Tales of a 1st Grade Reader

This Week in Class

2009-10-27T12:03:00.001-04:00

This week in class we are focusing on the short /o/ sound. Words we are learning are: top, not, hop, hot, lock and rock. How many words do you know with this sound?

This Weeks Story:

The Bug Bath

By Anne Miranda

“We are very dirty,” said Al. “I want a bath,” said Bob. Al and Bob saw a big tub. The two bugs got in. The bath was hot. But it was fun. Bob kicked his legs. Al sat in the suds. A fish fell in the tub. It got Bob and Al wet. “We saw that,” said Bob. “You got us wet,” said Al. But the fish did not swim. It just sat in the tub. A big duck fell in the tub. It landed on top of the bugs. “We saw that,” said Bob. “You landed on us,” said Al. But the duck did not quack. It just sat in the tub. A big thud rocked the tub. “What was that?” said the bugs. “I see a leg,” said Al. “I see two legs,” said Bob. “What is it?” said Bob. “It is a boy!” said Al. “I want to get out!” said Bob. “I want to run away!” said Al. “Bugs!” said the boy. Bob and Al dashed away. Bob got on top of the fish. The boy picked it up. “A bug,” he said. “Let go!” said Bob. Al got on top of the duck. The boy picked it up. “A bug,” he said. “Let go!” said Al. Al and Bob ran away. They got very dirty. “I see a bath,” said Bob. The bugs got in. “We fit!” said Al. “What a good bath for bugs!” they said.

Goodnight Moon

2009-10-26T10:44:00.005-04:00

by: Margaret Wise Brown

published: 1947 by HarperCollins

isbn13: 9780060207052

Hardcover, 32 pages

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Age: 6 years old, 1st Grade

Description: Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two. (Picture book)

After Thoughts: This is a baby book but I used to like when Mommy read it to me. It's easy to read by myself but I still like it better when Mommy reads it to me and my brothers. My favorite part is when Mommy reads it and she tells the old lady whispering "hush." She always makes us laugh. I liked reading about the three little bears sitting on chairs. I will read it again to Alex since he is a baby still.

High Frequency Words: a, and, in, good, of, old, on, over, the, there, three, two, was, were, who

Spelling Test

2009-10-23T21:47:00.001-04:00

This week's spelling words were:

duck
buck
cut
but
rug
tug

High Frequency Words:

small
ride
no
out

Guess what I got?? I got a 100!! My Mommy gave me $1.00 for my good work. I was having a hard time with out and small but I remembered the tricks Mommy taught me. Guess what else? I read 2 books tonight with Mommy and wanted to read another one but it was my bed time. I will post my reviews this weekend. Hopefully I can read 3 books tomorrow.

Good Night!!

Hop on Pop

2009-10-22T09:53:00.004-04:00

by: Dr. Seuss

published: 1991 (first published 1963) by Kohl's for Random House

isbn13: 978037584483

Hardcover, 64 pages

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Age: 6 years old, 1st Grade

Description: First published in 1963, Hop on Pop remains a perennial favorite when it comes to teaching kids to read. Here, as in most of his extensive body of work, Dr. Seuss creates uncomplicated, monosyllabic rhymes to foster learning and inspire children to read. But what was radical about this little book at the time of publication (and what makes it still compelling today) is Seuss's departure from the traditionally dull pictures and sentences used in reading primers. In contrast, the illustrations here are wild and wonderful, and the accompanying language, while simple, is delightfully silly. For example, the rhyme "THREE TREE / Three fish in a tree / Fish in a tree? / How can that be?" is brought to life with a trio of plump, self-satisfied fish perched atop globular branches as two stymied hybrid dog-rabbit-humanoids look on in consternation. Hop on Pop does much more than teach children the basics of word construction, it also introduces them to the incomparable pleasure of reading a book. (Ages Baby to Preschooler)

After Thoughts: "Some of the words were hard. It made it easier that they rhymed. I didn't really have a favorite part but I will read it again. It's good practice."

High Frequency Words: a, and, am, after, all, are, ask, be, big, but, by, call, can, day, down, eat, for, get, good, had, he, him, how, I, if, in, into, is, it, like, long, me, my, no, not, now, of, off, on, one, other, out, play, see, small, that, the, there, they, this, three, to, two, up, we, went, what, where, will, with, you

Put Me in the Zoo

2009-10-20T10:53:00.003-04:00

by: Robert Lopshire

published: 1988 (first published 1960) by Kohl's for Random House

isbn13: 9780375875205

Hardcover, 61 pages

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Age: 6 years old, 1st Grade

Description: Classic Dr. Suess! (Editorial Review) "A hilarious story for a first-grade pupil to read. Shows that reading can be fun even if the vocabulary is very limited."--Material Analysis Publications.

