Kicking off 2019 Read Across America at Jefferson Elementary

    

 

Healdsburg Elementary School

Music with a nice little beat was playing as the kindergarteners and the 1st graders came into the school’s Library Learning Commons where I was waiting for them. The room was all set up for my reading – I had a nice cozy chair with a good sized stool beside me for my things. The children all gathered around me in a wide semicircle. After they sat down the music stopped and they cupped their hands behind their ears to show me they were ready to listen and listen they did as you can tell from looking at the photos below.

There were a number of questions about the story and about ‘making it into’ a book. We ended with a nice, brief discussion about other aspects of the book….like, was the story true or not true (fiction or nonfiction). Then they lined up to leave and as they walked through the door I handed each one a picture to color, that depicted a page in the book. They were thrilled. Each child shook my hand and thank me.

      

 

 

Jefferson Elementary School

2018 marks the 21st anniversary of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Jefferson Elementary is participating in Read Across America and Dr. Seuss’s birthday from March 1st to March 15th. We were delighted to help kick off this important and special event by reading The Jacket Nobody Wanted on March 1st to the 3rd grade class.

Monroe Elementary

A teacher reading The Jacket Nobody Wanted to her class. When asked to comment on the book, these kinder students particularly liked the illustrations describing them as “wonderful, liked it a lot, love it, amazing, awesome”.

Geyserville Elementary

Reading to the second and third grade classes at Geyserville Elementary was a treat. After the reading I answered their questions and explained how a story becomes a book. The children were very engaged, had numerous questions and were just a delight.

A 9 year old independent reader explaining what he thinks about “The Jacket Nobody Wanted” to his teacher.

Interesting Audio of a 5th grader reviewing “The Jacket Nobody Wanted”.

Woodbridge Elementary

Our friend, Kelly, is once again reading The Jacket Nobody Wanted to children. This time he read to the third grade class at Woodbridge. He said the students got very involved with the story and they all had a great discuss of the story after the reading.

 Monroe Elementary

A Monroe Elementary’s Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D. dogs) getting an early look at The Jacket Nobody Wanted before helping students relax and read.

Independent readers reading The Jacket Nobody Wanted. After they finish reading the book they discuss the story with their teacher.

Teachers reading the story The Jacket Nobody Wanted to their students

Lodi Public Library

Kelly, a friend from my time at UC Davis, decided to read The Jacket Nobody Wanted to the children who attend the Lodi Public Library’s Story Time. He’s shown here arriving with book in hand and then shown reading The Jacket Nobody Wanted to a group of about 70 children. It was an enjoyable experience for Kelly and a big hit with the kids! The Jacket Nobody Wanted is now available in the Lodi Public Library’s collection.

recent note from our friend Kelly  

Janet,

My wife and I had relatives visiting with us this past week. I asked our 8 1/2 year old grandniece if she would like to read The Jacket Nobody Wanted to her Uncle Kelly. She loved the book, especially how it ended with the jacket playing a big part in saving the little girl in the woods.

Later in the day she insisted on reading the book to her mom and dad. The Jacket Nobody Wanted passed with flying yellow colors!

Kelly

I sent an early copy of The Jacket Nobody Wanted to a retired elementary school teacher friend. She liked it so much that on her own she got permission at her ‘old’ school to read the book to current elementary students in the 1st and 2nd grades and to have children in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades read it themselves. The following is their collective response. I think you’ll want to read it. -Janet

Hi Janet,
The book should arrive on Monday. Thank you for sharing it with us! The librarian noticed the butterfly on each page. She liked the use of watercolors.
All the children said they would check the book out at the library.

I read the book to 1st and 2nd graders this morning.

1st grade (Karen, Delilah, Cesar, and Brandon)
Comments:
We liked the book. We especially liked when they found her after she got lost. We didn’t like when Sara yelled at her mom.
We liked the picture of the playground the best.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: Yes, “Don’t talk to stranger!”

2nd grade (Veaney, Steve, and Areyle)
Comments:
Yes, we liked the book. We liked when they found her.
We didn’t like when Sara didn’t like the jacket and cried.
The pictures were nice.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: Yes, “Never wander off and don’t scream at your mother.”

Krystal 4th grade (Independent reading level 2.9 -4.3) Took 7 minutes to read the book.
I liked the part where the girl found the jacket and the end of the story. (The little girl in bed.)
I didn’t like the part where the girl got lost in the woods.
The illustrations were colorful and beautiful.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: Yes, “You should never wander off.”

Dylan 4th grade (Independent reading level 3.4 – 5.4) Took 10 minutes to read the book.
(He carefully examined the illustrations before reading the passages.)
I liked the part where she was in the forest and found the jacket.
I didn’t like the part where the girl was being a brat (ungrateful) and when they kicked the jacket.
The illustrations were nice.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: To be grateful about things you are given.

Briana 3rd grade (Independent reading level 1.9 -2.9) Took 33 minutes to read the book.
I liked when she found the jacket.
I didn’t like when Sara didn’t like the jacket and slammed the door.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: Don’t get lost in the woods.

Janell 4th grade (Independent reading level 2.4 – 5.5) Took 8 minutes to read the book.
I liked when they found her at the end of the book.
I didn’t like when she tripped on the rock.
I didn’t like the picture of the children (open mouths) when the teacher was talking.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: If you don’t like something or have a problem with it,find someone else who might want it.

Alex 5th grade (Independent reading level 3.6 – 5.6) Took 6 minutes to read the book.
I loved it!
I liked when the little girl is lost, finds the jacket and is found because the jacket is yellow.
I didn’t like when Sara made it all dirty.
Alex was the only student who read the very last entry.
Q: Did the book have a lesson or message for the reader? A: A guardian angel can help you.