What are Your Reading Resolutions?

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Well, another year is in the books! Anyone know why we say that? There must be an interesting story behind it. Hmmm…mental note to look into it for a future post.

2016 is just hours old, which brings up the yearly question: What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Do you have the standard “eat less” and “exercise more” goals? Of course, there is nothing wrong with getting healthier, but how about challenging yourself to something different this year? How about a goal that will make you smarter by the end of the year? What could that be, you ask? I’m talking about books! Let’s all read more books in 2016! Whether you are 5 or 55, reading picture books or novels, set a goal for yourself to be a better reader.

Here are some resolution ideas:

Read every day.

Read _____ minutes a day.

Read _____ times a week. 

Read _____ times a month.

Read _____ book(s) a month.

Read to your kids everyday.

Read a book in a different genre each month.

Go to the library every ______ weeks.

Join or form a book club.

Any other great ones you can think of? My Reading Resolution is to read a book before falling asleep instead of  *ahem* playing on my phone. Ugh. Bad habit.

I’ve created two printable charts to help you keep track and be successful readers in 2016. One is for monthly goals and one is for weekly or daily goals. You can use them to check-off when you read or write-in how long you read or what you read. Whatever works for you! Feel free to print one off for your kids, yourself or share with a friend.

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What is your Reading Resolution going to be?

What I’ve Been Reading (December 2015)

Here are some of the fabulous books I read in December.

Preschool (3-5 years):

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Preschool (3-5 years) & Early Elementary (5-8 years):

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Early Elementary (5-8 years):

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Early Elementary (5-8 years) & Middle Grades (8-12 years):

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Middle Grades (8-12 years) & Young Adult (12+ years):

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Santa’s Birthday Gift

Last night at Christmas Eve mass, our priest did a magical thing: he read a picture book as part of his homily! With his gentle voice reciting the beautiful rhyming text, both children and adults in the congregation were hanging on his every word.1608608247.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

The book Santa’s Birthday Gift by Sherrill S. Cannon, tells the story of how Santa, a toymaker, came to visit Jesus on the night he was born, bearing lots of gifts. Instead of leaving all the toys with Jesus, he makes a promise to give them to all the girls and boys. A tradition of the spirit of Christmas was born.

I’m a huge supporter of using picture books with children (and adults!) of all ages because they are a simple way to introduce a topic or get across a concept in a fun and interesting way. Our priest brought the spirit of Christmas into our hearts last night…through the simple words of a picture book.

Happy Holidays!

PiBoIdMo 2015 Complete!

PiBoIdMo, or Picture Book Idea Month, by author Tara Lazar, is over…sniff, sniff.  I took my pledge today that I “do solemnly swear” I completed the challenge. During PiBoIdMo, you try to come up with at least 30 new picture book ideas during the month of November. Along the way, there is a guest blog post each day by authors, illustrators and agents on Tara’s website, “Writing for Kids While Raising Them.” It’s been a fantastic month filled with helpful tips and encouragement and I am walking away with 32 new picture book ideas! Hooray!

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What I’ve Been Reading (Nov. 2015)

Of the books I read this month, here are the ones I’d recommend. I’ve had fun reading books by Roald Dahl with my students!

Preschool (3-5 years) & Early Elementary (5-8 years):
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Early Elementary (5-8 years):

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Middle Grade (8-12 years):

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Middle Grade (8-12 years) & Young Adult (12+):

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 Happy reading!

Scholastic Book Talk – Battle Bugs: The Lizard Wars

It’s time for another Scholastic Book Talk! The designated books in my school’s library will get a QR code attached to them. When the code is scanned by a student using a smartphone, ipad, etc., the book talk video will pop-up on their screen and give them a summary of the book. We now have green screen and our librarian adds fun videos to the back of our book talks. Not sure why I taped bugs to my face? Check it out…

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