Category Archives: personal

Books & the Fourth Grader: Discovering a Reader

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It was a typical Wednesday evening … dinner dishes were cleared and the only homework to be done was the required 20 minutes/night of independent reading. Reading is always the last homework job. Fourth grader (age 10): “Mom, I did my reading. I read more than 20 minutes.” Mom (checking the timer): Yes, it was more than 20 minutes. 20 minutes and .1 seconds to be exact! Seriously. Not even a full second more. I understand why teachers set a time frame for students to practice reading, and my daughter is probably no different than the majority of her elementary school peers. What I see is someone who does “just enough” to meet the requirement, and then move on. Fourth … Read more →

Cybils –

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In my post the other day, I wrote a letter to our judges as a way of introducing the short lists for the Easy Reader and Early Chapter Book Category. In 2010, Stacey Loscalzo and I were panelists for this category of the Cybils. This year, Stacey is a judge. In early December, Stacey sent me a lovely note, and I want to share part of it, because I think it resonates with the spirit of the Cybils and the passion of readers. I just re-read your beautiful post … I feel like I know your dad and I love him already!! I’ll be thinking of you and will look forward to our time together during Cybils season. I wonder … Read more →