Improving Reading through Storytelling

One of the earliest--and most important--reading skills a child acquires is the ability to retell a story.  Sara Miller and Lisa Pennycuff (2008), authors of the article The Power of Story: Using Storytelling to Improve Literacy Learning (published in the Journal of Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives in Education) write, "Because of the interrelated nature of the processes involved in reading and writing, storytelling is an effective pedagogical strategy that can be woven into instruction to increase students' compentencies in all areas."  They go on to write that, "Engaging in storytelling activities is a way to motivate even the most reluctant reader or writer."  Finally, the pair states that story telling strengthens readers by giving them a sense of story.

My son loves to gather the family together and tell us a story he's read, heard, or watched on television. When we read together, he is quick to make connections with other texts and tell us those stories, too.  He's a natural when it comes to storytelling.  Through retelling these stories, he has improved as a reader.  Why? Bear in mind that before the birth of the written word, our oral traditions were the tools we used to spread knowledge and keep history.  Storytelling evolved into the books we read today.  It is one of the foundations of reading.

Storytelling can be used at home as well as in the classroom.  Here are some tips to make your storytelling experience amazing:

• Before you tell the story have a way to draw in the audience, such as a song or rhyme connected to the content of the story.
• Ask children if they know any other stories about the kinds of characters in the story you are going to tell or have told.
• Don't be afraid to include the audience.  Ask, "What do you think will happen next?"  Add a call and response to the story or add physical actions that the audience participates in such as rhythmic hand clapping.
• Help children connect to the story by asking them what it reminds them of.
• Give children a chance to tell a story as well.

Have fun telling stories.  This week's featured books are great places to start.

This Week's Featured Books:

Have you ever wondered where stories come from?  Well, you can find the answer in this book.  Packed with Caldecott Award winning illustrations this book tells the story of Anansi's adventure to get stories for the world.  The book also includes the history of Anansi tales.  This is a must read!

Author(s): Gail E. Haley

Audience: Ages 4 to 10

Length: 36 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Aladdin (1988)

ISBN-10: 0689712012

ISBN-13: 978-0689712012

So you want to be a story tell.  Great!  This book is a wonderful way to start.  Margaret J. Olson fills the pages with easy to learn stories.  Each story comes with step-by-step instructions for completing the illustrations as you tell the stories.  Each different action in a story adds a new detail to the illustration.  This book will bring hours of fun.

Author(s): Margaret J. Olson

Audience: Ages 4 and up

Length: 45 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Creative Storytime Press (1963)

ISBN-10: 0934876010

ISBN-13: 978-0934876010

This New York Times Childrens Book Award winner is full of easry stories to learn and tell.  All of the stories come from Nigeria and are full of humor and important life lessons.  This stories are sure to entertain and educate your audiences.

Author(s): Barbara K Walker

Audience: 8 and Up

Length: 112 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Texas Tech University Press (1990)

ISBN-10: 0896722163

ISBN-13: 978-0896722163

Learning about Reading through Sailing

Yo, ho, ho--a sailor's life for me!  If you've never been sailing, you're missing out on one of the most enjoyable activities in the world.  But, it's not just enjoyable; it's also educational.  Sailing can teach us a lot about reading.  If we look closely enough, we can find valuable lessons that will help us to become better readers.  Here are three of those lessons:

• Lesson # 1--Always plot your course before you set sail.  No right-minded sailor starts a journey without knowing where he or she is going.  Sailing ships have nautical charts, maps, and GPS systems to help sailors set a course.  Readers, too, must set their course before they leave the dock.  How do we do this?  We set our purpose.  A reader's purpose is his or her reason for reading.  Are you reading to enjoy a good story, figure out how something works, or learn about history?  We must determine why we are reading.  For example, if I want to learn more about sailing vessels then my reading purpose is to gain information on that subject.

• Lesson # 2--Stick to the course.  Once a sailor has plotted his or her course he or she sticks to it, only making changes if absolutely necessary.  Readers can do this, too.  Once we know our purpose we devise a plan to achieve it.  For instance, if my purpose is to learn about sailing vessels, my plan might be to do close reading and use a graphic organizer or chart to keep track of the pertinent information I discover.

• Lesson # 3--Stay challenged.  Sailing is fun, but not easy.  There is always something to be done on a sailing vessel.  Sailors are challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally on every journey and every journey is an experience that helps them grow in life.  Reading can be this type of experience if we challenge ourselves.  We do this by reading things that are outside of our norm or favorite genre.  We can also challenge ourselves by reading material that may be above our "level" of current accomplishment.  The more we challenge ourselves the more we grow as readers.

