First Graders Talk About Dolphins. Sort of.

Me: I'm so excited. I love dolphins!

Ana: Me, too!

Jazzie: I can fight my brother like a ninja. [Pause.] I never fall down. [Pause.] Because I'm like a ninja.

**********

And so began a Tuesday morning with two of my first-grade reading buddies at a city school. They read. I listen. Occasionally we veer off topic. 

Today's selection, for which we'd made a special trip downstairs to the school library, was Dolphins, by Leighton Taylor. The girls wanted a book about dolphins. I am often surprised, although at this point I shouldn't be, at how well first-graders read a book they're interested in, one that might be above their level.

Jazzie and Ana told me that they have to keep library books in their desks. The books must stay at school. I don't think the practice is uncommon.

Jazzie read Dolphins aloud. She needed a word or two pointed out, something a parent could do easily. Jazzie was acing it, sounding out words and reading captions.

Dolphins is part of Lerner's Early Bird Nature Books series. The publisher says that the reading level is third grade. Jazzie is in first.

Ninjas should be able to take books home from the school library.

Comments

[adrienne]

That is so true, especially since schools are the only regular library access many children have.

I love the dolphin/ninja conversation, though. :)

[Lynne]

"I am often surprised, although at this point I shouldn't be, at how well first-graders read a book they're interested in, one that might be above their level."
Hear hear!!
Get me my soapbox. You have just nailed the reason that I abhor the leveled-reading book rooms in our elementary schools.

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

Adrienne, these little conversations are the best. I feel so honored that the children tell me what's on their minds.

Tell it, Miss Lynne! You can stand on the soapbox any time! I'm telling you I've seen kids stumble through phonics readers (Sam and Sid sang a song) then, in another book, go on to read words like blowhole, streamlined, shark, whale. And balene. Balene, for heaven's sake!

[Jules]

Oh yes, they should! I think my kindergartener has gotten a "shush"y librarian, too, unfortunately. On her first day at the library, I was eager to hear fun things they did, and she said they sang songs about being quiet. Yeesh.

Love the ninjas.

[Elaine Magliaro]

"I am often surprised, although at this point I shouldn't be, at how well first-graders read a book they're interested in, one that might be above their level."

I couldn't agree more about kids being able to read books about subjects they're interested in.

When I was a school librarian, kids were always requesting nonfiction books about whales, sharks, snakes, and pets--especially cats and dogs.

Ninjas--and other children--should be able to take their school library books home.

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

Jules, songs about being quiet? Ew. Luckily, given your family's love of books, I bet your daughter is the best-read kindergartner at her school!

Elaine, yes, those subjects are very popular in both elementary schools where I spend a little volunteer time. One of the schools lets kids in every grade take home books from the library, and the other (less funded, bigger issues to deal with) does not. I feel strongly that taking home books would only help the children with those dratted test scores, etc. Sure, people move and forget to return stuff, but really.