One Night a Week… One Family… One Read Aloud… Priceless!
- Today’s reading investigation: MTA: Jerry Pinkney
- Family Sharing: “Who is this author?” *Invite everyone to share. Discuss which books you would choose.
- Materials: family learning journals/paper, pencils, colored pencils, and/or crayons. Remind them to open their journals to the next available page and date it. Don’t forget to have them label the top of the page with today’s learning topic/skill.
- Guided enquiry: “Looking at these book covers, which books are enticing?”; “Which ones would you pull off the library shelves for browsing?” *Use the web link above to read about these books and/or look for other book choices by Jerry Pinkney.
- Author insights: After many years of meeting authors, Jerry Pinkney has remained one of the most respected artists of our times. For those who appreciate beautifully crafted art work in picture books, no one can surpass his ability to “weave” a story in pictures. He invited his neighbors to come to his studio, period dress-up, and took photos of them create his paintings. He proceeded to use those images as he painted! As an author, he believed that stories from our past needed to be honored and remembered. As a writer, he experienced most of the same struggles that anyone with Dyslexia knows causes anxiety. Yet, his desire to re-create stories of value, he learned how to push beyond his learning struggles with “grit” and determination. *Biography: https://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html
- Next: Allow everyone 10-15 minutes to draft a list of book titles for your Fort Vancouver Library family field trip. First: (Ask everyone to help find any picture books in your house). Make a list of the picture books you will look for on your trip to the Battle Ground library. Check: Does everyone have their library cards? Assign: Go over the list of picture books and add the name of who will find which book for this week’s reading challenge.
- Skill Discussion: “Let’s share what you’ve penned!” Encourage everyone to share… including your youngest. Spend a few moments sharing how you made choices when you were their age (include the titles or what your book was about, as well as why it remains a “Good Fit” favorite).
- Road Trip Destination: Head down to Battle Ground for your Fort Vancouver Library discoveries. You might check Literary Leftovers for any picture books not found at the library, I believe a used book store is always a great adventure!
- Discussion Wrap-Up: Once you have settled in for the evening, have a family story time. “Which book should we experience tonight?”; When the book has been shared, ask: “Which picture was your favorite?”; “Which character came to life?”; “What part of the story will you remember or share with a friend?”
