Aly Williams

So, I have been on a blog silence for a while so I could finish up the school year and reorganize the site/content direction.  More info. to come!  Thanks for hanging in there….

Children are smaller than adults.  This does not mean they DO small things.  With Earth Day approaching, choose one or two things on the following list to show your “little one” that we can all do our part to make a big impact on our world!

Use scrap paper (any paper with a blank back) or paper bags to make your own books together.

Organize a book swap at your school or in your neighborhood. ” Swap books” are new to you and make use of books that have already been printed.

Have a beloved book that’s been read so many times it’s falling apart?  Go ahead and remove the pages, choose your favorites and laminate to make placemats for dinner and/or art projects. (I know, it  hurts me to think about cutting up a book too, but better this than to the landfill!)

Peruse the Sunday paper with your kiddo and collect some environmental print (advertisements, iconic trademark images, anything that strikes their fancy).  Staple a few large, previously used plastic zipper bags together at the bottom, with zipper facing up.  Turn 90 degrees and you have a “pocket book.”  Sort your collection and keep secured in each pocket page for exploration anytime! (I do not endorse any trademarks or images in the photo, just an example)

Shop for new books in your local used bookstore.  These books have already been well loved, but they still have life in them!

Just think RE-USE — RE-PURPOSE — RE-DUCE WASTE!

Happy Earth Day, and Happy Reading!

Our “to do” lists take up more paper than our tax returns.  “Free time” is an antiquated term that refers to something they used to have in the “old days.”  If it’s not necessary to eat, wear, or drive, it usually goes to the bottom of the list.  I know because this is my life too.

Suggestion:  Put it on the calendar.  We write down all the important appointments that we cannot miss.  Isn’t supporting a love of reading one of the most important things you can do for your kiddo?  Better yet, make it part of your schedule.  A standing date to drop everything and read will show your youngster just how important it is.

Happy Reading!

APRIL FOOL’S!!!

FACT:  The average American child laughs 200 times per day, while adults only laugh about 15 times

FACT:  Laughing for only 10 minutes a day also has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and arthritis pain in adults

Everyone likes a good practical joke… if you’re the one giving it.  This picture book, April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman, is a fun way to celebrate a day that can be full of giggles, instead of mean-spirited pranks.  It can also be a great teachable moment to talk about the art of laughing at ourselves.  Laughter is a great coping strategy that allows us to keep things in perspective and not get to serious.

Look for this one at your local library and giggle your way to a healthy family!

Happy Reading!

Quick post to recommend a great St. Patty’s Day book from a kid’s perspective.  Young  Jamie is disappointed that he is too young to be a part of the big parade with his brothers.  So he and his furry friend have a parade of their own!  Your wee one will want to hear this story over and over again.

Side Note: Both Eve Bunting and Jan Brett are accomplished authors.  Look for more read-worthy stories by these ladies next time you’re at the library or book store.

So you have carved out the time to read a great story…  You stopped as you were reading to ask questions and make predictions…  Your child retold the story including the big ideas from the beginning, middle and end.  What’s next?

RE-READ!!! The speed and smoothness of our reading is called “fluency.”  The quickest and most effective way to gain fluency is through re-reading.  Yes, I know you have already heard that book one million and one times and you might scream if you have to hear about the adventures of Captain Underpants one more time… but it will pay off.  I promise!

Looking for more?  Ask your child to extend the story.  Think beyond the last sentence on the last page. ” What do you think happened next?” ”Why do you think that?”  “Let’s write that down.”  “We could make a sequel (or a prequel) to this story and illustrate it!”  That oughtta get those creative juices flowing.  Then you can sit back and watch the magic happen.

Happy Reading!

Alice Rumphius wants two things out of life: To travel to far away places, and then to live by the sea.  Her grandfather tells her a third thing she must do in her lifetime.  She must do something to make the world more beautiful.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney teaches us (young and old-er) that we can go after our dreams and leave the world better than when we found it.  I just feel good every time I read it.  I dare you to not feel the same. 

Pick it up next time you are at the Public Library and I bet you’ll be adding it to your book shopping list!

