Growing Book by Book

http://www.growingbookbybook.com

Growing Book by Book is dedicated to helping caregivers nurture our youngest readers. The site is full of wonderful literacy tips and book lists.

Jodie is a winner of Top 25 Teacher Moms - 2012

How long have you been a teacher?

I have been in education for 17 years. I taught first, second and third grades for eight years. I then became a reading specialist and took on a role as a literacy coach. After finishing my National Board Certification, I became an administrator. I currently stay home with my two young sons, work on my blog, and do educational consulting.

What are three of your favorite books for children? (Please share what age they are best for.)

It's hard to narrow it down to three! For the under 2 crowd, I really enjoy The Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle. My two young sons love it and it's so fun to read. It also has a great message about helping others. For ages 5 and up, I love anything by Patricia Polacco. One of my favorites is Thunder Cake. It even has a recipe for making a tomato cake at the end. And, for the 10 and up crowd, The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden is one of my childhood favorites. The great thing about my blog is that I get to talk about all of my favorite books for children.

What can parents do to help when their child doesn't like school?

First, try to determine why your child doesn't like school. Is someone teasing him? Is the work too hard? Is the work not hard enough? Finding the source of the problem is key. You can do this my talking to your child and your child's teacher. You can even observe him in the classroom. From there, you can make necessary adjustments.

It's also important to talk up school. Create fun rituals such as packing special lunches with inspiring notes inside. Or, buy a special dialogue journal that your child can write their feelings in and then you can respond each night.

Also, make sure your child is getting enough rest at night. Elementary students need at least 10 hrs. of sleep each night. If they aren't getting enough, this can impact their attitude and success at school. Unplug the electronics for at least an hour before bedtime.

What's your best budget tip for shopping for back-to-school necessities like school supplies, backpacks, uniforms, labels and lunchboxes? Include a link to a photo if you have one!

Jodie Rodriguez

My best advice is to buy extra supplies when they are on sale in the summer. When January rolls around, your child will probably need more crayons and pencils. You can save a lot of money by buying them now and storing them for later.
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How do you store your child's toys? Please include a link to a photo if you have one.

Jodie Rodriguez

I think shelves with backs work the best. Shelves can be labeled with words and/or pictures so that the child knows where to put things back. I've found the baskets just become a dump all and pieces get lost.
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