The school year has ended. It has been a wonderful year. The most important thing I do with (and for) children in my teaching is reading aloud. Chapter books are a favorite, an everyday staple. Here is the final newsletter I send to parents each year. They need to know how wonderful and important reading chapter books is for their children. I need to ‘pass the torch’ on to them.
Chapter Reading
June, 2024
Chapter reading is one of our treasured moments of the day. We bring to life the imagination, the world, and the past. The anticipation of ‘what happens next’ stirs excitement every day. Children listen and think. They ask questions. Ask your child, “At chapter reading where do you make the pictures?” You will hear your child say, “In your head.”
When we finish a good book and then start a new one, emotions run high and low. The end of a good book is so satisfying and pleasant, yet…it is over. That is the wonderful roller coaster of reading. And, with each chapter book we read, we ride that roller coaster again and again.
We are close to finishing Little House in the Big Woods, and it is thrilling; from Christmas in the 1800’s, to a dance at Grandpa’s, to adventure stories of bears and panthers. We highly recommend reading aloud the next book in the series, Little House on the Prairie. Pa and his neighbor Mr. Scott dig a well, and learn about the bad gas deep inside the earth (Pa had to save Mr. Scott) that only a candle can detect. Laura and her family had fever ‘n’ ague (malaria), an illness that people thought came from eating watermelons. There was also fear of Indians, which is an opportunity for Gloria to discuss diversity and prejudice.
We added a new book to our chapter reading this year, The Wild Robot. It is simply wonderful, and the children know there is a sequel.
These are the chapter books we have read this year. Good books are meant to be read over and over again. We encourage you to revisit these wonderful books with your child:
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles
The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
The fundamental constant that gives children the tools to succeed in school is language. The more words that children hear, the better they will do in school. Reading aloud to children is far more than an enjoyable experience. It increases their language development! In kindergarten through grade four, the primary source of instruction is oral. The more words that a child has heard, the better s/he will understand the instruction, and the better s/he will perform in school, in all subjects. Therefore, we will always campaign to read aloud.
A wonderful guide to book recommendations and to understanding the importance of reading aloud is the million-copy bestseller book, The Read-Aloud Handbook. The author, Jim Trelease, visited the Aqua Room and GCS. We are featured in the seventh edition of the book.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
A great letter to parents to encourage them to continue reading chapter books to their children. It’s a wonderful family thing to do. Mom and Dad can take turns reading out loud and even older siblings can get involved. (or grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc)
I do hope parents and family members pick up the ball and continue on. Thank you, Darlene. I’m glad you enjoyed the letter. 😀
you are a master at this, and your letter explains the benefits very clearly to parents and hopefully will inspire them to do the same
Thank you, Beth. I hope so!
My parents got me collections of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Mark Twain and an encyclopedia (of course that was long ago). By the time I got through those, I was old enough to join a book club. Reading is SO important!!
Cheers to your parents! After reading Smitty’s letters, I’m not surprised they were a proponent of reading. I bet you loved those Hardy Boys books. Thank you, GP!
Actually, I preferred Twain. But it all led me to continue reading, Tolstoy, Michener and Ayn Rand.
Good for you, GP! I was never a strong reader, but I loved Michener and Ayn Rand.
You must know those books so well by now, especially the Little House series. I can imagine you making them come to life for the children, and their eyes widening in amazement. Adding the Robot book is a great idea, as they will already know something about robotics in modern-day life.
Best wishes, Pete.
I know the books well, yet never tire of reading them to children. It’s exciting to make them come to life, again and again. While the Robot book is very popular (deservedly so), the story is more about emotions than robotics. Still, robots are part of life, and this one is a good introduction for children. Thank you, Pete! Best to you.
One thing I’ve missed the last few years has been being in one classroom so I could establish a class book for regular reading.
I hope, next year, I can!
Yes, I would really miss that if I were in your shoes. I hope you can return to that next year!! Best to you, Ritu. 💕
Instilling the love of books in children is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
Hear, hear!
Jennie, you are the best. I know some books are worth reading over and over, but I’m sure you read these books to each year’s class with the same enthusiasm that they have in their hearts. It’s a great way to start their journey.
