The Joys of Reading

Research shows that children who are exposed to books in their homes and classrooms have interest in a wider range of literature than do children from situations where books are given less attention. 

 

Dr. Seuss had the right idea. In fact, being read to by an adult is the factor most important to success in learning to read. Literature provides the reader with experiences with excitement, adventure, or even struggle. Good writing and an interesting story can transport readers to other places or other times.

I developed a love of reading and books when I was a little girl.  One of my favorite stories was, "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I read this book to my dolls and stuffed animals.           I read it to my "class" when I played school. It didn't matter to    me that it was a story about Christmas. I read that book no matter what time of year it was. I really enjoyed that book.  To this day, I can remember the feel of the pages, the colorful illustrations, and the bright red color of the cover of the book.

The book looked similar to the one pictured here. 

Here are some websites to assist you in your search for children's books.

Harper Collins Children's Books 
Harper Collins Childrens Books website is home to classics such as "Where the Wild Things Are", "Charlotte's Web", and "The Giving Tree". The site has lists of new up and coming books, as well as award winning books.

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
This website is owned and operated by Lisa Bartle, a reference librarian at California State University in San Bernardino. This free resource is a collaborative database of award-winning children's literature. The website lists the awards and also gives an explanation on the criteria for winning each award. The database is searchable by a number of parameters including: setting, suggested age of the reader, or genre.

McGraw Hill Children's Literature Database
This website is maintained by the McGraw Hill textbook company. It is a searchable database of children's literature. Choose your topic or other search parameters to locate book(s) of interest.

1-2-3 Eyes on Me, 1-2 Eyes on You

 

The school year will be filled with fun lessons and activities. but we can't get to them unless we follow the rules.

 

Rules for the students:

1. Eyes are looking
2. Ears are listening
3. Lips are closed
4. Hands are still
5. Feet are quiet

Rules for the teacher

1. I listen to 1 student at a time
2. I listen to kids who raise their hands
3. I teach when there are no distractions

It is also important to keep the classroom looking neat and tidy. So, when it is time to clean up, you might hear this song:

 

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Time to clean up where you are

Put your work back in its place

With a smile upon your face

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Time to clean up where you are

 

 

Also, anytime the students hear me say, "1-2-3 eyes on me!" it is their cue to answer saying, "1-2 eyes on you!". Students should stop what they are doing and be quiet so they can hear what is happening next. (Remember the rules for the students.)

I hope my students enjoy their time spent in my classroom. I think it is a great place to learn! 

Welcome

I love watching a child learn. Their minds are so eager to learn. It is amazing to watch how they work through a problem to come up with a solution.  Children get excited about learning new things and love to show off what they know. As a teacher, I get to be a part of that learning process.

So, then why is this blog named "The Student's Path"? Why didn't you use apples in the name, or some combination with abcs or 123s or something like that?

I suppose I could have chosen a more traditional name, however, the world of education is changing and evolving. School isn't just a brick-and-mortar classroom, anymore. There have been many advances in technology and communication tools that have made it possible for new paths for learning. These new paths are revolutionizing education. So, I wanted this blog to foster that feeling of change and growth.















Also, all this talk of paths makes me think of hiking trails. As with hiking on a trail, learning isn't always easy. A child can experience curves and road blocks in their educational path. Sometimes it can be hard to know what direction to go. It can be helpful to have a guide to help you navigate through tricky terrain. I've been down this trail before. Allow me to be your guide on "the student's path".