Sometimes a day just must be celebrated with lots of details. Today was that day. It was Camp Read at my school. All day, all literacy, all the time.
There was an author visit. We got to do yoga twice. Once outside. We had buddy reading for a second time this week. Lots of independent reading. Lots of reading aloud. I mean, really, could this get much better?
Our day began with the magical book Dream Boats written by Dan Bar-el and illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin. This is a beautiful book to read aloud. It is lyrical and full of gorgeous images.
After I read the story, Miriam led us through some yoga experiences where we got to ride on our own imagined dream boats. Who says you need a boat to go sailing? Or even water.
We then got to go and meet author Dan Bar-el and listen to his engaging presentation. One of my students got to introduce Dan and then she spent the entire presentation in awe of his hilarious voices and dramatic retellings of his books.
“How does he do those voices? Really – how does he make his voice do that?!”
Such a fun and entertaining author visit! The children talked about it all day!
After recess, we had a very special guest reader come to our classroom. Our school secretary Sally came in and read us the charming book Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.
It was so wonderful to share the story experience with an adult who is very dear to us but isn’t often in the classroom with us.
After reading some of our current class novel Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles, we headed outside to read Silence by Lemniscates.
A book like this must be followed by some mindful, quiet listening. And then some yoga.
Sun salutations.
Growing “seeds”
Group balance
After lunch we read more books – one aloud – Papa’s Mechanical Fish written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Boris Kulikov – and many on our own.
We also had a visit from our little reading buddies. Which is always delightful!
This week, I celebrate a beautiful day full of literacy. A day that highlights that so many of our days are full of literacy. Surrounded by stories. Inspired by books. Definitely worth celebration.
Thank you to Ruth Ayres and the #celebratelu community! Being part of a community that regularly shares gratitude and celebrations truly transforms my weeks. Read all of the celebrations by following the links shared here.
There's a Book for That 
A day filled with books and authors and visitors, nothing better, Carrie. Love the pictures of your happy kids!
It was in many ways the ideal day!
That day sounds like perfection. I can’t even really say how happy it’s made me just reading about it!
So pleased we could share!
What a fabulous time. You have so many wonderful things going on in your classroom. I want to visit. 😉
You would be welcome anytime!
What a day! More than two decades ago, I created a day long celebration at my kids’ elementary – Camp Read-a-Lot. It was so fun to involve the entire community, always lot of parents volunteering in every classroom. And now I’m off to request Dream Boats, Silence, and Papa’s Mechanical Fish. Thanks, as always, for sharing wonderful titles with us.
I sure hope you enjoy them!
And Carrie, I forgot to mention Each Little Bird that Sings. I love that book. I’m sure your students are loving it too.
It is such a great read aloud!
I saw your tweet of the outside yoga and was so jealous… my computer currently says 34 degrees 😦 This is that time of year that feels like spring is never coming! Happy week!
If it makes you feel any better, earlier in the week we had so much rain that my son’s soccer was cancelled as the field conditions were unsafe for play. The rain is at times much too much, but yes, we have some gorgeous green and lots of warm days.
Reading about your wonderful, magical, book-filled day brought a smile to my face. These are the kinds of things that the children will remember for the rest of their lives. 🙂
I sure hope that all of these literacy experiences will be something my students really remember.
What a special post! I haven’t stopped by in a while and I’m so glad I did today. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks Kimberley. It was really fun to relive it all here on the blog! A wonderful day.
Carrie, it is great to make your acquaintance. I love that your students are immersed in literacy and yoga: mind, body, spirit (listening) experiences. I connected with you and hope that we can continue to connect.
Me too! Lovely to find like minded educators wanting student experiences to be rich.
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One word for this day, Carrie– magic. No, wait. Two– beautifully magical. Or– only you! Who else could provide memories to treasure, day in and day out, like this? Only you!
Oh, wow, thanks – it was a whole pile of people that made the magic. My pleasure to capture it here.