Reading Books Online

Parents should strive to read at least one book together with their children everyday. When reading the book, discuss the words and illustrations with your child. Reading together is so much more than just verbalizing the printed words for your child. Ask who, what, where, when, how and why questions to help your child delve deeper into the text, enhancing their comprehension of the story and the bigger ideas behind it. Ask questions that help your child make the following connections to literature:

*text to text - comparing the ideas in the text to another familiar story (e.g., This book reminds me of the other book we read about a moon. It was called "Goodnight Moon".)

*text to self - comparing the ideas in the text to one's own life (e.g., This story is about a boy who hates brushing his teeth. That's like me! I didn't like brushing my teeth when I first learned how because the toothbrush tickled my mouth.)

*text to world - comparing the ideas in the text to a bigger, worldly idea (e.g., The children in this book recycle their paper. We should recycle the paper in our house too in order to make the world a cleaner place.)

I stumbled upon an excellent website today that provides hundreds of books for free online. It's called Big Universe. Check it out!

Direct Observation as an Assessment Tool

I believe that too often educators overemphasis the use of product-driven, developmentally inappropriate tasks like worksheets when assessing young children. A much more effective tool is direct observation.

A description of the strategy/tool: This is the focused observation and recording of what children say and do in a specific activity. Is it considered an essential first step of planning because it provides teachers with a very effective way to quickly and clearly gather information in order to assess student knowledge and progress up to that point.

How it could be used: A variety of methods of gathering information should be used by teachers in order to observe students in action, record information about what the students are saying and doing, and compile the information in a meaningful and systematic way. Three common formats include anecdotal records, observation checklists and rating scales.

When it could be used: It should involve repeated observations of students in a variety of contexts and activities and occur over a long period of time.

Why it could be used: Directly observing students and recording exactly what they say and do helps teachers to recount incidents with children, helping to document the specific language and behaviour associated with the action. Teachers might consider recording their interpretation of the incident along with the direct observation.

A tool I use frequently in the classroom to help organize my direct observation of students in action during lessons, whole and small group organized activities, centers, and independent free choice time is a VENN diagram graphic organizer. At the top of the page I quickly describe the context within which the observations took place (circle, centers, gym class, etc.). I label each whole circle (e.g., the left as independent, the right as not independent) and I record the children’s names and brief information regarding each (what they did, what they said) within the appropriate circle. This way I can still record information specific to each child, but I can also organize it in a systematic way so that by quickly glancing at the page I can see where students fell within the continuum of the VENN diagram.

Websites for further reference:

Detailed description of what direct observation is and how it can also be used in research: http://www.idemployee.id.tue.nl/g.w.m.rauterberg/lecturenotes/UFTdirectobservation.pdf

VENN Diagrams: http://arb.nzcer.org.nz/strategies/venn.php

Tangram Puzzles

Tangram puzzles, like the one in the picture above, are an excellent way to engage young children in abstract interactions with shapes. After discussing the tangram pieces including the name and colour of the shape and its attributes (e.g., number of sides, number of corners), children can first explore how to create a picture (or design) by matching the shapes to a pre-made picture. In this picture we are using the pieces to make a snake. Once a child has mastered the concept of representing an object with the shapes, encourage him or her to create his or her own pictures and designs. This is a great opportunity to use positional language (e.g., above, below, beside, next to) in an appropriate context. Encourage the exploration through higher-level questioning such as:

-how can you build a?

-what shapes will you use?

-describe the steps you will take to make a

-what does that remind you of?

-can you show me how to?

Once a child has created a design or picture using the pieces, encourage him or her to draw a representation of their creation. Help scribe the words that the child uses when describing the creation and picture. Encourage rich, descriptive language in your conversation! Tangram puzzles are excellent tools for engaging children in concrete, logistical math explorations that move towards the creative and abstract!

Read Aloud Lesson for the Book Snow (Bauer)

Snow (Bauer, 2003)

Description of Text: This nonfiction book provides step-by-step information for the reader about how snow is formed and what happens to it when it melts in warm weather.

