iVillage PBS Kids Summer Reading Challenge

I signed up for the iVillage and PBS Kids Summer Reading Community Challenge starting June 6th. I wanted to share the information about it with you because I figured others would be interested.

It's a 6 week program that includes the following:

• A daily email with fun activities to build reading skills
• Tricks and advice from your Challenge coach
• Great book suggestions for kids of all ages
• Tips from other parents taking the challenge
• A chance to win daily prizes

Sign Up Now! Weekly Tips and Tools to Prepare start April 28!

Article: Keys to Remembering What You Read

This article is referring to students remembering what they read in school but is good advice for adults trying to retain information as well. I thought it was good advice and I wanted to share
.

---

© Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed. Used with Permission.

I recently read a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal about how writing by hand engages the mind in learning. It said that in a study using advanced MRI technology, children who had practiced printing by hand had far more enhanced and "adult-like" neural activity than in those who had simply looked at letters.

I smiled when I read this because for years my tutors and I have urged our students to take notes as they read text.  We have learned by experience that students who systematically take notes as they read retain more and, of course, do better on tests. Here are a few ways any student can improve retention and sharpen learning.

Take Notes While You Read

Learning is an active process, not a spectator sport. It requires energy and, most important of all, concentration.  For many students, focus is not a problem when they are reading about subjects they enjoy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In the course of their studies, students have to plow through a good deal of material they find dense and boring. This is when taking the time to take good notes while reading becomes very useful for enhancing learning. 

Note taking works on a number of levels. It heightens attention by forcing students to actively engage with the material they are reading. Just as importantly, it encourages students to put the material into their own words and into some meaningful order. This simple task improves comprehension because the student must summarize the information he's just read. Reiterating and condensing text is one of the very best ways to understand and remember.

There are a number of methods for taking notes while reading. The most basic involves margin notes and "self-talk," a technique in which the reader questions himself about what he's reading. You can coach your child to use this strategy by saying, "After you read a page in your novel (or a section in your textbook), ask yourself, 'What did I just read?' or 'What is the main idea here?'" His answers should be briefly recorded in the page margin. If writing in the textbook is not an option, your child can use Post-it notes.

Use Selective Highlighting

Another effective way to improve comprehension is selective highlighting. Highlighting is a great strategy, but it can often go wrong. Over the years, I've met many kids to whom I've given the official diagnosis of "highlighter happy." These students take a great strategy and use it incorrectly by highlighting AS they read. By the end of the page, practically every sentence is marked.

Instead, teach your child to read first and then go back to selectively highlight only the essential terms, phrases, or dates AFTER he or she has read the section or passage. Interestingly, studies have shown that students are better able to retain information that is color coded. But the color of the highlighter is not important (although most favor yellow or pink); it comes down to personal preference. 

Consider purchasing highlighting tape to use when marking in the school-issued text isn't an option. Removable colored tape can be purchased at www.reallygoodstuff.com. Now, in order to prepare for an upcoming test, your child can review what's been "highlighted" with tape and remove it as he masters the materials. Both highlighting and margin notes are effective as stand-alone strategies, but even more powerful when used together.

What Is The Best Way To Take Notes?

Taking good lecture notes is absolutely essential to academic success. Lately, I have started to believe the best use of these methods is not for taking lecture notes, but for taking notes while reading. My tutors and I are big fans of adapting the columned note-taking method originally developed for lectures (often called Cornell Notes) for this use.

Two-Column Notes

To set up columned notes the student divides or folds the paper into two sections, labeling the left one-third "key words" and the right two-thirds "notes." On the left the student records the main idea, and on the right he jots down an explanation using short phrases. 

This note taking method helps kids to be more independent learners. Your child can fold his paper vertically on the line between the key words and notes so that he can quiz himself and not rely on someone else to assist with studying. With only the left column visible, he asks himself, "Who was Paris?" and then says the answer. He checks his reply by flipping over the page. He continues to review in this manner, repeating and retesting himself on the terms he cannot automatically recall.