So, sail further into reading and have fun along the way!  This week's featured books would be a great place to start!

This week's featured books:

In this colorful book, a young boy sets his toy sailboat on journey that will take it clear across the ocean. The small boat meets many interesting friends along the way and carries with it a message of friendship.  This book is bursting with sound and color, rhythm and rhyme.

Author(s): Janet Buell

Audience:  Ages 0 - 7

Length: 32 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

ISBN-10: 1575058219

ISBN-13: 978-1575058219

Robert F Kennedy does an amazing job telling the story of Robert smalls, a daring and fearless man who at the age of 24 mastermineded the theft of the Confederacy's Army's most powerful gunship and delivered it to the Union Navy.  The story this little-known American hero is brought to life with brilliant illustrations by Patrick Faricy.

Author(s): Robert F. Kennedy

Audience:  Ages 8 and up

Length: 48 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (2008)

ISBN-10: 1423108027

ASIN: B003F76DTC

Forget everything you thought you knew about pirates.  This book dispels all the myths Hollywood gave us and brings us into the truth about pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd.  It takes us to the earliest roots of piracy in the Dark Ages to the golden age of piracy in the 1800's.  The author, Dr. Konstam has vast knowledge of maritime history and has studied countless artifacts to bring us this accurate record of the history of piracy.

Author(s): Angus Konstam

Audience: Ages 12 and up

Length: 192 pages

Language: English

Publisher: The Lyons Press (2002)

ISBN-10: 1585745162

ASIN: B001C46QRO

This interactive book includes charts, maps, lessons, and cautionary tales to teach the reader about pirates.  While reading, you'll work through the ranks of cabin boy to seaman to bo'sun to captain.  Pirates beware!

Author(s): Captain William Lubber

Audience: Ages 9 and up

Length: 80 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Candlewick (2008)

ISBN-10: 0763637947

ISBN-13: 978-0763637947

History: Boring?! No Way!

That's right! Reading about history does not have to be boring.  In fact, it can be downright fun!  Here are some tips to help make reading about history part of your family's summer fun.

• Select a good book.  Steven Kreis (2000), author of "The History Guide," writes, "Reading history can be a satisfying experience... ...It all depends on the book you are reading."  He goes on to say that readers of history need to find books that transport them through time and space.  One way to know if the book you want to read is one of these "transporting" books is to do a good preview of the book.  When you preview a book do the following things:

• Find the title and the author.  Are you familiar with this writer?  Have you read any of their other work?  Does the book include additional information about the author?
• Look at the front and back cover.  What kind of information can you get from the covers?
• If the book includes summaries or excerpts, read them.
• Read any introductory material, like dedications or forwards.
• Look through the table of contents and read chapter names.
• Check out any illustrations

• Find activities that you can do which are centered on the theme of the book.  If you are reading about the Civil War go and visit a reenactment. If you are reading about dinosaurs visit a museum and see their skeletons and other fossils.  If the book has a movie version watch the film (after you finish the book because the book is always better).

• Read with someone else.  Having a partner or reading group always makes reading about history more fun because you can discuss what you learn with others.

• Use a notebook or reading journal to keep track of all the interesting things you learn.

Learning about our history doesn't have to be a boring task.  Make it as fun as you want it to be!  This week's featured books are a great way to get started.

This Week's Featured Books:

David Catrow takes an important, but often difficult to understand piece of history and explains it to kids in a very enjoyable manner.  The book includes a forward, written by Catrow, and a glossary of terms so that young readers can learn the meanings of all those important words that form the foundation of our constitution.

Author(s): David Catrow
Audience: Ages 5-10
Length: 32 pages
Language: English
Publisher: Puffin Books (2002)
ISBN-10: 0142402761
ISBN-13: 978-0142402761

This Corretta Scott King Illustrator Award winning book takes the powerful poem, written by Langston Hughes and pairs it with equally powerful images created by Bryan Collier to promote the promise of equality guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

Author(s): Langston Hughes
Audience: Ages 4 amd up
Length: 40 pages
Language: English
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (2012)
ISBN-10: 1442420083
ISBN-13: 978-1442420083

In this story, a family is torn apart by the Revolutionary War.  Tim has always looked up to his brother Sam, but when Sam joins the Revolutionary Army to fight the British Tim is torn between having to choose his brother or his father, who supports the British rule.  Not only does Tim have to decide between his brother and his father, but he must also decide if he is going to join the rebels or enlist in the British army and fight against his brother.

