Online Safety begins in Kindergarten

I would like to introduce a new technology program that our school district has adopted this year, it's called Learning.com.  This program provides lessons that we will use to educate our students about online safety and a wide variety of computer skills including keyboarding, research, and communication.  We believe in preparing our students for the technology-driven world in which we live.  Check it out, I think you'll be impressed: Learning.com

As I began teaching my first lessons on Netiquette and Cyber bullying this week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these topics were easy - even with our youngest students, those in kindergarten.  There were very few that didn't raise their hand when I asked if they had played on a computer, a cell phone, or a tablet.   We discussed what makes someone a "good friend" and what makes someone a  "bully." I explained that regardless of where we are, on the playground, in our classroom, or on the Internet (yes, that concept was a little tricky), we should always be a good friend and treat others like we want to be treated.  The main point that I stressed the most, was that whenever, wherever you feel that someone is not treating you nicely, you should tell an adult right away.

These discussions with Kindergarten and First Grade were the simplest by far within Learning.com, but I am proud to be equipping them with knowledge and skills that will keep them safe online (and offline too). In the weeks to come, I'm looking forward to teaching similar lessons to the rest of the grade levels.

A related resource that I want to share with you is Common Sense Media. This website has everything you need to know as a parent in bringing up a child in our digital world. Just a few of the topics covered include: Parent Concerns (i.e. screen time, news and media literacy, character strengths and life skills, etc...); Top picks in Apps, Website, Games, etc...; and Reviews that help you make great choices for your entire family.

We already knew that kids learned computer technology more easily than adults, it's as if children were waiting all these centuries for someone to invent their native language. ~ Jaron Lanier

Book Care for Kids

Now that the library has opened and most of our students have begun to check out library books, I thought it might be useful to post the same rules that I teach the students on my blog for all the parents and caregivers out there. Following these rules can help you avoid having to pay for a lost or damaged library book. Ask your child to tell you about Mrs. Seidel's No, No, Never, Never Box and what is in it. These are Mrs. Seidel's Never Never Rules. 

1. Don't eat a snack while you're reading your book. Dirty or sticky fingers can ruin the pages of a book.
2. Don't drink water, milk, or other beverages while reading. Liquids instantly destroy pages in books. 
3. Don't leave your library book where a younger sibling can write, color, or draw in it.
4. Don't leave your library book where your dog can get a hold of it. Dogs love to chew on books.
5. Don't draw, color, or write in your library book. 

Those are the DON'TS,  but equally important is this one DO: Always keep your library book in a safe place,  preferably in a zipped up backpack off the floor where no one can step on it. If it's always put away, it's less likely to turn up missing. Try to establish a routine with your children to read books and immediately put them in backpacks. This way they have them at school daily to read and test on and of course, ready to return on library day.

Thank you for ALL you do to support your child's reading success!

Reading aloud with your child

Most everyone knows the importance of reading aloud to young children and that they usually love it, but did you know that being read to is something that older children enjoy?  Ask any elementary student to name their favorite story and quite often it will be one that has been read aloud at school. While rhyming and picture books are perfect for the little ones, you might want to try reading aloud as your child gets older. You can start off with thinner Easy to Read chapter books and progress to thicker ones. Take turns reading chapters or simply do all the reading yourself. Either way, your child will love it!

My list of favorites begins with books for Second Grade because these kiddos are always anxious to check out "bigger" books. However, if you feel like your first grader is ready for longer stories, dive right into the Second Grade list.

SECOND GRADE 
Series books
Henry and Mudge;  Annie and Snowball by Cynthia Rylant
Judy Moody and Stink books by Megan McDonald
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Ready Freddy by Abby Klein
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

THIRD GRADE
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
James and the Giant Peach  by Roald Dahl
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Stuart Little by E.B. White

FOURTH GRADE
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The One and Only Ivan  by Katherine Applegate
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

FIFTH GRADE 
Hatchet by Gary Paulson
Red Dog by Bill Wallace
My Side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George
Wonder by Raquel J. Palacios
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Tuck Everlasting  by Natalie Babbitt

What is a ZPD?