Overall Curriculum Expectations (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2006):

Language Arts: Demonstrate understanding and critical awareness of a variety of written materials that are read by and with the teacher; Use reading strategies that are appropriate for beginning readers in order to make sense of a variety of written materials; Communicate in writing, using strategies that are appropriate for beginners

Mathematics: Describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures, and describe the location and movement of objects through investigation

Specific Curriculum Expectations (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2006):

Language Arts

14. Respond to a variety of materials read aloud to them

15. Use illustrations to support comprehension of texts that are read by and with the teacher

16. Use prior knowledge to make connections to help them understand a diverse range of materials read by and with the teacher

17. Make predictions regarding an unfamiliar text that is read by and with the teacher, using prior experience, knowledge of familiar texts, and a general knowledge of the world around them

24. Demonstrate an awareness that writing can convey ideas or messages

Mathematics

19. Compose pictures and build designs, shapes, and patterns in two-dimensional shapes, and decompose two-dimensional shapes into smaller shapes using various tools or strategies

Materials Needed: book Snow (Bauer, 2003), a KWL chart, various enlarged pictures of real snowflakes found from a science book or the internet, felt board, felt pattern block pieces, wooden pattern block pieces, camera

Before Reading the teacher prepares children for the reading by setting the stage for understanding of the text (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003).

1. Prior to reading this book to students, the teacher can ask them to close their eyes and think about what they know about snow and what questions might have in order to activate prior knowledge and generate excitement towards the book. Students can then have an opportunity to turn to an elbow partner and share their thoughts. The teacher can ask students to regroup and introduce the KWL chart (headings are K – Know about a topic, W – Want to know about it, and L – learned or still want to learn about a topic). Students can be invited to share what they know about snow (e.g., “It’s white.”, “It’s cold.” “It falls from the sky.”) and this can be recorded using modeled or shared writing in the “K” section of the chart. Teacher talk might include:

• “Close your eyes. Let’s think about the white snow outside our window. What do you know about snow? What have you done with snow before? Where have you seen snow? What would you like to know about snow?”

• “Turn to an elbow partner and share something you know about snow. Share a question you still have about snow.”

• “This is a KWL chart. We’re going to use it to organize our thoughts and ideas about snow. In the “K” column I am going to/you can help write down your ideas about what we already know about snow. Tell me some of the things you and your elbow partners discussed. Let’s write them down here.”

2. The teacher can encourage students to track and read along with the ideas listed in the “K” section of the chart as he or she reads them aloud. Students can then be encouraged to think back to their discussion with an elbow partner and share the questions they might have regarding snow. These can be listed in the “W” section of the KWL chart using modeled or shared writing. Teacher talk might include:

• “In your discussions with elbow partners, I asked you to share questions you had about snow. Think back to what you discussed with your partners. We’re going to record your questions and ideas in the “W” column of our chart.”

3. The teacher can then introduce the book Snow to students and explain that it is a nonfiction book that will provide information about how snow is made. Students can be prompted to reflect upon their prior knowledge and questions (as recorded in the KWL chart) as the information in the book is shared. Teacher talk might include:

• “We are going to read a book called ‘Snow’ by Marion Bauer. This is a nonfiction book, which means it is going to provide us with some interesting information about how snow is formed and what happens to it when it melts.”

• “As I read this book I would like you to be thinking about what information in the story you already know. Some of the questions we have listed on our KWL chart might be answered too!”

During reading the teacher helps children comprehend the text by stopping and thinking aloud about something, by making connections to other texts read by the class, or in order to ask a question about the text (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003).

4. The teacher begins to read the text. Even though this is a nonfiction book, the illustrations used are drawings rather than real pictures. The teacher may wish to point this out so the students understand that drawings, and not necessarily photographs, can still express information about a real thing like snow.

• “What do you notice about the illustrations in this book? What information do they tell you? Does this book/these illustrations remind you of other books we have read? Why?”