Older students can take this method one step further.  Instead of simply recording a key word or concept, they write the chapter subheadings in their text books as a question. For example, if the heading is "Natural Selection and Adaptation Modify Species", the student would jot down "How does natural selection and adaptation modify species?" They then add details in the right column that answer the question. Voila -- the student now has a ready-made study guide! 

To get an added bang, studies show that if students summarize their notes within 24 hours of initially recording them, they're more likely to remember the information for a test. 

Three-Column Notes

Three-column notes are highly effective for younger students and visual or tactile learners. In addition to the first two-columns, a third section for a drawing is added. By drawing a picture of the concept or term, children are hooking a concrete visual image to the information they need to remember. This is one powerful strategy!

Regardless of the note-taking method used, many students are under the impression that "less is more". While being succinct is important, the fact is that the more notes students take, the more information they will be able to recall later. In this particular case, "more is more!"

Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.

Guest Post: Reading for a Happily Ever After

© Flickr User Newton Free Library

One of the things parents should never underestimate is the value of a good bedtime story. Despite the busy schedules most families now are forced to keep, it is important that parents still try to set aside a regular bedtime schedule for their children, which includes a ten to twenty minute story time period. By maintaining this consistent schedule, children learn how to adapt to routines, develop regular sleeping patterns which can prove to be highly beneficial when they reach school age, and allow them to develop a sense of autonomy and independence as they learn to go through the pre-bedtime tasks such as brushing teeth, washing up and putting on their pajamas.

More than just that, however, is that bedtime stories are more than just rituals that can lull children to sleep. Studies show that children who are read to are more successful in school. Further, the American Medical Association highlights the value of reading aloud to children as this helps make them a more fully healthy child.

What exactly does reading aloud to children contribute to their development? For one, reading to kids helps foster cognitive development. This has been known to stimulate brain development and promote language development and communication skills. Kids who are read to are more likely able to answer questions about what he or she has heard, recall details from auditory stimuli and learn to pay attention when being spoken to. Studies have also indicated that playing music and reading aloud to a child while in the womb promotes better brain growth.

Bedtime stories also teach children the basic academic competencies that they will need as they go through life. From colors to shapes, to literacy skills and even causal relationships, bedtime stories build a reservoir of resources for children that they carry on through the rest of their lives. Stories like Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and ‘The Mixed Up Chameleon’ are great examples of simple, fun, and visually attractive stories that can teach academic competencies as well as highlight personal values as well.

Stories also allow children to have better logic reasoning skills. They are able to come up with conclusions, make sense of experiences that they may not have personally encountered, and essentially, have a bigger worldview from which they can draw from.

Going beyond it’s cognitive benefits, bedtime stories help build a child’s self-esteem and foster good social skills. Books are character building. Through these stories, children can understand and appreciate the importance of values such as honesty, sharing, kindness and forgiveness. Although we, as parents, tell our kids about this endlessly, they do not imbibe these until it really makes sense to them, and that is what storybooks do for them. It makes these values much more real to them. Take for example the story of ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Marcus Pfister. Through Rainbow’s story, children can learn that being the best looking or having the nicest things means nothing if no one likes you and you are not able to share this with others.

Also, storytime can help build better bonds between parent and child. Through this very affirming activity, parents can help make their children feel secure, loved and safe in their environment. The physical closeness of reading time can also help build a sense of trust in others. This is extremely important as many psychologists show that one’s personality and ability to engage with others is deeply rooted in early childhood experiences.

Lastly, reading to children from early on can help foster a love for reading, something which many children have forgotten, mainly because books have been overshadowed by gadgets and technology. Take a look around and try to count how many children are holding a book rather than a handheld computer console. You probably will find that there are little to none. Taking time to read to them can help change this mindset.