As the librarian,  one of the ways that I support your child's reading achievement is through a district program called Accelerated Reader. Within the next few weeks, students in grades 1-5 will be taking the Accelerated Reader STAR test. This online reading test will determine an individual student's reading range, otherwise known as their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).  Basically, the ZPD identifies a range of specific reading levels that a child should read in order to demonstrate continuous growth and success.

Here's an example: Kirsten is a second grader who just took the STAR test. Her ZPD is listed as 2.5 - 3.1.  This means that Kirsten should be reading books from a mid-year second grade level up to beginning third grade levels.  Books in this range include 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. 2.8, 2.9. 3.0, and 3.1. In education, we call these books "just right" because the levels are specific to Kirsten and will support her growth in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Kirsten's teacher will continually conference with her to set weekly goals and to revise reading levels as needed.

Now you know what a ZPD is and won't be so confused when your child comes home and says that they have  one.  Rest assured that as the librarian, I will be here to guide students in finding the kinds of books that they want to read as just the right levels.  Click here  to find out what you can do as a parent to support your child's reading growth.  If you have children's books at home and want to know if they are AR, you can use Accelerated Reader BookFinder on your computer.  If you frequent the public library or purchase a lot of children's books, you might want to get an app called BookScanner by If Then Dev, LLC for $1.99. By simply scanning the barcode on the back of the book, you can find out the AR level, the point value, and the quiz number.

For general questions about AR at Dawson, please feel free to contact me. However, for AR questions specific to your child, please contact his/her teacher.

Accelerated Reader - Matching Books to Readers

Your child might have come home recently talking about "A.R." or his/her reading level.  "A.R." is short for Accelerated Reader which is a reading program purchased by our district to increase student reading achievement.

A.R. in a Nutshell: In the fall, students take a computerized reading assessment to identify their instructional reading level.  This reading level is numerical and gives students a range of books to read.  The number on the far left represents easier books and the number on the far right represents more difficult books. Books located in the middle of the range (2.3-2.6) would be considered "perfect" for encouraging growth as a reader.

Student Example:  After taking the fall assessment, Suzie Patriette's teacher assigns her an instructional reading range of  2.1 - 2.8.  This means that books closer to 2.1 should be easier for Suzie to read than books closer to 2.8.   Suzie's next steps include: 

1. Checking out library books within her reading level range. 
2. Reading the book at home and at school.
3. Telling her teacher when she has finished reading the book. 
4. Having a discussion with her teacher about the book and the teacher agreeing that Suzie is ready to take an A.R. quiz on this book.
5. Taking an A.R. quiz on the computer. 
6. Meeting with the teacher to discuss quiz results and setting new reading goals together.  

Parent Support is Essential to Student Success in A.R.

There are several ways in which parents can help support the reading growth that is taking place through Accelerated Reader.

• Read with your child as often as possible. Taking turns is a trick I always used with my children. I'd read half of a chapter and they would finish it.  If it was a real page-turner, I'd read a chapter and they'd read the next one. 
• Praise them as their reading levels rise.  Remember, growth whether it's one point or five is movement in the right direction.  
• Track daily reading minutes on a calendar.  Some students really enjoy watching the minutes increase throughout the month. With reluctant readers, start small with fifteen minutes of daily reading and add a few more minutes every 3-4 days.  
• Check reading levels on any books that your child is interested in reading.  Let's say you're at Barnes & Noble and your child is interested in a book.  Find out if it is within their reading range by going to arbookfind.com  This link can also be found on our Dawson web page under "Library" and scrolling down to "Additional Resources."  Look for the Book Level (BL).  

If you have any questions about Accelerated Reader or arbookfind.com, please do not hesitate to contact me.   Happy Reading!!

  

Picture Books that rhyme - Fun for everyone!

Hi, everyone! This week, I'd like to share with you a list of my favorite rhyming picture books.

Learning to identify rhyming words is a critical first step in learning to read. Sharing nursery rhymes like Jack and Jill  and picture books with rhyming text like Green Eggs and Ham  help children begin to identify the sounds that consonants and vowels make.  As they become familiar with rhymes or rhyming books, they learn to anticipate the next rhyming word.  This in turn helps them to develop another very important reading skill - prediction.  So, when your read rhyming books with your child, you are laying the foundation for their future success in reading.