5. At the beginning of the book the author discusses outdoor characteristics of winter (e.g., it’s cold, the trees are bare, the grass is brown). A think aloud can be made at this time comparing the book to the current season outside.

• This book reminds me of what is happening outside now that it is winter. Look outside our classroom windows. What signs do you see that it is winter? Think of what is happening in your yards and neighbourhoods. Share with us signs of winter.”

6. As the book is read the cycle of snow formation (clouds are crystals of ice, this ice clings to dust, the dust gets heavy and falls from the clouds) is presented in a very simplified manner. The teacher can paraphrase the pages and draw reference to the illustrations to help students comprehend this complicated cycle.

• “When the air is not so cold, the flakes grow softer and larger and larger. Look at the picture on this page. See how the snowflakes are drawn very large and detailed? This reminds me of when very large raindrops fall from the clouds and get the ground very wet very quickly. It’s the same idea with snowflakes too!”

7. As the story continues detailed descriptions and pictures of individual snowflakes are shown. Students can be encouraged to look at these snowflakes and note the different shapes they observed in each one.

• “Each snowflake has six sides. Look at the illustrations of snowflakes! They are very geometrical! Look at the shapes and designs that are in each one! What shapes do you see?”

• “These snowflakes are symmetrical. That means that if I cut a snowflake in half, one side would match the other side. Look at this large one. If I put a line in the middle (demonstrates using the illustration) this side is the same as the other side.”

8. The teacher can put the book down and further discuss the idea of snowflakes as unique, intricate, and delicate creations. Various enlarged pictures of snowflakes can then be shown and discussed with students. Rich, descriptive language can be used to describe the pictures including words such as geometrical, symmetrical, sparking, shimmering, icy, and any other language that arises and is appropriate to the context of the discussion.

9. The teacher can finish reading the book. At this point the KWL chart can be revisited and the teacher can read the K and W columns to refresh student memory of what they discussed prior to the book. Students can then be lead in a discussion about what they learned or still want to learn after reading the book. Using modeled/shared writing, this information can be added to the chart and reviewed with students. Teacher talk might include:

• “Now that we have finished reading our ‘Snow’ book, think about something interesting and amazing that you learned about snow! Let’s record these ideas in the L column of our KWL chart.”

• “Do you still have questions about snow after reading our book and having a discussion? We can record these questions on our KWL chart too! We can keep these questions in mind as we continue to explore snow in other books, outside on the playground, and at our classroom centers. We’re going to hang our Snow KWL chart in our science area and if we learn anything new or find further answers to our questions, we can continue to add them to the chart.”

After reading the teacher can help students to extend their learning and comprehension through a variety of large, small and independent activities (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003) including:

10. After reading the story the teacher can use felt pattern block pieces (these have been made at the teacher media center) and demonstrate to students using the felt board how geometrical pattern block snowflakes can be made. Some students may have experience putting together the pattern blocks to represent various designs and patterns and this modeling will serve the purpose of scaffolding student learning in this context (Vygotsky, 1978). The teacher can describe step-by-step how the snowflake is made using various shapes in order to create a geometrical, symmetrical snowflake like the ones in the book and pictures. These can be shown to students again as a reference.

11. Students can be invited as a whole group to practice making geometrical snowflakes using the felt pieces and the felt board. These can be discussed and the teacher can promote an exploration of the shapes and encourage snowflakes to be of varying sizes, patterns, and shapes.

12. After students have practices using the felt pieces, the teacher can show them the wooden pattern blocks that are identical to the felt pieces. These pattern blocks will be available at the math center and students can spend time creating snowflakes in a similar manner during center time. The felt board and felt pattern block pieces will also be available to students at this time.

13. At center time the teacher will remain at the math center with the pattern block pieces in order to encourage and challenge students in their explorations creating snowflakes. Pictures can be taken of the snowflakes students create and this information can be used as assessment, posted on a bulletin board near the math center, or placed in a class created book called “Our Geometrical Snowflakes” which can then be circulated among families in the classroom take home “book in a bag” program.

