Jon Klassen Rules!

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Over the last two weeks in grade one and my strand classes we read three books by author/illustrator Jon Klassen -- all about hats! The simple yet sophisticated drawing and stories are filled with very polite characters with hat problems! Did the big fish eat the little fish? Maybe. Did the bear eat the rabbit? Not sure, he was a bit rude, right? Did they find another hat or are they still dreaming? That's up to you. We think and imagine as we discuss possible endings and if it's ok to take something that is not yours. We also talk about sharing.You will not be disappointed if you check these books out with your child. See youtube link below as well.

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X in Box

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For Letter X we read two different texts. Our first read was The Nowhere Box by Sam Zuppardi. The students make many connections with this story; playing with a box, little brothers, sisters or cousins bothering them and of course playing with someone is almost always better than playing by yourself! We also read Not a Box by Antoinette Portis and student's showed me what their not a box would be. Thinking and imaging are two of the most important things we do all year when reading together. You can take a look with your child as well below.

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Waiting for Wings!

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Lois Ehlert's Waiting for Wings is a perfectly timed read for Letter W. Many of our kindergarten classrooms have watched their own butterflies grow as they learn about the life cycle of a butterfly. It's a fast read with lovely rhyming text, gorgeous illustrations and cleverly designed pages. We make our own butterflies out of the letter W and make our own butterfly hats where we show we understand symmetry! I also read The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain...my students LOVE this book! The empathy they feel for the caterpillar is matched with the excitement they have as he realizes his dreams.

Vegetable for Letter V!

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In Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert the story begins with the task of planting a garden and ends with making vegetable soup. I also include a nonfiction read about vegetables and do a fun survey with the students about their favorite vegetables. During our "Show Me" section of the class, they draw a picture of their favorite vegetable soup! All of our students make connection between apple picking and picking vegetables. A fun book to read with your child when growing your own vegetables or when making vegetable soup!

Gerald McBoing Boing?!

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My first graders continued their reading journey this week by considering what it would be like if you couldn't speak words. In the Academy Award winning movie (1950!), Gerald McBoing Boing (story by Dr. Seuss) only speaks with sounds! We read the book first and then watch the movie. This is a classic that I love to read after the "Bull that is not a Bully," Ferdinand! We make connections in both stories and discuss that EVERYONE has a special purpose. You don't have to be like everyone else as long as you are kind. Watch the Award Winning Movie with your child - it's a great story!

Summer Reading

The Summer Reading Lists are here! Developed by the BPS and the BPL, ALL of these books are available at your local library. Some schools have mandatory summer reading, but for schools that don't, the district has added a summer required reading book for each grade level that you may want to make sure your child reads.
If your child has lost their library card please send me a note and I will make them a FREE card. Also check out the BPL's Summer Reading Programs and have the best summer of reading and fun ever! The reading lists follow below. Happy Reading.

Updated to Summer 2024 Reading

Yellow Umbrella

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April showers bring May flowers! It's a perfect time to read Yellow Umbrella by Dong II Shen and Jae-Soo Liu when we reach letter U. Students watch and listen carefully as this alluring story in a wordless picture book unfolds. This is one of two books that I use during our alphabet journey that use  music CD's (re: Letter J, The Jazz Fly). Using the CD's builds a childs' listening skills and demonstrates that there are alternate ways to interact with a story. Originally published in South Korea, this book also introduces our children to music and song from another country underscoring my library theme that "reading takes you places!"