Happy Reading!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

In my family, Valentine’s Day is just another day (among many) that we show our love to each other.  It’s not the ONLY day we shower each other with words and gifts of affection.  Those words can be powerful when shared often and with no special occasion. 

Use your words to encourage, praise and lift up your child.  And don’t just stop at this one measley little day.  Make it a habit to write your kiddos love notes daily, weekly, or randomly.  Trust me… the significance of your words will not diminish in the frequency of the sharing.  They will build a solid platform for your child’s self-confidence.  All that on a brown bag lunch napkin? Yep.

Happy Reading!

You’ve just read a great story together and you’re not quite ready to give up that closeness and the teachable moment.  But wait!  There’s more!

Ask your child to retell the story to you, including the beginning, middle, and end.  At first, you will have to fill in the gaps until this becomes natural.  If your young reader is struggling to retell the story, ask open ended questions like:

•  ”How did (the character) feel about that?  How did you know?”
• “What happened next?”
• “Think about the picture on the first (or last) page.  What was happening there?”

What’s next?  Identify the characters, setting, and problem/event.

Retelling a story shows engagement and connection to the story elements and builds short-term memory recall.  It provides practice in paraphrasing (using your own words) and fosters storytelling talent.  These are skills that will carry your child through school and into adulthood. 

Still having trouble?  Start with retelling a favorite cartoon episode or a special event that has just happened in your child’s life.

Need something more? Gather or make props and act out the story!

More to come in this Retell Series… Give it a try!  Happy Reading!

We all love a great story.  We want to read books that:

Make us laugh… (No, David! by David Shannon)

Take us away… (Fortunately by Remy Charlip)

Inspire us… (A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams)

Or help us through a hard time… (Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola)

Focus on the story today by “reading” the PICTURES before you read the words.  Have a conversation, make predictions, and make connections all based on the PICTURES alone.  Then, when you go back to read the story from the beginning, the meaning will be much deeper and the connections much stronger.  You might even find an illustrator you love and seek out more of the artist’s books! 

Want to go further?  Talk about how the illustrator told the story through the pictures and if they could stand alone without the words.  What medium did the artist use?  If you find a medium you like, try it out for yourself!

Happy Reading!

Hands down, the MOST reliable way to get your reluctant reader’s attention is by opening those eyes to the world of non-fiction.  I will narrow the path down even more by adding non-fiction books about animals.  There is nothing more enticing than a page filled with beautiful photos and captions .  Yes, it IS reading even if there are no full sentences or paragraphs!  Shh.. I won’t tell if you won’t tell. (wink)

Follow the link for tips on finding non-fiction books to borrow or buy:  http://tinyurl.com/yhvlvje

You will be captivated by the photos and the facts too… Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Happy Reading!

That stack of Christmas cards is staring at you.  It’s daring you to throw away all those beloved family members and friends, or keep them and add to the useless clutter you’ll end up purging in two years.  But wait!  There’s a better solution!

A friend of mine, industrious mother that she is, shared this fabulous idea for recycling Christmas cards with no added guilt.

Christmas Card Placemat for the Kiddos:

• Photo cards (like those from Costco) need no prep.  Just layer two similarly sized cards back to back
• Split traditional cards at the fold and layer them so that the beautiful front and heartfelt message are back to back
• Let your child choose 8-10 favorites
• Take them to your local copy center and laminate the cards, feeding them into the machine with 4-5 cards on top and 4-5 on the bottom (creating a rectangular placemat) 
• Trim the edges of the lamination and enjoy!  The placemat will be reversible to make the most of your holiday greetings.
• Kids love to look at the pictures and read the messages from their loved ones.  You’ll love protecting your table from spills and messes.

Happy Reading! And Happy New Year!

Save this one for that moment when Christmas vacation is feeling a few days too long!

Read a book backwards! 

Use a book that is new to you and your kiddo.  Start with the ending and read backwards.  Stop halfway through and see if you can predict how the story starts.  WARNING: This has been known to induce fits of giggling and good-humored debate!  Would you have started or ended the book differently?  You can even write your OWN beginning or ending together.  Pull out the printer paper (or paper grocery sacks if you have ‘em… they make excellent recycled books with just a little trimming!), a stapler, some markers, and go to town!

