Read to Me Project
Coaching Sessions for Students
Video 1: How to Spark Brain Power
Overview: Introduces students to early brain development in an easy to understand way while addressing the importance of reading to spark brain power and lay the foundation for school success. (Time: 5:04 minutes)
Questions for Students: How old are you when you begin to learn? (answers: When you are born); What are the 5 ways information gets into our brains? (answer: 5 senses – seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling); What is the first thing you build for a house? (answer: foundation); What do you need to know before you start kindergarten? (answers include: colors, numbers, shapes, letters, words, talking, communication, language); What will make school or getting a job or into college easier? (answer: reading); How can you fill your brains with knowledge (answer: reading)
Vocabulary: Foundation, Language
Video 2: How to Spark Interest
Overview: Teaches the importance of using facial expressions, gestures, and an interesting voice as you read out-loud to make the story interesting and to spark brain power. After a brief lesson, the book, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” (words and pictures by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books) is read to demonstrate the tools discussed. (Time: 7:31 minutes)
Questions for Students: What are the three tools in the Read to Me Project storytelling toolbox that help make reading interesting? (answer: facial expressions, gestures, interesting voice.); How can we use our voices? (answer: To communicate feelings, for different characters, for sound effects).
New Vocabulary: Facial Expression; Gestures; Pigeon
Video 3: How to Spark Vocabulary Expansion (New Words)
Overview: This video covers the expanding vocabulary through reading by the use of pointing at and talking about the pictures as you read out-loud. The use of these tools allows for deeper language development for both the reader and the listener. The lesson is then modeled in a reading of “Chin up, Chinchilla” by Beth Stafford. (Time: 7:41 minutes)
Questions for Students: How can you help others learn new words when reading a book? (answer: by pointing and talking about the pictures as you read); what is a pygmy marmoset (answer: it is a type of monkey);
New Vocabulary: Chinchilla; Bistro; Glum; Vocabulary; Expansion
Video 4: How to Spark Curiosity
Overview: This video covers the use of “I wonder” statements as you read, instead of asking direct questions about the story, the students are taught to “wonder” about the story to spark curiosity in themselves and the listeners. The lesson is modeled in a reading of “My Pet Human” by Yasmine Suravec. (Time: 10:10 minutes)
Questions for Students: I wonder how we can build our brain muscles? (possible answers: curiosity makes your brain muscle strong, your brain lights up, you are learning new things, coming up with new ideas); instead of asking a question, what should we do as we read to encourage curiosity? (answer: use “I wonder” statements)
Vocabulary: Curiosity; Aloof; Twirling; Cozy
Video 5: How to Spark Excitement
Overview: This video covers the need to find a quiet place to read together and to cuddle up. It teaches the importance of learning and sharing knowledge together and that by using all the tools covered so far, reading can be fun! Students are also encouraged to continue reading through the summer. The lesson is modeled in a reading of “Interrupting Chicken” by David Ezra Stein. (Time: 8:29 minutes)
Questions for Students: What are the last two important tools? (Answer: Finding a quiet place to read and cuddling up/getting close); Do you remember any of the other tools from the other videos? (Answer: facial expressions, gestures, interesting voice, pointing at pictures, talking about pictures, and “I wonder” statements)
New Vocabulary: Interrupting; Acorn
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