As Read-In Week 2012 wraps up, I was delighted to have visited my daughter’s elementary school as a guest reader. It was something I did last year when she was in Kindergarten, and I wanted to do it again, this time with her Grade One class. As it turned out, the school wanted me to read to a couple of other classes as well. Soon one class turned into five classes and, long story short, I was in for an extended storytime. Just as well, as I was having the hardest time trying to narrow down my selections. Working in the Children’s Library has its advantages. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to read to each class, but I knew that it wouldn’t be until I got started that I would know for sure which books I would pull from the sack. I was a little worried going in, but I had my coffee, I had a sack full of books, and I was ready to have some fun! Here, then, is what turned out to be my “set list” for Read-In Week.
Special Needs Class (Grades One, Two, and Three)
Opening rhyme: “One Is a Giant”
One is a giant who stomps his feet,
Two is a fairy, nice and sweet,
Three is a mouse who crouches small,
Four is a great big bouncing ball,
Five is a king who wears a crown,
Six are the children who all sit down
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Mortimer by Robert Munsch
Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash
Grade One (part one)
Opening rhyme: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!”
Zoom, zoom, zoom!
We’re going to the moon!
Zoom, zoom, zoom!
We’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom!
We’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Blast Off!
13 Words by Lemony Snicket
Flight of the Dodo by Peter Brown
Grade Two (part one)
Opening rhyme: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Nothing by Jon Agee
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas
Grade Two (part two)
Opening rhyme, “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!”
Beware of the Frog by William Bee
Nothing by Jon Agee
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Grade One (part two)
Opening rhyme: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!”
More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt
Flight of the Dodo by Peter Brown
Where the Wild Things Are (recited) by Maurice Sendak
By the end I was spent, but I was so glad I went. It was fun to read to the students, and they did a great job interacting with the stories. One of the highlights of my visit was having my daughter help me read 13 Words. I read the story while she was responsible for the thirteen feature words. I was so proud to have my daughter stand beside me in front of her Grade One class reading words like despondent, haberdashery, and mezzo-soprano.
I wish to thank the students and staff of Lorelei Elementary School for inviting me and making me feel so welcomed. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning and I hope I can come again.
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