Happy Reading, and Happy Holidays!

EDIT: Book shown in photo is MARTHA BLAH BLAH by Susan Meddaugh

 Look below for some really “creative” and inexpensive ideas for stockings!  “Santa” always struggles with stockings at my house.  “He” wants to give useful things that will, in fact, be used.  Yet, at the same time, stockings can break the bank quickly if “Santa” doesn’t watch it!  Be inspired by these artistic finds…

Squidoo Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Artistic Kids: http://tinyurl.com/y89tc5w

In the midst of hanging stockings and wreaths, I stumbled across my childhood Christmas books.  I keep them amongst other, more recently published versions. 

My “vintage” books are so precious to me for the nostalgia they provide every year!  Do you have book traditions with your children?  They will cherish them someday.  I promise.

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Our amazing school counselor has great advice in the newsletter this week.  Here is an excerpt about self-esteem and positive messages:

“We all know how important self-esteem is to our children.  How we act with (and react to) our children tells them a lot about themselves.  With busy schedules it is sometimes hard to give the time and positive messages we KNOW our kids need.  Here is an idea to help your child (and you) focus on the BEST in each of us!”

WOW!   You can do it!

WOW!   I like how you…!

WOW!   You are awesome at…!

• Ask your child to  name 3 things he/she does well.
• Write or draw on paper
• Plan to do more of these things during the week.  Be sure to point out when you see the positive behavior.
• Applaud efforts with…a call to a favorite relative or friend to share the success.

This idea can apply to reading too!  Celebrating our strengths only makes reading, learning and discovery more fun!

Then check out this service that turns your child’s drawings into actual plush toys!  What an imagination builder.  http://tinyurl.com/576agg

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Handprint Snowman Ornament

Paint child’s palm and fingers white. Carefully have them hold the ball to create the five snowmen. Use paint markers or Sharpies to make hats, faces, and scarves. Attach a tag with this poem:

These aren’t just five snowmen

As anyone can see.

I made them with my hand

Which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You’ll look back and recall

Christmas of 2009

When my hand was just this small!

(print this poem at http://www.littlegiraffes.com/christmas.html)

This makes a great gift!  Shh… all my Kindergarteners are giving one to their parents for Christmas.  This craft fits right in with Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn and Mark Beuhner, Snowballs by Lois Ehlert, Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick, or The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.  Anything I’ve overlooked?  So many to choose from!

Happy Reading… and Happy Holidays!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Caralyn and Mark Buehner introduced us to their world of nocturnal snowpeople with Snowmen at Night (2002) and outdid themselves with the follow-up Snowmen at Christmas (2005).  The illustrations alone make me want to hug this book!  The story is artfully told and illustrated in a way that leaves you feeling toasty warm and content despite spending Christmas Eve night outside in the snow.  There are hidden pictures, so keep your eye out!

You’ll like these links to extend the book:

Disney’s Family Fun: Snowmen Garland http://tinyurl.com/yfwnvo4

Disney’s Family Fun: All Things Snoman http://tinyurl.com/yfmuy8l

Fill a small jar three-fourths with water, a couple small black buttons, a strip of fabric for the “scarf”, and an orange craft foam “carrot nose”.  Attach the following poem for a cute, kid-friendly project and/or gift!

I made a little snowman, as perfect as can be
I thought I’d keep him in my room and keep
him warm like me.

But when I woke next morning my mind was in a muddle.
He’s run away, I don’t know why and left me with a puddle.  Adapted by Rita Wilson

Happy Reading… and Happy Holidays!

Ready for something new? Take a break from the books today and try one of these literacy websites with interactive games and stories for your emerging reader!  I admit it, they suck me in every time… an hour later I realize I have a blog to write.

Literacy websites are GREAT for a reluctant reader, but don’t forget to throw some real literature in there too.  Help your reader see the importance in both forms.  Grab that mouse and get reading!

Find primarygames.com here: http://tinyurl.com/y8w4nk

 
Find starfall.com here: http://tinyurl.com/2omxk

Wow.  Need some fresh ideas for reading with your kids? 

