Tag Archives: The Read-Aloud Handbook

Why Do I Write Picture Stories and Read Chapter Books?

My first project of the school year is writing picture stories with the children.  Language is critical to learning in all academic areas, so its only natural that creating picture stories is an excellent tool for teachers. Its a fun … Continue reading

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My Summer of Reading

This summer I immersed myself in great children’s books and quite a few young adult (YA) books that I’d never read, for a host of reasons.  So many wonderful books for older children were written when my children were very … Continue reading

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Chapter Reading

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 … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud = Academic Success + Pleasure

This is about more than reading; this is about academic success, learning to read, and loving to read.  It’s about young children and older children, and what happens along the way.  Here are worrisome statistics and great stories.  You should … Continue reading

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The Power of Books; You Have to Read It to ‘Get It’

The best part of my day as a teacher, and the most important part, is reading aloud to children.  I read picture books at least twice a day and a chapter book every day.  I always become moved and emotionally … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud Makes a Big Difference. Here’s Proof.

I love a good story, especially one that involves reading aloud and the stunning difference it makes with children.  Here is a favorite story of mine, from the million-copy best selling book, The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease: “During his … Continue reading

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The Evolution of ‘Gloria’, part one.

As I started to write this post, my husband (the observant one) told me that the single most important thing I have done for children is Gloria.  I didn’t quite know what to say, as he has never said something … Continue reading

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Reading to Children

We are reading Charlotte’s Web, our first chapter reading book of the school year. In just these first weeks of school, children are already hooked on this wonderful book. The older children laugh when the goose repeats things three times. … Continue reading

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Sharing Literacy and Changing Learning

After thirty years of teaching, if someone pinned me down and asked, “Okay, Jennie, what is the most important thing you teach, and what makes the biggest difference?”, I would know the answer, hands-down.  Really.  It is literacy and reading … Continue reading

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Language, Literacy and Reading Aloud… part 2

People often ask why I chapter read.  After all, many of the children in my classroom are are three-years-old.  When we chapter read, the children don’t have an image from a picture book.  They have to make the pictures in … Continue reading

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