It's Been a Long Time Coming...

A long time ago I decided that I was a card-carrying, glasses-wearing reader and writer. My first trip to the Principal's office was due to "excessive reading during math class." (Hence- my awful math skills. 2+2=?) But lately I have been so busy with all of the new things in life that I haven't been able to keep up with my reading! So as a belated New Year's Resolution, I am going to try to read more, and post a blog about what I find at least a few times per month. 


Funny thing- I thought I was "so busy" in college, yet I was able to blog constantly and go to the gym two hours a day? Oh, and go to school...when necessary. 


So here we go. 


I recently read the Hunger Games Trilogy...in three consecutive days. 

I admit, I jumped on the band wagon. But I am so glad that I did! This book series is intended for young adults, but I would suggest anyone- regardless of age- read them. The emotions are palpable, the writing is thrilling and keeps you up until three a.m. on a work night. The only thing that would have made this book series better would be if it came with a small tube of Smashbox concealer. That way we all could have something to cover the puffy dark eye circles produced from crying and staying up too late reading these book. 


As I was reading this I thought, this book series would be such a great tool for parents of teenagers to use to connect with their teens. Teens love it, parents will love it. I also strongly believe that if parents want to connect with their kids, they need to get to know what their kids are into. Plus, the movie is coming out soon. Parent-teenager outing? Possibly. The bottom line? READ with your kids, encourage them to read what they are interested in, and they will go far with their literacy aptitude and comprehension. 


Here is the official movie trailer for The Hunger Games, book number one of the series.

Series of Public Service Announcements I made for Literacy Matters!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDX3ZxAeYw

Children's Book of the Week!

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Plot: The book tells the story of Max, a little boy who takes an imaginary journey to a land of "Wild Things." As Max's imagination unfolds, his bedroom is transformed into an entirely new world. When he sails to the land of the Wild Things, they quickly make him their ruler. The Wild Things are tames under Max's fearless leadership and enjoy a "wild rumpus" planned by Max. Ultimately Max leaves the land of the Wild things, despite their loving protests, to return home where he finds his dinner waiting for him.

• Read this book with your child and discuss what the themes, characters, and lessons are.
• Ask your child questions to help them develop cognitive thinking. (What kind of "wild rumpus" would you have? What would you do at a "wild rumpus?" What are some of the words in this story that help you make a picture in your head? Have you ever felt like Max did in the beginning of the book?)
  Hold your own "wild rumpus" where your child plays the part of Max.
• Draw a plot line with the beginning, middle, and end of the book from your child's perspective.
• Draw pictures of Wild Things together, discuss the monsters and their actions towards Max. One trick to use to help your children's phonics would be to draw monsters from letters. Example- a bear monster out of the letter B.
• Cook a dinner together
• Take this fun quiz with your child. http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/62.asp

This book is a wonderful tool to use to help children with phonetic awareness, which is key to successful literacy skills. Make sure that when reading aloud, you put emphasis on the actions and descriptions. Use a dramatic verbal expression technique; make it fun!