Author(s): James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Audience: Ages 12 and up
Length: 240 words
Language: English
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (2005)
ISBN-10: 0439783607
ISBN-13: 978-0439783607

Tom Morris is just a kid when the Declaration of Independence is signed.  So, when the British respond by raiding his village of New Haven and burning house to the ground, he doesn't know what to do.  After his family is forced to live in the pigpen, Tom decides to help the rebels.  In doing so, he gains a new appreciation for the Declaration of Independence.

Author: Wilma Pichford Hayes
Audience: Ages 10 and up
Length: 64 pages
Language: English
Publisher: Coward-McCann (1959)
ASIN: B0007E1SOK

Space Travel in a Book!

It's true!  While most of us don't own our own personal USS Enterprise or Millennium Falcon, we can still leave the confines of this planet and travel through space.  How?  With a book, of course!

There are many great books that offer stories and information about what lies beyond our planet.  Richard Walker, head astronomer at the Flint Longway Planetarium says that a book was one of the things that set him on the path to studying the stars.  The book, Find the Constellations by H. A. Rey (the same person who brought us Curious George) is a book that Walker would suggest for anyone who is interested in stargazing.  Walker also says, "Planetariums and books don't just say, 'Here's a star.  Here's this constellation.'  They tell stories about what's up there in the sky to get people interested and get people to realize that it's not boring."  Walker, who grew up in the beginning of the space age, believes that we're all observers and reminds us that astronomy is something that everyone can do.  We don't need millions of dollars of equipment, a willingness to go outside and look up will do.  A book and a telescope can't hurt either.

Currently at the Flint Longway Planetarium there are two great shows for families to enjoy this summer.  Each of these shows utilizes the planetarium's Digistar II projector, 75 slide projectors, three video projectors, and numerous special effects.  The first is called How I Wonder.  The show was written and produced by Walker and is based on questions that people (mostly kids) have asked him during his long career as an astronomer.  The show takes place Monday through Saturday at 12:30 PM and is recommended for ages six and up.  The second show, Nine Planets and Counting, takes viewers on an exploration to all the possible planets in our solar system.  This show is recommended for ages ten and up and can be viewed Monday through Saturday at 2:00 PM.  For information on upcoming shows and schedules, click on the link above.

Well, I hope to see you in the stars.  Until next time, check out this week's featured books below:

Take a bus trip through the universe with two kids who just want to get home.  Along the way, you'll learn interesting facts about our place in space.  This book includes scientifically accurate paintings.

Author(s): Robin and Sally Hirst

Audience: Ages 10 and Up

Length: 32 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Allen & Unwin (2008)

ISBN-10: 1741754046

ISBN-13: 978-1741754046

Take a tour through the solar system in this poetic conversation between Mother Sun and her children. Each verse introduce a new aspect of our solar system along with providing basic facts and information.  Add to that wonderfully detailed illustrations and you've got a great book!

Author(s): Marianne Berkes

Audience: Ages 6 and up

Length: 30 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Dawn Pubns (2008)

ISBN-10: 1584691006

ISBN-13: 978-1584691006

In this book, H. A. Rey helps every reader become an astronomer.  With star charts, guides to constellations, and information about seasons, this book is a must!

Author(s): H. A. Rey

Audience: Ages 9 and up

Length: 72 pages

Language: English

Publisher: HMH Books (2008)

ISBN-10: 0547131788

ISBN-13: 978-0547131788

Use the awesome power of your telescope to take a tour of the universe and discover the fun and excitement of astronomy.  This book is packed with fun and easy stargazing projects and activities.

Author(s): Gregory L. Matloff

Audience: Ages 10 and up

Length: 128 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Jossey-Bass (1993)

ISBN-10: 0471580392

ISBN-13: 978-0471580392

If you're looking for answers to those questions you have about the universe, chances are that you'll find them in this book.  This book answers over 100 questions about our universe suce as, "What is the sun?" and "What's at the center of a black hole?"

Author(s): John Farndon

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Length: 32 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Parragon (2002)

ISBN-10: 0752572474

ISBN-13: 978-0752572474

Take a vivid and experiential journey through the universe.  This book uses amazing illustrations and the most up-to-date information to show the readers what we know and what we expect to find in the universe.  A great read for everyone!

Author(s): Dr. Mike Goldsmith and Dr. Mark Garlick

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Length: 48 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Kingfisher (2012)

ISBN-10: 0753468760

ISBN-13: 978-0753468760