Getting children to read is an important aspect of preparting them for success in school. Most experts agree that exposure to diverse usage of language is an important part of the developmental process for young children.
Books provide a "window" into worlds that many would never be able to physically visit and see. Books encourage students to consider situations that would never have even occured to them.
When a child is very young reading picture books introduces them to reading strategies that will be used and developed through the rest of their life. Our main goal is to get children to enjoy reading. If you start this with a child being very young they will develop a habit of reading.
Books provide a "window" into worlds that many would never be able to physically visit and see. Books encourage students to consider situations that would never have even occured to them.
When a child is very young reading picture books introduces them to reading strategies that will be used and developed through the rest of their life. Our main goal is to get children to enjoy reading. If you start this with a child being very young they will develop a habit of reading.
Activities to have your students do before/during/after reading:
Pantomime: Act out a scene you choose or the class calls out to you while up there.
Dramatic Monologue: Create a monologue for a character while they are out of the book. Where are they?
Business Cards: Write the story in the most compelling way you can on paper the size of a business card.
Mapmaker: Draw a map of the books setting.
Moviemaker: Write a one page "pitch" to a producer explaining why the story would make a good movie.
Trailer: Movie previews always offer a quick sequence of the best moments that make us want to watch it!
Billboard: As in the movies, take what seems the most compelling image and create an ad.
Adjective-itis: Pick five Adjectives for the book or characters and explain how they apply.
Fishbowl: Impromptu or scheduled , two to four students sit in a middle of a circle and talk about the text. The class makes observations about the conversation then rotate into the circle.
Movie Review: Students write a review of (or discuss) a movie based on a story.
Dear Author: After reading a book the students write the author via the publisher (who will forward them).
Surf the Net: Prior to, while, or after reading a book check out the WEB and its offerings about the book, its author, or its subject.
Timeline: Create a timeline that includes both the events in the novel and historical information of the time.
Gender-Bender: Rewrite a scene and change the gender of the characters to show how they might act differently being the opposite gender.
Picture This: Bring in children's books about related themes and read these aloud to the class.
Draw: Translate chapters into storyboards and cartoons; draw the most important scene in the chapter and explain its importance.
Oprah Bookclub: Host a talkshow: students play the host, author, and cast of characters. Allow questions from the audience.
Fictional Friends: Who of all the characters would you want for a friend? Why? What would you do or talk about together?
State of the Union: The President wants to recommend a book to the nation: tell him one important realization you had while reading this book and why he should recommend it.
Interview Question: What are you reading and do you like it? Pick who will interview, they should have a role.
Dear Diary: Keep a diary as if you were a character in the story. Write down events that happen during the story and reflect on how they affected the character and why.
Improv: Get up in front of the class and be whatever character the class calls out and do whatever that character would do.
What if: How would the story differ if? The characters were something other than they are.
Time Machine: Instead of traveling into the book write a scene or story in which the characters travel out of the book into today.
Biography: Write a biography of one of the characters who most interests you.
Autobiography: Have the character that most interests you write their autobiography of the time before, during, or after the story occurs.
P.S: After you read the story, write an epilogue in which you explain-using whatever tense and tone the author does-what happened to the characters next?
Dear Classmate: Using email or some other means of corresponding, write each other about the book as you read it, having a written conversation about the book.
Sing me a song:Make up and record a song about the book or it's characters
Collage: Draw a collage or cut out pictures that depict the story or it's characters.
Pantomime: Act out a scene you choose or the class calls out to you while up there.
Dramatic Monologue: Create a monologue for a character while they are out of the book. Where are they?
Business Cards: Write the story in the most compelling way you can on paper the size of a business card.
Mapmaker: Draw a map of the books setting.
Moviemaker: Write a one page "pitch" to a producer explaining why the story would make a good movie.
Trailer: Movie previews always offer a quick sequence of the best moments that make us want to watch it!
Billboard: As in the movies, take what seems the most compelling image and create an ad.
Adjective-itis: Pick five Adjectives for the book or characters and explain how they apply.
Fishbowl: Impromptu or scheduled , two to four students sit in a middle of a circle and talk about the text. The class makes observations about the conversation then rotate into the circle.
Movie Review: Students write a review of (or discuss) a movie based on a story.
Dear Author: After reading a book the students write the author via the publisher (who will forward them).
Surf the Net: Prior to, while, or after reading a book check out the WEB and its offerings about the book, its author, or its subject.
Timeline: Create a timeline that includes both the events in the novel and historical information of the time.
Gender-Bender: Rewrite a scene and change the gender of the characters to show how they might act differently being the opposite gender.
Picture This: Bring in children's books about related themes and read these aloud to the class.
Draw: Translate chapters into storyboards and cartoons; draw the most important scene in the chapter and explain its importance.
Oprah Bookclub: Host a talkshow: students play the host, author, and cast of characters. Allow questions from the audience.
Fictional Friends: Who of all the characters would you want for a friend? Why? What would you do or talk about together?
State of the Union: The President wants to recommend a book to the nation: tell him one important realization you had while reading this book and why he should recommend it.
Interview Question: What are you reading and do you like it? Pick who will interview, they should have a role.
Dear Diary: Keep a diary as if you were a character in the story. Write down events that happen during the story and reflect on how they affected the character and why.
Improv: Get up in front of the class and be whatever character the class calls out and do whatever that character would do.
What if: How would the story differ if? The characters were something other than they are.
Time Machine: Instead of traveling into the book write a scene or story in which the characters travel out of the book into today.
Biography: Write a biography of one of the characters who most interests you.
Autobiography: Have the character that most interests you write their autobiography of the time before, during, or after the story occurs.
P.S: After you read the story, write an epilogue in which you explain-using whatever tense and tone the author does-what happened to the characters next?
Dear Classmate: Using email or some other means of corresponding, write each other about the book as you read it, having a written conversation about the book.
Sing me a song:Make up and record a song about the book or it's characters
Collage: Draw a collage or cut out pictures that depict the story or it's characters.
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/ChildrenLit/childpublishing.html
Young Children's Writing and Publishing
http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx
Book Adventures
Young Children's Writing and Publishing
http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx
Book Adventures