Pete's a Pizza Story Time

My oldest son is hosting another story time for his youngest brother.
(He is a Boy Scout working on his READING Merit Badge.)

These are the books I've pulled from our library and our local library for this story time.

I was trying to find- easy to read aloud stories for my 14 year old.

( I don't want HIM to get bogged down with alot of written words, while reading aloud. He has a low attention span too.)

I figured if I pull a selection of books- he can look them over and pick the ones he wants to read. These all have the under lying theme of feelings (specifically anger or disappointment) and how different people (animals) deal with those feelings.

This is a silly and fun book. (easy to read aloud) about a boy, Pete, who is grumpy that it is raining...and he can't play outside with friends. His dad decides to make him into a pizza.

(For our activity: each boy got to make his own mini pizza.)

Poor poor llama is grocery shopping with his mama- but he is done. When he throws a tantrum in the shopping card, patient mama helps him cool down. (I am sure none of our little guys can relate to this! LOL)

Our boys love dinosaurs- and this one is about a mine-o-saur. Who never shares his toys. But when he realizes... all he really wants are friends, he's willing to share.

There are so many benefits to having my oldest son be the reader at Story Time. (Besides building his own reading and reading aloud skills.) He's building a bond with his younger brother.

He's a positive role model for these little guys and helping them enjoy books.

And building self esteem in his younger brother.

Can't you just see- he feels like a million bucks that his cool BIG brother wants to do "book club" with him~!

Trip down MEMORY lane

Here is my oldest son and one of his best friends.
This was taken at a church camp out-- where they FIRST MET!

(We had just moved to Hawaii and they were turning 8.)

This friend has been in the book club from the get-go.

Both VERY reluctant readers.

Oh- the struggles and rounds we use to fight- to get our nightly reading done...
I am so glad those days are over....

I had started a book club on the main land- when my oldest was just in first grade. It was fun and seemed to be a step in the right direction.... and then we moved.

I wondered if I would be able to reconstruct a book club- when we didn't know a soul in Hawaii. How would I find boys to be in it?

Would parents trust their sons to come over to our house- without really knowing us?

Starting a Book Club was actually a great way to meet the boys in the community.

(at the time - we didn't live in a neighborhood.

We lived across from the beach- on a very busy road.

I know- I will get no sympathy on that part of the story. :0)

So the boys- had ample of time in the ocean-

but not many opportunities to meet and mingle with kids next door.)

So I made invitations and bought the copies of our first book.

My son and I drove around- delivering the books to boys from school and church.

The parents were very willing to send their boys to my house

for a few hours on a Friday night. The boys were less excited

when they found out it was for a BOOK CLUB....

The trap was set.

I knew I had to make our first book club- extra fun and appealing.

Even my son (who had been in a book club) was skeptical.

(a little nervous about making new friends.)

It was a simple Pizza Party

I think I had a super soaker- and I asked the kids questions...

they got blasted if they answered wrong...

We played a chase game- I had modified from the story.

The kids had a blast and when parents came to pick them up-

they eagerly asked...

"We get to do this again next month?.... COOL!"

My son now is a regular reader.

I do have to supply the macho- appealing books.

He moans and groans if it is required reading for English.

But he can read, and does read for enjoyment.

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED!

This next phase is fun.

He is a Boy Scout and is working on his Reading Merit Badge.

Thanks for walking down memory lane with me-

A few Shout Outs!

Congratulations to ....
Literacy tool box- she won a free copy of The Chocolate Touch for her book club! {Click HERE to see our free Chocolate Touch book club outline.}

{click on HERE} to read her ideas about starting a Father/Son Book club!
There are so many benefits to adding fathers to a boys book club.
Boys will thrive as they pair up with strong reading role models, be it a father, big brother, Uncle, or Grandfather.

My oldest is a teenager now- and I have noticed our relationship changing.
Where once I was the center of his universe/ his confidant/ his comforter... now he waits until dad comes home from work to relate the events of the day. To talk things over with his dad. I'll admit- growing up as a boy... is different than growing up as a girl.

(For example - Did you know getting your pants pulled down at recess is a common prank boys do to each other? A few years ago my boys asked (at the dinner table) to switch from tighty-whitey underwear... to boxers because it happens less if you wear boxers. I was mortified when I heard this goes on! I was ready to storm the school office and demand this be put to a stop. But my husband shrugged his shoulders and said in a ho-hum manner, "It happens... just buy boxers". I was traumatized for the next week... at the thought... what if I had to go through out my day- worried someone would try to pull my pants down? It would be hard to focus on school work much less anything else.)

