is for Aesthetic Reading

Aesthetic Reading is to participate in an experience. It focuses on the readers feelings and emotions while reading. 

is for Building Knowledge

A lot of children's books focus on simple concepts. Students will build knowledge on these concepts as they get older and learn more specific topics in school. Books provide students with exposure to certain topics that can be extended upon in the classroom.

is for Characters 

Throughout all of my sessions with different buddies, one of the main things that grabbed the attention of my buddy was the characters. My buddy and I spent a lot of time talking about the characters and what they were doing. It was a great way to engage the younger students in conversations. Also, with my older students, they enjoyed reading in different voices for different characters, which made our meetings a lot more 

is for Diversity

Including a diversity of literature in your curriculum is very important. Students are able to learn the difference in genres at a young age if they are exposed to it. Students can be exposed to stories they've never been exposed to before. Also, including diversity in literature is a way to show students different religions and cultures. Students should be able to see themselves in the literature, no matter who they are or what kind of culture they have. 

is for Engaging

While reading to our buddies, it is important we chose books that will engage our student. Some benefits of engaged reading include faster reading, vocabulary, comprehension, and increased knowledge. Throughout my meetings, the most important thing I focused on was making sure my student was engaged throughout all the books. 

is for Fiction

I found that the majority of the books my students were very engaged in were fiction books. Fiction books are literature created from the imagination, it is not real. There are also books called Realistic fiction, which are made-up stories and characters that take place in the real world. I believe books are very engaging for students because it allows them to be creative within their own imagination.

is for Genre

There are a variety of genres we have looked at so far. Including different genres is a way to allow students to explore their interests and discover what books they enjoy. There are different purposes for each genre and can be implemented for a variety of instruction. 

is for Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is set in real-time with real people. One of the main types of historical fiction is biographies.  Biographies can be used to tell stories about people in history who have important stories and impactful experiences to share. Historical fiction also allows for important historical events to be taught to students in the present day. 

is for Illustrations

The illustrations in our books were always the favorite part of my students. When working with younger students, they spent majority of the time looking at the illustrations over the text.  Illustrations add color, detail, and extra information to the story. Some elements for illustration include line, color, shape, texture, and composition.

is for Juana & Lucas

Juana & Lucas was a novel we read during the semester. It was a realistic fiction book based in Columbia, Bogota. Juana & Lucas told the story of a young boy navigating learning English. It was a good example of how realistic fiction can be used to tell stories and adventures that can be relatable to students.

is for Knowledge

Building on knowledge is something we constantly are doing. Providing students with opportunities to build on their prior knowledge with help them become efficient problem solvers and give them the skills they need.

is for Learning 

Throughout the semester, every week I was learning more about myself, my children, and the importance of reading. I learned the many ways different genres can be used in the classroom, and when to use them appropriately. I also learned a lot of things about children. I learned the kinds of books that would interest them and how to make every meeting exciting. Lastly, I learned how to select books with a purpose. Choosing books takes time and must not be selected randomly or based on the cover.

is for Multicultural Literature

Exposing young children to multicultural books is a great way to get children open to the diversity around us. Multicultural literature could include race, religious groups, physical challenges, diverse cultures and nationalities. 

is for Non-Fiction

Non-fiction books are classified as biography and informational books. Integrating good non-fiction into my meetings was difficult because there are not a lot of books that would be familiar or relevant to a lot of younger students. We mainly looked at non-fiction books about animals. All of my students were interested in learning about fish, frogs, and other science topics that would be classified under non-fiction.

is for Optimism

 When showing up to meet with my buddy everyday, I always made sure to walk in with a positive attitude. It is important to have a good attitude so your buddy is able to have a good experience. Creating an optimistic, joyful environment is a great way to form a good relationship with your buddy and have the attitude to be successful. 

is for Parents

When dealing with book choices for the classroom, it is important for parents to be aware of the books in your classroom. When dealing with banned or restricted books, parents still have the right to decide what books they will allow their children to read.  Banned books are books that are removed from a library b or curriculum. Restricted books are books that are either kepy on a special shelf or a notation is entered into the library's system.