Do you hear what I hear? Add a new dimension to storytelling and reading while celebrating Better Hearing and Speech month in May.
March 29, 2010
In looking at the school and events calendar, I realized May is fast approaching. Of course, we are familiar with May events such as May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, and Mother’s Day. But there are some other days in May to learn about and celebrate. Armed Forces Day, Florence Nightingale’s birthday, and Mother Goose Day. Moreover, May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASLHA), the annual May event ”provides opportunities to raise awareness about communication disorders and to promote treatment that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems with speaking, understanding, or hearing.” To learn more about the event, you can visit their site at: http://www.asha.org/bhsm/
The American Academy of Otolaryngology has a “Hearing Information for Children” category with articles about ‘Infant Hearing Loss,’ ‘Childhood Hearing Loss,’ and “Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children.” You can visit their site at: http://www.entnet.org/AboutUs/betterHearingSpeechMonth.cfm to learn more.
As you teach about our senses, communication, or language, what a wonderful experience it would be to expose youth to a different language, used by those who are Deaf or hard of hearing: American Sign Language (ASL).
Lily says Leveled Reader has two reworked traditional stories available, offering ASL as a medium along with written and oral presentations. The native ASL users are professional storytellers who will delight your young reader with the beauty of the language whether deaf or hearing.
In the ASL Tales category, you can view a demonstration of the ASL Tales: Princess and the Pea [Age Level: 2-8 years, Grade Level: K-4] and ASL Tales: Rapunzel [Age Level: 3-8 years, Grade Level: K-4]
Quote: “The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” Elizabeth Hardwick, American literary critic, novelist, and short story writer.
Use leveled books to help children understand family values and the meaning of friendship…
March 26, 2010
In thinking about the Paxton Hood quote, “Be as careful of the books you read as the company you keep…”, I am reminded how important it is to learn about friends, companions, companionship, and family.
Leveled Reader has selected several books on these important subjects. Not only are they engaging and introduce the subject in an intriguing and varied milieu, but they are leveled for your convenience so you have a better idea of which books would be appropriate to challenge your young reader–and capture their attention and curiosity.
The book, Zelda and Ivy and the Boy Next Door, takes a wry and honest look at the relationships between friends. [Age Level: 5-9 years. Grade Level: 1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd. Leveled Group: L-M.]
For friends of a different sort, the book Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends, a True Story, is an amazing story of Jim and his two dogs and what happens when Jim falls through the ice on the frozen lake. [Age Level: 5-7. Grade Level: K-1. Leveled Group: E-F.]
The True Story of Owen and Mzee is a story about a young hippopotamus and an old giant tortoise after the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami. [Age Level: 5-7. Grade Level: K-1. Leveled Group: G-H-I.]
Or how about Henry and Mudge and the Family Trees? This is a story of best friends—Henry and his 180-pound dog—who are going to their first family reunion. [Age Level: 6-8. Grade Level: 1-2. Leveled Group: J-K.]
Or you can choose from the “Friendship” or “Families” subjects yourself by exploring Shop by Subject and exploring the wide variety of popular literature Leveled Reader’s team of educators and other professionals has selected to improve your young reader’s chances for success through improved literacy, piquing curiosity, and exposing them not only to their world, but other worlds.
Quote: “Be as careful of the books you read as the company you keep.” Paxton Hood
Curiosity may be something that you attribute to cats, we have found that it is a corner stone of success in humans
March 22, 2010
We all know the curiosity of a child. So many successful men, like Bill Gates, stress how important creative thinking is and how curiosity is a part of being a creative thinker. In an article on About.com, Bill Gates talked about how to promote creative thinking and innovation. Among his tips were “Read a non-fiction book every week, read …. read with pen and notebook in hand; jot down any idea that comes into your consciousness.”
Leveled Reader has an entire section of non-fiction books for all ages and reading ability. One book is Amazing Creations. This is such an engaging book. With its graphic illustrations and photographs as well as a high-interest topic, the child’s attention is captured from the first to the last page. It is for the 5-7 year old, grades K-1 (Leveled Group: G-H-I) – perfect for children transitioning from early readers to more challenging storylines. The non-fiction format also makes this a valuable resource to have on your shelf.
There are so many other non-fiction books for children to choose from. With many already leveled and ready to enhance your child’s reading program. Choose from books about American frontier heroes, how to be a medieval knight, ocean creatures, bugs, horses and much more.
Helping the child in your life retain that curiosity will be helping them develop the skill of creative thinking – a key to greater success and happiness.
“If we encounter a man of great intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Does the controversy over rating teachers according to student test scores bypass the underlying issue of why teachers become teachers?
