Tuesday February 13, 2001
EC/Primary Focus Session
Read Across America
Read Across America, An NEA Project
Read Across America Mailring - Look in the Project Center list
Read Across America Chatboard
Visit the ChatBoards at the
Mentor Support Center
http://www.teachers.net/mentors/
Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Check the meeting schedule for future meetings
Kathleen - Welcome
to the Teachers.Net Read Across America chat!
Kathleen - Read Across
America is an initiative of the National Education Association, held on
March 2 each year to tie in with the birth date of Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss
would have been 97 on March 2, 2001.
Kathleen - Does your
school conduct activities on RAA day?
Mary/WA - We did
for the past couple years, but we now have a new principal. We're also
under a LOT of pressure to raise our WASL scores.
Kathleen - JP, thanks
for the RAA material you sent over
Kathleen - WASL?
JP - This year I
will really get to read
Mary/WA - WASL ==
WA Assessment of Student Learning. Kind of like the TAAS.
Kathleen - I can't
think of a better way to raise test scores than to help kids become better
readers. And better readers are those who are hooked on reading.
Mary/WA - Given in
grades 4, 7, and 10. This year's fifth graders MUST pass the 10th grade
WASL to graduate.
Kathleen - JP, ah,
as a retired person you have lots of time to read to kids!
JP - Hehehehe - booked
into 4 schools
JP - Reading in one
of my former student's classrooms
Kathleen - Many schools
are doing read-a-thons and having celebrity guests (like JP) come in to
read all day, with related activities extending into the evening, some
all night
Kathleen - JP, a
former student now a teacher. 
Jenn - All night???
I'd have to take extra vitamins!
JP - I think most
of the elected state officials are reading in Connecticut
Mary/WA - I know
one year we had to go in our "most comfy" pajamas in the evening.
Kathleen - I'm making
Cat in the Hat pins out of puzzle pieces coated with black glitter, topped
with the signature red and white striped hat (out of paper)
JP - I saw the hats
for sale at some NEA site
Jenn - I just bought
the book Gerald McBoing Boing. I haven't read it yet though.
JP - cheap too
Kathleen - NEA has
the hats http://www.nea.org/readacross/
Mary/WA - I'd not
seen the hats at the website but in the union newsletter.
JP - I would hope
that teachers ask some dads to read - that's so important for some boys
to see
Kathleen - I guess
Green Eggs and Ham is still my fav, but I like most of the Dr. Seuss books.
Mary/WA - Absolutely,
JP.
Kathleen - JP, excellent
point, bring in male adults to read!
Becfky1 - My students
LOVE One Fish Two Fish
Becfky1 - I am a
GRINCH fan
Kathleen - You can
make a Venn diagram with young children after reading One Fish, Two Fish,
Red Fish, Blue Fish by using paper fish colored red, blue, and a combo
of red/blue
Jenn - I like the
book of colors.
Chrissy - I think
mine is Green Eggs and Ham
Mary/WA - I think
mine is probably Oh! The Places You'll Go!
Chrissy - I was thinking
about buying the Cat in the Hat suit, but was wondering if it would be
worth the money
Kathleen - the hat
is $6 at http://www.nea.org/readacross/catalog.html
Jenn - $6 isn't bad
at all!
Mary/WA - Depends
how far into your teaching career you are, Chrissy.
Becfky1 - I like
that too Mary...give it as a graduation gift OFTEN!
JP - Chrissy - maybe
your district should buy one
Kathleen - Chrissy,
I think it's well worth it, and can be used year after year
JP - the Supt could
wear it
Chrissy - doubtful,
but if I use it several years it would be worth it
Mary/WA - There ya
go, JP!!!
Kathleen - Any post
on the Teachers.Net Read Across America Chatboard http://www.teachers.net/mentors/raa/
from February 13 through 4pmE March 2 offering an activity for Read Across
America Day will enter the contributor in a drawing for a copy of Oh, the
Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. One entry per person. The name of the winner
will be posted in RAA mailring. The winner must respond to me by e-mail
with mailing address within 3 days in order to claim the prize. If not
claimed within 3 days, another name will be drawn.
