Book Reviews

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn- This is a tale of a raccoon who is scared of going to school, so his mother kisses his hand and reassures him that her kiss will always be with him. This wonderful story can be used with any child that is scared to leave his/her guardians. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it even comes with stickers that can be used to give children kissing hands.

The Peace Book by Todd Parr- A simple book that talks about different things that peace is. For example, “Peace is everyone having a home.” I really like this book because it lightly touches upon many issues, and it embraces diversity. It is a great book for young readers.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar and Julie Brinckloe- This entertaining chapter book depicts several wacky things that go on at Wayside school. It is a very funny read and is one that your older child will love.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Louis- This is a series of adventure stories that take place in a made-up world called Narnia. The stories are sure to grab your child’s attention because they are full of action and suspense. They are great for bedtime stories. If your child is interested in the movies these are great books to get them into reading.

Excerpt From My Parent Newsletter

Ways To Make Reading Fun

· Have your children make bookmarks using a variety of art supplies.
· Create your own library at home. Make sure that you stock it with books that

interest every member of the family.
· Visit the public library. It is a free way to learn and have fun.
· Buy a magazine subscription for your child. Make sure it is something that will

interest them.
· Write a book together as a family.
· Give your child books that are from their favorite movies and television shows.
· After reading a story, act out the story with your child.*Set special reading times

where everyone (including you) reads. Everyone could read their own book, or

someone could read to the family.

Great Reading Websites For Parents

Reading Rockets- http://www.readingrockets.org/ - A website designed for parents who want help launching their young readers. It is filled with strategies, techniques, and articles.

Florida Department of Education- http://www.justreadfamilies.org/kids/ - This close to home website is a long list of fun links for children who wish to do some reading activities.

Children’s Library- http://www.childrenslibrary.org/ - A great website that will give your child the chance to read books from all over the world.

North Central Association- http://www.ncacasi.org/enews/articles_feb05/elem_reading_sites - This website provides useful information for teachers and parents working to improve students' reading performance.

Interactive Website- http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/interactive.htm - A website that is geared towards school-age children and young adults. It is interactive and helps students in various subjects.

Games- http://www.adrianbruce.com/reading/games.htm - A website that is filled with phonics, comprehension, and word games.

"Reading is very important to every child. Even children who cannot read yet benefit from books. When you read to a young child they become more familiar with books and the alphabet. Reading time is also a great time to bond with your child. It also gives you a chance to see what kind of books your child likes. Children that are read to at home or encouraged to read during their free time, begin to develop a love for reading. There are several other reasons why reading is important. For example, it helps to builds problem-solving skills, imaginations, and introduces many topics to children."

To Read The Complete Newsletter click Here.

Children's Book By Me!

I have discovered that a really neat way to write children's books is by using Microsoft PowerPoint. I wrote this book, ( it is attached), about grandfathers. The pictures are of my uncle and his grandson. At the end of the story, there is a quiz that I would use in my classroom to check for reading comprehension. I wanted to share this, so please take a look!
To see it click here. (When I uploaded it some of the text got moved, but you can get the idea.)

Introduction

Hi! My name is Kelli Stouffer. I am a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University and am majoring in Elementary Education. I am very passionate about education and children. Currently, I live in Florida, but I will always be a small town, Pennsylvania girl. I absolutely love the outdoors. Hiking, camping, boating, and water sports are some of my favorite things to do. I also have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Broadway musicals. I can't wait to start teaching in a year. I believe that life is intended to be joyous, so as Mark Twain once said, "Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening, love like you've never been hurt, and live like it's Heaven on Earth." (The picture is of me and a girl that I used to nanny for full time. I still watch her on occasion. This is on a cruise in Europe that her family took me on....talk about a job with perks!)