Dr. S.'s Literacy Read Aloud & Literacy Podcast

Bridge to Terabithia - Chapter 5 - The Giant Killers

In this chapter, Jess and Leslie have to deal with one of the bullies, Janice Avery, on the schoolyard who has been taking advantage of May Belle, Jess's sister. May Belle is very upset and asks Jess and Leslie to make Janice suffer a consequence for her bullying. Leslie comes up with a plan to fool Janice and embarrass her in front of the rest of the kids and Jess takes dictation and writes a note. The two collaborate on putting the note in Janice's desk and then relish in the suffering that they inflict as payback.

Bridge to Terrabithia - Chapter 4 - Rulers of Terrabithia

We learn in this chapter of the growing friendship between Jess and Leslie and their common struggles against the bullies in their classroom and the challenges they each face in their family life at home. Together, they seek refuge one day in a special place in the forest near both of them that they call Terabithia, which they see as a magical. The school year advances and we learn more about each of them and their insecurities but they seem to compliment each other. They came to see Terabithia as a secret they shared with no one.

Tae Keller‘s When You Trap A Tiger

Tae Keller is obviously of Korean background because everything about this book speaks to the richness of her upbringing. The book is a perfect way to introduce students to lessons on diversity and how different backgrounds enrich our understanding of the world. It also enables us to compare the experiences of the main character Lily who is confronted with the terminal illness of her halmoni, her grandmother, and those of others who might have lost a loved grandparent or other relative. So many ways in which this book enables rich and deep classroom or bedroom learning experiences.

Bridge to Terabithia - Chapter 3 - The Fastest Kid In the Fifth Grade

Jess begins the school year all dressed up and thinks only about the race to take place at recess. It is his big day. He is going to be the fastest. Except he doesn't bargain on having a competitor. Leslie shows up and after first being told she can't run, Jess agrees to let her run and she joins him in the fourth heat of the race. She wins and so Jess is out before he even could show off his growing skills. He made sure he ignored Leslie on the ride back home on the bus.

It's All About Stimulating Conversations

I am sure many of you remember the compulsory, obligatory book reports delivered orally in front of the class or to the teacher. That is not at all the same as sitting down with a child and asking the child questions about a book he or she is reading or has finished reading. When we read aloud to a single child, a group of children, or an entire class, stimulating questioning enables the listener(s) to deepen their understanding or what they have heard and talk about or process ideas at the same time.

Choosing Books That Allow Us to Help Our Students and Children Grow

There is a time and a place and a purpose for reading of materials chosen by the classroom teacher for all the students or some of the students. However, if we want our children or students to develop a love of reading, then we need to provide them with opportunities to choose books for themselves. Visiting a library with a well developed collection of books of all kinds and topics and then allowing students to browse and chose for themselves contributes to a growing independence and developing specific tastes.

Having Access to a Wide Variety of Reading Materials

There was a time when the only reading materials used in all grades from elementary through to secondary school was essentially fiction. Using non-fiction to practice reading skills was seldom thought to be important. Today we understand that both ought to play its part in the robust reading program. We also understand that not all children enjoy fiction and so they should be encouraged to indulge their passions for whatever topics that interest them. Reading is reading. This also has to imply books, magazines, newspapers, and even cartoons.

Bridge to Terabithia - Chapter 2 - Leslie Burke

In this chapter, we are helped to see the world through the eyes of Jesse, caught between two older and two younger sisters, and the only son in a farming family where the boy is depended upon to do all the chores, pretty much. Jess is not too happy about it, we read, but he hides it behind dreaming of being a famous artist and being in love with the music teacher. After milking the cow, Jess meets the girl from next door who immediately says that they have to be friends.

Enhancing Skills in the ClassroomBy Buddying Older and Younger Students or Any Combination

Many schools have reading buddies programs which pair older elementary grade students with early learners in the younger grades. Whether it is an older student working with a younger student, or two students of the same age, any time one has to read or perform for someone else there is a bit of a raising of the bar which can be very productive for students.

Racial Literacy and Its Place in Any Reading Program

It is hard not to know that the only way we are ever going to help everyone get along in a multi-racial, multi-ethnic world is to begin in the earliest grades by providing examples of books and movies and songs that address all those cultures. When it comes to books, there are so many excellent examples today of authors of all races telling stories about themselves but not necessarily just for people like them. Our students have to hear stories about all kinds of people and written by all manner of peoples.