October 2011

BOOK BOXESGreat reads from our

WE LOVE READING EVERYDAY!Every child has their very own book box in kindergarten. Its where their reading books are kept (a couple at their independent level, some at their instructional level and a few ‘just for fun’ picture books), their poetry folder and a ring of flashcards of our high-frequency words (also known as Popcorn Words).

The children have been working hard to become strong, independent readers and our book boxes are a crucial component of their success. Having a stash of books for their very own allows the children to take ownership of their reading and have books (much they have selected themselves) at their fingertips for practicing and implementing reading strategies.

One strategy we have been working on in-depth is how to choose a good book. Every emergent reader knows there are some books that are easy to read and some that are too hard. In class, we have been working to find books that are a “just right” fit. This means many of the words are easy to read, but the child will need guidance on a few words and the book holds the child’s interest. Matching a reader with text can be tricky sometimes, especially if the reader is right at the beginning stages of reading (meaning he/she knows the letters/sounds and can read familiar environmental print - words that are all around

us: own name, “exit”, “stop”, “McDonald’s” “Cheerios”, etc.).

Along with helping your child become a successful reader, we are also striving to equip him/her with the three skills every good reader holds. Reflect on your own experiences of browsing or shopping for a book. The three ‘good reader’ skills are probably so engrained in your mind that you aren’t aware of your thought process as you browse the shelves of Barnes and Noble. Here are the three ways readers find a perfect match for their reading. (1) Good readers size up the material. They ask themselves if the content is easy to follow and if they have a purpose for reading. (2) Good readers assess the relative difficulty of the text. Is it easy to read (like a story) or somewhat difficult (like a newspaper article) or challenging (like a textbook)? (3) Good readers chart a course; deciding if they will read the entire piece quickly or bit by bit over time (Richardson, Morgan & Fleener, 2011).

This avenue of questioning fosters a higher-level of thinking. We want the children thinking in this metacognitive manner. One way to begin this line of thinking is by asking questions that force children to evaluate. For example, which question forces you to think more deeply about a book: Did you like that book? OR Why did you like that book?

The next few pages are the children’s evaluations of a single book they pulled from their book box. These evaluations are also used to help foster discussions among the children about what they are reading, along with motivate the children to share their books with one another and read even more!

STAR WARS: BLAST OFFWhat is your book about?Its about the characters in Star Wards.Why did you pick this book?Because I like Star Wars.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it shows all the characters.Next bookThe next book I want to read: lions

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SNOW WHITEWhat is your book about?Snow White and her friends.Why did you pick this book?Because I like it.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because (would) like the book, too.Next bookThe next book I want to read: a book about cars and trucks and buses

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LEAVESWhat is your book about?The bear dances with the leaves and then he sees them falling and then he tries to put them back up on the trees, but they keep falling down.Why did you pick this book?Because he tries to put the leaves back up to the trees and he gives up by the tree.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it teaches you about fallNext bookThe next book I want to read: my snake book

READ

CAT AND DOG: MAKE THE BEST, BIGGEST, MOST WONDERFUL CHEESE SANDWICHWhat is your book about?It’s about a cat and a dog making a cheese sandwich and the wife said, “No, no, no!” because she wants to make the biggest, most wonderful cheese sandwich.Why did you pick this book?Its funny because how could a cat and a dog get married?Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it’s helps you learn how to make a cheese sandwich.Next bookThe next book I want to read: a book about owls

READ

I LIKE COLORSWhat is your book about?Colors.Why did you pick this book?Because I like colors and you can learn how to paint.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it’s about colors and you can learn colors from it.Next bookThe next book I want to read: a book about animal tails

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MONKEY, WHERE ARE YOU?What is your book about?He’s hiding from his mom and she says where are you? Why did you pick this book?Because I like it when he hides in the trash can.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it’s about the monkey when he gets in the sink he pretends it’s a bath and he puts googles on and it has bubbles in it and he’s looking for where his mom is.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Peg the Hen

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MISS BINDERGARTEN GETS READY FOR KINDERGARTENWhat is your book about?Animals that go to school and an animal teacher that gets ready for kindergarten.Why did you pick this book?I don’t know - I guess I just like it.Why should the other K4 children read this book?

Because it has nice pictures.Next book

The next book I want to read: Dinosaur Counting

READ

THE DOGWhat is your book about?A Dog.Why did you pick this book?Because it’s fun to read.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it’s good to read and everybody would like it and it has popcorn words.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Come See My Bugs

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AMAZING WHALES!What is your book about?Its about whales.Why did you pick this book?Because its about whales and dolphins and I like to swim in water.Why should the other K4 children read this book?So they can learn about whales and dolphins.

Next bookThe next book I want to read: Humpty Dumpty

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CAT TRAPSWhat is your book about?Its about a cat and he wants food and he tries to get his own food. He was going to get a mouse, but he got a bug.Why did you pick this book?Because its very funny because in the story he falls into the lake when he’s trying to catch a fish.Why should the other K4 children read this book?I think they should read it because its very funny to read and its very funny that he sticks his tongue out.

Next bookThe next book I want to read: David Gets in Trouble

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G0, DOG. GO!What is your book about?My book is about small dogs and little dogs and big dogs.Why did you pick this book?Because I have it at my house and I like it, the book at my house because it’s kind of funny.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it is about big dogs and little dogs.

Next bookThe next book I want to read: The Big Bug Search (because you get to find the bugs).

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BARBIE, SCHOOL DAYSWhat is your book about?BarbieWhy did you pick this book?Because I like Barbie.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Girls like Barbie.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Measurement Mysteries.

READ

THE NEW PUPPYWhat is your book about?It’s about Anna’s dog. She got a new puppy and she likes her new dog, but then he turns bad.Why did you pick this book?Because I like puppies :)Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because this book is all about puppies and I want them to learn about puppies.Next bookThe next book I want to read: The Little Red Hen

READ

MISS BINDERGARTEN GETS READY FOR KINDERGARTENWhat is your book about?It’s about people getting ready for kindergarten.Why did you pick this book?Because it shows about kindergarten and I like kindergarten.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because they should learn about kindergarten.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Harry Potter the second

READ

WACKY WEDNESDAYWhat is your book about?A boy that has wacky things all around him.Why did you pick this book?Because it’s so wacky and there’s a tree in the toilet!Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it has one rhyme.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Snowflake Bentley

READ

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DANCERWhat is your book about?Ballet.Why did you pick this book?Because sometimes I when nobody is upstairs at my house, I go upstairs and practice my own perfect secret ballet.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because its so fancy.Next bookThe next book I want to read: another book about ballet

READ

HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINEWhat is your book about?AnimalsWhy did you pick this book?I like the crafts.Why should the other K4 children read this book?They should read the story about frogs and ducks in the pond and the snakes.

Next bookThe next book I want to read: a book about cats

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RAINWhat is your book about?Rain.Why did you pick this book?Because it has a rainbow in it.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it is beautiful!Next bookThe next book I want to read: a book about puppies

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PUDDLESWhat is your book about?A mouse.Why did you pick this book?Because he jumps in a puddle.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because in the end he swims in the puddle.Next bookThe next book I want to read: The Big Brown Bear

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LOOKING INTO MY BODYWhat is your book about?Its about your body. Why did you pick this book?Because it has bones in it.Why should the other K4 children read this book?Because it has food and your blood in it.Next bookThe next book I want to read: Bats

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