Assessment: The concrete materials (e.g., felt and wooden pattern block pieces) provide a tactile opportunity for children to explore and describe the mathematical problem of designing and creating a snowflake using various shapes that must fit together in a puzzle-like manner (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2006). Teachers can support, observe, and assess student progress by questioning them as they are in action at this center using the following prompts:

• Describe what you are doing?

• Tell me how you are going to make your snowflake?

• List the shapes you have included in your snowflake.

• How can you make your snowflake more symmetrical/the same on each side?

• How is your snowflake similar to the ones we saw in the book we read/the pictures we looked at?

• How can you design a snowflake that…

Direct observation of what students are doing and what they are saying can be recorded using open-ended anecdotal notes on a master page that describes the activity for future reference.

A sample of this master page:

Date:____________________

Students were asked to create two-dimensional geometrical snowflakes using pattern blocks and/or felt pattern pieces after reading the book ‘Snow’.

Observations and Samples of Student Talk

Name:

Name:

Name:

References

Bauer, M. D. (2003). Snow. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2003). A guide to effective instruction in reading: Kindergarten to Grade 3. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2006). The kindergarten program (revised). Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

Vygosky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Nurturing Language in Babies and Toddlers

Good Morning America had an interesting segment this morning regarding how babies and toddlers learn language from their parents. Speaking baby-talk to young children, like when parents make silly noises, can cause delays in how speech and language is learned. The experts suggested the following for improving children's language development:

-pick up on your child's cues. If he or she expresses interest in something like a toy or object, immediately capitalize on this interest by first naming the object and then describing it (e.g., "That's a ball. Balls are round. That ball is red."

-name things in different ways in order to situate the noun in various contexts (e.g., "Those are fish in the tank. The fish swim in the water. Those orange fish move fast!")

-engage in 'motherease' speaking, where the natural rhythms and cadences of language can be expressed by lengthening the words in a sing-song approach to speaking. This differs from speaking in 'baby talk' where gibberish is used as language. (e.g., "Loook at the puuuuppy. Theeee puuuuppy is cute!"

-speak as much as possible to your children, even before they are able to respond. Expose your children to as much oral language as possible. Name things for them when in the grocery store (e.g., Those are cans of food. The broccoli is green.") or during diaper changes (e.g., "Here are your toes! Here is your tummy!")

-young children love looking at human faces. When speaking to your child, try and have your face close to theirs so they can see your expression and how your mouth moves when speaking

-read a variety of stories to your children. Aim for at least one book a day. Reading allows a parent to alter their voice to match situations and characters in the story. Young children love hearing this variation in language.

-enlist the help of older children and family members who can engage your baby or toddler in conversation when you are unable to do so

Experimenting with Marble Runs

One of the best children's toys (in my opinion) are marble run games, where children are able to design, build, and experiment running marbles through complex systems of tubes. The kit shown in the picture is from Scholar's Choice.

My daughter spent a long time engaged in the planning and building of her system. She examined the differences in pieces (shape, length, embellishments) and chose the ones she felt would best match her visualization of the perfect marble run.

She used appropriate and advanced vocabulary as she discussed what she was doing and how she anticipated it to work. When she tested a certain section of the run and it didn't work as well as she felt it should, she brainstormed and revised her plan.

I believe that young children in early years environments would benefit from having activities like marble runs as part of their science center. Future architects and engineers could be nurtured as they dream up exciting and intricate structures to explore. From experience, I know that the marble run is one of the most popular centers in my kindergarten classroom.

Snowballs Read Aloud Lesson

Here is a read aloud lesson inspired by the cold wintry weather outside!

Text: Snowballs (Ehlert, 1995)

Description of Text: L. Ehlert provides both fictional and nonfiction information in this text. A child narrates the story and describes creating many snow people and animals (snow mom, snow dad, snow boy, snow girl, snow dog, snow baby, snow cat) by using everyday household items that have been saved by the family. Large, colourful illustrations portray a variety of interesting creations. At the end of the book the author provides a number of informational pages with pictures and labels including “good stuff” to use for snow people building, information on snow, and pictures of real snowmen.

