The cutest thing

[MsCoffeeLover]

We are studying the Cold War, and a fellow colleague offered two children's books to read that fits the topic nicely. After lunch, all the lights were out with just natural light coming in, and I read to my social studies class.

They were sitting there yesterday creating and coloring birthday cards for another teacher on my team and totally engrossed in the story. It was the cutest thing ever watching kids stare at the story, making predictions regarding what will happen next, asking questions, and connecting events from the Cold War.

What was great about it was the fact that I hadn't read either story before, didn't know what was going to happen next, and would let the teacher tell me how it ended because I wanted to be surprised. AND I WAS! AND IT WAS GREAT!

No one is ever too old for a good story, and I have since been inspired to begin a children's book collection to supplement my classes.

[Boxcar]

I agree that no one is ever too old for a good story. I love being read to.

Reading in a group is so fun because it makes the story come alive. Students like the change in activity, and it is a relaxing time. I remember being in middle school. When my class would come back from lunch/break, the teacher would read to us a bit before starting a lecture. It was a good way to slide back into learning. We were able to connect the book to the topic of the lesson, and we enjoyed it.

[busbus]

I love being read to. I had an English teacher in junior high who was a fabulous storyteller ... even when reading from a book, she was a storyteller. I could listen to her all day. I hated when she stopped at the end of a chapter.

I'm glad to see that you have been inspired to begin a children's book collection for your class. I'm a reader and I love books.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Thank you, busbus. I also took my niece on a special trip to Barnes and Noble today and found a book new to the shelves entitled "The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain" by Peter Sis. I can't wait to read it to my kids.

We are also covering ecology in science and found a fantastic book on the rain forests to read to the kids as well. It is everything an ecology unit could ask for. It was a suggestion from my five year old niece, and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful niece who loves to read! So very lucky!

How do some of y'all feel about books on tape or dvd or whatever? I have observed several teachers turning on an audio version, and I am not quite sure why that kind of bothers me.

Even when I taught language arts, I can understand being tired having to read to five different classes. However, I also couldn't imagine anyone reading a story to my kids other than me. Well, unless it is drama because the kids love that.

Audio versions don't really allow for a person to stop and ask a few questions. I guess it could, but it would be hard to continue to turn the player on and off. When reading to children, I always want to have discussions and make predictions and answer questions.

None the less, if anyone knows of any children's literature I can incorporate at the 7th grade level, feel free to send it my way. We incorporate some chapter books, but I still love to throw a few picture books in there as well.

I think I am going to get a rocking chair too and have the kids gather around.

[Boxcar]

I don't think I'd use an audio book for instructional time. In only one case would I make an exception. If a student was hearing impaired, listening to the audio on headphones while I read to the class might help with particpation. However, it would be entirely up to the student.

I would place audio copies of the books I read in the book area of my room. Since my kids are little, hearing the words as they look at the pages will help them learn to read.

[wtrafton]

I have listened to audio books myself and I must say that Nory Ryan's Song on audio book really brings the book to life. Her accent and the emotion that is given are to me something that would be hard for the average person to deliver. Other books that use more than one voice also make the stories come to life. I LOVE to read but must admit that listening to an audio book is like listening to the story being told.

[MissTeach]

MsCoffeeLover, I know what you mean. I prefer reading to my students or having them read. I like stopping and discussing as we go. However, I have used audio books, especially for poetry.

[upnorthteacher]

I sometimes use books on tape for low readers. I love reading aloud to my students. I use different voices, and they really love it. I read the book Pink and Say when we study the Civil War, and always end up in tears. Some of the kids cry, too.

[jsfowler]

My students love the comic book series "Max Axiom, Super Scientist" from The Graphic Classroom. They have serveral topic like global warming, electricity, ecosystems, etc. I think they are great and my students do to!

[MsCoffeeLover]

We just read The Lorax, and the kids loved it. It was the perfect lesson in ecology and how our actions today affect so many other things. Since I teach one social studies class also, it is a nice revisit to the Industrial Revolution and the environmental concerns strands.

I don't just read to read to the kids either. There is always an assignment to go along with whatever is being read from documenting facts, making connections, etc. The content is covered by a science standard. However, I taught language arts before, and there really is more to every lesson now that I have taught all of the content areas. We try to make connections all the way across the board. They have to write reflections too.

jsfowler, I have heard of that series before, and I am going to put them on my wish list for next year. We may be on a four man team next year, and that means I will probably be teaching just one prep. That has never happened to me before. The science and social studies combination has been nice, and I wouldn't mind teaching either one, but I had a new love of each with all of the literature. Science teachers are hard to come by, so I will probably teach that one.

One of the social studies teachers shared the current events magazines for kids with me, and they are really interested in them. Had I known that, I would have gotten them at the beginning of the year.

Are there any other magazines you have in class that your kids just love? Should I order Zoo books, Ranger Rick, National Geographic, Current Events?

None the less, I have since been inspired to start a children's library specifically to supplement the science and social studies curriculum.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Forgive me if this is a repeat story as I have been talking about this a lot lately and can't remember who I told whom.

We are working on fourth quarter projects. The kids have several different options, but I have hours after school to help kids with projects and all of these different crafty things to help. Not only were the students allowed, but parents were welcome to come to these sessions as well to take part in the fun.

None the less, we had two days last week, lots of kids, and a handful of parents. I told my kids that after school help is supposed to be a fun and delightful thing and not a stressful thing, and if it becomes anything else but that, then they can't come. Basically, I told my kids that I get half my craft ideas from my niece. We sit at the kitchen table, talking, and making crafts. It is the best feeling in the world, and I would never wish to be anywhere else.