March 19, 2010
Recently, the USA Today newspaper printed pro and con editorials on rating teachers according to student test scores. As a result, letters to the editor have appeared. There is agreement with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), that teachers need to be well-prepared. But, there are other influences affecting teacher competence: resources, policies, class size, community, economics and population to name a few.
In one letter, an ex-teacher from Missouri states, “Every working day, teachers look to inspire students to do their best. Keeping that student motivation at a high level is very challenging.” With school district budgets shrinking, classroom sizes increasing, and teacher lay offs ever present, we feel that the teacher’s original goal remains to inspire and motivate our youth to become productive participants of society.
We know that teachers are thinking outside the box to achieve that goal. Streamlining curriculums, avoiding any duplication—working more efficiently and effectively, is the name of the game. Working as a community, in collaboration with parents and other agencies who can contribute toward that goal is one of the ways to think outside the box.
As we have expressed in previous blogs, it is our belief that literacy is key to any child’s success. Helping teachers and parents find ways to economically and efficiently encourage literacy is our contribution to the end goal. If children are literate, their scores will be higher. If teachers have the support they need from the community, the kids will be more interested in learning and the teacher’s dreams can remain the focus instead of the politics of education.
Exposing children to reading, getting them interested in reading, is a step in the right direction. It is true, the Leveled Reader staff can’t spend twenty minutes a day reading to the child or listening to the child, but Leveled Reader can provide an excellent selection of contemporary books that compliment the programs in today’s guided reading programs.
The leveling chart gives you a good idea of the types of books in your child’s target reading range. Once you have established the level of books we feel match your school’s reading program you can easily shop within that level to enhance your guided reading library. When you provide books that are fun to read, filled with interesting subjects, you are engaging LILY (Launching Independent Literate Youth)!!
Let our Lily help you select great books or book sets for those GREAT children and youth in your life!
“In reading, as in eating, an appetite is half the feast.” Anonymous
“Spring” your child (or classroom) into reading with books that reflect this exciting season.
March 15, 2010
Don’t let “spring fever” make your child lose interest in books. Literacy is not a seasonal activity. Show the kids you care about how to keep spring in their hearts all year long with stories that reflect this great time of year.
When I think of Spring, cool breezes on sunny days come to mind. And wild flowers along the road, lambs, calves, foals: baby animals. There is a feeling of wonderment.
I think of how we, as teachers and parents, can share some of that wonderment with the children who can’t get out to see those baby animals and all the newness happening…and that brings me to books. There are some lovely books available at Leveled Reader.
One look at the full-color, bright cheery photographs in Petting Zoo and the reader will feel like they are on the farm! And, better still, they will be motivated to read more with this fun book. Petting Zoo is great for readers just starting out and yet high interest enough for readers with a little experience. The recommended grade level is pre-school to first grade, leveled group A-B, and age level 4-6 years.
Remember, if you aren’t sure what level your child might be at, there is a handy chart to guide you in your selection of books to supplement the school curriculum.
As I think about, the book About the Seasons We Both Read, is a wonderful book, too. This is a captivating non-fiction story about changes in weather and the habits of animals during the seasons. It is filled with fun facts, a great storyline and intriguing pictures. The recommended grade level is K-1, leveled group E-F, and age level 5-7 years.
With Spring, we tend to want to stay outdoors more, but remember that reading is an easy way to develop language skills, writing skills, vocabulary skills, word comprehension, and good study habits. Setting aside just a few minutes every day is so important to your child’s success now and later.
Posted in Books for Special Occasions, Buying Books For Kids, Getting Kids to Read | 
Tags: Benefits of reading, Encourage your child to read, Leveled Book Resources for teachers and parents | 
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Lily says "3 R's just aren't enough when you want your kids to get excited about reading!"
March 12, 2010
It is Women in History Month. There are so many famous women in history to consider. One who comes to mind is Florence Nightingale…..and that reminds me that nurses are taught the five “R’s” as a way to avoid medication administration errors: right patient, right time and frequency, right dose, right route, and right medication.
Well, when you think of it, the same can apply to elementary school age readers. To set the stage for success, you must provide the right book to the right child at the right time as well as the right encouragement at the right intervals.
Studies show that when the right book is read at the right time, a child chooses to read more. They become motivated to read more and with more practice, the child increases comprehension. You can see the beginning of a success story in the making. And how satisfying is that for the teacher, parent, or other person interested in the child?!
Along with knowing the reading level and other details about the child in your life, as teachers and parents, the time set aside to learn what your child is interested in is important in choosing books. A goal of Leveled Reader is to collaborate with you through our blog and through the way we level our books, helping you choose that right book at the right time.