That was bit of a tangent- but just one small example of how growing up a girl is different than a boy.

GUYS READ. com is also a big promoter of male role models in reading and encouraging men to step up. There actually might be a GuysRead program in your area. You can check out his site to see.

Some guys might be hessitant to be a reading role model- maybe they are not the best reader themselves? I'll admit, it wasn't until I was a mom that I felt comfortable reading aloud. I remember thinking... "gee I am glad kids start as babies- and enjoy baby books first." It is a talent that I am still working on. (My kids get frustrated because I can only read a chapter or two - before my mouth gets dry and I have a sore throat.)

If you worry about that- then practice the book first.
We all read aloud better -when we are familiar with the story.
Read the picture book to yourself first... while your son is brushing his teeth... and getting pajamas on ... and then read it aloud together.

Talk about building memories your kids will treasure their lifetime!
My husband doesn't read stories at night- but he tells the kids stories from his childhood.
I think that is a great idea too. (And a different talent- Story telling).

Again--
Great job Literacy Tool Box for sharing the idea of a Father & Son book club!

If you have any reading tips and ideas please email me at Bookclub4boys(at)yahoo.com. I'll share them on the site!

Connect Kids- to literature

There are lots of ways to encourage reading and help kids connect to literature.
Some ways are simple.
-be an example of a reader- make sure your kids see you reading
-have ample of reading material around (picture books, novels, magazines, etc..)
-go to the library regularly
etc...

But today I wanted to share a slightly more complex attempt to help kids connect to books. (okay- a bit more complex- but so worth it!)

"A Play-in-a-Week" Theater
( we really don't have a name for it- we are working on it.)

This past week- our children were out of school for Fall Break. So the PTCO planned to produce a play.
(I serve as the Fine Arts Chair for this Parent Teacher Community organization.)


I selected the book: Voyage of the Dawn Treader as our story line.
(It's the next Narnia story that is coming out in theaters- in December.)

Almost all the children were familiar with the characters before we began.
Some of the children had already read the book.
Some children were inspired to read the book.
And some children were motivated to listened to the story on CD.



Two boys who have been in our book club for the last 3 years- (and who always struggle to read and finish the books) had MAIN PARTS in our play!



It was exciting to see kids connect- but especially these boys!
It was an amazing week- and astonishingly enough.

We only spent *2 hours each day on this production!

That's Right!

So before you think - this is the impossible project only highly productive people/ or PTCO's can accomplish... it wasn't.

Because the kids were involved in set designs and props and costumes....

the expectation of the final performance is pretty low...

Having said that- the two times we've done this Play-in-a -Week

the end performance has always blown everyone away!

Kids are creative & talented- with adult supervision to guide and channel that creative energy- the end product is amazing!

We are lucky to have a PTCO and Principal at our school who supports this type of project- and opens doors. (Literally- we needed keys and permission to use the facility while everyone was on break.) Also- we have parents who are willing to share their time and talents.

If you don't have that kind of support from you school, turn to your church youth program, or a civic center in your community. These types of organizations are always looking for great activities to bring the community together.

If this seems too much trouble-- you could modify this idea to a smaller scale project in your neighborhood.

Why not put on a backyard play?

Let kids gather props, create costumes and paint cardboard backdrops?

The more kids connect to books

the more likely they will want to read books.

And the more they want to read....

the more they will read...

and the more they read-the better reader they will become...

Laura

* 2 hours a day is what we asked the parent volunteers to commit to during their Fall Break.

The PTCO leaders spent more time on this project:

Writing the script,

holding auditions/casting (everyone who came- had a part in the play)

gathering the music

gathering supplies

set up and clean up each day

Parent Volunteers- showed up, worked in their area (costumes, sets, props, leading a set of children around, taught dances, practiced songs, etc...) and then went home. Some parents couldn't come every day... but as long as you have a handful everyday it works.

City of Ember

Carl is back with additional ideas about the book: City of Ember.
You can see his book club ideas HERE
You can see what our book club did when we read this book: HERE

I love how Carl always seems to pull in "guest presenters" to demonstrate something relating to the book.

This time he invited a friend who demonstrated the generating of electricity- something so vital to the City of Ember.



Once again-
great job Carl!

If you would like to share your book club ideas- please send me an email : Bookclub4boys(AT)Yahoo(dot)com

(If you have a blog- highlighting your book club ideas - please send me a link to that exact post as well...)

I love sharing your ideas!