Children's Literacy from a Teacher's Point of View


It’s Children’s Book Week! In honor of CBW, I wanted to focus on children’s literacy. I’m a firm believer that the most effective tool you can provide a child is comfort with reading. Everything we do in life, shopping, cooking, driving, learning and working requires reading and when a child develops a comfort with the skill they are so much better prepared to live a successful life. This week, I’ll be asking people from all walks of a child’s life why literacy is important.

First brave interviewee is Bend, Oregon third grade teacher, Susan Deatherage. Thank you, Susan, for taking the time to talk to us about children’s literacy during Children’s Book Week.

Do you celebrate CBW in your classroom? 

No.

I know from experience your school does have a lot of fun during Read Across America, however. Are there any other ways you celebrate reading with your students throughout the year? 

Accelerated Reading program on the computer, Reading minutes at home with a pizza party to those who have read the required amount at the end of the year.

What are some of the benefits students gain by becoming a comfortable reader? 

Higher ability in all subject areas!  Greater appreciation of literature.

In your experience is there one or two things that parents can do to increase their child’s interest in reading? 

Take their children to the public library to choose books and attend activities.  Read together consistently and be a role model by reading yourself.

In a perfect (budgetary) world, what is on your literary wish list that you can’t currently get for your students/classroom? 

It would be nice to have comprehension activity packets for reading novels/chapter books.

What are some of your students’ favorite titles recently? 

Roxie,  Dork Diaries, Bone, Big Nate,  Whimpy Kid,  Fourth Grade Rats,  Double Fudge,  Bunnicula

Last question is totally off topic! You must write an essay titled, “What I’m Going To Do On My Summer Vacation.” Paraphrase your essay for us. (What are your plans for the summer?)

travel, see family, garden, read, hike….

Sounds like a wonderful summer ahead! Thanks again, Susan, for visiting with us. I hope you and all your students’ parents enter to win the bag full of books for your classroom library!

Anyone can enter at a chance to win two prizes:
·       One FREE Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Margot Finke
·       One FREE tote bag of children's books from the participating authors 
Visit May 7-13, 2012 and automatically enter at a chance to win by commenting, GFC Follower, and/or become a Facebook Fan or Friend at each of the author blogs.
a Rafflecopter giveaway




Be sure to visit the other blogs participating in the blog hop to increase your chances to win!

Guardian Angel Publishing Author Blogs:
Nicole Weaver - www.mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

Comments

  1. Donna McDineMay 7, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    Hi Kai,

    Terrific literacy article and suggestions! Keep up the great work!

    Best regards,
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 6:45 AM

    Thanks Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sharon StanleyMay 7, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    I love reading the interview from a teacher's perspective...what a good idea! Her ideas to encourage reading are great. Well done you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 9:12 PM

      Thanks, Sharon. I'm so thankful for Susan for taking the time to participate!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 12:21 PM

    Enjoyed the interview! I remember celebrating Read Across America when my son was in elementary school.

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 9:13 PM

      I remember pajamas, stuffed animals and Thing 1 and Thing 2. I miss elementary school.

      Delete
  5. PamMay 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM

    I'm glad I stopped by your blog. I love that a teacher was interviewed for Children's Book Week! I loved her answer: "Greater appreciation for literature." It is exactly what I hope to cultivate in my early learners with my literacy program. I'd like to have you visit: http://mylmnopreadstokids.blogspot.com
    I'm off to another blog in this week long observance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 9:16 PM

      Wonderful blog! Thanks for sharing the link. Be sure to stop in again. I'm interviewing a librarian too. *wink*

      Delete
  6. Nicole weaverMay 7, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    Kai,

    A very good post about a very important subject. Thanks for sharing it.

    Nicole Weaver
    Trilingual Children's Author
    http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. collkosinskiMay 7, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    Great post and contest.

    colleen at myartsite dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Magic Carpet of 16x BooksMay 7, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Kai, I added a comment earlier, but it does not show. I enjoyed your teacher interview. I so admire today's teachers. They have so much to deal with - both in and out of the classroom.

    BOOKS for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
    http://www.margotfinke.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 9:17 PM

      I especially admire how passionate so many teacher remain in the face of their shrinking budgets. So many challenges, yet they are expected to achieve even more.

      Delete
  9. Sharon K. MayhewMay 7, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    Great points about the value of reading in our children's lives. When I taught reading was the best part of the day. Fridays we have book recommendations if we had worked hard all week. Everyone who wanted to (and they all did) sat on my stool and told the class about the book they read. I had to limit the time they were on the stool so everyone had a chance. It was amazing how excited they got about their books. I think it was because we focused to much on reading and everyone read at their own level.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 7, 2012 at 9:19 PM

      Sharon, I love that! Thanks for sharing that with us.

      Delete
  10. JoannaMay 9, 2012 at 2:02 AM

    Always great to have a brave teacher's point of view on this fundamental issue for our kids comfort and pleasure.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kai Strand, AuthorMay 9, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    I agree, Joanna. Sometimes teachers know more about our children's reading struggles and successes than we (as parents) do. Our teachers need to have the right tools and non-combative parents ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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