Perhaps next time we can talk more about study results regarding improving reading test scores, motivating a student, and the things teachers and parents can do to positively influence the children in their lives. For now, just knowing that a student’s ability to understand text is crucial to reading success—and success in general–in later years is enough to inspire us to help in any way we can.
Keeping in mind the five “R’s”, things we can do might include letting the child help in choosing their books, talking to the child about what they are reading, setting aside at least 15-20 minutes a day for reading or being read to, and developing an incentive program.
Since boys tend to be less motivated, let’s see what books Lily can recommend….like “Rafi and Rosi”, a story about a brother and sister Puerto Rican tree frogs with a little science and an introduction to Spanish woven throughout. The secrets of Rafi’s magic and a Spanish glossary are included following the story. Or how about “Pirate School”, “Me Oh, Maya, A Time Warp Trio”, or “If I Had a Robot Dog”. Let Lily and the Leveled Reader team of educators and other experts know how we can be of assistance.
“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” Jacqueline Kennedy.
Posted in Buying Books For Kids, Getting Kids to Read | Tags: Benefits of reading, Encourage your child to read, parents and others purchase quality books for children | Comments Closed
LILY—Launching Independent Literate Youth
March 8, 2010
Whether you are a teacher, parent, or supportive person in a child’s life, you want the best for that child. Part of offering the best is providing opportunities. One way to do this is through reading. Books open up the world, the universe to readers. They can be transported to different areas and times—or to their own area and time, knowing they are not alone.
When choosing books for the child in your life, you might feel overwhelmed with the selection. Which book will be appropriate and hold the child’s attention, yet challenge them? Leveled Reader helps you find up-to-date and interesting literature that not only meets the guidelines educators have set, but opens the door to possibilities.
By taking your child’s reading scores from school, you can refer to the handy chart available. This chart compares several popular leveling systems to find the equivalent Guided Reading level. Here is how you can use the chart:
• Find your child’s score on our chart
• Read across the chart to find the Guided Reading equivalent score
• Search our inventory for books that fit into the Guided Reading category on the chart which matches your child’s school report.
The leveling chart gives you a good idea about the books in your child’s target reading range, making it easier for you to choose books to supplement your child’s school program.
Leveled Reader’s team of educators and other professionals have brought the power of the leveling system to every day popular literature*…..Lily hopes this helps you find inspiration and the best in current, exciting reading materials to meet the literacy needs of the child in your life—and open the doors of so many opportunities and possibilities.
*Please note that our levels may not match any specific program’s levels 100%. Our staff take many things into consideration when choosing which level to put our selection of books in. Although you will find most of the books are well within the guidelines of the most common leveled reading programs, we have had some teachers comment that, on occasion, our selections have been at a slightly higher level than they were expecting. It is our opinion that these books are well within the guidelines of most reading programs and we encourage parents and teachers to use these books to supplement rather than replace their school programs.
Leveled Reader gets a little help from “Lily” choosing leveled books for March
March 5, 2010
Lily helps parents and teachers search for great books for children!
March has so many birthdays, events and celebrations to acknowledge and, before we know it, April will be here! That’s too bad because there are so many books already leveled for you that, for instance, celebrate March’s ‘Women in History’ month. Lily just showed me the “Childhood of Famous Americans Ready-to-Read” book series. Wow. I got excited just looking at all the possibilities available in that series (even if there are a few books about men, too)!
When Lily was looking for books on women and girls, she found so many different book series with leveled books. It was difficult for her to choose just one to tell you about. You already know about the Flat Stanley book series, but did you know about the “We Both Read” book series? Lily thinks that would be great reading to celebrate “Earth Day” coming up toward the end of April. It has leveled books like “About the Ocean,” “About the Rain Forest,” and “About the Seasons.”
Personally, Lily said she prefers the book series, “Lily Quench”. It has five leveled books about a character with her favorite name! And Lily really likes a single book called “Lucy on the Loose” because the main character is A BEAGLE!
Although Lily might be a little biased about her book preferences, her main interest remains to help you select the books appropriate for your students and children important in your life so that they achieve literacy in a fun and independent way. Lily hopes she was able to help you with your book selections at LeveledReader.com.
Guided reading programs can become boring – let Flat Stanley spice things up for teachers and parents who know it is hard work to keep kids interested in reading!
February 28, 2010
Part of our goal in being a “Leveled Book Resource” is to bring our teachers, parents and others that want to encourage kids to read ideas that help encourage today’s youth to spend time reading.
Spring is almost here and Spring Fever might make your child want to do anything but read. Along with Spring, thoughts often turn to adventure and travel instead. You and your students or child may not be able to travel in the literal sense, but you can through books!
One of our favorite choices for helping children explore the world beyond their front door is the Flat Stanley books and project.
