How to encourage reading

Choosing Reading Titles for Elementary School Students

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

This week I’m happy to welcome my guest Mary Bauer from  The Artistry of Education.  Although I’m not currently teaching, I enjoy following Mary’s blog for tips on good reads.  And here she is…


I just packed up my twenty-first class in the district where I graduated high school.  My parents were both educators in the same district.  At different times, I have taught kindergarten through sixth grade, and I will be teaching fourth grade in the fall.

How I choose books for my classroom

Each summer I read twenty to thirty books for the age group I teach and figure out where they will fit in my classroom.  Over time I have created four categories:

1.  Books I want everyone to experience through read aloud or class study.

I recently did a series of posts on my blog about my favorite read aloud books.  You can find a list of my recommendations on my post Favorite Read Alouds Recap.  These are the books that have general appeal, good writing, and an educational reason for sharing.  For example, I share The Phantom Tollbooth most years because of the play on words.  Many teachers I know share this book for the same reason.

Some other books I put in this category are Holes by Louis Sachar, Frindle by Andrew Clements, and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

2.  Books I want to recommend to certain students.

The majority of the books I read in a summer fit into this category.  I discover favorite authors and genres to share with my students.  As I read, I picture different children I plan to introduce to my new find.
As I read through my book list, I am especially looking for books that reluctant readers will enjoy.  Personally, I didn’t like the book Dragonbreath, a combination text and graphic novel about a dragon who has adventures, but  I did recommend it to a 7-year-old boy.  I include 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, and Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

3.  Books I will allow students to read, but I won’t promote.

Books in this category are more controversial.  They may be popular, but the content is generally too mature for my age group.  I may mention them to the reader’s parents, because I believe parents should decide what their students read.
I have already decided that Hunger Games is not something I want next year’s fourth graders to read, but I won’t ban the books at school.  They are very popular and students as young as third grade want to read them.  Our school librarian took this opportunity to teach students about dystopian literature.  There are examples of this genre that do not have children killing children.
Religious materials also fit in this category.  A few years ago the Twilight series was very popular, but not necessarily what I wanted elementary students to read.  I don’t often outright forbid a book I don’t like, because I know that just increases its attraction.

Thank you Mary!  I hope everyone finds helpful suggestions here.  How do you like to find books for your students or children?  Leave your comments below, and thanks for stopping by!

Julia

Improving vocabulary

More Vocab from Dickens

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 7 Comments

Whew!  I finished Great Expectations, a major accomplishment for the summer!  And in the end, I’m very pleased I took the time to keep plugging through, for several reasons, most of which I will reveal in a review later this month.

For this post I’d like to share yet another great vocabulary word to get your brain firing.  (Dickens has taught me so many!).  Late in Great Expectations, Pip attends a funeral and shares this:

…I became conscious of the servile Pumblechook in a black cloak and several yards of hat band, who was alternately stuffing himself, and making obsequious movements to catch my attention.  

obsequious \Əb-‘sē-kwē-Əs\ adj, from Latin ob toward + sequi to follow, obsequi to comply:  marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
By the way, Pumblechook annoys Pip.  
Word Nerd Workout:    Use obsequious in a sentence.  

Jennifer’s boyfriend watched her with obsequious eyes, always ready to rub her back or relieve her of the slightest discomfort.  Her mother wanted to kick some sense into the young man.  

I’m looking forward to your contributions, and thanks for stopping by!

Other word nerd words to explore:

supercilious
inexorable

Julia
Book reviews/How to encourage reading/Words and Technology

Common Sense Media: A Tool for Families

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

Precious little eyes and ears

I like to keep a very close tab on every book, movie, or game my children see.  As technology and media permeate our world, I feel compelled to diligently monitor what goes through the little eyes and ears of my family members.  That’s why I’m so thankful that my tech savvy friend Don introduced me to Common Sense Media.  (Everyone needs a tech savvy friend.  You got one?)

Common Sense Media is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to offering information about media, including books, movies, apps, and games, to parents, children, and educators.  The goal is informed decision making, not censorship.   Board Members of Common Sense Media have experience in a wide range of fields, including law, education, and communications, and they provide reviews of products “so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.”
Each review lists a summary of the product and a minimum suggested appropriate age for using/viewing/reading.  Entries include specific ratings for content issues that parents need to know about, such as positive messages, positive role models, violence, sex, and substance abuse.  You can also access parent and kid reviews, as well as links to other suggested items in a similar genre.   Discussion questions are included at the bottom of each entry so that parents can initiate conversations with their kids about the themes and characters they have seen.
I’ve found that in general, the reviews on the site fall in line with my perceptions.  For example, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, gets an excellent rating but is recommended for 15 year olds.  I agree with the high rating, the warnings provided about controversial content in the novel, and the recommendation for older teen readers.

It’s also interesting to note the discrepancy between kids’ and parents’ insights.  The website rated The Hunger Games book as appropriate for 12 year olds, while parents rated it for 13 year olds, and kids rated it for 11 year olds.  This accurately reflects what I’ve observed while talking with kids, parents, and teachers about the book.

