Getting Kids Pumped-Up to Read

GETTING KIDS PUMPED-UP TO READ

As a children’s book author, I’m always thinking of ways to get children interested in reading, so whenever I happen upon great ideas from others, I am thrilled. 

My own plan is to offer Reading Contests and perhaps a Book Scavenger Hunt during the upcoming months.  Hopefully, children will have fun with these two activities, so stay tuned for what’s to come. I’ll be sure to keep you posted, and hopefully your children engaged.

To me, reading makes the world go round-and-round as it connects us to every other subject matter there is such as English, Biology, Social Studies, and yes, even Math, to name a select few.  I  believe reading is at the core of everything that we do.

There are times however, that some children are just not exposed to reading, and they are not to blame, so when people become clever finding ways to help children connect to books, it makes my heart sing.

'LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES'

I recall my daughter coming home from school one afternoon sharing with me a Reading passage that caught her attention from her state mandated STAAR exam, titled: Little Free Libraries, but it wasn’t until recently (last week in fact), when we were traveling through a street in a Houston Heights neighborhood, that she excitedly pointed at this beautifully adorn-mainly bright yellow-colored wooden fixture that was mounted on a wooden post just in front of a home sitting on a corner lot. My kid was driving that day, so at my request she turned the car around, so that I could marvel at the fixture with her, as she continued to share and remind me of the passage she'd read.

I asked my daughter what she thought about me adding a couple of my children's books to the ones already in the library box (I'm so happy I keep extras in my trunk), and she consented it would probably be okay, so she  popped open the trunk, and I pulled out six of my books (2 sets of 3) adding them to the wonderful collection of books already neatly stacked inside.

It made my day complete donating to the Little Free Library located in the Houston Heights.  I'm not sure how often the children come to this box, but I hope they'll notice 3 new books, and enjoy reading them. Perhaps I'll hear from one or two of them one day.

I plan on revisiting that site adding more of my books each time I have one published, and I hope to share this exciting new venture with my daughter who took these photos for me. I want to make this an expressed goal of mine. Isn’t the little library beautiful? And, what a wonderful idea!

PARENTS TAKING CHARGE

Parents can give children the gift of reading making it magical -- and here’s how: 

·         Children must see parents interested in reading 

·         Parents should read to their children often

·         Parents can share Reading time with their children 

         * read every other page, or

         * every other chapter, or

         * every other paragraph

·         Parents can role-model reading with enthusiasm

·         Parents can read using inflection in their voices

·         Parents can ask questions about paragraphs, or main points of the story

·         Parents can create (build) home libraries

·         And yes, even creative ideas such as the Little Free Libraries

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Hey, does anyone remember mobile libraries? I do! But, again that was the days of old, and yes, I’m ‘dating’ myself back to ‘the good 'ole' days.’  





Learn more about 'Little Free Libraries' and how it all got started at: 
http://wuwm.com/post/take-book-return-book-growth-little-free-library#stream/0

Back To School

MY LOVE - YOUR LOVE

Take a good look at this face -- My daughter, a happy-go-lucky teenager, who is still growing and making sense of her world. Just replace this photo with that of your own child or grandchild. We have such high hopes for their happiness, don't we?

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

This 2017-2018 school year, my kid will be in 10^th grade. I'm not at all sure where the time has gone, but it certainly has flown by. Like your children, she has so many expectations, and she's counting on so many people to help her 'get it all right'.  As you read these words, I know you’re thinking about your own children/grandchildren while sharing similar hopes regarding their new school year. Together, we can pray for the best school-year ever. We have lots to look forward to, and be grateful for, and I know you'll agree with me.

Like so many parents, I pray to God that my child’s journey, along with so many others with their very own high hopes, will be rewarding as they progress academically, behaviorally, and socially. As I take a look at my child's schedule, I know it will be very taxing, but all worth it.

Our children will learn things that neither of us ever thought possible, some good and some bad – just a part of learning and growing. Our children will discover, make new friends, learn to make adjustments, continue to realize that not all students/teachers are alike, and so much more.