Becfky1 - Mine would
love the attention!(supt!)
Kathleen - JP, will
you be wearing the hat when you visit schools?
JP - I know my former
Supt books his day around reading to classes that day - hat and all]
JP - Have my hat
all ready
Kathleen - JP, nice
hear about his priorities
JP - I think all
Central Office supervisors are encouraged to read that day
Kathleen - There
are 44 Dr. Seuss titles, is that correct?
Becfky1 - I am trying
to visualize the puzzle pins Kathleen???
Chrissy - Hard to
choose what books to read. Many to choose from.
Kathleen - Is anyone
doing a book swap on RAA day?
Kathleen - Becfy,
I could e-mail a photo if you write to me kathleen@teachers.net. The piece
is one that has a projection for a head at top, then two "arms" and "legs"
Becfky1 - We have
young readers night that week with lots of guest readers from the community,
a door decorating day and such...really well received...
JP - I hope everyone
knows about http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/
Becfky1 - will e-
mail you later ..THANKS!!
JS - We will do lots
of activities for the entire week. We have a little red wagon parade on
March 2
Kathleen - Thanks,
JP
Kathleen - The National
Education Association offers a compilation of links to reading research,
news, contests and activities on their Read Across and Reading Matters
sites at http://www.nea.org/readacross/
and http://www.nea.org/readingmatters
.
Kathleen - JS tell
us about that parade
Chrissy - Myself
and the other Kindergarten teacher are having a Milk and Cookie book night.
Of course everyone is coming in pajamas.
Kathleen - Join the
mailring http://teachers.net/mailrings
and I'll post all RAA links there, and run some drawings
Kathleen - The chatboard
at http://teachers.net/mentors/raa/
has ideas gathered from last year and this, including how to make oobleck
JS - Teachers and
kids choose their favorite Dr. Seuss book. They then decorate a child's
red wagon. Some of the kids dress up, wear hats, and carry signs. We have
judges and three winners. They are treated to an ice cream party. Last
year was our first parade, so we'll be bigger and better this year.
Kathleen - JS, please
post that on the RAA chatboard! (after this chat) http://teachers.net/mentors/raa/
Kathleen - Hi jpteacher1,
do you know JP?
jpteacher1 - I want
to thank JP for letting me know about this chat room.
JS - Okay
Kathleen - JS, so
each classroom uses one wagon as a sort of float? Decorated in the theme
of the book they've selected?
jpteacher1 - I am
an early childhood coordinator here in MI
Kathleen - jpteacher1,
well we're certainly grateful to JP for bringing you here
Kathleen - Some schools
have every class decorate their door in a Seuss theme
Kathleen - jpteacher1,
Tuesdays here are EC chat nights
Kathleen - jpteacher,
be sure to sign up for the Early Childhood mailring http://teachers.net/mailrings
Kathleen - NEA presents
a section containing information and RAA supportive reading materials,
book lists, and more for parents and teachers, shared by the hosts of the
PBS show, Between the Lions at http://www.nea.org/readacross/betweenthelions/index.html
Kathleen - To make
reading a year round activity, http://www.nea.org/readingmatters
Kathleen - Sue and
jpteacher, which are your fav Dr. Seuss titles?
JS - Yes. The kids
loved it. I chose How the Grinch Stole Christmas last year. I had a Grinch
backpack (from K-Mart). My mother made a simple Santa shirt for him. I
just put presents, Christmas tree, wreath, toys and bundled them together
in a big piece of brown material. I also used one of my son's small floppy-eared
stuffed dogs, made pipe cleaner antlers, and attached him to the front.
Sue - I bought Cat
and the Hat bedroom shoes at Walmart for my partner, our assistant, and
student teacher
JP - Bartholomew
and the Oobleck - love that stuff - LOL
Kathleen - Sue, neat!
How much $$?
jpteacher1 - My heart
goes out to all of you EC teachers. I was one for 31 years before I went
to the college level.
Becfky1 - In New
Orleans a couple of years ago NEA gave all 10 thousand delegates a big
hat..talk about impressive...10 thousand teachers in CAT IN THE HAT HATS!!