You have to join the Common Sense Media Community to access content, but it’s a free and simple process.  As a member, you can post your own reviews to add to the data base. I’m so happy to find a resource to help me keep up with my kids.  Since I don’t have lots of leisure time to sit around and read (like my kids do… oooh I get so jealous!), I need help to guide my children as they choose media to explore. You can bookmark the site or download the iPhone app!
Up until a certain age, I think it’s appropriate to shield adult topics from my children.  And as they mature, I want to discuss difficult and controversial issues with them to help build ethical and moral thinking.  CommonSense Media gives me the tools to do both.
What resources/websites/tools do you use to screen information?  How do you tackle conversations about difficult subjects in media?  Please leave your suggestions below.
And thanks to Don Klingen for sharing this great website!
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Julia
Improving vocabulary

Gidget Teaches Me Vocab

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 12 Comments

June Review winners


First, thanks to everyone who participated in June’s Word Nerd VocabularyReview.    Three ladies got all three questions correct!  Congrats to  
  • Emily McGee, who writes very interesting posts about her traveling adventures at One Trailing Spouse.  She currently lives in Kenya with her husband, and I love reading about her experiences.  She also offers recommended links every Friday.
  • Susan Stillwell, from I Hope for Him and  Blogmama Susan .  See her blogs for devotions, prayers, practical blogging advice, and Friday roundups.
  • Sally Mayor, who offers writing and website resources at her site, Word Nerd. 
** Note:  Susan and Sally are two time winners!  Great job ladies!

A few clarifications about the review.  I left the analogy pedantic : academic :: pernicious : ___________  open ended on purpose.  I was looking for a synonym for pernicious, and several of you gave excellent answers (ie. harmful, malicious, malevolent.)  Also, my third question asked you to choose a definition for preternaturally, which is an adverb.  However, all of my answers were adjectives!  Emily McGee caught this and wrote in her answer as “extraordinarily” instead of extraordinary.  Good eye, Emily, and extra kudos to you!

Come back on the last Tuesday in July for another (less confusing) review and another chance to earn “link love.”  



This Week’s New Word


Gidget, an energetic little dog, keeps the horses in line at the barn where my daughter takes riding lessons.  When my daughter commented on the dog’s unusual name, I explained that Gidget was a character from a 1960s TV show.  In the process of “Googling” Gidget, I discovered that it’s the portmanteauof the words “girl” and “midget”.  


Sally Field as Gidget
Portmanteau \pōrt-‘man-tō\ noun, from French porter to carry + manteau mantle; originally meaning a large carrying bag, but in 1882 it also came to be used as a word blending more than one use or quality.
Word Nerd Note: Dickens uses portmanteau several times in Great Expectations to refer to Pip’s luggage.  
Word Nerd Workout  Create your own portmanteau or share one you have heard.

Some examples:

linner (lunch + dinner)
ginormous (giant + enormous) – my husband hates this one
brilly (brisk + chilly) 

I can’t wait to see your suggestions!  Thanks for stopping by!

You may also like my posts on these word nerdy words:

oleophobic
supercilious 

Julia
How to encourage reading

Another Great Word Game: Scribblish!

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 8 Comments

Lake Pleasant
When this post is published, I will be relaxing in the Adirondacks, sitting beside the waters of Lake Pleasant, reading a book (of course!).
Every summer we travel to the blissful peace of Camp of the Woods, a place dedicated to family, faith, and renewal.  And this year I plan to pack one of our favorite new word nerdy (don’t tell my husband) games:  Scribblish!
Hasbro has put out lots of fun games in the Cranium line, starting with the original “Cranium.”  (I always gravitate towards the “Word Worm” category for some reason…)  This one, which combines the classic games of “Telephone” and “Pictionary” is fun for adults and kids. 
Here’s how you play.  Grab at least six friends and family for maximum fun.  Everyone gets a “scroll” and a card with silly phrases on it like “And that’s when I fell into a bucket of _____” or “I invented the world’s craziest dance move”.   Each player must choose one phrase from their card (they are all unique) and write it on his scroll.  Then all scrolls get turned upside down and placed in the middle of the table.  Players choose new scrolls and must draw a picture for the phrase they find on the scroll.
Not too hard, right?  Wait!  Then, players again turn in scrolls and blindly pick new ones.  Now, they must write a phrase looking ONLY AT the PICTURE previously drawn.  They cannot peek at the original phrase.  The process repeats, and the giggling begins, as well as exclamations of “WHAT is this?” or “I can’t draw!!”
Somehow, the opening phrase “I can balance a ladder on my nose” can change to “A bird flies south for winter,” as it did in one of our games (see below).  Players earn points for the funniest entries, as well as for guessing which final picture matches their original phrase.  

Opening phrase and picture
Final picture!  How did that happen?
You can find Scribblish at most retail stores.  Please give it a try!  What are your favorite summer time games for friends and family?  Share your ideas in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping by!
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Julia
Improving vocabulary

More Vocabulary with Dickens

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 7 Comments

Since I found so many interesting words in Great Expectations, I thought I’d share another one.  When I came across sagacious, as I have many times in the book, (sagacious must have been one of Dickens’s favorites), I guessed that it meant wise. (ie, sage advice)
Hurray, I was correct!
Sagacious \sƏ- ‘gā-shƏs\ adj from  Latin sagire,  to perceive keenly; of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment


Word Nerd Workout:  Use sagacious in a sentence.  My workout:

I learned about more than physics from Dr. Fisher, my sagacious professor in undergraduate school. 

Please don’t assume I majored in Physics; I had to take it as a prerequisite for P.T. school, and I nearly flunked.  Dr. Fisher guided me through the challenges with a firm hand and a patient smile.  She still sends me Christmas cards!
I look forward to reading your sentences, and thanks for stopping by!

Julia