Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Authors Discuss Their Struggles With Reading

Reading is so important! For some kids, especially those who struggle with reading, attention, or focus, it can be so challenging to find the motivation to read and it can be overwhelming for them. It is so important for parents and educators to encourage our children to read. Giving them a choice in what they read is a way to encourage them to read, even when it is difficult. If they are motivated to read, they will do the hard work it takes to get through difficult text. 

Here are some great videos of authors who share their struggle of learning to read despite their struggles with reading. It is interesting to hear how they have developed strategies to work through their struggles and find success as children's authors! They share books and ideas that can help students who struggle with reading. 


           Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants

Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese         


             Jack Gantos, Rotten Ralph

Monday, May 6, 2019

Helping Your Child's Mind Stay Sharp Over the Summer


Ah, summer... a time to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy time with your family, friends and kids. Summer is a very special time of the year for me as an educator. I look forward to extended camping trips with my family and pups, spending time in my garden, and catching up on reading, quilting and other projects I have little time for during the school year.

While I look forward to summer every year, I also know that summer can pose a challenge for struggling learners. Research shows us that students, especially those from low-income households fall an average of 2 months behind their peers during the summer. This loss continues summer after summer and can significantly impact students as they encounter more and more difficult learning challenges.

Please take a look at these great articles to help you parent through the summer slide this year:

  • Colorado Summer Slide Research This is a great source for further reading on the causes, impact, and some solutions for dealing with the summer slide. 

It is also important to remember how far our struggling readers have come! Many of our students who were barely able to sound out words will leave for summer with a voracious appetite for reading. Others have less of an appetite to choose reading during leisure time, yet have learned skills to break unknown words into easier-to-read parts in order to read them. They have learned to analyze how characters interact, and what story elements contribute to a deeper understanding of the text. They can navigate the text- and graphic features in non-fiction text to locate information they need... and so much more! It is important to celebrate how far our students have come this year, while continuing to practice and use the skills and strategies they have learned so they are off and running in the fall!


If you would like more information or help finding fun, engaging ways to keep your kids learning this summer, please contact me at kpickrell@stanwood.wednet.edu.





Friday, April 26, 2019

Fun Find!

Hi Reading Friends!

I was reading the Reading Rockets newsletter from this week, and I came across this really interesting find that I thought would be fun for families and students. So I thought I'd share!

Book Riot's 15 Best Podcasts for Children's Literature

What a fun way to hear books read aloud while on long road trips this summer! Now you don't have to get carsick on that long drive, but can still inspire kids to enjoy books while you travel!


Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Parent Advisory Council Meeting

Hello families!

You received a letter from me last week inviting you to our March Parent Advisory Council Meeting to be held on March 27th at 2:30 PM in our library. At the meeting, you will learn about Title I and the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) and participate in helping us revise our Parent Policy. As the parent of a child who faces challenges in learning to read, your input is valuable to us to help us find ways to support families in motivating their children to read. We hope to see you there!

Read Across America Fun at Twin City!

Twin City Elementary is celebrating Dr. Suess' birthday and Read Across America this month! Your child will be bringing home a letter explaining how you and your family can join in the fun! 

As parents, you know that motivating a young learner to read, especially if reading is hard for them, can be challenging. Read Across America is a chance to make reading fun for the whole family. Below is a fun way to motivate your child to read at home. Please encourage, and support them as they read and cheer them on as they try to get 5 in-a-row or even a blackout!

We hope that you and your child take this opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading, the wonderful places books can take us, and that you and your child are inspired to make reading everyday a habit!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Snuggle Up and Read This Winter Break!


Can your child's learning "freeze" over winter break? Not if you keep them reading! Taking the time to read good books with your children helps to improve their language and literacy skills, opens their minds to a wider world around them, and keeps their brains developing. Plus, what a nice way to settle down, snuggle up, and enjoy family time together! Here are a few books I like to enjoy with the kiddos in my life during the winter: