Read+Aloud

Read Aloud Assignment
Throughout the semester we will undertake a collaborative study of a broad range of children's literature and young adult literature. Here, we will list the books that we share during our study group sessions and provide a list of suggested activities for developing literacy skills and strategies.

Example:

//Hooray for Diffendoofer Day//! Written by Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith Summary: This text shows the unique events that happen in an elementary school as they prepare to take a standardized test. Suggested Activities: Characterization, Sequencing, Visualization (Illustrate your favorite scene from the story.) The text can be used as a way of discussing standardized tests with younger children. --Prof. K. Kunz.

//Chrysanthemum// by Kevin Henkes: []

__Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood__ by Mike Artell Great book with a twist on the traditional Little Red Riding Hood. Written as words sound with a cajon accent. (If ononmatopoeia is the term for writing as something sounds. Is there a term for writing in an accent?) It is impossible not to sound like you are from Lousianna! The book explores some of the native dishes to LA, as well as introduces a different culture within the United States. Children love the book. The author is also very personable. Reading it makes me want to return to NOLA. Now I'm craving beignets and a walk along the Mississippi to some jazz! -Tori author website: []

Alwayas a favorite of mine __Alice In Wonderland__ by Lewis Carroll. Maybe it was because it was one of three books my mother gave me that were hers as a child (the power a book holds - I still have her/my copy,) or maybe because it was about a girl who fell into a rabbit hole where anything was possibble and nothing was as it seems. Disney of course had their movie version and now the the new Johnny Depp movie has brought __Alice in Wonderland__ back into popularity. However, the Lewis Caroll version still holds much relevance. Carroll's words are quoted in movies to other fictional books such as __Written on the Body__ by Jeanette Winterson (not a child's book.) Tori For those that want to teach high school or higher may want to consider, __Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curiouser and Curiouser__ by William Irwin. I just finished reading this book last night a matter of fact. The book investigates the meanings behind the words of Lewis Carroll. Procastination, feminist views, and ideas of reality are touched upon amoung others. __Alice in Wonderland__ is not just a book for 3rd or 4th graders but pages filled with ideas we can incorporate into everyday life. -Tori This book follows the hard life of a child who broke the rules to become one of the great jazz musicians all because a teacher gave him a trumpet - __Dizzy__ by Jonah Winter. Easy to incorporate other disiplines with this book - music and history to name a couple. If you are looking to do something different to honor black history month, __Dizzy__ may be an option. "This is a story about a boy who breaks all the rules and ends uo head of the class, top of the heap, the - ska-diddley dee bop! Prince of jazz." -Tori

** A perfect read aloud for Valentine's Day! Mr. Hatch is the recipient of a mystery Valentine. "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch" has a very surprise ending that might make you cry! Have your students make predictions and respond to the text. --Prof. Kunz **

Another idea is for the children to make their own story be it on paper or as a discussion. Say, "If you give a cat a cupcake it will...." Students can then create what happens. Also a game like this is great for classroom management. For example - when you have the whole class lined up and you are waiting to go somewhere and need to fill the void the same "game" works. Distracts the students. It works from little guys up through the ages. Always good to have time fillers in mind. You never know when a fire drill will go on longer then expected etc. A time filler like this has educational value too. -Tori
 * __If You Give a Cat a Cupcake__ by Laura Numeroff is one of my new favorite books from her series. It is a great book to teach children how to correctly sequence events in a fictional story. Sequencing is a great tool to help students with reading comprehension skills. To demonstrate its relevance in real life, a teacher can use a cupcake recipe to show the students how important it is to be able to correctly sequence events. -- Kimberly **

__Farfallina &Marcel__ by Holly Keller. This is a wonderful book about a caterpillar and gosling and their story of friendship and transformation. The book uses rich language and has excellent illustrations. I think it would be a great book to teach young children characterization and sequencing. As a matter of fact, this story is part of my seven year old daughters reading curriculum. Her teacher used it to develop comprehension by having the students do an activity involving retelling the story and answering questions. -- Kimberly

__No, David!__ by David Shannon. This is one of my all time favorites. This book uses detailed illustrations to show how a five year old boy does many things that a child is told not to do. I think this book is excellent in teaching children inference. Since there are not many words in the book, students have to use the illustrations to infer what is happening on each page. -- Kimberly

** Your kids will be bundles of energy on Halloween, but this read aloud is sure to gain their attention! The Skippyjon Jones series is imaginative and is accompanied with amazing illustrations. I love the use of the Spanish language in the text as well as the rhymes. In one book in the series he refers to himself as the "bandito." Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat who clearly has an identity crisis because he thinks he is a Chihuahua! :) You are sure to love this. --Prof. K. **

