March is Reading Month 2012, Tip #18: Sleep More

Tip #18: Sleep More

Colbine asleep...

Enough said.

March is Reading Month 2012, Tip #17: Limericks

Tip #17: Limericks
I was reading Pigericks (limericks about pigs), and I thought I should add to my Colb-ericks (limericks about the Colby dog):


There was a dog named Colby Jean
Who didn't know how to be mean
She gave robbers a hand
To cash in the nightstand
And then went right back to her dream

There was a dog named Colby Girl

Who was truly out of this world
She was always so sweet
And she loved having treats
The whole world just loves Colby Girl

Colby is a good reader dog

But also she's such a love hog

She'll nudge you for a pet

And she just won't relent

You'll constantly pet Colby dog!

Couch Pup...I'm so old, so I should sit on the couch.

Grandma Verry's Bunnies

My Grandma Verry used to have a thing with bunnies. Being peaceful herself, I think she truly valued the gentle grace and sweetness of these creatures. As a child, we would walk in the field near her house in the hills of Pennsylvania and then wait and watch for bunnies to hop around. Whenever I see a bunny, I feel like she sent it to me for luck, support, and love.

This theory was going great. When I made the decision to throw my hat in the ring for the Reading Intervention position that became open at a school close to my home, I saw this little guy waiting by the sign as Claude and I walked home from a birthday party:

Little Bunny on the brick border!

This seemed like a sign to me, which is funny because I am not very superstitious. I had some worries about wanting to go back to daily work with students before Claude was in Kindergarten, but this seemed to me like Grandma was telling me this is a good thing, like I was supposed to be there. Bunnies are good luck.

In the past weeks, we've spotted a sweet bunny hopping through our yard; I was happy to host him. It felt like a gift to catch a glimpse of furry tail and hoppy paws. But now Colby has found a new delicacy: rabbit poop. She's crazy for it, seeming to prefer it chilled with the dustings of snow we keep getting. Today after I did a (dog) poop scoop in the yard, I was stunned to see so much rabbit poop. I scooped as much bunny scat as I could- but it was very plentiful and very pellet-ous. Seriously, what is this rabbit eating? How much does one rabbit poop? Perhaps this rabbit needs some bunny Milk of Magnesia. There's really a lot of pooplets.


Also, now I am horribly confused about what my Grandmother is trying to tell me.

March is Reading Month, Tip #17: Limericks!

Limericks! And we were just talking about poetry yesterday...

OK, I really hate seeing a poetry unit reduced to limericks- especially with young children; it is very hard for kids (especially under age 10) to consider content, humor, meter, and rhyme independently. That being said, if children have been adequately exposed to enough limericks- especially silly ones, they can work together to co-author some with support. (This could be a great shared writing or small group activity, minds working together yet process still being scaffolded.) Also, my love of silly, naughty, and parody can be embodied quite well in limericks.  And limericks are noticeable- and kids like that.

So today, I challenge you: write a limerick to amuse your child or yourself or a friend. Find some limericks suitable for kids or check some out from the library.

Photo by Chuck Roderique

And here's my hand at one:



There once was a dog named Colbine,
Who was known to make quite a scene.
She would push for a pet,
Which of course she would get.
No one can resist Miss Colbine!

March is Reading Month, Tip #12: Let's Go to a Museum!

Go to a Museum!

Museums are a great way to support a reading and writing life. First, it's great to find things that interest you in the world, perhaps sparking further reading. (Many of our museum trips are followed by a library trip.) Kids love reading the plaques around art and exhibits and it's exciting to read outside of a book. Museum exhibits are a great way to actively practice comprehension strategies: you look at the parts of an exhibit, you read about them, you talk about it together, and you figure out how it all works or what it means. And children's museums are so great because you can touch and manipulate- and really experience- the materials.

So today- or another day- lose yourself in a museum and see where it takes you.



Reminder: Today I will be presenting an activity time to preschoolers at 11:30 and 12:15 at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum. Colby is coming, too. I will be reading Woof! Woof! and talking about how everything is made of shapes. We will read, sing, dance, and use foam shape stickers to make something part-by-part. It should be fun- so please stop by!