FLORIDA GULF COAST

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

UNIVERSITY
L I T E R A C Y A D V O C A T E
SEPTEMBER 2008

W E L C O M E !
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Hello parents! I would like to welcome you you help your child learn to appreciate
W ELCOME! 1 to the first issue of the Literacy Advocate. literature, you will create a special bond
The Literacy Advocate is dedicated to between you and your child that comes
showing parents how important literacy is from the parent—child communication in
HOW TO 1
CHOOSE A for children. Literacy skills are essential for reading books.
BOOK
everyone to have and it starts with YOU,
MAKE READING 2 the parent. You must read to your child to
FUN
foster literacy skills that he/she will need in
life. Studies show that reading to your
AUTHOR OF 2
THE MONTH: child even when they are a baby will en-
AUDREY WOOD
hance their appreciation for literature later
MUST READ 3 on in their life. Just think about all of the
BOOKS
paths you can open up for your child just
WEBSITES FOR
by reading one book a day to them. Books
3
KIDS open children’s eyes to new worlds, char-
acters and their behaviors, and even facts
WEBSITES FOR 4
PARENTS
about the world they live in. Not only will

ABOUT THE 4
AUTHOR HOW TO CHOOSE A BOOK

SPECIAL POINTS Children of different ages are attracted to  Effective word repetition
OF INTEREST: different characteristics in a book. If you
 Pop up books
have a child who is:
 Want to create a bond
Ages 5-8—
with your child? Baby/Toddler—
 Picture books
 What books will my  Bright colors and simple objects
toddler enjoy?
 Strong storyline and character devel-
 Simple text and good rhythm
 Have you ever heard of opment
popcorn reading?  Board and cloth books
 Include challenging words
 10 books your child Preschool/Kindergarten—
will love!
Ages 9-12—
 Nursery rhymes
 Consider your child’s personality and
 Familiar stories interests.
 LITERACY ADVOCATE Page 2

MAKE READING FUN WITH YOUR CHILD!

Here are some fun ways to
make reading fun with your
child. These tips are great
for children who are reluc-
tant to read and also those
who already love books.
1. Popcorn reading: this
is where you read the
book with your child. 3.
It’s a great technique to
allow your child to read
and when he/she
comes to a challenging
4.
word he/she says
“popcorn” then it’s your
turn to read. Pop up
some actual popcorn
for you and your child 5.
to read together to
make this a fun bond-
ing moment.
2. Highlight heaven: This
is a great way to boost
your child’s confidence.
Have him/her highlight 6.
all the words he/she
thinks he/she knows on
a page. Then have
your child read the
page and see how
many words he/she
actually does know.
Flashlight reading:
Read in a totally dark
room with your child, 7.
but with a flashlight.
Secret hideout: Build
a fort with your child
and read a book to-
gether while in the fort.
Reading corner: Allow
your child to pick a spot
in the house for read-
8.
ing. You should deco-
rate it together with
pillows, bean bags,
lights, and posters.
Picture detective:
Look through a book
with your child and
have him/her tell you
what he/she thinks is
going to happen
based only on the
Children love to do this with a parent.
pictures. Read the
story and find out what
really happens!
SOMETIME
Pop-up word: This is a
S ALL IT
good strategy if your
TAKES TO
child is having trouble
MAKE
with a particular word.
READING
Every time that word FUN IS
comes up in the story, SOME
you both stand up. This IMAGINATI
also appeals to the ON AND A
kinesthetic sense. CHANGE
OF
Star of the story: Cre-
SCENERY.
ate a book with your
child’s name in it.

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH:

Audrey Wood— Audrey Wood was born in Sarasota, Florida. Her

first memories are of being in the Ringling Brothers Circus quarters
because her father painted murals there. She says “The circus
people were my friends.”

She was a very fast learner and by the age of three she could al-
ready read. She says this is because her mother read to her every-
day. In first grade she realized she wanted to be an artist. It was in
fourth grade that she decided she wanted to be an author for chil-
dren’s books. Right now she writes her own books and sometimes
illustrates them. Her husband also illustrates some of her books.

Audrey’s first book that she both wrote and illustrated was 24 Robber’s. If you want to check out
Audrey and her husband, Don’s, first book together check out Moonflute. She bases a lot of her
books off her very own surroundings and experiences such as the Napping House is actually the
model of her own house! Audrey Wood was awarded the Caldecott Medal for King Bidgood’s in
the Bathtub.
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 3

BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH:

Don’t Be Silly Mrs. Millie! There Was An Old Lady I Wanna Iguana
Is a great book to read Who Swallowed A Fly will is a story about
to your child for a few have children reading the responsibility
good laughs. Mrs. Mil- book along with you be- and a little boy
lie’s word play amuses cause of its predictability who tries to
the children to no end which children love. A very prove that he
and the illustrations are funny book with comical can maintain a
a great complement. illustrations. pet iguana.