• 15 minute reading activities
• Alphabet Caterpillar
• Name Collage
• Grades K-8!  (That’s rare)

This website offers SO much!  Love the tip on labeling things in your child’s room…

Find it here: http://tinyurl.com/y9sp2ed

Click below for a list of great cookbooks for kids from Scholastic.  Reading recipes and using measuring tools are a fun and delicious way to expand your child’s practical experience.  So what’s for dinner?

http://tinyurl.com/ye7hp2z

Wow!  Just saw the movie tonight.  What a great way to bring a book to life!  Check out the National Wildlife Federation’s activities centered around the movie.  The site asks you and your kids to “get outside” and explore your outdoors.  There are activities for inside as well, but isn’t autumn a great time to take a “field trip” of your own?  And, um, I don’t think I even need to mention that reading the book by Maurice Sendak would make for some great schema, connections, mental images and questions!  Pick it up at the store or library and get out there!

National Wildlife Federation: http://tinyurl.com/yfket5k

Happy Reading

Yikes!  Where does the time go??

Here is a great link for anyone who takes care of kids. 

National Literacy Trust http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/familyreading/parents/index.html

Happy Reading!

Check out a re-post of the introduction blog from awhile back.  If you are new to this blog or just passing through, here’s what I’m all about…

We’re all very busy.  No matter how much we structure our schedules there is never enough time…  So, kudos to you for carving out time to read to children.  No matter what role you play in the life of a child, reading aloud is the most effective way to teach them how to read.  I know it sounds counter-intuitive.  You are saying, “But Aly, shouldn’t the kid be doing the reading if he/she is going to learn to read??”  Ah, but where do children get their first model of what reading sounds like?  Further, how do they know what goes on in our heads when we read unless we share it?

When I read a story aloud to my class, they are listening to my tone of voice and inflection.  They may notice where I pause for effect and if I use different voices for different characters.  Then an amazing thing happens.  When they read aloud to me or others, I hear their attempts to emulate my performance.  I taught no formal lesson on “How to Perform the Perfect Read Aloud.”  They just take my actions in and make them their own.  Perfect!

But here’s the rub.  Are they getting the mental picture I have so vividly playing in my head as I read?  Are they following the clues in the story to predict what will happen next like I am?  Are they wondering why that character reacted the way he did, just as I am wondering?  These are the spokes of the reading wheel that are not explicit.  We have to be “sneaky” to add these strategies into the story.  It is actually the most natural thing to do.  Once you’ve started, I dare you to stop!

Next week (NOTE: this is a re-post) we will start with the easiest, and arguably the most fun reading strategy: mental pictures.  Do you get a picture in your head when you read?  It’s important for you to answer that question before you can encourage mental pictures in your young readers.

Happy Reading!

When I say the word “vacation,” what pops into your head?  You immediately go back to your most memorable vacation, whether recent or childhood, and every sense is engaged.  You hear the sounds, see the colors, taste the foods, feel the feelings.  This is what you know about vacations.  You may even think of a vacation a friend or co-worker has told you about.  The second hand experience adds to your knowledge of vacations.  Then you might remember that place you read about, or saw on tv, that you would like to go for a vacation someday.  Again, what you know of this “future vacation” adds to your knowledge of vacations.

Sigh. Okay, I know you’d like to stay, but come on back.  What we just engaged was our “background knowledge.” Everything we know and have experienced is what we bring to our present moment.  That includes the books we read.  The big, fancy word for background knowledge is “SCHEMA.”  (And we know kids LOVE big, fancy words!)  I like the word “schema” because it’s quicker to say, and type.  And it’s really fun to say (skee-muh).  So there it is.

Today, before you start a book with your young reader, talk about the theme or setting of the story.  Activate that schema your child has already collected and feel free to share your schema too.  That only adds to the connections you will both make to the story.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again dear readers: Connecting to a story through you’re own experience is the quickest way to fall in love with reading!

Happy Reading!

(On a personal note: As the older sister, I have spent countless hours reading and building schema with my little sis.  We’re still going and I hope we never stop.  Happy Birthday sis!)

Okay, don’t shoot me for reminding you…

Shopping for that perfect, fun, not-half-your-paycheck-expensive birthday/Christmas present can be time consuming.  Check out this great segment from the Today Show featuring educational toys and games for all ages.  LOVE the journals from history’s great thinkers!  Take the opportunity to turn a gift into a fun AND educational experience!