My Top Ten Favorite Rhyming Books

Giraffes can't dance by Giles Andreae

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee

Bat Jamboree by Kathi Appelt

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos! by Susan M. Elya

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Velma Aardema

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Demolition by Sally Sutton
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen
Cindy Moo by Lori Mortensen

You can check out any of these from our library and of course, there are many more wonderful rhyming books on our shelves. If you'd like to share your personal favorite rhyming book, please leave a comment below.

Happy Reading, Patriots!

Teaching Children to Use the Internet Safely

Hello, Everyone! Today's topic is teaching our children how to use the Internet safely. I just recently came across this video "Hippo and Hedgehog in Cyber-Five."  The Cyber-Five is a set of five rules that children should follow when using the internet.  After the video, there's a quiz that you can take with them to check their understanding.  I'd recommend this video for third-grade students and up.

Here's the video:  Hippo and Hedgehog in Cyber-Five

This is the website that sponsors Hippo and Hedgehog. You can find lots of free educational games from Pre-K to Grade 5.

Balancing Real Life with Screen Time

If you're like me, you've got kiddos that are spending a LOT of time online.  Do you worry that they're spending TOO much time on the Internet?  Well, I've got a great video that you can watch with your children.  It's Faux Paw Goes to the Games . The theme of this animated video is that spending too much time on the Internet can interfere with your real life goals.

We hope you're enjoying the content being posted on our blog! Keep reading, Patriots!

Peep and the Big Wide World

Hi, everyone! In my quest to provide you with new and exciting resources that you can use to support your child's learning and development, I have discovered "Peep and the Big Wide World."

"Peep" contains an animated series designed to teach math and science to children ages 3-5. Each half-hour episode follows Peep, a newly hatched chicken, and his friends, Chirp (a robin) and Quack (a duck) on their daily adventures around a park - a place they call "the big wide world."


Designed by an Early Childhood Science teacher, each episode highlights contains two stories that focus on a specific science concept. An added bonus are the "live action shorts which show real kids experimenting with these concepts in their own big wide worlds."

Stay tuned to the website for a new story each week! That's "Peep and the Big Wide World." Check it out and let me know what you think:)

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read more books!

Hi Everyone! 

Did you know that you can check out 4 additional library books to read with your child? 

Just drop by the library between 2:45 and 3:30 p.m. and I can help you find books that are "just right" for your child.

A book review of The Library Lion by Mrs. Smith's Second Grade Class

Title: The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated by:  Kevin Hawkes

Main Characters: the Lion, Miss Merriweather (the librarian), Mr. McBee (the library assistant)

One day a lion came to the library. The lion became a good helper by dusting the books with his tail. He learned to follow the rules in the library too. The most important rules were no running in the library and no roaring. Miss Merriweather had told the lion that he come be a helper and come to story hour if he followed the rules, but one day he accidentally ran in the library.

If you want to know what happens in this really good book, you'll need to check it out yourself.

Our Rating: 

Library Check-out

WOW! What a busy week in the library! I must have told every class,"There's no need to run to the shelves, the books can't leave without you!" They were so excited to explore the library and try new books. It's my favorite time of the year!

That makes this the perfect time to share our library's check-out procedures with you. Your child's class will visit our library weekly to select books. As the parent, you need to know that:

• Students are responsible for handling library books with care, since they are for everyone to share. Please keep books away from pets, food, and all liquids.  
• Any book damage should be reported to the library as soon as possible so we can attempt repairs.  
• Library books may be kept for one week (K – 5th grade).  A book may be renewed (checked out again) if the student is not finished reading it. An overdue (late) book means a student cannot borrow another book (until the overdue book is renewed or returned).  
• If a book is lost, payment toward a replacement will be requested from the parents.  
• If your family plans to move from Dawson Elementary, please return all books before moving.

We have a wide variety of books for students (and parents) to borrow for reading practice, information, and enjoyment. If you're interested in opening a parent account, please stop by or email me at kathy.seidel@ccisd.us

Starfall: A Great Reading Tool (and it's FREE too!)

Hi parents! Can you believe that we're already into the third week of school? I thought that for this week's post, I'd share a wonderful website (or phone/tablet app) with you.  It's called Starfall and it is absolutely FREE.  