Reading to children before going to bed is one of the most valuable gifts a parent can give their children. Not only does it help provide a comfortable night’s sleep, its long-term benefits are far reaching and life-changing.

Author Bio:
Marina Chernyak is the Co-owner of Venetian Masks store located at 1001Venetianmasks.com

Press Release: Shelf Magazine - including free issue opportunity

www.shelfmediagroup.com
June 15, 2010

SHELF -- A NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE FOR THE IPAD GENERATION

Shelf Media Group announces the September 1 launch of Shelf, a digital-only monthly magazine featuring the best of small press, university press, and self-published books. Each issue of Shelf will include reviews, author interviews, excerpts, photo essays, and more. Shelf will be distributed via Zinio.com, the world's largest  newsstand, for download on computer, iPhone, or iPad.

"With the advent of the iPad, readers can experience and engage with magazines as never before," says Shelf publisher Margaret Brown. "Shelf maximizes this experience with dynamic design, diverse content, and hotlinks to the authors, publishers, and distributors of the books you'll want to read next."

Adds Shelf editor in chief Kathy Wise: "Shelf is at its core about the joy of discovery. It is that feeling you get after spending an afternoon at an indie bookstore, reading first chapters and finding a mind-blowing new talent, as well as something new and unexpected from a writer you've loved for years. It's about taking that feeling on a plane, on your lunch break, to your best friend's backyard. It's about experiencing the best out-of-the-box books in a graphic, mobile, and tree-friendly way. Shelf is not your mother's literary magazine."

Shelf is offering its first issue for free to the first 10,000 people who friend Shelf Mag on Facebook or email
a request to info@shelfmediagroup.com

UPDATE: You can sign up at the website now: http://www.shelfmediagroup.com/

Do Nothing But Read Day - How did I not know about this???

Seriously, how did I NOT know about this? Did YOU know about this?

Do Nothing But Read Day is held twice a year, June 27 and December 19.

So that is what I'll be doing tomorrow as much as possible. I'll be reading.

I'll be reading The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy and reading the text in some of my cookbooks for an upcoming cookbook week. Perhaps something else, we'll see.

Will YOU be reading?

Tell Me a Story 3: Women of Wonder: Stories by Amy Friedman (Review and Opinion on Audio Books)

This week is Audiobook Week at Devourer of Books. I said I'd participate by sharing a audio book review. This has turned into more of a post on why audio books aren't for me.

Warning: I don't like audio books. I've listened to two in my entire life. So consider this an audiobook review from a non-audiobook reader.

Stars: ***

Stories: Amy Friedman
Music: Laura Hall
Part of a trilogy of kid's stories from Universal Press Syndicate


Summary: Legendary heroines and goddesses seek and struggle, win and lose, laugh and cry in magical stories and marvelous music from around the world.

Disclaimer: I did not finish this book. I normally wouldn't review a book I don't finish but since I didn't finish it because of me, and not because it was bad, I still wanted to tell my readers about it.

The only other audio books I've listened to was Heidi on an ipod. It was a free download and I really enjoyed the book but I had seen the movie and knew I liked the storyline at least.

When I was offered to review this audio book CD, I was going to say no as I don't listen to audio books but I liked that it was about heroines and goddesses and figured since it was children's stories, they would be short and I could handle it. So I said yes. That was quite some time ago and I just kept putting off listening to it and putting it off some more. I finally tried listening to it during the last readathon because I'm often busy with something else and can't read so I figured this would be a good idea. I forced myself to listen to one story and couldn't anymore.

Audio books just aren't for me. There was nothing wrong the story and Amy Friedman's voice was pleasant. I just find it really hard to imagine what it happening when someone else is telling the story. I was never fond of read-aloud stories unless I had a book to follow along with as well. I prefer to hold the story in my hand and read it at my own pace. That's one reason why I don't like audio books. I read fast. Really fast. Audio books sound like they are speaking like a snail to me. By the time they get the sentence out, I've forgotten what was being talked about.

