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.
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
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