Sue - Hard to pick
a favorite but Green Eggs and Ham is a favorite
Kathleen - Becfky!
wow! JP, did you get a hat then?
Kathleen - Bubba,
tell us, what will you be doing to observe Read Across America Day?
Becfky1 - Yes!!
JP - 10,000 teachers
in hats while the President of NEA wore the Cat Costume
Becfky1 - His finest
moment!!
Kathleen - Sue, I
love Green Eggs and Ham, too.
JP - Hehehehe - I
agree
Chrissy - sounds
like quite a sight
Kathleen - Bob Chase
as the Cat in the Hat, neat
JP - I think his
partner was the Treasurer
Kathleen - Sue, how
much were those bedroom shoes you mentioned, at Walmart?
Becfky1 - But Vice
Pres Reggie is a better reader!!
Sue - The first three
pair I bought were right bore Christmas and they were $10 then I found
them on sale for 4.95 in Jan.
JP - Regie is too
big for the suit - lol
Becfky1 - Yes JP!!
Bubba~sees~Kathleen
- cat and the Hat...wearing a HAT. everyone is wearing hats in my room....we
are also doing a reading fun day within our grade level.....
Kathleen - One idea
from the chatboard: We have typed the words from Dr. Seuss's I Can Read
With My Eyes Shut! and distributed them to all of the classes. On the morning
of March 2, 2000 we will all sit down outside the classrooms and read together
the entire book. Students are also invited to dress up like a favorite
Seuss character or just wear red, white, and black.
Sue - We have a bookluck
supper to celebrate RRA
Becfky1 - Explain
SUE??
Kathleen - Another:
"In my K class is "The Foot Book". After reading it, we are going to pull
off shoes and socks, and make footprints with baby powder (MUCH EASIER
THAN WITH PAINT--and NO MESS!!!!). Then spray with hair spray."
Kathleen - a bookluck
supper?
Kathleen - Between
the Lions, the new PBS show for kids http://www.pbskids.org/lions
has received a Parents' Choice Award as the best tv show for kids ages
4-7. Superb for encouraging and building reading skills.
JP - Connecticut
has a bill in the legislature establish a program to provide books to students
who may not own
Kathleen - And this
"In our class, we are going to create a campground-like atmosphere and
students will bring their favorite books to share around the 'campfire.'"
Kathleen - JP tell
us more
Kathleen - hi jfr/ret!
welcome to our RAA chat!
jfr/ret - Last year
we had an after school read aloud at our two local bank lobbies. (Small
town)
Kathleen - NEA presents
a section containing information and RAA supportive reading materials,
book lists, and more for parents and teachers, shared by the hosts of the
PBS show, Between the Lions at http://www.nea.org/readacross/betweenthelions/index.html
Becfky1 - Our parent
organization has just started a program of getting a book into the hands
of every K_2 child monthly..they solicit used books, screen them, arrange
according to difficulty and we go to an assigned area and get a FREE book...what
a success this has been!!
jpteacher1 - Sounds
like you are all having a great time. I'm going to share some of these
ideas with my students. Like your baby powder footprints Kathleen.
jfr/ret - We had
the mayor, bank pres, ret. teachers and actors and HS kids read Seuss Books.
Sue - We send home
a list of foods which are found in books we have. The parents select an
item from the list that they are willing to provide for our supper. We
send home the book for them to read at home. Each child creates a place
mate for that book. Each child writes the recipe for the food his family
is fixing. We type these and compile them into bound cookbooks. These are
distributed at the supper and the children have an author signing time
where they sign their recipes. We have guest readers to read to the children.
OUr children perform a choral reading of Green Eggs and Ham
jfr/ret - We also
had a drawing and ave away Seuss books. The readers all wore Cat hats.
JP - The Conn Bill
would encourage students that have books and have read them to donate them
for students that do now own their own book - within a school - or district
- or in another school
Kathleen - a bill
proposed in the Connecticut General Assembly called BOOKS AMONG FRIENDS
.. It's purpose is "To establish a program to provide books to students
who may not own many or any books.