Mikey's Perspective: "It was a little hard but I liked it. My favorite part was when he went to the circus."

Mommy's Perspective: A funny story that helps introduce younger children to colors. Your child will laugh at all the things this silly animal can do with his spots. This has a great rhythm to it as well which will have you acting it out with the kids which of course will give them even more giggles. A definite hit with my little ones.

As a beginner reader this book introduces many words to a child with enough repetition and rhyming to help boost a young readers confidence yet challenging enough to keep them reading it time and time again.

When we got the book it came with a stuffed animal and my boys still fight over "Spot" the beloved main character of the story.

A good read for your child(ren)'s book shelf from a toddler through second grade.

Learned Sight Words Used: like, one, this, on, they, what, look, could, see, your

This Weeks Sight Words Introduced: small, no, out

Reading to Max

2009-10-19T18:24:00.000-04:00

"I would not like them here or there. I would not like them, ANYWHERE! I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am."

Green Eggs and Ham

2009-10-18T12:16:00.001-04:00

by: Dr. Suess

published: August 12th 1960 by Random House Books for Young Readers

isbn13: 9780394800165

Hardcover, 62 pages

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Age: 6 years old, 1st Grade

Description: This timeless Dr. Seuss classic was first published in 1960, and has been delighting readers ever since. Sam-I-am is as persistent as a telemarketer, changing as many variables as possible in the hopes of convincing the nameless skeptic that green eggs and ham are a delicacy to be savored. He tries every manner of presentation with this "nouveau cuisine"--in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox, with a goat, on a boat--to no avail. Then finally, finally the doubter caves under the tremendous pressure exerted by the tireless Sam-I-am. And guess what? Well, you probably know what happens, but even after reading Green Eggs and Ham the thousandth time, the climactic realization that green eggs and ham are "so good, so good, you see" is still a rush. As usual, kids will love Dr. Seuss's wacky rhymes and whimsical illustrations--and this time, they might even be so moved as to finally take a taste of their broccoli. (Ages 4 to 8)

After thoughts:

Mommy: "What did you think?"

Mikey: "That was easy, Mommy! I read it so fast!! I like that book. I did a good job, right Mommy?"

Mommy: "Yes, baby. A very good job!"

Mikey: "I read that one without any help! I want to read it again."

Mommy: "Yes you did, baby. Okay, now how many stars?"

Mikey: "5 Mommy!! It's my favorite!!"

Mommy: "Sure baby, lets log it into Goodreads and your blog..."

(Mommy logging it in, while Mikey is reading the book again. =) Perfect for 1st grade confidence.

Danny and the Dinosaur

2009-10-17T12:13:00.001-04:00

by: Syd Hoff

published: 2005 by Barnes & Noble Publishing,(first published 1958)

isbn13: 9780760765029

Hardcover, 61 pages

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Age: 6 years old, 1st Grade

Description: A day with a dinosaur. Danny's on the town with a real live dinosaur. From the ballpark to the zoo, these two are having one hundred million years of fun -- all in one day!

Mikey's Perspective: Some words were hard but the more they showed up the easier they became.

Mommy's Perspective: Not only is this a good picture book to be read to a young child, but it is also a great story for confidence boosting in children who are starting to read. Being a beginner reader book, it's probably a level 2, since it introduces a lot of digraph words mixed with first grade level sight words. With lots of repetition of words throughout the story, the child becomes a more confidant reader by the end.

A must have for all boys who are starting to read!

First Grade High Frequency "Sight" Words

2009-10-16T20:30:00.000-04:00

a
about
after
all
am
an
and
are
as
ask
at
be
been
big
boy
but
by
call
can
car
come
could
day
did
do
down
each
eat
find
for
from
fun
get
girl
give
go
good
had
has
have
he
her
here
him
his
how
I
if
in
into
is
it
like
long
look
made
make
many
may
me
more
my
new
no
not
now
of
off
old
on
or
other
out
over
part
play
ride
run
said
saw
see
she
so
some
tell
than
that
the
their
them
then
there
these
they
this
time
to
two
up
us
use
want
was
way
we
went
were
what
when
where
which
who
why
will
with
word
would
you
your
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten