On Frantic Mama, Julia Arnold laughs about the less glamorous side of new motherhood. In my world, the counter is always sticky, and the floor is never clean.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
A little light reading...
Hello one and all!
I've been a bit absent from my 'cute little blog' as I dive back into teaching (I've started working one-on-one with children with learning disabilities again) and contribute my work to various publications, so I thought I'd share the links to some of my recent favorites with you here.
Here's one that is guaranteed to get some people riding their high horses. BUT I'm trying not to care about any mean comments because I LOVED writing this one for Parent.co.
What is the Bechdel Test and Which of Your Kids Favorite Movies Pass it?
In a less controversial move, here's one I wrote about the benefits of teaching kids how to play chess. It inspired us to dust off the old chess board at our house. Maybe it'll do the same for you!
Why Teaching Kids to Play Chess is Worth the Time and Effort
Last, I've had fun trying my hand at food writing for Splendry. Here's the link to my favorite granola recipe of all time!
Maple Granola Article
I hope all of my wonderful readers are enjoying the start of another holiday season. We got our Christmas tree last week and I must say, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!
~Julia @ Frantic Mama
Monday, November 6, 2017
Awesome Early Chapter Book Series
With the onslaught of video games, after school activities, homework, and handheld devices
constantly beckoning our kids, it's not hard to imagine why reading
for fun often takes a backseat. My son, now 7, picked up reading at
an early age, and I was thrilled to share my passion for the written
word with him. However, his interest in reading waned as his world
expanded to school, sports, friends, and of course, screens.
I eagerly brought home handfuls of
books from the library, hoping to introduce him to the perfect
series-- the one that would not only grab his attention, but keep it
and encourage a lifelong love of reading.
Oh how the mighty have
fallen!
For over ten years, I've taught a wide variety of
students, including those with significant dyslexia and ADHD, how to
read and how to comprehend, and yet I couldn't inspire my own child!
Thankfully, after lots of trial and
countless errors, we found four age-appropriate chapter book series
that he really, truly enjoys, and that as a reading teacher, I think
are fantastic for elementary students who know how to read but don't
necessarily like doing so.
- The Data Set by Ada Hopper.
One requirement I have for an
engrossing early chapter book is that it includes plenty of pictures.
Because while our kids will insist they “aren't babies anymore,”
I find over and over again that pictures engage kids and help them
comprehend what they read, which is the goal of reading once you know
how to read.
The Data Set series is about a
group of whiz kids-- boys and girls-- who are interested in science
and experiments. The vocabulary is what I would deem 'just right;'
Hopper carefully introduces and reviews new words, but most of the
words are familiar. The characters are diverse, and one even
introduces basic Spanish to readers through conversations with his mother.
The characters engage in easy-to-follow dialogue, and the storyline
is entertaining, fresh, and quick-moving. This is truly a perfect
series.
- Dragon Masters by Tracy West.
Dragons are all the rage these days
(if you hadn't noticed), and I happened on this enchanting series
while randomly skimming the library shelves. It's another one about a
group of boys and girls who go on adventures, but this series takes
place in a fantasy world with kings, queens, and pet dragons. There's
a wizard (of course) who guides the new “dragon masters,”
and it contains charming illustrations on almost every page. The plot
is easy to understand, the story moves quickly, and the vocabulary is
just right. Perfection!
- The Magic School Bus (by a variety of authors).
The Magic School Bus franchise has
been around forever, but I'm specifically talking about the early
chapter books. In the chapter book series, a classroom of elementary
school students goes on adventures all over the world with their
wacky teacher, “The Frizz,” and learn about anything from
volcanoes to dinosaurs to the human body. The pictures are
comprehensive and keep readers engaged and understanding the
plot. New concepts are cleverly defined and reviewed throughout the
book. This is a great series for curious readers who love learning as
much as possible about whatever their current fixation may be.
4. According to Humphrey by
Betty G. Birney.
My son mentioned his teacher was
reading a Humphrey book to
his second grade class. I hadn't heard of it, but since he said he liked it, I made a beeline to the library and checked out a
few. The Humphrey series is about a cute class hamster named
Humphrey who makes smart observations in the classroom and takes
turns visiting different students' houses. The reader hears the story
from hamster's perspective-- Humphrey is the narrator-- which is
amusing to young readers. Again, there are plenty of pictures to
break up the text and aid in comprehension.
Literacy experts stress the importance
of reading comprehension as kids grow because generally in third
grade, the focus at school transitions from learning to read to
reading to learn. What the experts don't always address is how to
help children enjoy reading to reduce battles at home and to avoid
making reading feel like a chore. These four series hit the mark in
our house, and I hope they help others in the same situation.
What early book series do you love (besides Harry Potter)? What ones have been a hit with your students and/or kids?
~Julia @ Frantic Mama
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