Watch the video here: http://tinyurl.com/lasook

Happy Reading!

Well known fact: I am not a practical person.  BUT, in light of the fact that another school year has just begun and we are all doing our best to mold ourselves back into those routines that are beneficial (if sometimes restricting), let’s take a look at some ideas that can make daily reading time possible, if not enjoyable.  (I know it’s a run-on sentence, but I like it the way it is!)   Take away one or two ideas that will work for you and do them well.  Don’t try to change everything all at once.  I tried that once, it wasn’t pretty!  That’s a sure fire way to set yourself up for frustration and conflict.  Baby steps.

Tips For Making the Most of Reading Time:

1. Agree on a regular reading time.  Look at it like an appointment you can’t skip or delay.  The consistency will become a natural part of life for your young reader.  You might even use a blank calendar to schedule reading sessions during busy times of the year.  This really helps you stay accountable to each other.
2. Find a quiet spot that promotes reading and thinking.  Think about lighting, distractions, and my personal favorite: the “comfy” factor.
3. Speaking of distractions… Turn Off the TV.  I know.  The silence will be distracting at first.  It’ll be okay.  (grin)
4. Set a good example by reading along with your child.  If you are not reading together, pick up a magazine, the newspaper, or the principal’s weekly newsletter to show your child that you take time for reading too.  I mean, it MUST be important if YOU do it.
5. Don’t forget to let that kiddo know how proud you are!  Reading is a life skill.  A LOVE of reading is a life-long joy.
6. If you are reading books that need to go back to school the next day, get in the habit of putting them in the backpack right after reading.  They will be ready to travel back to school the next day without the flight of the bumblebee search the next morning when you’re already five minutes late getting out the door.  Who me?  Oh, I’ve never done that. (grin again)

Now off you go.  You have reading to do.

Happy Reading!

Quick blog this week as this teacher gets ready for 44 blooming flowers to visit on Tuesday!  Very exciting time of year!

I offer you an abundance of examples for asking questions with your young reader.  NOTE: As an adult reader, all the reading strategies discussed here can enhance YOUR reading experience too!  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

This link will take you to the Irvine Unified School District list for asking questions pre-, during, and post-reading.  These ideas tell you exactly what to say, so print off a copy and keep it handy!  You’re welcome.

 Link: http://tinyurl.com/nqwyva 

Happy Reading!

Nothing compares to one last vacation to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of something as exciting as a new, shiny school year.  The possibilities are endless!  We might as well just set the clock to fast forward as mornings become a flurry of backpacks, toothbrushes and quick breakfasts, while evenings are filled with homework and earlier bedtimes (for parents too!).  Don’t try to fit in extra reading time now.  Use the required reading time and materials that are assigned for homework as a way to connect with your child at night.  I’m all about killing two birds with one stone!

A quick way to get your reader talking is to play dumb.  Yes, I just wrote “play dumb.”  Just pretend there are things about the story you don’t understand.  Ask questions.  Ask as if you are talking to yourself, with no pressure for your child to answer.  Start with “I wonder…” and then think outloud as you find an answer to your questions.  Your child will hear your “wonderings” and begin to have questions of their own.  Go ahead and leave some of those questions unanswered.  The point is to ask.  The asking leads to the thinking. That’s where the power is.

Here’s an example of some “wonderings” while reading The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  This is a great story for “back to school” by the way!

• I wonder why the little raccoon gets up at night and sleeps during the day?
• I wonder if the little raccoon will go to school?
• I wonder why mom kisses his hand?
• I wonder if the little raccoon will like school?
• I wonder why the little raccoon wants to see his mom’s hand?

Enjoy these first few weeks of school and don’t underestimate the POWER of consistent routines!

Happy Reading!

What was I thinking?  I can’t follow a post about mental images with anything but a list of great books to get those imaginative juices flowing!  While I can compile my own list of image-stirring stories (oh, and I will!), the link below does a much better job of bringing you the latest list for 2009.  I will, however, give you a run down of MY field tested faves. 

