CHILDREN'S BOOK NOTES

As much as possible, I like to rotate my Language Center (or Library Corner) books monthly.  Unfortunately, I haven't yet worked in a school that had a great supply of books, so over the years, I've accumulated my own set of "bargain" books from thrift stores.  They don't always look terrific, but in some cases, you can bring stories in tattered books back to life by tearing out some of the pages or cutting out the pictures that are in good shape and glue them on sheets of construction paper.  Place the "new" pages into photo albums.  The children will love them.  You can even add magazine pictures to the album to make the story complete when needed.  Or, turn old book pages/pictures into flannel stories.  Don't let a good story go to waste.  Improvise, improvise, improvise! 

Patricia Zammit, from a Montessori school in London says:
To demonstrate to the children how to take care of our books in the book corner, and at home too, we take a book which is in poor condition (i.e. pages torn, stained etc) and cover it with brown paper.  We distress, for want of a better word, this brown cover by tearing it, curling back the ends, splattering it with paint, juice, food etc.  We then draw a very sad face on the front.  We show this to the children and let them examine it by turning the pages and seeing the poor condition both inside and out.  In contrast, we then pass around a new book in pristine condition.  The message gets across very easily."

Here's a fantastic idea from Geri Loree who says:
Because I feel so strongly about reading to my preschoolers and encouraging parents to spend time reading to their children, we've opened our own "class-room" library.  First, we took a trip to our public library.  The librarian there was very helpful and gave the class the do's and don'ts of caring for books.  I then purchased books from Scholastic Book Club to add to our small library.  The children received a library card and a 2 gallon size plastic zip-lock bag to place their books in.  They are allowed to take three books home at a time and must return those before taking more home.  Each child takes his turn at being the librarian for the day.  Their duties include putting the cards in the "check out" pocket in the back of the library book and stamping the cards with the return date when books are returned.  This year we are participating in the "Pizza Hut Book It," sponsored by Pizza Hut.  In past years, we have had a Library Bookworm that encircled our room: We cut out circles and gave them to each child to take home.  Parents and caregivers were encouraged to read to the child and record the name of the book on the circle.  The circles were returned then placed together, creating a bookworm.  At the end of our school year we had over 1000 circles!

Carole Watkins in Indiana sent me this great idea for organizing books in the classroom.
Stormie, I recently went through all my children's books.  I have a weakness for good books so my shelf was loaded!  I hate when I want a specific book and can't find it quickly (children can't wait for more than a minute).  So I cleaned out a few milk crates in class and purchased a box of hanging file folders.  The crates are plastic cubes that our milk cartons come in at school (like the ones college students use for storage in dorm rooms).  Or, they can be purchased at K-Mart/Target etc.  They come in different colors, are stackable, and are very inexpensive (a preschools teachers delight), and they have that lip inside that hanging files can fit on.  I labeled the folders A-Z and placed the books in them by title.

From Donna King in Roxboro, North Carolina:
"Every November during National Children's Book Week, I ask each child to bring one of their favorite books to share.  It must be fairly short since I have approximately 20 to read.  We all enjoy each other's books while recognizing how important books are to us!"

From Pat Stajek-Vorwerk in Jackson, New Jersey:
Stormie, in my class of 4-year olds, I have a book of the week program.  I read to the children twice a day, once at circle and once during snack.  The circle time book is the one I read every day for a week.  I try to include many props and art activities to go along with the story.  I also allow each student to borrow a copy of the book, so he can enjoy the book with a family member.  By the end of the week, we are experts concerning the story.  The kids love the repetition, and the feeling of accomplishment when we orally review the plot, character, etc at the end of the week.

From Amy Minhinnick, in West Bloomfield, Michigan:
Storytime Transition: If I have just read a story then want to transition the kids or dismiss them to line up (or whatever), I call on each child and ask him/her, "What was your favorite part of the story?"  After they tell me, they can go.

From Susan Wray, Dyersburg, Tennessee
After Christmas break, instead of Show-N-Tell, I had "Book Reports" (preschool style).  I had children bring one of their favorite books each Friday.  I turned over our wooden play-refrigerator and let them carefully stand on the back of it to be in the spotlight as the rest of us sat in a group in front.  Then they could tell us about their book.  Some of them just stood there and smiled and showed the front of the book.  I'd tell them it looked soooo good, and asked them to please show us the inside and turn the pages.  (I usually stated the name of the book if the child wouldn't after being coaxed.)  Sometimes I would prompt by asking things like, "Who is that bear?" or "What is that boy doing?" or "Is it a funny book?" and so on.  I think this was their favorite thing we did at Preschool.  The parents said their children loved it.

From Sheryl C. in Portland, Oregon:
I store our books by subject in empty copy paper boxes.  I  have each section numbered and divided by a heavy piece of a file folder cut in half.  I keep a record of all my books in my computer, so when it's time to order more books, I can quickly see what we have.

What a truly exciting idea from Janell Massey:
Book Adventure Bag : Stormie, I place a book (usually purchased from garage/library sales) into a bag (gallon size Ziploc, canvas tote, or old backpack).  I also collect objects that are similar to what's mentioned in the book or deal with the subject matter in some way and place them in the bag too so that the student (who checks out the bag to take home) has related activities to do.  For example, I bought a book entitled My First Counting Book, by Lilian Moore.  It's a rhyming book that has lots of animals in it, and counts from 1-10.  I placed barnyard animal cutouts in the bag for the child (and parents) to count together, group together, etc.  I also included "number" flashcards, plastic bingo counters with animal stickers glued on them, and a number concentration game.  Most of the items are made from laminated computer paper, so it's all lightweight.  I add a journal so parents can record what their child did and/or make suggestions.  (In the front of the journal, I list all items that are in the bag so parents can see what needs to be returned.)  I hope this helps someone.  (I adapted this idea from a friend.)

From Angela M. Linder:
Beginning of Year Idea: Hi Stormie, In September I always give a take-home packet to the children that includes:
1. An alphabet sheet (to show parents the D'Nealian style of print we use with the children)
2. A library card form from the "Free Library of Philadelphia"  (It's surprising how many children don't have library cards.)
3. Information about our new computer program from the Waterford Early Reading Program
This is a good way to insure a child's further interest in reading.

From Dawn, kindergarten teacher in Brockton, Massachusetts:
Here's a simple but fabulous little song to help children learn the difference between an author and illustrator:

Author and Illustrator
(Tune: "Hi Ho the Derri-O" or "A Hunting We Will Go")
The author writes the story,
The author writes the story,
The illustrator draws the pictures,
The author writes the story

From Brenda Zimmerman
Story Predictions: Hi Stormie.  I just read through your "reading to kids" section and thought I'd share a couple of thoughts.  First, where I live, the local libraries have great clearance sales.  You have to look often and be willing to spend some time looking through the books, but it's a great way to build up a classroom library (and the books are the nicely bound library editions so they hold up longer).  Second, before reading a book to my class, I like to spend time talking with them about what they think the book will be about based on the title or the picture on the cover.  I like to introduce them to this skill on the very first day and by the end of the year, it's amazing how well they make predictions about a story.  I also continue discussions throughout the story and after we are done reading it (on their level of course, and because young children have short attention spans, you sometimes have to keep the discussions short).

From Kathy Schrader
Parent Involvement Activity: I like having a parent (or grandparent, sibling, babysitter, etc.) come to read their child's favorite book to the class on the child's pre-assigned snack day.  I do this starting in January (rather than when school first starts), so there is no seperation anxiety!  When the adult comes to read, the child can sit beside him/her and help "read" the story.  If a person from the family is unavailable, the child brings their favorite book and I read it to the class while the child sits by and "assists" me.

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Reminder from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards."  Click here to check them out.