all of them, but this one is one of my all time favorites!
4. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. This one gets the kids up and moving. When we need a little pick me up, we get up and move around. Even fourth graders enjoy this one when things are kind of slow!
5. The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone. My mom read this to my brother and I ever night for I don't know how long. When I found it in her basement, we read it to Zack every night. I can still hear his giggling! This one is fun and really gets kids thinking about how silly Grover is. It is also a good springboard for trying to think of ways to stop the reader from turning pages. LOVE IT!..
So, head on over to The Teacher Wife and link up! I love seeing what everyone's favorite picture books are. It has given me some new ones to look at!
I am getting close to 200 followers, and I want to do a big giveaway at 207 followers. I just picked a fun random number! If you are interested in helping out, please either leave a comment below with your email or email at readerstars@gmail.com.
Until next time!
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