Sharing+a+Book

 =Sharing a Book and Making Connections= We have taught our emerging kindergarten readers that schema, (aka background knowledge) is what they as readers bring to a book; their personal history, everything that they have read, seen, experienced and made contact with in some large or small way. Schema is one of their seven key reading strategies that helps them understand a story better, it provides them with a connection. As readers, if we possess little or no schema/background knowledge about a selection, we will have a hard time making sense of what we are reading. Not only will we not understand the selection/text, but the new information does not "stick." Parents, think of background knowledge/schema as if it is "velcro," it aides in helping new information "stick." The more background knowledge the reader develops and uses, the more one can make sense of and remember new information. As you read with your kindergartener you can model the various types of connections by reading a page or paragraph and say, "Oh, this reminds me of ..." Take the time to discuss with your student what you have read on a similar topic, Children learn by relating their understanding of something new to what they already know. They need to process what they are reading, to talk about it, ponder it. This is how the make the connections that will allow them to remember what they read. = =

Our Suggestions:

**// __The Monster in the Backpack__  //**
//Annie's new backpack has pink and blue flowers, a zipper, and a monster inside. She is startled and frightened when she first discovers the creature, but summons the courage to look at it again and learns that it has eaten most of her lunch and doesn't like to be alone. She keeps the backpack at her desk, where the monster leaves chewed gum in her boot and shreds her homework to make confetti for an ANNIE-IS-GREAT PARADE. This warmhearted gesture wins the girl's heart, and she refuses an offer to trade for a friend's sedate green backpack. The zany story is written in simple, clear language and is supported with bold, digital cartoon art. The story is a little longer than the standard easy-reader selections, but the endearing orange monster and a familiar school setting makes the length an acceptable addition.//

As you read ask your emergent reader to: 1. Identify the words you can read in the text. 2. "Have you ever felt like the monster and not wanted to be alone?" 3. "What is going on in the picture which helps wh en you read any of the words on the page?" 4. "Can you make a text to text connection about this story? Does this story make you think of another story (or media of any kind) we have shared?"

__**//Hazel's Amazing Mother//**__
// The power of maternal love fuels this fantasy. Hazel, a whimsical badger who wears a girl's wide-brimmed hat, blouse and skirt, strolls her doll around town. On the way home, she becomes lost. She is set upon by buck-toothed beaver Doris and her two friends, who unstuff her doll and throw her carriage into the lake. Just in time, a gust of wind blows mother into the tree under which Hazel stands (attributed to the power of love), and the bullies are ordered to repair the doll and retrieve her carriage. Large-format black-ink drawings with comic detail are solidly filled in with cheerful bright watercolors. Hazel's almost illuminant yellow blouse focuses attention on her on each page. A well-crafted fantasy with quality illustrations that relates to many story time themes, this deserves first purchase consideration. //

// As you read ask your emergent reader to: // // 1. Identify words they can read in the text. // 2. "What is going on in the picture which helps when you read any of the words on the page?" 3. "Can you make a text to text connection about this story? Does this story make you think of another story // (or media of anykind) we have shared?" // 4. Share with your mom two things that she has done that you feel make your mom an Amazing Mother!