This is a good story. Women of Wonder won the 2010 Audie for best original work. You can find out the name and synopsis of the stories on the CD at Myths and Tales.

Let  this be a lesson to me, no more audio books.

Links of Interest: Myths and Tales,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Tell Me a Story 3: Women of Wonder at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

I Pledge To Read the Printed Word!

I found this at Reminder List's blog which has been merged with another blog and is now Miel et Lait.




Just click the button to go to the website, read the statement and if you agree, grab one of many buttons to put on your website or blog!

Booking Through Thursday - On Friday - "Break"

Oops.  I forgot!!!

Yesterday's Booking Through Thursday Question Was:

Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)

 First of all, good thing for the clarification because I thought she did mean eating and sleeping as breaks. (Although I don't break when I eat, I often read while eating.)

I do a little of both. There are some books that get done in three days or less (sometimes 2 hours or less) and other books which are ongoing for 3-6 months. A book of 300 pages may last me 2 days or 2 months. It really depends. I always have LOTS of books going at a time (by LOTS I mean 4+.) Some of those books I won't end up reading the whole thing of either because I didn't like it enough and stopped reading it or I only needed to read certain parts of it. Most get finished though.

I usually have at least one of the following going at one time:

• adult nonfiction
• children's nonfiction
• teen or middle grade fiction
• picture books

How about you?

Barnes and Noble Ratings and YA (Young Adult)

By now you may or may not have seen a blog post at Meg Cabot's blog about Barnes and Noble's new rating system.

Go over there for the full post but the very basics of it is that Barnes and Noble, in conjunction with Common Sense Media designed a rating system so that books for tweens and teens could be more specific about what is in the book (kissing, dating, sex, drinking etc..) and give red, yellow or green lights so the book, based on age. It's a little confusing so you may want to just read the post. Just be sure to come back.

Well I think it's a bit ridiculous. I mean the idea is great, but I think the execution is poor. As Cabot explains, they're basically saying a book we all probably read between 9-11 is supposed to be for 14 and up. Are You There God, It's Me Margaret is meant to be a tween book, not a teen book. It's about periods and sexuality yes, but it's about beginning those things, which you do between 9-11. By 14 most already have their period and know some basics about sex. A book where the main character is 17 and it talks about a bit more mature things, it recommended for 12 and up. That doesn't make any sense to me.

I've actually been wondering if maybe libraries should split the Young Adult section into two groups: young teen (13-15) and older teens (16+) because there some books that are in the YA section that I think are a bit advanced for young teens and some YA books that are a bit immature for older teens.

So please share your thoughts. What do you think about the Barnes and Noble situation? What about separating the YA section of a library into two? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

*Barnes and Noble photo from Flickr User chriserickphotography
*Library photo from Flickr User Meaghan K

Let's Discuss Nonfiction

Note: I'm looking for feedback. Please consider commenting about your thoughts on nonfiction as well as your thoughts on my post in general. Thanks.

When you think nonfiction, what sorts of books come to mind? Textbooks? How-To Manuals? Essays? Scientific Papers? Biographies?

There are many different kinds of nonfiction books out there, on any subject. They are not all the same in writing style either. They are not all dry, boring or technical. It amazes me that more people don't like reading nonfiction. I like reading for pleasure too but I love to learn and anything that helps me learn is a way I like to spend my time.

Most people assume fiction is made up and nonfiction is real. While that's basically correct, technically a nonfiction book could include incorrect information. However the author would have to believe it to be the truth.

From Wikipedia:
Nonfiction is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition.

Some people wonder how memoirs can be considered nonfiction. Remember as long as the author believes it to be true it's nonfiction. Besides, memoirs fall under an umbrella term called Creative Nonfiction:

From Wikipedia:
“Ultimately, the primary goal of the creative nonfiction writer is to communicate information, just like a reporter, but to shape it in a way that reads like fiction.” Forms within this genre include personal essays, memoir, travel writing, food writing, biography, literary journalism, and other hybridized essays."

