Unlocking the Secrets of Hand Shadows: A Book to Read Aloud with Dad: Engaged Reader Books in Cursive Read and Do Series Book #2

By Bridget Hughes

Is your early reader struggling, reluctant or distracted? The Engaged Reader Books in Cursive "Read & Do" Series takes a novel approach. Based on research that shows that children who act out each sentence they read activate different areas of the brain and learn to read more easily, "Unlocking the Secrets of Hand Shadows" is zany and action packed! Make a shadow of a deer! Now make a shadow of some grass and nibble it with your deer!! Readers not only practice reading skills and hand-eye coordination, but enjoy fast-paced hilarity and laughter.The books in this series are printed in cursive. While any young reader can benefit from learning to read cursive, Engaged Reader books were conceived of to help dyslexic readers who have been taught cursive to minimize flipping of b, d, p, and q. Now children taught to write in cursive can read in cursive too!"As a Montessori teacher I consider the classroom a laboratory. Every child learns differently and books in cursive is an ingenious option. I can't believe no one ever thought to write books in cursive before now! These books are a treasure."Sarah Bannat, Primary Montessori teacher"So clever, warm, loving, original."Ruby Racine, elementary teacher and reading specialist"So simple, why didn't anyone think of this sooner? The cursive solution to letter flipping is just ingenious. Montessori advocated "following the child." She stressed the importance of observing the child and adapting the materials.Well done!Another piece of Montessori wisdom involves never giving the primary child's mind more than you give the hands. Practicing reading skills hand in hand with practicing physical skills is brilliant! It is engaging, incorporating both movement and comprehension. It is win-win. How fun! Laughter bathes the brain in enzymes that make the brain so much more receptive to new learning. The experience is so pleasurable that learning truly becomes its own reward. 'When you love your work, you never work a day in your life.' (Zen saying) How wonderful to get started on the right foot from the very beginning! Attention to detail in doing the research has resulted in a unique solution for helping reluctant readers succeed." Cathy Foutz, Primary Montessori teacher and outdoor educator"The Engaged Reader book series is a priceless, simple, series to help children who may have challenges learning to read, for example those with dyslexia. The use of cursive along with action has promising results that engage the reader and encourage interaction to stimulate the growth and patterning of necessary neuronal pathways in the brain. "Stephany Porter, ND, FABNO Naturopathic Doctor"The Engaged Reader books provide far more than a typical passive reading experience. The interaction and intimacy that arises from following the action commands is so valuable to early readers, particularly for connecting the mind and the body and for building the neural networks necessary to successfully read. As a retired Los Angeles Unified School District principal, I am well aware that many children benefit from a kinesthetic, rather than solely visual approach to reading. These engaging books that encourage children to move while they learn and to actively participate while reading greatly enhance the learning experience!"Odaris Jordan, Retired principal"I love the Engaged Reader books. They are filled with creative ways to get readers to act out what they read. Before reading the books in this series I did not know that acting out stories could help comprehension. I also did not know that dyslexia could be helped with cursive. I am so glad that this information and research is now more readily available to teachers through these wonderful books!"Sherry Vain-Callahan, Special Education teacher

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0692511504
• ISBN13: 9780692511503
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: Healing Point Press
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.1" x 8.3"