Summer Reads...made me feel fine!

I was actually in Boston winter during vacation. Oh well!

To celebrate our community's summer reading, I asked faculty members to send a photo of themselves with a book they read over the vacation. 

I turned their pictures into slides showing them with their books in various vacation-related locations. This was quick, easy, and fun!

The Steps:

1) Upload the faculty photo into Remove.bg to remove the background and then download the new image

2) In Google Draw, insert the desired background image

3) Insert the new faculty picture on top 
(Arrange > Move to front, if needed)

4) Add a text box with whatever words you'd like

5) Download the whole thing as a .png or .jpeg

When teachers participate in something like this, I send them the final image as a little "thank you." I swear that increases participation!

Loads of possible uses with students as well! 

Summer Selfies and more ideas for Summer Reading

Summer reading comes easily to some, not so easily to others. 

Flicker CC

For those families who want some structure to keep everyone (children and parents alike!) on track with summer reading goals, here are some ideas.

My criteria: 

Keep it fun

Keep it "free choice"

Keep it achievable

Image: Horst Frank

I personally don't use rewards for reading with my children because I don't want to give the idea that reading is a "chore." However, some families find incentives helpful. 

If rewards are something you're comfortable with, consider treats that involve activities to do together. 



Summer READ Selfie:
Snap a picture of yourself with each book you finish this

AISB Summer Reader, 2011

summer. Share your pics with friends on Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat. 

Use the hashtag #summerREADselfie (AISB'ers can also add #aisbudapest) or send them via email: sducharme at aisb dot hu. 

Cool locations are a bonus...Eiffle Tower? Times Square? Taj Mahal?

We'll make a slideshow of our summer reading to show in the fall.

Reading Bingo:
Print a card and see how many squares get filled. There's a card for Middle school readers and one for Teens and up.

Bring your completed card into school in August and brag to your librarian about the titles you found for each square.



3R's for Summer:

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Read
Run (or walk)
Right (as in "do right")

As a family, set goals around each of these three "R's". Perhaps the "Right" might be to mow a lawn for an elderly neighbor, make a berry pie and share with a friend, or participate in a local food drive or other charity.

This idea comes from Juan Diego Catholic High School, where the school community challenges themselves to take care of their minds, bodies, and souls during the summertime.

Summer Audiobook Deal

Free audiobooks for download (even for the non-US listener!) from Sync


For those traveling to the US this summer:
Barnes & Noble's Reading Log (read eight books and get a free book from their list - more info here) Suitable for up to grade 6.

Stay Tuned for more summer reading ideas  via our Facebook page and and book lists via the library website!

Who's Reading Now?

Today is the first day of school! So, our summer reading program is officially over, BUT that doesn't mean we can't still show pictures of our friends reading great books. 

 

Our friend is reading Jason Prince, by Max Dann. It's one of the popular "Aussie Bites" books. 

 

He says:  It is about a boy that did not have any friends so he has to buy his friends. One day a girl called Grace came and said "I want to be your friend." So they played a lot. At the end of the day Grace said, "You should come to my house. So he did. But Grace lived in a pizza parlour! So he made a pizza and all the people liked it. After that, they said, "We want to be your friend." And now Jason has many friends and he does not have to pay to them.

 

In the comments: Have you ever read a story and wanted to tell someone all about what happened to the characters? What story do YOU like to retell?

Comment rules: Don't use anyone else's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #10

Sometimes, the best place to read is at home, cozy in our bed or a comfy chair. Our friend pictured here looks quite pleased to be reading in such a spot. 

In the comments: What's your favorite place to read in your own home?

The Secret Seven Adventure, by Enid Blyton

Comment Rules (do you know them by now?) 

Don't use anyone else's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #9

Our friend today is completely absorbed in her book. She is reading in front of one of the world's most recognized landmarks, what a lucky girl! 

Paris in the summertime with a book - such a treat!

In the comments: What is the most exciting place you've ever read a book? 

Reading A Series of Unfortunate Events: A Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket

Comment Rules: Don't use anyone else's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #8

These two friends enjoyed reading books together in a bookstore. Do YOU have a favorite bookstore? Tell us about it in the comments! 

Click "comment" to answer. It will show up after I approve it.

Comment Rules: Don't use anyone's name and Be Friendly!

Our mystery friend is reading Skippyjon Jones: Class Action, by Judy Schachner

 

A classic! Doctor DeSoto, by William Stieg

Great choices kiddos! Hope everyone's having fun reading and ready for school to start in a few days!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #7

Today one of our friends is loving a book that inspired a movie. In fact, there are a few versions of Alice in Wonderland. Have you seen any of them? Here's a video clip of one.

Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

In the comments: What's a movie based on a book that you thought was REALLY like the book? For example, for me, the first Harry Potter movie blew my mind because it felt just the way I had imagined it when I read the book. Has that ever happened to you?

Comment Rules: Don't use anyone's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading post #6

Sometimes friends read together! Do you ever read with your friends? Maybe at a sleepover or after a long day of playing together? Some friends like to read plays together and act out the parts. 

Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery, by David Adler - "This book was funny because in one part there was a thief in the yellow house! I think everyone will enjoy this book."

 

 

Biscuit's New Trick, by Alyssa Capucilli

Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a not-so-talented pop star, by Rachel Russell

In the comments, what do YOU think would be a fun book to read with a few friends?

Comment rules: Don't use anyone's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #5

Here's a fifth grader getting ready for Middle School! 

She said this was a really funny book that got her excited (not scared) about going to grade 6.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Lift, by James Patterson

 

In the comments, did YOU read a funny book this summer?

Comment Rules: Don't mention anyone's name and Be Friendly!

Who's Reading this Summer?

Summer Reading Post #4

One of our friends has been reading every day this summer, so she sent several pictures. Here are some of her favorite books.

In the comments, how did YOU do with reading each day this summer?  Post your comment below.

Comment Rules: Don't use anyone's name & Be Friendly!

On a rainy day:  Cat in the Hat

After a fight with little brother:

Duck and Goose

All-time favorite: Make Way for Ducklings

To read to little brother: Curious George 

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #3

Nothing like a good book after bathtime. Do YOU like to read in your pjs? I do :)

RAINBOW FAIRIES is a fun popular series. What other series books do YOU like?

Go ahead and leave a comment for our friend.

Comment Rules:

Don't use anyone's name

Be friendly!

Who's Reading This Summer?

Summer Reading Post #2

Send in your photo today! sducharme@aisb.hu

Did YOU go to the ocean this summer? What did YOU read there? 

Leave a comment for our friend! 
Comment rules: 
Don't use anyone's name 
Be Friendly!

Who's Reading this Summer?

What are our AISB friends reading this summer? What are YOU reading? Send me a photo of yourself reading and I'll post it here. Tell a bit about the book too! scducharme@yahoo.com

Daniel at the Siege of Boston

A girl about 12 - 13 is losing her cousins and dad in war... She doesn't know if they're still alive... Then she gets a pass to go into the Patriot camp to search for her family members... She finds them and tells the whole camp that the British men are going to attack from the Dorchester mountain. The mountain has a whole view over Boston.

Leave a message for our friend in the comments - what have YOU been reading?

Comment rules:
Don't use anyone's name
Be friendly