You can find nonfiction on all topics. What do you want to learn more about? E.g. Fishing, Camping, Cooking, Basketball, Parenting, Science, Astrology, Dating, Marriage, Psychology, Computers, Scrapbooking, Health, Fitness, Video Games, Movies, Environment, Sex, Religion, Language,  History, Architecture.

You can get a book on just about every topic, no matter how precise. E.g. Metal Engraving, Museum Science, Graphology, Doctrines, Land Economics, German Grammar, Roof Covering etc....

So give nonfiction a chance. If there is anything you want to know more about, look it up. Search for "subject nonfiction book" where you replace subject with the actual subject. Or peruse a book review blog for your next nonfiction read.

Related Links:

Nonfiction Book Awards (at Wikipedia)
New Nonfiction Books (on Twitter) - tweet for each new nonfiction book on date of release
Mrs. Dowling's Nonfiction Nook
Nonfiction Article (at Wikipedia)

Book Review Blogs (who review a large amount of nonfiction):

Me!
A Striped Armchair
Citizen Reader
Brevity's Nonfiction Blog


(If you know of a book blog that reviews mostly nonfiction, adult or child, please submit the url. I'll include it here and visit of course. You can use my contact form or just comment here. Thanks.)

Also Puss Reboots doesn't review mainly nonfiction but here is a list of all the nonfiction she's reviewed to date.



*Photo courtesy of Shavar Ross on Flickr.

2010 Goal - Read More YA Fiction

My blog is supposed to focus on picture books, middle grade fiction, ya fiction, children's nonfiction, teen nonfiction and adult nonfiction but lately I've been reading very little in the way of YA fiction.

I see others talking about these great books that I keep meaning to read. How can I call myself a reviewer of children's books if I've never read Elizabeth Scott or Neil Gaiman or Laurie Halse Anderson?

So this is my personal challenge, personal goal to read more YA fiction but specifically to read some of the ones I've been meaning to.

Ones I'd Like To Really Try To Read:
Anderson, Laure Halse. Wintergirls.
Bray, Libba. Going Bovine
Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games
Goodman, Alison. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn.
Larbalestier, Justine. Liar
Scott, Elizabeth. Love You, Hate You, Miss You.
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book
Dashner, James. The Maze Runner

Ones That Sound Good And I Might Try:
Barnes, John. Tales of the Madman Underground.
Efaw, Amy. After
Knowles, Jo. Jumping Off Swings.

I am most certainly open to suggestions. I'm more likely to add it to my list if it's one I've heard of. Think of the book that has been around the book blog community many times and is always mentioned.

Amazon celebrates 10th anniversary of Amazon Wish List

Amazon.com customers will be wishing big this fall as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the much-loved Amazon Wish List with 10 lavish sweepstakes.

Each week, starting this week, customers will have a chance to enter one of the themed Wish List sweepstakes. Just create, add to, or share a Wish List, and you'll be invited to enter. Learn more.

These are just some of the prizes that will be generating lots of excitement.

* Week 1 (Oct. 5-11): The Twilight Saga: New Moon Premiere Wish List-- A trip for two to Los Angeles to see the premiere
* Week 2 (Oct. 12-18): Dream Kitchen Wish List -- New appliances include a range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and espresso maker
* Week 3 (Oct. 19-25): Meet the Jonas Brothers in London Wish List -- A trip for two to London to hear the lads in concert and then meet them in person
* Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1): Kindle Love Wish List -- 10, count 'em, 10 Kindles
* Week 5 (Nov. 2-8): Ultimate Backyard Theater Wish List -- $15,000 for a backyard makeover, plus all the equipment needed to start the show
* Week 6 (Nov. 9-15): Yellowstone Photo Expedition with Canon Wish List -- A trip for two to Yellowstone National Park, and a private lesson with a professional photographer
* Week 7 (Nov. 16-22): The Magic of Disney Wish List -- A trip for four to explore the wonders of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., plus a $2,000 Disney gift card
* Week 8 (Nov. 23-29): High-Def Heaven Wish List -- A 55-inch HDTV, a Blu-ray home theater, and a Wii
* Week 9 (Nov. 30-Dec. 6): Glamorous Life Wish List -- A stunning set of 1½-carat diamond stud earrings
* Week 10 (Dec. 7-12): This one is under wraps until it launches!