Overall Curriculum Expectations (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2006):

Language Arts: Demonstrate understanding and critical awareness of a variety of written materials that are read by and with the teacher; Use reading strategies that are appropriate for beginning readers in order to make sense of a variety of written materials

Specific Curriculum Expectations (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2006):

14. Respond to a variety of materials read aloud to them

15. Use illustrations to support comprehension of texts that are read by and with the teacher

16. Use prior knowledge to make connections to help them understand a diverse range of materials read by and with the teacher

17. Make predictions regarding an unfamiliar text that is read by and with the teacher, using prior experience, knowledge of familiar texts, and a general knowledge of the world around them

18. Retell stories in proper sequence that have been read by and with the teacher, using pictures in the book and/or props

Materials Needed: book Snowballs (Ehlert, 1995), sentence strips that have one event from the story written on each with a corresponding picture (e.g., The birds are at the feeders, We saved stuff in a sack, We made a snow dad), pocket chart, pictures of various winter activities (including skiing, sledding, making snow angels, making snow people), chart paper, markers, feedback forms and pictures sent in by families

Before Reading the teacher prepares children for the reading by setting the stage for understanding of the text (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003).

1. Prior to showing children the book, the teacher asks them to think about what activities they like to do in the winter. This sharing time will help activate prior knowledge of winter activities and set the atmosphere for the reading of the book. Teacher talk might include:

• “Let’s think about things we like to do in the winter. I love to go skiing when it’s cold and snowy outside! Many of you have had the chance to talk to your families about your favourite activities in the cold weather. Turn to an elbow partner (think, pair, share) and discuss with them some of your favourite winter activities.”

• “I heard some wonderful, interesting ideas while you were sharing your ideas with one another. Let’s share these together! Describe your favourite winter activities for me!” (this provides a potential opportunity for modeled or shared writing if the teacher decides to record student ideas on a list)

2. After this initial discussion the teacher might show to students a variety of real life pictures from magazines or calendars that depict additional winter time activities (e.g., skating, shoveling snow, tobogganing). Students can be engaged in a discussion of the pictures in order to promote oral language including who is in the pictures, what is happening, why they might be doing what they are doing, and any other discussion prompts. Specific vocabulary can be introduced and used in context (e.g., the toboggan is racing down the hill, the man is hiking through the woods using snowshoes). Teacher talk might include:

• “Look at each of these pictures. Who do you see? Where is this taking place? What are they doing? Why might they be doing that? What does this remind you of? This picture reminds me of the word…”

3. After the picture discussion, the teacher shows students the cover of the book Snowballs (Ehlert, 1995) and reads the title and author/illustrator name. Students can be encouraged to predict what they think the book might be about. If/when students guess ‘making snowmen’ the teacher can connect this idea back to the original discussion of favourite wintertime activities. If building snowmen was previously mentioned, potential text-to-self connections can be made. If this idea was not mentioned, it can be highlighted as another winter activity. Teacher talk might include:

• “Let’s examine the cover of this book. It is called Snowballs. The author, the person who wrote the book, is also the illustrator, the person who created the illustrations. That means that Lois Ehlert wrote the story and created the pictures for Snowballs.”

• “This book is called Snowballs. Look at the picture on the cover. What do you think this book is going to be about? Let’s predict who might be in it and what might happen.”

4. After discussing the cover, the teacher leads students on a ‘picture walk’ of the book by showing students each page of the book in sequence, without reading the words. The illustrations in this book are unique, intricate pieces of artwork that the author has created using a variety of household materials, and this can be highlighted to students. The teacher can direct student attention to these pictures and a quick discussion can be had regarding what students think Snowballs will be about and how the Lois Ehlert created the interesting snow people in the story. Teacher talk might include:

• “Let’s look at each of these pictures. What do you see? Who do you think is in this story and what might it be about?

• “Look at Lois Ehlert’s illustrations. They are made using things you might find in your house! Describe what you see on these pages. What do you find interesting about these illustrations?

