School year 2016/2017 has arrived

Where did the summer go. So many plans and not all of them reached. I sincerely hope you found the time to read with your children and incorporate some fun reading activities with them.

I am still working on the train trip planned in October. I will keep you posted. Have you had a chance to read the book "LOCOMOTIVE" by Brian Floca. Remember this is the book that inspired me to think of taking a train trip.

In the meantime let's discuss some chapter books to read aloud with your older children. Keep in mind that a child's listening vocabulary is higher than his/her speaking and reading vocabulary so you can choose books with higher interest and readability than they can read themselves. Just make sure that they are enjoying the book you are reading.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Billy Coleman wanted a dog. When he was 10 he saw an ad for two coon-hound pups. He scrimped and saved his money for two years and paid the purchase price of $50.00. He named them Old Dan and Little Ann. For weeks he trained his dogs at night in the river bottoms to hunt coons. Their reputation spread so he entered them in the Coon-Hunt Contest. But excitement was short-lived and tragedy struck. This is a beautiful book that will bring tears to your eyes. When I was reading this to one my fourth grade classes ( I always read about a half hour after lunch). We were near the end of the book, the students didn't want me to stop. So I ended up reading all afternoon until school was out.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Quoted from the back of the book. One Warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them, no one knew where they had come from. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. Determined to make it on their own, they set out to find a safe place to live. They discover an old, red boxcar that provides shelter from a storm. Against all odds, they make it into their home--and become the boxcar children.

This book is great for early readers of chapter books and great to share as a family. It is much loved by all children. There are 19 books in the Boxcar series.