If you haven’t been involved in the ‘Flat Stanley Project’, now might be a good time to initiate the project, engaging and benefiting your student or child in many ways. Visit the Official Flat Stanley Project site to get started.
Flat Stanley not only brings back travel stories and photographs, but frequently brings back souvenirs! On a trip to Bakersfield, California, he brought back a tiny bale of harvested cotton from the cotton fields, crude oil from the oil fields and more. You can read about all the things he did and brought back from Bakersfield here. But, when you visit the official Flat Stanley Project site or go to www.YouTube.com and type in “Flat Stanley” for a multitude of videos (for example, this creative rap), Bakersfield might seem a little dull. Flat Stanley has been to the White House, the Academy Awards, a television show set, NASA, and Australia to name a few.
Students can blog about their Flat Stanley adventures and even add photographs to the photo gallery. In the classroom, they can plot Flat Stanley’s travels on maps and share the journals. Have them read about success stories.
To get started, you can order Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown and Stanley, Flat Again by Jeff Brown. They are appropriate for ages 6-9 years, grades 1-4 [Level L-M]. You can also purchase a Level L-M book set that includes a Stanley book. Or get all the Flat Stanley books!
Once students become familiar with Flat Stanley’s story, they make paper “Flat Stanley’s” by coloring and cutting out the template, and then keep a journal of Flat Stanley’s adventures with them for a few days. Flat Stanley and the journal are then mailed to other people who are asked to treat Flat Stanley as a guest and add to the journal, and then return them.
The Flat Stanley Project even accommodates Special Education students. This is such a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about other parts of the country or world, other cultures, events and situations they might not otherwise be able to visit themselves.
Dale Hubert, a third grade teacher from Ontario, Canada, developed this excellent program in 1995. For hints on how to integrate the project into your classroom curriculum, visit “hints” at the Official Flat Stanley Project site.
Millions of children around the world have shared Flat Stanley’s travels. Join the Flat Stanley phenomenon and support this international literacy activity. It can include visual arts, geography, oral language skill building and more. I know young adults and their parents who have the fondest memories of Flat Stanley and still get excited telling their tales…. Lily, here at LeveledReader, hopes this helps you continue to create that safe and fun learning environment while you aim to enhance literacy and other important skills.
As a teacher, parent or guardian of a child learning to read, do you realize your value?
February 26, 2010
“Indiscriminate reading is unprofitable to the mind.” Latin Proverb
“The fact of knowing how to read is nothing; the whole point is knowing what to read.” – Jacques Ellul, 1912-1984, a French philosopher, law professor, sociologist, lay theologian, and WWII French Resistance leader.
“Choose an author as you would a friend.” – Wentworth Dillion, 1630-1985, English poet born in Ireland.
These quotes might be representative of how important your role is in helping your child or student select books or book sets. We, at Leveled Reader, are well aware of how important literacy is; in fact, it may be one of the most important keys to a child’s success. So, providing up-to-date and interesting literature that meets guidelines set by educators is of the utmost importance.
Leveled Reader brings teachers and parents the best in current children’s books leveled using the principles of today’s academic leveling criteria. When you purchase a customizable Book Set from Leveled Reader you can be sure the children in your life are getting quality books that will enhance guided reading programs and encourage independent reading capabilities.
Our expert team of educators and other professionals bring you the power of the leveling system, offering everyday popular literature in relation to your child’s academic achievement level. Our levels are not intended to match your leveled reading program lists exactly, instead, we take the time to read each book we level and place it in a level that compliments today’s most popular guided reading lists so that you can enhance your leveled book library and thereby encourage the student to actively participate in their schools official guided reading program. You can learn more about our guided reading criteria at LeveledReader.com. Share your shopping experience with your child as Lily leads the way to the books or book sets selected for each level, subject, or age group.
We are glad that you, whether teacher, parent, child, or supporter of children, have chosen to share this belief. We hope you will come often to this leveled book resource blog as well as our site at Leveled Reader.com to find inspiration and the best in current, exciting reading materials to meet the literacy needs of the youth in your life! Here are some choices to celebrate some more March events:
Albert Einstein’s birthday: Albert Einstein Genius of the Twentieth Century
Harry Houdini’s birthday: Harry Houdini Escape Artist
Baseball Season begins (includes two book sets as well as individual books): Select Individual books, book sets or design your own book sets.
We are available for comments, questions, assistance, and finding that special book just for your child. Go to LeveledReader.com and ‘Contact Us’.
Posted in Books for Special Occasions, Buying Books For Kids, Getting Kids to Read | Tags: Leveled Book Resources for teachers and parents, Leveled Book Sets enhance your childs reading program | Comments Closed