Aly’s Picks for Mental Images (in no particular order):

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe
• Night Sounds, Morning Colors by Rosemary Wells
• The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer
• The Napping House by Audrey Wood
• The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
• I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
• Adventure on Klickitat Island by Hilary Horder Hippely
• Peach & Blue by Sarah S. Kilborne
• King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood  (LOVE reading this one aloud!)
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting

MUST…STOP…TYPING… (too many amazing titles out there!)

Look here for more:  http://tinyurl.com/ackyhm 

“Questioning” next week… Promise!

Happy Reading!

Thanks for coming back!

Before we talk about mental imagery, humor me and read this excerpt from Fireflies! By Julie Brinckloe.  As you read, focus on the picture it paints for you or the memories it evokes…

The sky was darker now.

My ears rang with crickets, and my eyes stung from staring too long.

I blinked hard as I watched them—

Fireflies!

Blinking on, blinking off,

dipping low, soaring high above my head,

making white patterns in the dark.  (end)

Examine your five senses.  What did you see, hear, touch, taste or smell?  Did a memory come flooding back complete with emotion?  This is how we connect to what we are reading. 

Mental imagery makes the story come to life.  As we read, we look at our past experiences through the lens of our senses to relive a memory or create a world we have never been to before (I’ve never been to the island in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, but I can vividly describe for you the sights and sounds of that terrible, magical place!).  This is how we create meaning for ourselves.  Authors infuse stories with vivid descriptions from their mental images and we take that in and add our own experiences to connect to the story.  This, above anything else we discuss on this blog, is what creates a LOVE for reading.

Sharing mental images is the easiest and most fun way to add conversation to your story time.  Now, you might need to practice if you aren’t used to getting a picture in your head when you read.  Fortunately, it will be second nature to the young person sitting right next to you!  Ask the right questions and you’ll be off and running. 

Getting Started:

• Just read the title of the story and share with each other any past experience that comes to mind. (Be specific!  Details, people, details!)

Do you know anything about _________?

Have you ever _____________________?

Does it remind you of _______________?

• Stop often during the story and share again.  Use all five senses, including emotions.  You may need to model this for your child the first time.
• Talk about how your images change as you read.
• After the story, draw your mental images with as much detail as possible.  (This step will take extra time, so it’s optional and probably not good for bedtime)
• Reading poetry is a GREAT way to get started!
• Try reading the story without showing your child the pictures.  Then ask him/her to draw a mental image and compare to the illustrator’s pictures.  Why are they different?  We have all had different experiences!

Now you’re ready!  Let me know if you have any more great ideas on how to make a story come to life.  Next week we will start asking questions!

Happy Reading!

(NOTE TO TEACHERS: More ideas on mental images can be found in Reading With Meaning by Debbie Miller)

We’re all very busy.  No matter how much we structure our schedules there is never enough time…  So, kudos to you for carving out time to read to children.  No matter what role you play in the life of a child, reading aloud is the most effective way to teach them how to read.  I know it sounds counter-intuitive.  You are saying, “But Aly, shouldn’t the kid be doing the reading if he/she is going to learn to read??”  Ah, but where do children get their first model of what reading sounds like?  Further, how do they know what goes on in our heads when we read unless we share it?

When I read a story aloud to my class, they are listening to my tone of voice and inflection.  They may notice where I pause for effect and if I use different voices for different characters.  Then an amazing thing happens.  When they read aloud to me or others, I hear their attempts to emulate my performance.  I taught no formal lesson on “How to Perform the Perfect Read Aloud.”  They just take my actions in and make them their own.  Perfect!

But here’s the rub.  Are they getting the mental picture I have so vividly playing in my head as I read?  Are they following the clues in the story to predict what will happen next like I am?  Are they wondering why that character reacted the way he did, just as I am wondering?  These are the spokes of the reading wheel that are not explicit.  We have to be “sneaky” to add these strategies into the story.  It is actually the most natural thing to do.  Once you’ve started, I dare you to stop!

Next week we will start with the easiest, and arguably the most fun reading strategy: mental pictures.  Do you get a picture in your head when you read?  It’s important for you to answer that question before you can encourage mental pictures in your young readers.

Happy Reading!