If you want to have The Turkey Girl

bonding time with your is a Zuni Cin-
Rose Blanche is a beauti-
child or just introduce derella Tale
ful story about a girl’s
them a few words from about a girl who
experience with the Holo-
the Spanish language, wants to go to
caust. This is a great intro-
Papa and Me is a great the dance so
duction for your child to
start. desperately and
this very important histori-
her turkey’s
cal tragedy.
help her with
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in her dream.
People’s Ears is a funny
Read this twist to The
fable to read with your
Three Little Pigs and you’ll
children. It will have
have your little ones
them questioning why
laughing up a storm!
“Good morning
mosquitoes really do
buzz around in peoples
They’ll love the non- children. Please
traditional fairytale ending.
ears.
hang up your
If you’re looking for a
story before bedtime, Betsy Who Cried Wolf! Is goats.” - Mrs.
Mermaid Dreams is the a cute twist to The Boy
one. Parents and chil- Who Cried Wolf. Your
Millie
dren can both relate to children will be enrap-
the characters in this tured in Betsy’s conviction
story. It’s about a child that she really did see a
who procrastinates wolf!
about going to bed.

WEBSITE FOR KIDS

A site full of Dr. Suess fun A fun mad-lib site for kids. Explore 65 million years ago
and games. when dinosaurs roamed the
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
earth!
www.seussville.com
Learn all about animals here!
http://www.kidsdinos.com/
News and current events for http://www.kidsbiology.com/
kids: animals-for-children.php Learn all about the earth here:

www.timeforkids.com http://www.kidsgeo.com/
Explore the universe:
geography-for-kids/index.php
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/
WEBSITES FOR PARENTS

A site dedicated to Nursery http:// Tips for reading aloud with

Rhymes and what a child www.med.umich.edu/1Libr/ your children: every age
likes at a particular age: yourchild/reading.htm loves to be read aloud to!

http://www- 5 Ways to Help Kids Love http://www.rif.org/parents/

personal.umich.edu/~pfa/
dreamhouse/nursery/
rhymes.html
How to make reading a part
of your lifestyle: Tip #1-turn
off the TV.
Books: Ways to get in-
volved.
http://wondertime.go.com/
learning/article/helping-
kids-love-books.html
tips/tip.mspx?View=11
Recent reviews on chil-
dren’s books:
http://
www.kirkusreviews.com/
kirkusreviews/magazine/
childrens.jsp Children love Mother Goose stories

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Lucas was born sori school which opened her mind to a whole new way of
in Miami, Florida on teaching that she was never aware of, but was now very
September 18, 1986. interested in. Upon entering Florida Gulf Coast University
Three years later she she decided to pursue her ambitions as an Elementary
moved to the Fort Education major.
Myers area and lived
Marie is currently attending Florida Gulf Coast
out her elementary
University and is gaining ample experience with the teach-
school years. Her fa-
ing profession through the various courses she is taking,
vorite things to do
but mostly through the teacher/classroom observations
were building forts,
and working with those children. As of now she would like
jump roping, and play-
to teach Kindergarten but still wants to see what it’s like to
ing school with the
be with older children and maybe even teenagers. After
neighborhood chil-
graduating FGCU she would like to pursue her masters
dren. It was though
degree. Marie wants to show her future students the im-
playing teacher that she discovered what she was meant to
portance of education because it’s something she has al-
do.
ways believed in. She is also a First Generation college
Marie graduated from Cape Coral High School in student.
2005. She participated in the Early Childhood program and We are on the web at:
this reaffirmed her calling as a teacher. After graduation
http://sites.google.com/site/mariesmeanderings/Home
she earned her Associates in Arts Degree from Edison Col-
lege with a concentration in Elementary Education. While
attending Edison College she was employed at a Montes-

REFERENCES:

(2005-2008). Choosing a Children’s Book. Retrieved September 19, 2008, from The Children’s Book Council.
Website: http://www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists/choosing.html
Holland, Dawn. (2008). 10 Ways to Make Reading Fun. Retrieved September 19, 2008, from Educational Toy Factory.
Website: http://educationaltoyfactory.com/make_reading_fun.htm