JOB OF PARENTS

As parents, our job is to ensure our children have the tools needed to “jump start” their school year. This entails plenty of good rest each night, nutritious breakfasts, proper school supplies, lots of love and academic/behavioral support. Remember, we must also support great teachers and staff, be ready and willing to show up at school functions from time-to-time, monitor our kids' activities (especially social media), and more. We must also have talks with our children about their goals (short and long), and their role in taking charge of their world.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS/ADMINISTRATORS

Firstly, I can only hope school officials have done their part in searching for, and choosing great teachers for our classroom settings. I mean, teachers who really LOVE teaching and positively interacting with children. Make no mistake about it, I'm talking about teachers who are:

• highly qualified to teach assigned subject matter(s), and really TEACH
• efficacious (believe all students can and will learn)
• caring and compassionate
• nurturing (when needed)
• organized/timely
• skilled in Social-Emotional Learning techniques
• eager to continue staff development training learning new trends in education

WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU, TEACHERS

Thank you for teaching our children. We really appreciate your hard work and the time you've put into preparing your lessons for our children. Many of you are SO wonderful, and so many of us parents and grandparents alike, TRULY honor you, so what I'm about to say below does not pertain to the many great teachers who already do what I've listed above. I'm not talking about YOU.

For those of you who don't really like children, and you know full well who you are. Please find something else to do that you really love. Please stop hurting our children!

By the way, we realize our children should be able to do some things on their own. We get it. I too believe in functional developmental stages, but please do not forget they are still our children. They are not adults, and we are their mouth pieces, their voices, their advocates whenever they need us.

Teachers - We want to support you as you support our children, but please do not bully, demean, scream at, or ridicule our children in front of their peers. And by all means, please do not become angry whenever parents ask you simple questions, and begin to immaturely sulk by 'pencil whipping them.' Did your teachers do this to you? If so, did you like it? How did it make you feel?

STUDENTS YOU HAVE A ROLE, TOO

Children, it is your responsibility to take charge of your own activities. You can do it! Listen to your parents! Parents are actually wiser than you think. Why? Because we've been where you are.

Respect your teachers, administrators, friends/peers, and most of all yourselves. You must follow school and classroom rules, and you must follow the laws of our great land. You've been taught to have pride and to carry your family name well. Do That!

Show your parents and teachers that you're mature enough to take charge of your own busy schedules, homework, and balanced nutrition. You can do this! If you need help, ask questions. And, don't let things that bother you pile up in your minds/hearts. Seek help. Speak up.

THEIR SAFETY

Finally, but not at all suggested as being least important, we need our children to enter and dwell in safe and secure schools -- free from bullying acts. All children should feel comfortable attending school environments without compromise. Each of us hope for this. 
If by chance parents/teachers you need a supportive tool to help combat bullying, please see my resource guide, A Bully Blueprint Solutions for Kids. It is full of helpful tools that you can use.

Let us make it a great school year parents and teachers. We are the adults charged with massaging, nurturing and shaping the children of our future. 

Let us ALL make it a good one!

Welcome to My Blog -- I'm Back!

I’m back fans! And, I’m happy to be here.

I first want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to peruse my website.  With you in mind, I often get all giddy inside thinking about materials, books and parent/educator resources I can create for you.

In regards to my platform topics, Bullying and Diversity (along with topics spun from these), my goal is to help serve families everywhere supplying you with news, statistics and updates you can use.

Sometimes, I may get off topic just a bit just to share what’s going on my world, such as taking a 15 year old to Driver Education classes this summer. 

For the last few months, and since my retirement from public school education in May, 2016 I’ve begun a new journey. My purpose was to write as many children’s books as I could in one year, exercise like crazy, eat healthier foods, spoil my family, spend as much time with my mom, sisters, brother and theirs, plus add to my Spanish vocabulary. While I’ve done a few of these things, there’s always more work to be done, and more time I can spend with the loves in my life.

I’m still working part-time as an Adjunct Professor for Concordia University. I teach adult learners (mainly teachers working toward their Master Degree) who are aspiring to become your child’s future administrators. As I do this, my intent is to guide, shape and mold these learners into leaders you can trust and depend on in our classroom settings.

Overall, I love what I do fans. I want to continue serving you and your families for years to come.


 By now, I hope you’ve grabbed and downloaded your free book, “The Bully Band Parents in Rhythm.” While I hope your child will never have to encounter a bully at school, if they do, you are now equipped with a resource guide helping you with your documentation and approach.

Click this link to get a FREE copy http://bit.ly/2unK1DQ

I want you to know there will be free resources for you from time to time, so I hope you’ll come back and visit with me as often as you can.

Blessings!

Dr. Cherrye