You can learn more and enter for a chance to win here.

I'm Reading...

I'm off at 5am to visit my brother by train. It's approximately a 3 1/2 hr ride so I hope to get a bunch of reading done. I've packed the following books:

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

The Man's Book by Thomas Fink

Dump 'Em by Jodyne L. Speyer

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Writing for the Web by Crawford Kilian

As you can see I wanted variety. I'll let you all know Monday how it went!

Do you walk read?

RobAroundBooks is chatting about reading while you walk. Below is the part of my answer that has to do with walk reading specifically. But head on over there to see the rest of the conversation and add your input!

"You know with all the questions going around about book habits I never thought of that one! Yes I book walk! I love walk reading. It can be dangerous and I’m sure some people could never watch their peripheral vision and remember what they’re reading but I can. Thanks for bringing that up"

8 Tips for Reading More When You Have Young Children

1. Read during meals. My kids are too young to have much of a conversation so I read during meals. (Once your kids are 3 though you should be focusing more on them)

2. Read in the bathroom. Even if you are just peeing, you can still get in a paragraph. This is easier with non-fiction.

3. Read during naps and bed.

4. Read while cooking (carefully, you don't want to get so wrapped up in the book you burn things)

5. I sometimes read a bit while kids are in bath but only light stuff so I don't get so into it I don't notice the kids are in danger. If you can't read and pay attention, than don't read!

6. Institute a reading/quite time everyday. Older kids can be instructed to
read or at least look at books, younger ones can play with quiet toys like puzzles or draw. This way you can read.

7. If you have chores to do, do them before you read or you'll get so into the book you won't do them, however don't get side tracked. If you need to do a load of dishes, do the load, then read. Don't start cleaning the whole kitchen (unless it really needs it of course)

8. If there is a partner in the picture, read while he/she spends time with
the kids. It's not fair if he/she has time to him/her self and you don't.

Hope this helps! I'm speaking from experience! If you liked this post, please stumble or digg it.

Kids and Libraries

I take my two young children to the library every week. We go to playgroup that's there, then upstairs to the kid's section of the library where they play and sometimes help me pick out books to bring home. Although they don't look at books much there, they will someday and they certainly enjoy reading them at home.

Unfortunately there are LOTS of kids who have never been to a library before they enter school and lots who never go or rarely go. I think this is very sad. Children should be going to a library from toddlerhood on. Books are very important. Most of my readers already know this or they wouldn't be reading a book blog but on the off chance someone checks out this blog that isn't a regular reader or maybe they are but their kids aren't, here are some links to check out for futhur information and help.

How To Encourage Your Child to Go To the Library

Taking Your Grandchild to Your Local Library

Eleven Ways to Save Money by Going to the Library AND 10 Things Your Local Library Offers for Free

Homeschooling at the Library AND The Public Library Can Be the Best Resource for Homeschooling Families (for any homeschooling families)

Recommendations for Proper Library Etiquette

ARC Reading Month Recap

So, if for some reason you didn't know, I designated January as ARC Reading Month to help me catch up on all my review books, not just ARCs.

I'm a little behind in posting this but wanted to post how I'd done and encourage anyone who was participating to also post how they did.

In January, I started and finished 10 review books, only one of which was a picture book. I also finished one I started in Dec 08 and started 2 more that I finished just barely into February.

So if you participated in ARC Reading Month, no matter how, let me know how you did. How many review books did you finish? How many more came in though?