I can't wait to tell you about the latest new books to get your kids excited about reading. So for this summer vacation 2016 or any time, browse through these reviews and see what will appeal to your child. See also my summer book lists by grade and age. New Books for Summer 2016 Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown by Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith ADVENTURE (ages 7 - 10) I LOVE … [Read more...]
Impactful Books I’m Reading (and Recommend)
Believe it or not, I occasionally read impactful books that are for grown-ups, too! This year was a huge growth year for me personally so most of my own reading has been nonfiction. As the Epstein-Barr Virus continues to kick my butt, one blessing of the fatigue is it gives me more time to read and learn about my health. Silver linings! Here are the books that I think you'll want to know about … [Read more...]
Writing Prompts for Kids
Normally I dislike writing prompts for kids because I don't like prompts myself. However, I do think many kids want and even need ideas and inspiration for writing. So, I've found some fantastic online story and character idea generators that I think will motivate your kids to write. These are writing prompts about which I can feel enthusiastic! Story Ideas for Kids The Story Starter, … [Read more...]
Summarizing Fiction
Now that we've covered determining importance and summarizing nonfiction, let's talk about summarizing strategies for fiction. This is SO hard for those natural retellers who want to tell you every last detail of the story. That's why summarizing has to be taught, modeled, and practiced. A lot. Flow Maps Flow maps are thinking maps for sequencing the main events in a story. For the … [Read more...]
How to Get Fiction Lovers Interested in Nonfiction
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who prefer to read fiction and those who perfer nonfiction. Think about it. Some of us naturally prefer reading fiction (me) while others naturally prefer nonfiction (husband, eldest daughter). For those that are naturally inclined to nonfiction, they will read voraciously in that genre without needing much encouragement. I once taught … [Read more...]