Are you as frustrated as I am when it comes to finding books for early readers? I have gone to the library and pulled a foot high stack of books for those students who are just beginning to read and maybe come away with two or three books. What I see happen is that the book starts out with short vowel, easily readable words, only to throw in multisyllable words as the story progresses. Ugh!

I have gone back to the tried and true readers to give students confidence until they can read more words. I also create my own stories and keep them simple. Only two sentences per picture that I find on the internet. I know you don’t necessarily have time to do this yourself, so here are some resources for you.

American Language Series – Fun in the Sun is the first book and is a collection of 53 stories that have simple short vowels. I have like this reader because it gives children lots of practice with this types of words. Children feel successful after reading the stories. You can purchase the books individually or as a set and continue with them after your student has mastered the first book.

All About Reading– This has a collection of twenty stories since they are longer. I like the first three books, beginning with Run, Bug, Run! Children like them too because they feel like they are reading more advanced stories, although they are still working on CVC words (Consonant- Vowel- Consonant)

I love This Reading Mama‘s blog. She has so many free printable resources. I have purchased some of her things as well because she has fun, high quality, research-based products.

Keep on reading! ~Lisa~

I have had these wonderful science books for years and still recommend them to families who want to encourage exploration as well as learning scientific facts. One Small Square by Donald M. Silver is beautifully illustrated and takes one small square of an area that is being studied and looks at what plants and animals would traverse or live in that ecosystem. You can use these books to supplement your curriculum or use this as a spine for your studies. I have three of the books that you can see by this picture, but there are more in the series.

The Pond is the one that I chose to feature since most of us have access to a small body of water. But, if you don’t, you can still read and learn about this ecosystem.

Does your student like to find hidden pictures? This is a fun way to match the animal with the shadow and discover its name too!

Have a great week! ~Lisa~

School is never truly finished, even in the summer. As you know, if skills are not reviewed and continued then they are a bit rusty when it is time to begin again in the fall. May I suggest that you continue to have your child read over the summer? Just 15 minutes a day is all that is needed, but reading longer is always preferred. 🙂

So, how do you encourage reading for those who really don’t like to do it? How about a magazine subscription? It’s so fun to get mail and I am sure your child(ren) will love reading whichever one you choose.

National Geographic for Kids Interesting places and people are featured in these issues.

Ranger Rick There are a wide variety of magazines to choose from depending upon age. If your child loves animals. this is worth a further look.

Cricket– If your child likes stories, this is a site to investigate. There are many magazines from which to choose, depending upon age.

Highlights for Children Do you remember reading these? We didn’t have a subscription, but I got to read these whenever I had to go to the doctor’s office. With stories, Spot the Difference, Jokes, and the Hidden Picture pages, this would be one I would buy.

Scholastic Magazine There are interesting stories and nonfiction articles with comprehension questions that you can use for fun or classroom reading.

Whizz Pop Bang This is a science magazine for 6 to 12 year olds that looks like a lot of fun.

Have a great week! ~Lisa~

With warmer temperatures and beautiful days there are many opportunities to be outdoors. Why not save the electronics for rainy days? Did you ever play Tag as a child? This is a game where one person is”It” and the other players must avoid being touched or “tagged”. A place (tree, a large rock, a bush, etc) is chosen to be base so everyone can have some time to rest before rejoining. Here are several versions of how to play this fun interactive game.

Some Rules to Establish before Beginning:

• If players’ skills are uneven, set a time limit for how long someone can be It.

• Have a base so players can go to catch their breath or rest. They must return to the game after they have had sufficient time to rejoin the game. Stop the game when players are getting fatigued.

• Ask children to gently tap other players to avoid injury. Anyone who hits someone hard must apologize and sit out the remainder of that game or do ten jumping jacks.

Freeze Tag– Try this chilly version of tag. When a player is tagged, he or she must stop where they are and wait until another player touches (unfreezes) them.

Bandaid Tag– This is fun because everyone tags players. Once a person is tagged, he/she must put a hand on the spot where they were tagged to create a bandaid, and keep running. Another player can tag them to “heal” them. If tagged twice, then that person becomes the new “It”.

Chain Tag- In this large group game of tag one person begins as “It”. As other players get tagged, they link arms with the person chosen to be “It” and form a chain. The chain of people must work together and communicate as they try to tag the remaining players. The last player to get tagged is the winner and a new game can begin.

Zoo Tag- Mark 1-4 different areas as “cages” depending upon the size of your group and decide on one person to be “the “zookeeper”. Divide the remaining players into groups and designate one person to play the part of the “monkey” — the mischievous player whose role it is to free the others from the cages. Each group chooses an animal and a movement for the game, i.e. kangaroos can hop, cheetahs can run, horses can gallop, etc. To begin, the animals are set free to move around, but if tagged must return to their respective cage. While the zookeeper is trying to lock up all the animals, the monkey is letting everyone loose! After a few minutes choose a zookeeper and a new monkey.

Hot Dog Tag– This delicious deviation from the classic starts with one person designated as “it”. When a player is tagged, he or she must lay flat on the floor with hands by their side and legs together, as if they were a hot dog. To get back into the game, two free players need to lie on either side of the “hot dog” to form the buns. The person who is “it” cannot tag any of the three players completing the hot dog, as they are allowed to join back in.

Cookie Jar Tag- For this fun game for younger players, you will need a “cookie jar”—a box, basket, or bucket. Designate a start line and choose two players to be “It.” Divide the rest of the players in half and give one group small balls, bean bags, or small stuffed animals. The goal is to reach the cookie jar and put in their “cookies” without being tagged. They can choose to throw their cookies to another player. Once all the cookies are in the jar, the game is over.

Wood Tag– Played like traditional tag, a player is safe if he/ she touches something that is made of wood.

Tail Tag- A scrap of fabric, old tie, or bandanna is tucked into each player’s waistband creating a “tail.” Everyone grabs as many tails as they can and the person who collects the most wins the game. Just be sure that the tail can be pulled easily to avoid injury or clothes being ripped.

Drop It Tag- Give about a third of the players a foam pool noodle, a ball, or a bean bag. The rest of the players chase and tag the ones holding something. When someone is tagged, they must drop what they are holding. The tagger picks it up and begins to be chased.

Some of these ideas were mine, but others came from these two websites: https://icebreakerideas.com/tag-games/ and https://activeforlife.com/transform-the-game-of-tag/

Have a great week! ~Lisa~