Calgary Reads Resources

Many of you are probably familiar with Calgary Reads from school or the local media.  On their website they have some great information for parents!  Click here for more: http://calgaryreads.com

Fire Starter!

Since I don’t have my own classroom this year, I admit that I have been feeling a little short of ideas for my blog.  After attending the meet the Teacher night however, I found myself overwhelmed with different ideas.  I would like to extend a personal thank you to all the parents I spoke to that night that have helped to spark the flame of my imagination! 

One of the most common threads that came up in my conversations with parents was “What can I do to keep my child focused when practicing their reading?”  Having three children of my own I completely understand this sentiment- once the kids are home, the lure to play with their toys or friends, to catch up on their favourite tv show, etc. is quite difficult to overcome sometimes.  So what can we do as parents to draw them in?  One strategy is to make reading or writing into a game or activity that your kids want to participate in.  If you are short of ideas, I have put together a short list of 5 different activities that you can try to get your child motivated to practice their reading and writing with you at home.

1. Game Night: Whether it is just a “special time” with your child, or a whole family affair, many kids love playing board games.   Encourage your child to use the picture cues and the context of the game to help them figure out the words on age appropriate games.   Games such as Memory with letter cards (Capital and lowercase letters), BOGGLE Jr, or Scrabble are obvious options, but don’t be afraid to try adding a twist to games like Guess Who (write out a list of possible questions together), or Pictionary (change it up and use letter clues too!)
2. Dinner time!:  I am not sure how it works out this way, but I hate cooking and my kids love it!  Check out the library’s kids cooking section and pick a few healthy recipes that you and your child can make together.   My kids love helping me cook recipes out of their Dora and Diego cookbook, and I feel a bit better about cooking knowing that they are digesting a bunch of reading at the same time! Have your children read and follow the directions or even add notes on the recipe to make it better for next time.
3. Stickers!:  Walk into almost any classroom that teaches young children or a second language, and you will likely see labels on the garbage can, the door, the pencils etc.   A fun activity for you and your child could be to come up with labels for things around your home, or in their playroom.  Write down a list of possible labels and then assist your child as they type them into a label template on the computer. Print them off and stick them on!  Labeling drawers may even help your child stay organized!   Just make sure to choose your labels wisely and make sure they come off when you don’t want them around anymore.
4. Family Journal/Communication book:  This can take on so many forms, but it is one way to get everyone in the house practicing reading and writing in an authentic and meaningful way.  With your family, agree on a spot where a family journal can be placed and have everyone contribute to it on a daily basis.  I have heard of families using it to record everything from things that they are thankful for, to important notes about what needs to happen after school if Mum/Dad isn’t home.   If your child is still learning to read and write, either help them to write in their own entries, or let them use pictures and words together to make a message.  Share the journal entries at the dinner table and you have a conversation starter for dinnertime!
5. Scrapbook:  Does anyone else have an almost completely empty baby scrapbook around that they had good intentions to make while their child was a baby?  Why not try this idea from readingrockets.org?  They suggest breaking out the pictures and the glue and having your child make the scrapbook with you! Add descriptions, write about a special memory, and glue them in!  If you are more organized then I am and already have your baby book made, then why not create a scrapbook for a vacation you have just been on instead, and then you will have a lasting memory of that special time!

This is by no means an exhaustive list!  I will likely add posts to my blog as I find new and wonderful ideas, and I would welcome any fun ideas from my readers as well!  Perhaps together we can fan these sparks into a flame! ;)

All Aboard!

“All Aboard!”  Peep, Peep!

As I sit down and write this post in anticipation of the first day of school tomorrow, I can’t help but feel like I am riding in a train, just pulling away from the station and embarking on a new adventure!  There will be new places to explore, new people to meet, and new things to learn!  I am excited to find out what amazing things I will discover during the next 10 months, and yet still a bit nervous about what things lay ahead. 

As these thoughts cross my mind I can’t help but remember all the wonderful stops that I have already had the chance to experience.  I have had the opportunity to stand on top of a mountain, and to camp overnight in a small cabin with only a wood stove to keep us warm on a cold winter’s night.  I have put my feet in the ocean on the West coast, and given a hug to one of my favourite characters, Tigger.  I found a great guy along the way, married him, and have been sharing my adventures with him ever since! After my high school diploma, I took a few years to explore the sights, and then continued onto the University of Calgary, completing a degree in History and Archaeology first, and then an Education degree so I could become a Teacher.  I have had the opportunity to teach and play with kids from 8 different classes, and enjoyed this experience so much, I even had to stop along the way and have some of my own.  I have held three newborn babies, and watched at least one of them grow old enough to board the school bus and go to school just like the students I teach!  What a journey!

I am not really sure where this track will take us, but I hope that you will come along and enjoy the ride with me!  I look forward to meeting you and sharing the adventure!  Better hurry though, this train’s a leaving!

Chugga, Chugga, Choo, Choo!