Category Archives: reading

Reading Aloud – To You! Part 6

My reading aloud The Poet’s Dog by Patricia MacLachlan continues with chapters ten and eleven.  Chapter ten is 5:25 and chapter eleven is 3:49. Everything is coming to a head.  The storm is over, and… well, you’ll see (and hear.)  Much happens … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Dogs, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, Particia MacLachlan, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Reading Aloud – To You! Part 5 (and a Bonus)

My reading aloud The Poet’s Dog by Patricia MacLachlan continues with chapters eight and nine.  Chapter eight is 3:27 and chapter nine is 3:39. Sylvan is stubborn about taking his medicine.  Flora wonders if Sylvan really left Teddy. She worries what will … Continue reading

Posted in Author interview, Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, history, Particia MacLachlan, picture books, reading, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Reading Aloud = Academic Success

I will always champion reading aloud to children because I know, first hand, what a huge difference it makes.  Some people need to hear all the reasons.  I have written plenty of stories about those.  Some people need to read … Continue reading

Posted in books, Early Education, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , | 86 Comments

Reading Aloud – To You! Part 2

Dogs speak words But only poets And children Hear ~Patricia MacLachlan~ I continue reading aloud The Poet’s Dog, by Patricia MacLachlan, with chapters two and three.  Chapter two is 6:48 and chapter three is 1:44. In chapter one you met Teddy … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Particia MacLachlan, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 65 Comments

Wish Tree

Have you ever seen  a Wish Tree? Walking along a beach on Cape Cod with friends, we rounded a bend along the sand where it meets the shore.  This was a remote stretch of the beach, quite a distance from … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Nature, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 83 Comments

When Children Tell Their Stories

Stories.  That word alone is groundbreaking.  It means listening, looking, hearing, and thinking.  Stories light a fire.  That means learning. Children have more ideas and thoughts in their heads than we realize.  Their brains are gigantic sponges; they see it … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, picture stories, preschool, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 62 Comments

This Year’s Favorite Picture Books

Every year children vote on their favorite chapter reading book.  Charlotte’s Web is the clear winner most years.  This year we voted on our favorite picture books as well.  That was a big challenge for children as we read at … Continue reading

Posted in America, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, picture books, preschool, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 74 Comments

From Little House on the Prairie, to Geography, to Maps, to Mount Rushmore, to History… And More

When good reading happens in my classroom, it opens the door to so many other things. Children have questions and ideas.  Interrupting in the middle of chapter reading means children are listening and interested.  I can answer those questions and … Continue reading

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, history, preschool, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 64 Comments

Happy Easter from Boston’s Make Way for Ducklings

Photo courtesy Universal Hub Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common.  Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack  are all … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, picture books, reading | Tagged , , , , , , , | 77 Comments

Gifting Books to New Families

Books.  A big bucket of books.  A big bucket of excellent books. Sunday is my school’s annual Open House for new families, and for parents looking to enroll their child in our school.  As they walk through the front door, … Continue reading

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 59 Comments