During reading the teacher helps children comprehend the text by stopping and thinking aloud about something, by making connections to other texts read by the class, or in order to ask a question about the text (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003).

5. The teacher reads the text, demonstrating various characteristics of a fluent reader including expression, intonation, and enthusiasm. The first few pages portray a winter scene with birds eating seeds. This provides the teacher with an opportunity to expand on the ideas in the text and connect bird feeding to personal experience.

• “Look at the snow falling in this picture. What are the birds doing? Why might they be eating seeds left out for them by a person?”

• “This reminds me of last winter when I hung two bird feeders outside my kitchen window. The birds did not come to eat from them until it became very cold and snowy outside…”

6. As the story continues the narrator describes how the family has been “saving good stuff in a sack”. Students can be prompted to examine the picture in order to see exactly what “good stuff” is, and predict why these items are needed in the story. Students can then be asked to expand on this idea by suggesting additional good stuff that could also be saved for a snowball day.

• “What good stuff has been saved by the people in this story? Why do you think they are saving these things? How might they use these objects?

• “If you were going to save good stuff for a snowball day, what are some things you might like to have in your sack? How would you use your items?”

7. As the story continues, the narrator describes how and what was made using the snow and good stuff in the sack (e.g., a snow dad, snow mom, snow boy, snow girl). As each page is read students can be encouraged to examine the picture and describe how the materials used to create the snow creature clearly depict what it is. The teacher can use think aloud moments to clearly discuss how the objects used specifically portray a snow creation that matches the text.

• “Let’s look at this picture. The story says it’s a ‘snow dad’. How can we tell the snow person is supposed to be a dad? What objects has Lois Ehlert used to show it’s a dad?”

• “This illustration shows a ‘snow mom’. If you were going to create a snow mom, what would you include in your illustration?”

• “Look at the picture of the ‘snow baby’! I can tell it is supposed to be a baby because of the little tiny nose and mouth on its face! It’s easy to tell the snow dog is a dog! It reminds me of a little dog I once saw at the park that had spots all over its body too! Look at the snow dog’s pointed ears! He looks like a happy dog because of his smiling mouth!”

8. Towards the end of the story the text asks readers to think about what “happened when the sun came out.” This provides the teacher with an opportunity to ask students to predict what they think will happen to each of the snow creatures when the sun comes out. As the teacher reads this page, the book can be hidden in his or her lap, face down, so the students can make predictions before seeing the illustrations. Once guesses are made, attention can be drawn to the way Lois Ehlert has portrayed a melting snow person in the illustrations.

• “The story says ‘I guess you know what happened when the sun came out’. What do you think happened? How do you know that? Have you ever experienced this? What happened?”

• “Look at the illustrations. How can you tell the snow dad is shrinking?”

9. As the story concludes there are many rich, descriptive words used such as “shrinking, blob, slush, melting” and metaphorical phrasing such as “dog is a puddle”. Attention can be drawn to these words and phrases in order to build student vocabulary.

• “What do you think the word shrinking/blob/slush/melting means? How do you know? What is happening in the picture? How does the illustration help you understand that word?”

• “The story says ‘dog is a puddle’. What do you think that means?”

After reading the teacher can help students to extend their learning and comprehension through a variety of large, small and independent activities (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2003) including:

10. The students can help retell the story with the teacher using sentence strips that have one idea listed on each strip from the story with a corresponding picture (e.g., The birds are at the feeder. We saved good stuff in a sack. We made a snow girl. Snow dad shrunk.) These story strips can put on the floor in the middle of the carpet, with students sitting around in a circle formation. The teacher can help students read each and look at the illustration to help understand what’s on the strips. Students can help retell the story by placing the strips in sequence. These strips can be left out during center time and students can choose to revisit this activity and retell the story again.

Ehlert, L. (1995). Snowballs. San Diego and New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2003). A guide to effective instruction in reading: Kindergarten to Grade 3. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2006). The kindergarten program (revised). Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.