Comments on: The Book Basket ~ My Summer Experiment http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/ homeschool tips, printables, curriculum reviews, and more Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elizabeth http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-19059 Elizabeth Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:19:05 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-19059 Toni, How did your summer experiment go with your son? You never did report back on that...or did I miss it somewhere? It sounds interesting ;) Warmly, Elizabeth Toni,

How did your summer experiment go with your son? You never did report back on that…or did I miss it somewhere? It sounds interesting ;)

Warmly,
Elizabeth

]]> By: Michelle http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13355 Michelle Fri, 15 May 2009 17:56:14 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13355 Thanks for suggesting The Read-Aloud Handbook. I borrowed it from the library and I love it! I have only read a few chapters so far and it's great. I was already reading aloud to my kids on a daily basis and this book reassures that we are doing the right things. I plan on buying my own copy now to use as a reference both at home and in the classroom when I go back to work. Thanks for the post, and your great blog. I get so much from your website! Thanks for suggesting The Read-Aloud Handbook. I borrowed it from the library and I love it! I have only read a few chapters so far and it’s great. I was already reading aloud to my kids on a daily basis and this book reassures that we are doing the right things. I plan on buying my own copy now to use as a reference both at home and in the classroom when I go back to work. Thanks for the post, and your great blog. I get so much from your website!

]]> By: Laura http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13317 Laura Fri, 15 May 2009 11:47:39 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13317 Jim Trelease is one of my heroes. As a children's librarian (& nanny & preschool teacher before that, I know the power of reading aloud. If you ever have the chance to attend a workshop, Jim is a great presenter. I have to say, though, my heart gave a little lurch when I read that you fold corners--until I got to the part where you leave the library books alone. :) We librarians are a little finicky about that. I had a customer once check out a three hundred page cookbook and she took the whole thing a step further. Every recipe that she liked, she folded the page in half. She liked almost every other recipe!!! Jim Trelease is one of my heroes. As a children’s librarian (& nanny & preschool teacher before that, I know the power of reading aloud. If you ever have the chance to attend a workshop, Jim is a great presenter.

I have to say, though, my heart gave a little lurch when I read that you fold corners–until I got to the part where you leave the library books alone. :) We librarians are a little finicky about that. I had a customer once check out a three hundred page cookbook and she took the whole thing a step further. Every recipe that she liked, she folded the page in half. She liked almost every other recipe!!!

]]> By: Anne http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13281 Anne Fri, 15 May 2009 03:11:43 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13281 I just started Phonics Pathways with my 5 yr old daughter. Thank you so much for posting your homeschool curriculum. It has been very helpful for a first time homeschooler! I also appreciate that your son does things in his own time. My son didn't walk until he was 20 months old, and he will be 2 July 3, but still doesn't talk. I'm pretty sure he'll be a "late-ish" reader too :) I just started Phonics Pathways with my 5 yr old daughter. Thank you so much for posting your homeschool curriculum. It has been very helpful for a first time homeschooler! I also appreciate that your son does things in his own time. My son didn’t walk until he was 20 months old, and he will be 2 July 3, but still doesn’t talk. I’m pretty sure he’ll be a “late-ish” reader too :)

]]> By: Quinn http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13274 Quinn Fri, 15 May 2009 02:39:01 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13274 I love your summer experiment idea. I was wondering about the summer lag with reading too. My son just hit his grade level for reading and I don't want him to fall behind in his reading over the summer. We devour books in our house but he rather us read out loud than try and read on his own. We are having a mini book club in the neighborhood. There are enough kids that I thought we could try it (we have about 8 at the rising 2nd grader level). So I am picking out a few books they can be read aloud or read alone chapter books. Every two weeks in the early evening we are going to try and get the kids together to talk about the book. Highlight things like describe characters in the book. What happened in the last chapter? What did the chapter title mean? What do you think will happen next? My hope is that they kids read with their families but also talk about the books together. Sort of give them something more. Also let them guide some of the discussion. I set up a blog for the parents too so if they want to participate but will be gone for the summer months or just miss a bit they can still see and read what we did. The kids could even post questions they want to bring up. I am not sure how it will turn out but so far we have quite a few parents interested. Also the younger siblings will get time at the book club too... we will start the time out with a read aloud picture book and get the little ones involved before they can run and play. At least that is my intent. I love your ideas too. We will be following along to see how it turns out. I love your summer experiment idea. I was wondering about the summer lag with reading too. My son just hit his grade level for reading and I don’t want him to fall behind in his reading over the summer. We devour books in our house but he rather us read out loud than try and read on his own. We are having a mini book club in the neighborhood. There are enough kids that I thought we could try it (we have about 8 at the rising 2nd grader level).

So I am picking out a few books they can be read aloud or read alone chapter books. Every two weeks in the early evening we are going to try and get the kids together to talk about the book. Highlight things like describe characters in the book. What happened in the last chapter? What did the chapter title mean? What do you think will happen next? My hope is that they kids read with their families but also talk about the books together. Sort of give them something more. Also let them guide some of the discussion. I set up a blog for the parents too so if they want to participate but will be gone for the summer months or just miss a bit they can still see and read what we did. The kids could even post questions they want to bring up. I am not sure how it will turn out but so far we have quite a few parents interested. Also the younger siblings will get time at the book club too… we will start the time out with a read aloud picture book and get the little ones involved before they can run and play. At least that is my intent. I love your ideas too. We will be following along to see how it turns out.

]]> By: Vicki http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13273 Vicki Fri, 15 May 2009 02:16:55 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13273 By the way... book suggestion... have you guys ever read "Chicks and Salsa" ?? It's a family favorite over here... OLE!!! By the way… book suggestion… have you guys ever read “Chicks and Salsa” ?? It’s a family favorite over here… OLE!!!

]]> By: Vicki http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13271 Vicki Fri, 15 May 2009 02:13:00 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13271 Loved your experiment... I wish him much success!!! I had asked for your Read Aloud Handbook for Mother's Day and my husband (who is an elementary school principal), found it irresistable and read it on several occasions before placing it in my gift bag. He couldn't wait until I opened it to read it some more and has now decided to give away several copies to staff members at the end of the school year!! (Again... you are blessing way more people than you realize... and are enriching their lives!!) My heart went out to your 7 yr. old son b/c I also have a 7 yr. old son who is a VERY RELUCTANT reader with some special needs and we have been doing reading instruction and phonics for a year and a half and it is just SOOO hard for him!! It breaks my heart that he "hates reading" and getting him to practice SO that he gets better is frustrating!! (So I have a vested interest in the outcome of your experiment... hee hee!!) Best of Luck! Loved your experiment… I wish him much success!!! I had asked for your Read Aloud Handbook for Mother’s Day and my husband (who is an elementary school principal), found it irresistable and read it on several occasions before placing it in my gift bag. He couldn’t wait until I opened it to read it some more and has now decided to give away several copies to staff members at the end of the school year!! (Again… you are blessing way more people than you realize… and are enriching their lives!!) My heart went out to your 7 yr. old son b/c I also have a 7 yr. old son who is a VERY RELUCTANT reader with some special needs and we have been doing reading instruction and phonics for a year and a half and it is just SOOO hard for him!! It breaks my heart that he “hates reading” and getting him to practice SO that he gets better is frustrating!! (So I have a vested interest in the outcome of your experiment… hee hee!!) Best of Luck!

]]> By: Amanda http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13258 Amanda Thu, 14 May 2009 23:34:20 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13258 Sounds like a great experiment! This is how my boys are learning to read. Just doing it. My 6.5yo decided he wanted to read "The Tale of Desperaux," which was WAY beyond his reading level. But that's what he wanted. So, we started reading it together, one paragraph at a time. He needs a lot of help, but in just TWO PAGES -- over the span of a week or two, his reading has improved significantly!! All that exposure to bigger words has built up his phonics skills and given him great confidence. It's not the only thing we're reading, so I can see how much better he's getting at the easy stuff. Sounds like a great experiment! This is how my boys are learning to read. Just doing it. My 6.5yo decided he wanted to read “The Tale of Desperaux,” which was WAY beyond his reading level. But that’s what he wanted.

So, we started reading it together, one paragraph at a time. He needs a lot of help, but in just TWO PAGES — over the span of a week or two, his reading has improved significantly!! All that exposure to bigger words has built up his phonics skills and given him great confidence. It’s not the only thing we’re reading, so I can see how much better he’s getting at the easy stuff.

]]> By: Bree http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13248 Bree Thu, 14 May 2009 21:41:32 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13248 I am a bookmarker with any ol' piece of paper my husband is a dog-earing, corner folder even on library books yikes! I watch him do it and every so often I have to ask him why he doesnt just use a bookmark he says he always done it so it is a habit. I am a bookmarker with any ol’ piece of paper my husband is a dog-earing, corner folder even on library books yikes! I watch him do it and every so often I have to ask him why he doesnt just use a bookmark he says he always done it so it is a habit.

]]> By: Amanda http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/the-book-basket-my-summer-experiment/#comment-13247 Amanda Thu, 14 May 2009 21:14:48 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5426#comment-13247 Dog-eared corner-folder all the way! Dog-eared corner-folder all the way!

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