Hello Dear Friends,
As you might remember, I get all gooey when I hear about real kids reading the Strong Readers Books. I was enjoying a day at Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre when the "gushing thing" kicked in once again. Teacher Heather and kids were using the Letters to Owl to explore all the different ways to solve problems that might come up on the playground or in the classroom. They took a good look at each of the problem solving charts and decided on a couple that were just right for their needs. Way to go Teacher Heather! You completely embraced the purpose and theme behind this piece of writing.
But wait: Heather's next move put her in the "top shelf" category of teaching excellence. Here is what happened.
"Boys and girls, I had the best shopping day ever! I went to the bookstore and found a "just right book"for each of you. After you have had a nice time reading and exploring your new book, you might want to think about one of your friends or family members who would also enjoy the book. What I do when I match my friends with just right books is think about what makes that person special and what makes them laugh. Then I tell them what I like about the book. I can tell if they will like the book because I can see a smile on their face. Then I give them the book."
The reason I wanted to share this teaching reflection moment is because it embodies my premise that children do not fully own and extend their understandings of how print works and how to make meaning from squiggly black lines without the help of caring adults. Adults who have taken the time to get to know a young person- their strengths, struggles and triumphs -can connect a child with a perfect title that just speaks to them. This is why and how our kids are motivated to keep trying to work at this reading thing. Only when kids care about the content of what they are reading will true comprehension happen. (I have pontificated on this subject under a previous,rather wordy blog called Blanket of Literacy)
So one thought led to another and out pops a sequel to Letters to Owl. The brilliant Bill Helin illustrations are lacking and it is kind of drafty still, but I hope you enjoy this story. Jayden said it was funny and he started his own chart -He is looking for a book called "Lion Fitness". Let me know if your short friends come up with titles that would be just right books for their favourite animal friends. (I think their is a place for brainstorming and thinking bubbles somewhere in a class discussion. Enjoy)
More Letters to Owl
Spring
I hope
you don’t mind me asking you for advice
again. I am in a real pickle. You have such sensible solutions to my
problems...here’s the deal.
It all
started one sunny afternoon. I was
enjoying my favourite book, Forest Adventures, on a mossy log located in a
sunny meadow. It was the perfect reading
spot. The sun felt good on my cool skin and before you could say ribbity
ribbity-rib, I fell fast asleep. I
mention this because it might explain why I went home without my book!
It was a good thing I had that rest because
after I got home, I was so busy with all the young tadpoles at the pond. I
did not have any time to read for a whole week.
(I guess I don’t have to tell you how much work those young tads can
be!)
When I finally got a break, I looked for my book but I could not find it. Finally, I remembered I left it at my reading log. I hopped down the path with my sunglasses and sunscreen . I couldn’t wait to read my book and and
enjoy some quiet time in the sun.
Along the way, I met up with Moose.
He told me
he had a wonderful day reading a book
called Forest Adventures. He found the book on a log in a sunny meadow.
“You might like this book, Frog.
A very kind and thoughtful animal must have left it on a mossy log in
the sunny meadow. Everyone is reading it.” he explained.
"Everyone? " I asked in a high squeaky voice trying to hide my surprise.
“Oh yes,
Frog. Everyone says it should get one of those stickers for Best Book, ” he said and trotted off.
Anyway, back
to my pickle...As soon as I reached my log and saw my book I knew he was
right. I could tell that every animal in Pine forest had made
themselves comfy reading MY book!
Honestly, Owl, you should see the condition of
the book! It is covered in paw, hoof and
wing prints. Duck’s
wet webbed feet had soaked page
four and Slug left slime on page ten! Prairie
Grouse’s chicks pecked tiny holes on page sixteen.
When I noticed Red Squirrel approaching my reading log I decided to take action.
(Imagine the mess he would make of my book if
he decided to stuff his cheeks with one of the pages!)
I filled the old throat chamber with a gulp of air, “Go away! This is MY BOOK and MY comfy
reading log.”
Owl, he would
NOT leave! He became very upset- meaning his chatter level reached the stratosphere.
When he was calm, I asked him iwhy he
wanted to read my book.
He said he liked the pictures and that reading helped him relax
after a morning of hard work gathering and stashing seeds.
I thought
this was interesting because I also find reading my book helps me relax. We
spent the entire afternoon talking about the book.
He really
got me thinking about reading.
I decided to
ask every animal that came to read MY book, why they liked to read.
Prairie
Grouse told me that her chicks liked to hear a story every night. She told me
her chicks beg her to re-read the same story over and over. She has noticed her
chicks’ vocabulary improving. She explained that it makes a good routine
and that I should try it with the young frogs back at the pond.
Loon told me she translates the
story into loon calls and sings
it while she travels up and down the
lake. (I must admit, she has a way with music, that one!)
Raven- He is so full of himself- isn’t he?
He wondered if I had noticed he was in the Forest Adventure story.
“Frog, don’t you think I look particularly gorgeous on
page six?”
(So typical of Raven! He
likes to read because he sees himself
in the book!)
I also
learned that Raven had been glocking the news all over Pine Forest that my book
was on the log. Seems he meets all his
friends at the log and they have Book
Club.
Honestly,
Owl, it was as if he thought he invented reading!
So Owl, here is my pickle...I want my book back! Problem is...all the animals want to keep
reading. I am afraid if I take my book
home, Pine Forest animals will be very sad indeed! And, as you know, we were
getting along so well. I need your help with this one Owl.
Yours truly,
Frantic Frog
Pine
Forest-near the Pond
P.S. Did I
tell you that the song that we sang at the Feast was a hit. Beaver had it made into a CD and everyone
bought a copy. We could not have done it without your help.
Spring
Hooty Hooty Hoot Dear Friend,
I understand
you want your book back. How awful to have all those paw, hoof and
wing prints on the pages!
I agree with
you that Pine Forest Animals are going “batty for books”.
Why, every
time Mrs. Owl and I sweep over that sunny meadow where you left your book on
the mossy log, we see a Pine Forest friend enjoying a good read!
One day we
noticed a line up. Raccoon, Little Bear,
and Raven were patiently waiting their turn to read.
But back to
your pickle.
It seems to
me that if each animal had their own book, they would not need yours.
I find that
I enjoy reading books things that interest me.
Why not
think about each animal and a then imagine a topic they would like to read about. The trick is to find a “just right book” for each
animal.
Try using
my Finding a Just Right Book
Chart.
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Pine Forest Animal
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Special interest
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Book Title
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Things
to consider
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Young Frog
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Counting while croaking
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Frogs, Frogs, Frogs
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Order waterproof edition
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As soon as
you send me the completed chart, I can help gather the books.
Mrs. Owl and I
are planning to visit relatives on the prairies....( Cousin Barn Owl has planned a Hootenany.)
I just had a Hoot of an Idea.
My relatives
are big fans of Pine Forest Pond Music. We could trade the CDs Beaver made for
books.
Like I
always say, Frog, “Every problem has a solution
when you go step by step”.
In
friendship,
Owl
P.S. Did you
know that the entire Owl Family are wise for ten reasons:
they read, and read and read and read and read and read and read and read and read and read some more.
I predict great things for Pine Forest Animals
This is the ocean that shapes the atoll that grows from the reef that feeds the tide pool that lies on the beach that meets the mangrove that follows the river that weaves through the forest that filters the air that circles the world that we want. 
We all have a right to our own way of life and to enjoy the good things that science and learning bring.
