Math is Fun

Here is a math website to help enhance what we have been learning at school, or as a way to fill in some "I'm bored" time (why not fill it with something educational?) Have fun!

Math is Fun

Just Right Books

Reading Rockets has an article that has some helps on how to help your child choose a good fit book.

A child needs to be reading a book independently with 99% accuracy to increase their fluency and comprehension skills. 99% may seem like the book is easy for them to read, but if they are frustrated when they are reading (90% accuracy) they will become disheartened and might not want to even try to read.

Zoodles

Zoodles is a great online website with grade appropriate games for your child where you have control of what they play. Many of their games are academic in nature.

Summer Reading Helps

Here is an interesting article with some ideas to help you read with your child during the summer months from The Children's Book Review. When my kids were little, it was hard to find ways to motivate them to read during the summer months. I am going to try some of these suggestions with my own children this summer, even though they are "grown."

The Children's Book Review also has a listing of recommended books to read by age level, category, and a showcase of authors. A great resource for busy families.

Summer reading can be a great way to spend time with your kids. Happy reading!

Imagination Soup

I just discovered this fun blog: Imagination Soup. There are many great things on this site, but my favorite is the Top 7 1/2 Summer Books to Read for Kids post (there is a reason for the 1/2, read to find the post to find out why). What a fun way to start the summer off! Maybe you and your child can sit down together and make your own list of books they would like to read throughout the summer. I know I have a growing list of my own.

Happy Reading!

Scholastic Summer Reading Program

I finally went through my last book order for the 2009-2010 school year from Scholastic, and was given a few fliers for the Student Summer Reading Challenge. After checking it out online I would like to try it out with my own class. I am going to send a flyer home with all of my students during the last week of the school year. Here is the link to get started: Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge.

I remember spending my summers during my early elementary years reading voraciously to earn a cheeseburger from McDonald's through our local library's summer reading program. I thought it was the coolest thing. Maybe that is why I love reading, and teaching others to read. Thanks to my mom for the support and encouragement to earn those cheeseburgers. I'm sure that it couldn't have been easy to keep returning to the library for more books or cheeseburger certificates.

Scholastic Book Search

Scholastic has created a great way for you to determine if the books they are reading at home are a "Good Fit Book." Just type the name of the book you are wondering about in the widget found at the bottom of this page and it will redirect you to the Scholastic web site. In the top right hand corner of the page make sure you select the "Guided Reading Level" radial button and then click set. If Scholastic has that book in their system, it will tell you the guided reading level of that particular book.


Our goal is to have all our first graders reading at an "G" by January, and an "I" or "J" reading level by the end of first grade. I would be happy to share with you your child's reading level at school to help you in your endeavors.