Those same moments I have with my niece are the same moments I wanted to have with my kids after school and their parents. I told them I believe we can all have that as it wasn't about stress or a chore or anything negative, but a memory in the making.

It actually happened! The first day, the first twenty minutes was hectic and then leveled out, and the second day was fine. However, both days I look up and see all of my kids and a handful of parents working together, playing with play doh, crafty materials, etc. One parent said he had shag carpet growing up and wasn't allowed to play with play doh. There he was, sitting with his son, and his younger daughter, all of them playing with play doh while the student is working on his project. Another parent is working with her daughter with a hot glue gun and feathers and all kinds of wonderful things.

Parents aside, there were several students that were just at total peace working on their project using all of their science process skills to make something.

It was everything I could have hoped for and can't wait for the three days next week to see what happens. Kids sometimes don't realize how lucky they are with the parents that come in and take part--just because the invitation was extended. There was a memory created, but they won't realize it until later. Even though it was a handful of parents, they are parents that are involved. How often do kids ask parents to take part in these things?

It was just too awesome on so many levels, kids are bringing in craft supplies, and the art teacher is downsizing and giving me all of her stuff.

[jsfowler]

This sounds wonderful. Parental involvement is an area I could really improve on...thanks for the idea!

[MsCoffeeLover]

This sounds wonderful. Parental involvement is an area I could really improve on...thanks for the idea!

You are welcome! There were a few parents that I talked to directly, and many of them have smaller children at home, and I invited them as well. The dad that came last week had his little girl, and was waiting outside, but I invited them in. The daughter was afraid to come inside, but got over it. Their entire family was sitting right there. It was also her birthday, so I gave her some play doh to take with her and invited her again next week.

The supplies are there to be used!

Interpersonal relationships are a priority with me.

[MsCoffeeLover]

The kids and I were working on some standardized test practice stuff when I had a fleeting moment of kindness. If they got so many activities done, we could watch the Magic School Bus. The kids worked so diligently, and I kept my word and watched one of the episodes of the Magic School Bus. It tied in perfectly with our ecology unit, some kids took notes, etc. Typically, I don't show such things, so I don't know what had gotten into me today.

It is so cute to look up and see them working so hard just to watch Magic School Bus. Yes! My 7th graders worked for the reward of the Magic School Bus.

Then, as I looked around again as they watched, I have never seen so many kids mesmerized by a cartoon. The room was silent, and the kids were transfixed on the smart board with their mouths hanging open. I even began to wonder if some of them had blinked.

Sometimes I look at my kids and just smile.

[Mossflower]

Coffeelover, what are the titles of the two great books you read to the class?

[MsCoffeeLover]

Coffeelover, what are the titles of the two great books you read to the class?

One of them was called The Wall: Growing up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

The other was called The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess

[ian23]

that's cute... sharing with the kids... it makes your bond more stronger (^_^)/

[Boxcar]

I adore Dr. Suess. I'll have to look for that one.

[WVmtnlady]

I think that just about everyone loves to be read to. My teen sons still love it when I read to them. I subbed for three weeks at a local middle school (7th grade LA) and was reading The Outsiders to them. They loved it! You could hear them gasp, make light comments, and they asked a lot of questions. As I read to them, they followed along with a copy of the book in hand. I really enjoyed reading to them the most out of everything I did with them over those three weeks. I have seen a lot of teachers use audio tapes, but I enjoy reading aloud and will do so when I have my own class. I do use audio tapes, however, when I'm traveling as I do love a good book. Has anyone used the Schoolhouse Rock DVD? I STILL remember watching those between cartoons when I was a kid. Just imagine! Learning something while watching Saturday morning cartoons! Oh, a really good book related to the Civil War would be A Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen. It seems a bit graphic in its detail but is really an outstanding book. It is about an underage young man who enlists and of how he deals with his experiences while fighting. Very good book.

[Sonrisa]

How do some of y'all feel about books on tape or dvd or whatever? I have observed several teachers turning on an audio version, and I am not quite sure why that kind of bothers me.

I know this is a month old but I have to share my thoughts. The Inkheart Triology by Cornelia Funke is amazing on tape. Brenden Fraiser and others read the stories and the voices they put to the characters just makes the story come alive. I was in a long term subbing situation and I would just put the tapes in during their quiet choice time and they wouldnt want me to turn them off. The class was silent and it was magical! Its not something I would do all the time. I'd much rather read aloud to my class to do the discussion thing but this was a nice change and just such an experience.

[silvana]

My children love it when other members of staff come to class and read to them , especially TA's

[SiobhanMarie]

I had our principal once fill in for our regular teacher once, that was cool. Small school though :)

[Boxcar]

The preschoolers love visitors too. You are never as popular as when observing the fours!

[MsCoffeeLover]

Today I was looking at my 7th period class, you know, the most challenging behaviors with like thirty kids and lowest skills. It was the last period of the day, and they were just so good and precious. It was an odd day, and I knew it, but I looked around and saw these odd ball kids playing chess and a variety of games, some were working on word searches, some were playing cards, and some were actually helping me clean up around the room (the kids you least expect).

They were just the coziest I had ever seen them and sharing and totally playing fair. Normally, they are a piece of work, but that class was just so at peace. I shared some of my cheez its with a few kids and raced to complete bendy word searches (I lost). The kid had words like sandwich shop, and I had words like mortgage forclosure.

Anyway, it was just one of those moments that was nice on a day when I really really needed it.

[Boxcar]

Isn't great how those moments just pop up...

[jdavis5]

Reading aloud works at both home and school for me. As the father of both a 3-year-old and an infant, a lot of what I do at school works well for the homefront as well.