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  • Mardi Gras Salutes Children's Literature "A Salute To Children's Literature" is the theme for the Mardi Gras Children's Parade at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 19, 2012 in Galveston. SMART Family Literacy ...
    Posted Jan 22, 2012 1:34 PM by SMART Family Literacy
  • Congratulations to Laura Timm! All SMART Volunteers were appreciated at an Ice Cream (plus pizza) Social on January 20th. Laura Timm, who has been volunteering since 2008, was named 2011 SMART Volunteer of the ...
    Posted Jan 22, 2012 1:23 PM by SMART Family Literacy
  • $5000 Challenge Grant! Donate with Double Impact!  Today is a great day to donate to SMART Family Literacy because the Permanent Endowment Fund of Moody Methodist Church has offered a $5,000 challenge ...
    Posted Dec 19, 2011 3:25 PM by SMART Family Literacy
  • SMART Family Literacy Gives Books to ECI Launch Children! SMART Family Literacy was privileged to provide 65 books for the December 8th holiday party at UTMB's Early Childhood Intervention Launch.  At-risk children served by ECI Launch are ...
    Posted Dec 19, 2011 3:02 PM by SMART Family Literacy
  • College of the Mainland Volunteers! Students from College of the Mainland rallied in support of literacy at the December 8th family literacy party.  An impressive fourteen students, their friends and family members, volunteered to give ...
    Posted Dec 19, 2011 2:54 PM by SMART Family Literacy
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(For more "Tales", including Spanish translations, go to "Reading" at the horizontal menu bar at the top of the page.)

Tales

JACK’S OTHER BEANS

By Elizabeth Turner

Once upon a time, 
Jack sold the cow for five magic beans. 
Do you know what happened next? 
That’s right! 

The first bean grew so high up to the sky 
that it reached the giant’s house! 
Do you ever wonder about the other four beans? 

The second bean didn’t grow. 
A passing crow snatched it fast! 
From that day on, the crow’s beak glowed 
a brilliant light! 

The third bean floated down a drain. 
It was washed by the rain into a big river 
and into a salty sea. 
A whale ate the bean and began to sing! 

The fourth bean blew to a warm, wet spot. 
It sprouted. 
A purple vine crept 
over a hill and around a big rock. 
It stopped at a mystery zoo! 
The animals were weird and new. 

The fifth bean grew last, but not the least. 
A fat, wavy stalk sailed through the air, 
across the Atlantic Ocean and all the way to Africa! 
The vine finally stopped in the sand 
at the feet of a child. 
What do YOU think happened next? 

The child was hungry. 
She ate some beans, plucked from the beanstalk. 
Then she smiled. 
She picked many more beans and filled her apron pockets. 
She gave buckets of beans to her mother, 
who cooked an enormous pot of soup 
and shared it with the entire village. 
All the people were happy.

THE END

 

 






Snaps

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Tips

SMART Tips For Reading Aloud to Young Children

1.  HAVE FUN!  Smile and be enthusiastic about reading. 

2.  READ SOMETHING THAT LEADS TO MORE FUN.  For example, read the movie listings in the newspaper and then go to the movies.

3.  SOCIALIZE WHILE READING A BOOK.  Children like to read with someone special, like you, so read with your children. Cuddle up.

4.  READ THE SIGNS.  Everywhere you go, you’ll see signs, such as:  stop, one way, danger, and subway.  All signs are potential reading practice sessions.

5.  CONNECT READING WITH GOOD FOOD.  Read menus, recipes, and cereal boxes. 

6.  POP some popcorn and have a reading party!

7.  CREATE SOUND EFFECTS!  Make noises like animals or machines and bring stories to life!  READ WITH EMOTION!

8.  ENCOURAGE!  Use an upbeat voice, and say things, such as:

"Oh! I see we are going to read about animals!"

“Great! I’m in the mood for a good story.”                        

 “Wow!  That’s a red car!”  (Observe and describe.)                                                            

“You are getting better and better at this!”         

 “Reading with you is fun!”                              

 “Thank you for sharing this book with me.”        

 “I was thinking it’s about time for a story.  Why don’t you choose one and we’ll read it together.”          

 “Every time we read together I notice how many new words you’ve learned!”                                   

 “I love to listen to you read.  You are very good at it.”

9.  VISIT THE LIBRARY AND CHECK OUT BOOKS!

10.  ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO ASK QUESTIONS.  If you don’t know the answers, you can reply, “That’s a good question.” 

 

 

 

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