Kathleen - Sue, that's
terrific! Please do post that on the chatboard! http://www.teachers.net/mentors/raa/
Kathleen - JP, there
is also that former teacher who obtains books and goes to communities to
give them out and read where it is most needed, do you know the person
I'm referring to? can't think of her name
Kathleen - I think
we really should get books recycled from dusty shelves and into the hands
of kids who have few
jfr/ret - Last month
our DKG chapter bought books for each first grader...almost 200. they were
thrilled to take a book home.
JP - I've heard of
that person
Becfky1 - Our DKG
present books to new mothers at the hospital!
Kathleen - Does everyone
participate in the RIF program?
Kathleen - DKG?
Kathleen - oh, Delta
Kappa Gamma?
Becfky1 - Delta Kappa
Gamma
JP - This year, NEA
is asking every delegate to the RA (about 12,000 of them) to bring at least
one book to donate in Los Angeles
Kathleen - JP, does
PDK do anything like that?
jfr/ret - Delta Kappa
Gamma International Society
JP - Different PDK
Chapters take on different projects
Becfky1 - Are you
going to La JP?
Kathleen - JP, that's
wonderful! Did they do that in Florida too? Sounds familiar? A good idea
for local civic groups, Lions, Elk, etc. to do at a March meeting
JP - I'll likely
travel to LA with NEA staff
Becfky1 - Are you
STAFF??
Sue - I started the
Bookluck supper the first year of RAA. The second year one other teacher
joined me. Last year two more held one. This year there are 8 or more teachers
doing this. WE hold them at different locations in the community. My favorite
has been the cafeteria at the local hospital. We are having ours there
this year. I will post it later.
jpteacher1 - In MI
we give out "Ready Kits" to all new parents. There is a kit for infants,
toddlers, preschoolers and school age. Each kit has a book, CD and informational
materials for parents on how to read to their children.
jfr/ret - Our local
newspaper held the writing contest suggested on the RAA and then printed
several of the stories.
JP - not really -
retired K-12 and part time CEA staff in Conn - but also work as a consultant
with NEA
Kathleen - THanks,
Sue. That is a truly special event
jfr/ret - Sue, that
is a tremendous project. I bet the kids love it!
Kathleen - jpteacher1,
do you mean each new parent receives a kit containing kits for the different
age levels?
Kathleen - Yes, it's
a good idea to contact your local paper, and photographer, now to arrange
for coverage on March 2
Sue - Kids and parents
alike. I am not sure who loves it the most.
JP - Nan - sounds
like a great project for your students
Kathleen - Sue, that
project sounds like an award winner
Kathleen - For after
the chat: http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/
is FULL of pages of activities, printables
jpteacher1 - The
infant kit is given out at birth, the others are given out at Drs. offices
/health dept. etc. when the child reaches each level. They are really neat.
I have all the kits to show my students. They contain books like Goodnight
Moon.
Kathleen - The transcript
of this chat will be archived http://teachers.net/archive
in the Early Childhood & Primary section.
Becfky1 - It is making
me hungry SUE!! (thinking of what books I would suggest!)
Kathleen - jpteacher,
who funds that?
Kathleen - Sue, when
you post would you include some specific books and foods to prime the pump?
Kathleen - An article
about Read Across America, including links to more, in the Feb. 2001 edition
of the Teachers.Net Gazette: http://teachers.net/gazette/FEB01/raa.html
jpteacher1 - The
State of Michigan Dept. of Ed. picks up the total cost. This is one project
that our Gov. has done correctly.
Kathleen -
jpteacher
Sue - Well the recipes
are so cute and funny. It is a treat to watch the parents trying to get
each child to sign their recipes. They send them to school the next day
for any child they missed to sign.
Kathleen - Sue, could
you copy and bind the recipes and list the book titles to share with other
schools, perhaps as a fundraiser among families? Sounds so special...
jfr/ret - I was involved
in a Reading 2000 grant last year and we held several read-ins and family
reading nights. It was pretty successful, but no grant this year. 
