Sunday, January 17, 2016

Thankful Sunday--January 17, 2016


These are the books Kimmy and I read yesterday.


I am thankful for the library.

Kimmy, a special needs teenager who lives next door, visits me most days so we can read together. She loves the actual process of reading out loud more than listening to a story, so that has evolved into she reads a page and then I read a page. While her reading has improved, she has not progressed beyond the beginning reading stage and that limits our choice of books.  

Kimmy has a very good memory and remembers most of the books we have read. She doesn't like to repeat a book, so that limits our choices further. That is where the library comes in. While we have read hundreds of books together from there, there are still hundreds (thousands?) to go. And for that I am thankful.


14 comments:

  1. That's great you read with her. Bet it means the world to her.

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    1. I"m not even sure how the whole thing started. She just came to visit one day after barely being out of the house for years. And now she's a regular visitor.

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  2. There is no greater gift you could give her than your time

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    1. I know that one on one time is important. I'm not sure that she gets much of that.

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  3. Reading is such a fun activity to do with someone! What kinds of books does she like? Or do you get a variety?

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    1. She will read anything I have for her. However, she likes best things that relate to something she sees on TV. I try to get a variety to expose her to more things and to keep it interesting for me. I'm sure you remember reading with your kids and some of the books you liked and some you didn't but read any way.

      I love reading with someone also. Ward and I do it together sometimes.

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    2. I do remember reading things I was less-than-thrilled to read. Usually over and over. Some favorites (that I also liked!) from the library were the Mr. Putter books by Cynthia Rylant as well as Burger Boy by Alan Durant. I was thinking they might be at a reading level she would enjoy.

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    3. I love the Mr. Putter and Tabby books. We have read all of them. I will pick up the Burger Boy tomorrow. We haven't read that.

      There's a subtle but important distinction between picture books (Burger Boy) and beginning reader books (Mr. Putter). While some picture books are simple to read, many are not. They are written to be read to someone. The beginning reader books are written with limited, easy words for someone just beginning to read. Many times the picture books are difficult for her to read, so I mainly stick to beginning reader books like Mr. Putter and Tabby.

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    4. I found the same to be true! Some picture books are at a more complex reading level than early chapter books. When my kids were younger, I would sometimes check out the AR reading level of certain books--but mostly we would grab what looked like fun reading. My focus with my kids was to teach them to love books and reading--I know there are some out there who don't care for reading, but it worked for me in getting my kids to be readers. They still think that going to the library and Barnes and Noble is a treat.

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    5. Books are a big part of our family also. Theo was a very active child, but loved books and would always sit still for a story. Consequently, he got read to a lot. It was the only way I got to rest.

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  4. Awwww... that's just a sweet story all around. :-)

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    1. It's kind of funny that after she rings the doorbell she hides and I have to go find her. She loves that also. I think it's fun, but I don't always have my shoes on and want to out, but she can wait a very long time for me to find her.

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  5. I'm glad Kimmy still visits you in the winter months. Shows how much she values her time with you. I would be lost without access to a library.

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    1. Today she has been over three times with the temperatures in the teens and the wind howling. I haven't been out yet. Too cold for me.

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What do you think?