Holy outreach, Batman! It's been a busy couple of weeks, and there's more to come. Here's what I shared during my recent class visits:
Catholic School 5th Grade: Thursday, October 4
*The teacher requested a biography.
Book: Bill the Boy Wonder
Notes: This was a huge hit. The girls, especially, were fired up about the injustices in Bill's career.
Catholic School Kindergarten: Friday, October 5
Book: George and Martha
Notes: The best part of this visit was when the kids were standing in line at checkout and one of the boys was fooling around. I said, "Be careful," and he said, "Yeah, or I could fall and break my tooth and get a gold one like George." I love it when they make connections, even if they are misbehaving.
Catholic School 5th Grade: Thursday, October 11
Book: The Dunderheads
This didn't get the laughs I expected, but about half the class was still really into it, and one of the girls wanted to see the book again when I finished reading. I think if these had been fourth graders, it would have been perfect.
Nursery School Class: Friday, October 12
Books: Applesauce Season,
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything,
Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar
Rhyme: Way Up High in the Apple TreeFlannel Board: Mr. Scarecrow's Jack O' Lantern
Songs: One, Two, Three Caterpillars,
These Are My Glasses,
Shake My Sillies Out
Notes: As she left, the teacher told me this was the perfect story time. I didn't feel that way, but it made me happy that she enjoyed it that much. The kids loved
Arabella Miller and
The Little Old Lady, but not so much Applesauce Season. The flannel board was iffy - they were just a bit too old for it.
Nursery School Class II: Friday, October 12
*The teacher requested a community theme.
Books: Say Hello,
The Little Bit Scary People,
Policeman Lou and Policewoman Sue,
Trashy Town
Rhyme: Elevator (alternate version)
Songs: Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?,
Shake My Sillies Out,
Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck
Notes: I was not confident about this story time, and it didn't go that well. The kids were engaged, and they especially liked the two community helpers books, but their teacher texted through the whole thing and it annoyed me. I'll have a better idea of what to do with them next time, though.
The Little Bit Scary People was a flop, which makes me sad, because I love Emily Jenkins and it's my favorite of her picture books.
Catholic School Kindergarten: Friday, October 12
Book: The Tub People, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
Notes: My sister adored this book when she was little, and I was right when I guessed that kindergartners would like it. I hadn't planned to read a second book, but the teacher saw Mike Mulligan in my stack for a later story time and made a special request, so I went ahead and read that, too.
Catholic School First Grade: Friday, October 12
Book: Owl at Home
Notes: This was great! I think I probably read this years ago, but I didn't remember it. I was looking for another read-aloud that would be as fun as George and Martha or Ling and Ting and knew instantly that this would be it. The kids got really into it, and they especially loved talking about the moon following owl home.