** Judy Blume’s __Fudge__ Series is a great read for a 2nd/3rd grader and up. This was one of my oldest daughter’s first chapter books and she loved them. There are many things you can do with these books such as discussion questions, projects, writing activities, and journal entries. There are also audio books for this series that would be great for centers.-- Kimberly **

** __The Mitten__ by Jan Brett is a popular children’s book that is often used in the pre-k/ kindergarten classes. This book can be used for activities such as retelling the story, talking about the order in which the animals appeared in the book (sequencing), review of previously learned letters and sounds or to introduce new ones, and art activities. It is especially fun when used in the middle of winter when it’s cold and snowy outside. -- Kimberly **

A poetry book with fun drawings. A great way to introduce Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou a former poet laureate who had 55 doctorates and over came many hardships. This book also helps teach fundamentals of poetry rhyme, rhythm, and pattern. //Life Doesn't Frighten Me// by Maya Angelou Shadows on the wall Noises down the hail Life doesn’t frighten me at all Bad dogs barking loud Big ghosts in a cloud Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Mean old Mother Goose Lions on the loose They don’t frighten me at all Dragons breathing flame On my counterpane That doesn’t frighten me at all.

I go boo Make them shoo I make fun Way they run I won’t cry So they fly I just smile They go wild Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Tough guys in a fight All alone at night Life doesn’t frighten me at all. Panthers in the park Strangers in the dark No, they don’t frighten me at all.

That new classroom where Boys pull all my hair (Kissy little girls With their hair in curls) They don’t frighten me at all.

Don’t show me frogs and snakes And listen for my scream, If I’m afraid at all It’s only in my dreams.

I’ve got a magic charm That I keep up my sleeve, I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe.

Life doesn’t frighten me at all Not at all Not at all Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

__Walking the Bridge of Your Nose__ by Michael Rosen is another book of poetry. This book like __Life Doesn't Frighten Me__ also covers the basics of rhyme and pattern but also word play. The book uses humor and colorful illustrations to engage the reader.

Beverly Cleary's books took up a good chunk of my free time before I got to Judy Blume's. Recently a new Ramona movie was out but other then that Beverly Cleary isn't heard of much these days. Her books feature imagination and children that are "different." This is one of my favorites too! --- Kimberly

Quick back history. We know I have worked in the public school system for years but I also housesit on the side. Really I did it when I was younger and now there are some folks that are more like family then "clients" and I will never say no to them. I am at one of those houses now. I started here 15 + years ago, it was after Kip heard me talking at Clinton Public School about my parents' dog that she asked if I would help them out. Kip, now retired, was the learning consultant at the school. I've had numerous talks to her about education in the years that followed. Just a month ago we sat and talked for 3 hours. There are always different insights you can learn. It's facinating to be at her house her husband is a retired scientist for Exxon. There are books all over! Covering every topic! From how to play scrabble to books in French. Kip studied in France and Charlie grew up in Canada. While her daughter took all the books to do directly with teaching, she's a teacher in Colorodo, there are still children's books. I took a glance at this one: __I'm Nobody! Who are you?__ Just because of the title. However, this poem and the illustration that went along kept my attention. I wanted to share. I keep thinking it would be a great bulletin board. Wasn't sure where, or if it was o.k. to share. I just hate keeping things to myself. I'm always looking for new ideas. You never know when or how you will stumble on them. -Tori

*I promise I will try harder to get to the point. I know I can be wordy :-)



Dickinson, E. (1978). I'm Nobody! Who Are You? Poems of Emily Dickinison for Young People. Owings Mills, Maryland: Stemmer House Publishers, Inc.

1. idea straight out bulletin board just using the image. Put student work or book suggestions around it. 2. use the image and make a poster for a small board. Then take pict. of students (have children pose like the character but looking at the camera.) Print out and cut the image of the child. Each week/day it could be someone different turn to talk about a book or be in charge of the classroom library etc. That child's image would then replace the character.... I don't know couple thoughts.

This week I introduced my student to one of my all time favorite books: I was surprised that Toni-Renee had never heard of the book and was initially hesitant to read it! After convincing her, she actually really enjoyed it and decided to go see the movie. Where the Wild Things Are helped Toni-Renee use her imagination and come up with different theories to what was happening on the pages that only had illustrations and no words. Although the book was a little young for her age group she still was able to relate to the character and recieve the message. Also, because she is having trouble with reading and comprehension she felt confident because she was able to read and understand the text.---F. Mosley