That’s so nice, Dan. These books never get old. Yes, every year I read them aloud with heart and enthusiasm, and pass that on to children. I’m already looking forward to and thinking about Charlotte’s Web in September. Many thanks!
Very important letter to the parents, Jennie. I so hope they follow through with it.
Thank you, Don. I feel the same way, and I definitely hope they take the ball and run!
Excellent what you are doing with children, Jennie. They too love reading atleast one page at a time. My daughter is a counselor in a school will make her read your post so that she can make her five year old son read books slow and steady. Thanks 👍🙏
Thank you, Kamal. I’m so glad your daughter will be reading this, as her five-year-old will greatly benefit. Greatly!
Yes Jennie he will sit with his mother. He is quite intelligent. Always welcome. Happy week ahead 😊💖
😍
❤️
I read Peter and Jane book to my grandson and he really liked it. Thanks Jennie.
Hooray! I’m so glad.
Hooray to both of us 💖💖
I remember this letter to parents! Reading aloud to children to help with their language literarcy is such a simple thing to do to reap those immense benefits.
It really is simple and pleasurable for both parent and child. The rewards are enormous and never ending. Of course you know that. 🙂 I will send this letter home to parents for as long as I can stand, walk, and read. 😀 Thank you, Liz!
You’re welcome, Jennie!
I agree, Jennie. Thanks for taking time to include the book links. Hugs.
My pleasure, Teagan. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Much appreciated!
Reading (telling) a chapter book is basically what Scheherazade did to keep alive, one cliffhanger after another.
Yes!
I like the idea of giving parents the idea to go ahead and reread books. This will get them reading and the children can enjoy the stories over again. Great letter, Jennie. I would have been thrilled as a parent to get one like this.
That’s my hope and dream; give parents the books and the reasons behind reading them again to their children. Big win here, all the way around. Thank you for your kind words to have been thrilled to get this letter as a parent. Makes my day! 🙂
😁
Yes chapter reading is indeed important. I remember my 2nd and third grade teacher reading Astrid Lindgren books like the brothers Lionheart to us.
Chapter reading really sticks with you, as you know. It makes a lifetime of difference. You were lucky to have such wonderful second and third grade teachers who read aloud great literature. I teach preschool, and I also have read-aloud groups at the public library. It’s wonderful!
Yes you are so right
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So important and beautifully explained.
Thank you, and thank you! 💕
As you know, not all decisions are sound ones in the education/government world. I know moving more to a whole language approach was a huge step in the right direction back in the day. We need to immerse kids in rich language. What’s better than doing that than by reading more advanced literature to young children?
When I first started teaching, teachers labeled everything in the classroom- chair, table, sink, etc. Preschool children cannot read, but the printed word exposed them to language. On a similar vein, Jim Trelease explained the research behind reading advanced literature. The brain can take in words and stories that are far more complex. Do children fully get it? No, but they get much of it. They won’t understand the humor behind the goose who repeats everything three times in Charlotte’s Web, but they’ll remember the words she writes in her web. I remember the whole language approach, and it was a step in the right direction. Rich language has far more benefits than just understanding the words and the story. It’s what makes us human, and more. We are both very lucky to be part of that. Thanks so much, Pete. Apologies for the long comment. We’re both advocates and have walked the walk to see ‘it works’!
This is providing parents with an easy-to-follow summer syllabus, Jennie. A perfect “passing of the torch” to light the way towards continuing the learning all summer long.
Well said, Bruce. Thank you.
And I hope you can let them know that having the kids listen to books on tape is not the same!
I certainly try!
Great share Jennie. You not only teach the young ones, but the parents too. ❤
That’s so nice, Debby. I certainly try to teach both parents and children. 💕
And you do it so well. ❤
Awww….🥰
Hi Jennie, congratulations on the completion of another wonderful school year. It seems so strange that your year ends now in the middle of our school year. A lovely list of children’s books, many of which I’ve read more than once.
Thank you, Robbie. It must seem strange to you, much like Christmas in the summer seems strange to me. I’m glad you like the book list. I never tire of reading these to children.