I don’t know about you but whoever coined the phrase “the dog days of summer” must have been living in another time. Starring ahead is the “Back to School” hoopla. Too many things to do, so little time! I will share my working list to make sure I cover my bases in getting the kids set for a new school year. Read the rest of this entry »
I am a third grade reading specialist with nine years of experience in elementary education. I was driving my regular commute to school one morning recently when I found myself behind a four door sedan with a personalized license plate that stated Why Read?.
In my current position, I spend a lot of time telling my students to read for twenty minutes every day, no matter what. I work with struggling readers and teach them strategies and activities that lead them to become independent readers. I also present workshops for parents and teachers sharing a number of methods and ideas to motivate our children to enjoy reading and how to become lifelong readers. The simple license plate message actually made me rethink my job objectives; it made me see that I cannot just tell people to read, but to truly explain exactly why we should read. Read the rest of this entry »
Spring is a time of renewal, a breath of fresh air. A time for “spring cleaning”, the kids get off on “spring break”, winter is over and the outdoors beckons.
Along with spring come the allergies from the high pollen load in the environment from all the blooming flowers. Yes stock up on Kleenex and maybe Claritin. In banish cabin fever with rhyming books, you were introduced to kid’s books that light up the house, since we are now in spring, here is an introduction to Spring books for kids
These books deal with the outdoors mostly. Teaching kids a sense of appreciation for the environment and the seasons. Some of these kids’ books also talk about the lifestyle of animals that hibernate in the winter but come out to play so to speak in the warmer weather. Read the rest of this entry »
In recent years I have come across headlines like “picture books are dead”. One of such article published in the New York Times. Like Mark Twain retorted regarding rumors of his death while he was still alive, reports of the dead of picture books are greatly exaggerated.
Picture books are alive and well. Eight of the ten children’s books that made the Bestselling Children’s Books of 2011 on SlimyBookworm.com were picture books. Read the rest of this entry »
Ezra Jack Keats started out his career as a comic book illustrator. While at high school, he had won many awards for his artistic talent. He particularly loved making collage which distinguished his work.
He found the picture of an African American boy in a Life magazine in 1940 so compelling that he kept this clip for 20 years. The picture was actually a series of pictures of a young child in rural Georgia who was selected to receive an experimental vaccine. The different clips showed the trajectory of this boy’s excitement to be chosen through getting the vaccine and experiencing the pain and the resultant change in his composure afterwards.
At the time, Ezra did not know why he kept this picture pinned to the board of his studio.
The list is out! The most literate cities in the US, that is. This insightful research was conducted by Central Connecticut State University. This research is valid as a lot of the cities I expected to be in the first 10 were listed with a few surprises.
So here are the 10 most literate cities in the United States for the year 2011: Read the rest of this entry »
There is an old saying that “reading is fundamental”. And it certainly is, because reading is one of the basic means of communication, something that we are all hardwired with from the time we are born. Read the rest of this entry »
“If music be the food of love, play on” said William Shakespeare. The sensory experience of music is cardinal in early child development. Exposing a child to music is particularly important before they become verbal. It is always a delight watching my toddler who only speaks “baby language” light up to music. Depending on the tempo of the music, he would either sway from side to side or even break into a dance. You can’t teach kids these things, you just exposure them to music and let them be themselves.
Here are 6 good reasons to consciously exposure your child to music. Read the rest of this entry »
School is now in session and we are officially in the fall season. The video clip below showcases our children’s book selection for fall. Kid’s book on themes like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Bully Prevention.
All the featured titles are available on SlimyBookworm.com
The school year is in full swing. Minivans and SUVs across the country are packed with kids being driven from one after school activity to another. A friend of mine is out five nights a week! Her kids are into baseball, karate, swimming, band lessons you name it. No doubt the reason for her daily headaches.
If being harassed, over-scheduled and over-committed is your thing, by all means keep it up.
Read the rest of this entry »
Hello and thanks for visiting. You can say I am all kinds of things to various people.
To my husband, I am his wife and confidant.
To my kids, I am mom and chauffeur.
To friends, I am a buddy, a mompreneur, a book lover, a literacy advocate and much more .
To my patients, I am their doctor and health coach.
Conversations with Slimy Bookworm is a fusion of all of the above.
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Bola Ajumobi
SlimyBookworm.com is an online children’s bookstore with the feel of your neighborhood bookstore. “The Destination for Books Kids Love!”