JP - JPTeacher -
the Gov's pal
Kathleen - jfr/ret,
could you approach a civic group for the funding?
Sue - Off the top
of my head....Chicken Sunday...Tunafish Sandwhich, If You Give Moose A
Muffin..
Kathleen - Sue, I
see a little book in that project!
Kathleen - Kids could
illustrate the cookbook.
jpteacher1 - LOL.
I was with him today JP
jfr/ret - That is
the plan. But, I'm retired and the principal has to get it started.
Kathleen - Sign up
for the Teachers.Net RAA mailring at http://teachers.net/mailrings.
JP - Found another
kewl Dr Seuss Web Site http://www.afn.org/~afn15301/drseuss.html
jpteacher1 - I want
to thank JP for inviting me here. I need to go but I will return next week.
Thank you all.
JP - RETIRED ? Call
the principal. You're now a taxpayer - LOL
Sue - Kathleen neat
fund raiser idea will have to think about that
jfr/ret - Keep up
the good work! You all are so much help. I think TNet is just super. Wish
I had known about it when I was teaching! Bye.
Kathleen - This family
literacy night transcript has ideas that could be used for RAA http://teachers.net/archive/ec112399.html
JS - Great idea,
Sue. I can see where it would really get the families involved.
Kathleen - thank
YOU jpteacher!
JP - Kathleen - this
was fun - like the old days of the NEA chat room (but more professional
of course) and UConn beat Boston 82 to 71 too
Sue - The BookLuck
Supper ends a unit on nutrition and kicks off our week of fun with Dr.
Seuss
Kathleen - For RAA
supplies: RAA merchandise http://www.nea.org/readacross/catalog.html
Kathleen - they won??
bill thought surely they'd lose tonight
JP - WON
Kathleen - Sue, you
should write that project up and submit it here and to NEA
Sue - I have submitted
it to NEA
Kathleen - JP, come
around more often. I think many were busy with report cards tonight. And
there's the general chatroom
Kathleen - Well,
please carry my greetings to Rick 
Kathleen - The National
Education Association offers a compilation of links to reading research,
news, contests and activities on their Read Across and Reading Matters
sites at http://www.nea.org/readacross/
and http://www.nea.org/readingmatters .
Fran - Hello! I just
happened upon your discussion...I teach in a 7/8 school in SC...We're looking
for ideas for RAA. I think I'll check out your sites. Thanks!
Kathleen - got it
JP, will do, thanks for everything
Kathleen - Teachers.Net
offers a Read Across America chatboard at http://www.teachers.net/mentors/raa/
.
Kathleen - Fran,
and join the mailring http://teachers.net/mailrings
where RAA is under "Project Center"
JP - Fran - be sure
to look at http://www.cea.org/Reading/index.html
Kathleen - Thank
you to all who participated and read along during our Read Across America
chat tonight.
JP - That's our own
Connecticut Ed Assoc RRA area
Sue - Have to go.
It has been fun. Will be back another week.
Kathleen - Between
the Lions, the new PBS show for kids http://www.pbskids.org/lions
has received a Parents' Choice Award as the best tv show for kids ages
4-7.
JP - Thanks again,
Kathleen - this was GREAT
Kathleen - Sue, I
look forward to seeing you!
Kathleen - Meetings
schedule: http://teachers.net/chat/meetings.html
Kathleen - Thanks
for the assist, JP!
JP - night now
Kathleen - Goodnight,
all. Check in on the Teachers.Net and NEA sites for more RAA info!
Kathleen - NEA http://www.nea.org/readacross/
Kathleen - Teachers.Net
Read Across America chatboard at http://www.teachers.net/mentors/raa/
Kathleen - Any post
on the Teachers.Net Read Across America Chatboard http://www.teachers.net/mentors/raa/
from February 13 through 4pmE March 2 offering an activity for Read Across
America Day will enter the contributor in a drawing for a copy of Oh, the
Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. One entry per person. The name of the winner
will be posted in RAA mailring. The winner must respond to me by e-mail
with mailing address within 3 days in order to claim the prize. If not
claimed within 3 days, another name will be drawn.
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