Introduction
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Welcome to first grade! Aloha, my name is Kiana Yanuaria. This is my seventh year teaching first grade and I have a masters degree in elementary education. I'm excited to get to know you and your child as we all learn and grow. This summer, I was eager to get back to work and read a number of books to refine and deepen my teaching practice. I’m excited to implement my new learning around student conferences - meeting with children one-on-one to get to know them as readers, writers, and mathematicians, teach into individual strengths and needs, and support children to set and reflect on personal goals. Although this year isn't quite what we all expected, my hope is that we develop connection and create a joyful community of learners.
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It’s All About the Books
First things, first in first grade. Readers need great books. And lots of them! Although children are limited to books in the classroom, I am committed to supporting families access high-quality, high-interest books at home. Research demonstrates again and again that access to an abundant supply of books increases both motivation and reading achievement. Books are the key to children developing lifelong habits of learning, curiosity, and wonder.
By putting a book into the hands of a child, we can put hope directly into that child’s hands.
We can put love directly into that child’s hands and we can show them, look: you have the power to make this world better.
--MR. SCHU (JOHN SCHUMACHER)
We can put love directly into that child’s hands and we can show them, look: you have the power to make this world better.
--MR. SCHU (JOHN SCHUMACHER)
The Public Library
The best way to give children access to books they can and want to read, is by visiting the public library. The Hawaii Public Library is a wonderful free resource for families to enjoy. Currently, the library is not open to browse, however you can put books on hold and pick them up. Here's some tips and tricks I've learned:
- Download the App. The Hawaii Public Library App is a simple way to search books, place a hold, check the availability, receive due date notices, renew books and more!
- Book Recommendations-Ask a librarian, ask a teacher. Call or visit a librarian and your child can share a little about themselves. The librarian can recommend and put on hold age appropriate, popular books. I'm more than happy to use what I know about your child and children's literature to recommend good fit books too.
- Explore Book Lists I recommend using A collection of first grade books by Debbie Miller to place a hold on books. These are wonderful books children want to and can read.
- Unlimited Books! Did you know you can borrow an unlimited amount of books? I typically have anywhere from 50-100 library books in my classroom at any given time. (Note: you can put up to 30 books on hold at once.) I encourage you to build a little library of books at home!
- Returns and late fees Books can be rented for up to three weeks with an option to renew books for an additional three weeks. Because of the coronavirus situation, there are currently NO LATE FEES (although this could change). Lose a book? You can claim up to three books as returned and will not be assessed a fee.
- eBooks Physical books are best for young children, but another option is Bookflix, a free eBook resource on the Hawaii Public Library’s homepage.
Conversations around Books
Think about a great book you’ve read. Don’t you just want to talk about it? Share your ideas, how your thinking has changed, what you learned about yourself and the world? Children are the same. Talking about books is the best way to deepen children’s reading comprehension. See some tips below to guide your conversations around books. Think less about quiz-like question-and-answers. Instead, with curiosity and wonder, engage your child with questions and share your ideas too.
- Plot What happened in the book (beginning, middle, and end)? Where does the story take place (setting)? What’s the problem the character is dealing with?
- Character Get to know the characters like they’re your friends. How would you describe them? How did they change? What did they learn? Can you learn anything from the character’s experiences?
- Theme What was the big idea in the book? What is the lesson or message you can learn from this book?
- Main Idea What is the text (or chapter or book) mostly about? What’s the main idea?
- Key Details What are some interesting facts you learned? What are some important facts (details support the main idea)?