We have used this free version for several years now in our computer lab and the students love it! The teachers also love the extra learning that takes place when the students "play"on Starfall.  This program has a wide range of reading activities from ABC's (for Kinder), Learn to Read (for First and Second grades), and It's fun to read and I'm reading (for Second - Fifth grades).  There are also awesome holiday games for kids of every age/grade level.  

The activities that I just suggested are on the left side of the home page. The activities on the right offer a sample of the paid version. Therefore, there are only a few activities that students can actully access. Having used the product in the computer lab for several years, I think that the free version is more than enough. 

If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you!  Happy Reading!!

The Importance of Reading at Home

So sorry for posting this a day late, but my AC decided to break yesterday. That "drip, drip" sound in the hallway is never good.  However, the AC is still cooling the house, we minimized the leaking, and a repairman is scheduled for today.

This week, we're going to talk about the importance of reading at home with your kids.  Rather than just tell you that it will make a HUGE difference, I thought I'd let the statistics do it for me. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, children who are read to at home:

• are more likely to write their own names
• can count to 20 or higher, than those were were not
• read or pretend to read
• develop stronger reading skills
• have a  higher success rate in school

Tips to help you get started:

1. Read bedtime stories
2. Play a board game
3. Visit the local library (Map to Garcia Library)
4. Read a recipe and cook something yummy together
5. Create a comfy reading space in your home
6. Put your child in charge of reading the grocery list at the store

Don't forget the use The Five Finger Rule when choosing books for your child to read to you.

You can read the full NCE article here

The Five Finger Rule for Choosing a Just Right Book

As the school librarian, I'm often asked by parents "How do I know which books my child should read?" Here's what I tell them: first, let the child pick out a book that looks interesting to him/her. Then, perform the Five Finger Rule.

Before they learn this rule, many children's first picks are books that are too difficult for them to read by themselves. If this happens, I would suggest keeping the book as one that you can read aloud to them. However, have the child keep testing other books by the rule until they find one that is "just right" for them to read on their own.

Besides our school library, Garcia Public Library  has a wonderful selection of books in their Children's area and a wide variety of children's programs such as Preschool Story and Craft and Little Tot Story Time.  Garcia Library is only eight minutes from Dawson. Map to Garcia Public Library.

Free Online Read Alouds

Today's Parent Post features The Indianapolis Public Library.  

"Storyline Online" contains 100 FREE Read Alouds.  You'll find characters like Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, the  Berenstain Bears, and the Rainbow Fish.  Of the six stories that I looked at, all six were read by the authors themselves. How cool is that? 

What are you waiting for? Click here to starting reading a story

Free App called Flipboard

Well kiddos, I hope you've had a FANTASTIC summer. I sure did! Staying up late, sleeping in, going on vacation, and eating LOTS of ice cream:)
This is my Orange Creamsicle Milkshake! YUM!!!

Although I haven't been posting book reviews, I've still been reading a lot - mostly on my iPad or my phone.  I like keeping up with what's going on in the news, so here is a FREE app that I'd like to share with you. It's one of my favorites - Flipboard.  You as the reader get to pick the topics that you like to read about. It's like a newspaper filled with your favorite kinds of stories  - sports, celebrity news, the Olympics, music, etc... Share it with your family! Let me know what you think about it, ok?

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you real soon so that you can help me by writing book reviews for our school blog - DawsonReads.

And the answer is....

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

If you like to read books about time travel (think Jack and Annie - Magic Tree House), then this series is one you'll definitely want to check out!

My advice: Check out Book 1 Missing and Book 2  Sent at the same time so that you don't have to wait to find out what happens next. These books are located under "F - HAD" for the author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

If you've already read Missing, post a comment with your thoughts. I'm off to find a cozy spot to start on Book 2: Sent.

Genre: Science Fiction

Welcome to our book blog!!

Well kids, here is it is!!  Our very own blog to post reviews about the books we LOVE!! 

Now that summer's here, the first book I'm reading is Found:  Book 1 of The Missing Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. 

Kids have been recommending this series to me for the last few years and I just never seemed to get around to reading it. So...here it goes, my first book of the summer.  Check back soon to see if I give this book a thumbs up or not. 

I'm looking forward to hearing about the great books that you've read this summer and helping you post your own book reviews right here on DAWSON READS.  

Until then, stay cool Patriots and Happy Reading!