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You are here: Home / All categories / The Power of Busy Hands During a Read-Aloud

The Power of Busy Hands During a Read-Aloud

April 12, 2017 • 22 Comments

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Help kids focus during a read aloud with coloring and activities to keep hands busy.

Think back to your days as a student in the classroom-listening to lectures, memorizing facts, and answering countless questions.  I can vividly remember my high school biology class because we were required to color.  Yes, coloring was required in high school.  And you know what?  I can still tell you that a plant cell contains a cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and a nucleus some 30 years later.  Why?

Coloring requires attention to detail.  Combine that attention to detail with a discussion about a topic or listening to a read-aloud and you have a double dose of learning goodness.

Help kids focus during a read aloud with coloring and activities to keep hands busy.

We can use this same idea with kids of all ages.  My kids love to draw and color.  We will often find coloring sheets to compliment a chapter book read-aloud we are currently using or a subject we are studying.

Some of my long-time favorite resources are the Dover Publications line of coloring and activity books.

Full Disclosure: This post has been graciously sponsored by Dover Publications.

Recently Dover Publications sent me some of their resource books related to the presidents, USA Geography and USA history.  My 6-year-old has a great interest in the Revolutionary War and has been learning about George Washington.

So, as we were reading George the Drummer Boy, Sam the Minuteman, and The Boston Coffee Party, he was coloring a picture of George Washington in the American Presidents Coloring Book and building a standup Washington figure from the Standsup! Presidents.

coloring and activity books from Dover Publications

Planning a trip to the nation’s capitol?  While you read and talk about the trip pair it with Discovering Washington, D.C. Activity Book: Awesome Activities About Our Nation’s Capital.  Or, build your own model of the White House with the White House Cut & Assemble.

You might think that building with your hands or coloring would take attention away from listening to a book, but for most kids it does not.  It actually helps to focus on the read-aloud or discussion.  In fact, I’ve found that children can listen to a story longer if they are doing these things.

Chances are if you are learning or reading about a certain topic, you will find a resource at Dover Publications to keep kids engaged and listening while keeping their hands busy.  Check out the Dover Publications website to see all the books they offer.  Plus, you can save 25% by using the code WHCH through May 31, 2017.

Our friends at Dover Publications want to give you the opportunity to experience their line of resources.  They are offering one lucky Growing Book by Book reader a chance to win an American History Giveaway Pack.   It includes the following titles.

Dover Publication coloring and activity books

U.S.A Constitution Activity Book, Alexander Hamilton Coloring Book, Discovering Washington, D.C. Activity Book: Awesome Activities About Our Nation’s Capital, American Presidents Coloring Book, Presidents Facts and Fun Activity Book, United States Coloring Book, History of the White House, Standups! Presidents: 8 Easy-To-Make Models!, and White House Cut & Assemble.

Enter the giveaway below.

Dover Publications

Keep those hands busy and watch your child’s attention to the read-aloud grow.

Did you get your free list of Books Kids Will Beg You to Read?

Get It

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22 Comments Filed Under: All categories, Reading Ideas Tagged With: sponsored

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

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  1. library lady terri says

    April 18, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Wonder how I can incorporate this into story time too? questions to ponder.

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 23, 2017 at 9:01 pm

      Oh yes! I love that idea.

      Reply
  2. Tonya Wiggins says

    April 17, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    This would probAbly work very well for my son!! Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Portia Corrales says

    April 16, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    Great idea. I ‘ve just started having my 5and 6year olds draw while I read after dinner.

    Reply
  4. Portia Corrales says

    April 16, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    Great idea. I just started having my 5 and6 year old draw while I read after dinner.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer A Froning-Croffoot says

    April 16, 2017 at 11:11 pm

    Awesome giveaway!

    Reply
  6. Mary Roberts says

    April 15, 2017 at 10:13 am

    This looks LIKe such a great package!

    Reply
  7. Heather earley says

    April 14, 2017 at 11:02 pm

    I grew up with dover books 30 years ago and loved when my mom got the catalog so I could look through it over and over. Now i love getting the little sticker books for my own littles! GREAT company!

    Reply
  8. Katie says

    April 14, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    Great idea! I love to color while listening to audio books as an adult. Why didn’t it occur to me that my preschoolers would like it to? Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  9. kATIE says

    April 14, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    gREAT IDEA! i LIKE TO COLOR WHILE I LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS AS AN ADULT — WHY DIDN’T IT OCCUR TO ME THAT MY PRESCHOOLERS MIGHT LIKE IT TO?

    Reply
  10. Christy says

    April 14, 2017 at 11:54 am

    This is a wonderful post! I do this with my students in class… works like a charm. 🙂

    Reply
  11. genise Weston says

    April 14, 2017 at 11:08 am

    Awesome, my kids would love this

    Reply
  12. Monica Colson says

    April 14, 2017 at 10:34 am

    Love this idea!

    Reply
  13. Suzie Rodland says

    April 14, 2017 at 9:58 am

    dOVER COLORING BOOKS AND 3-d’S ARE WONDERFUL. i USED THEM OFTEN WHILE HOME SCHOOLING MY SONS AND WHILE TEACHING HISTORY CLASSES AT A COOP.

    Reply
  14. Mandie Genore-Bak says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:50 am

    Amazing giveaway! someone is going to be a very lucky winner. As I was directed to this page I thought to myself “where did she find those stand up presidents?” Question answered. Fingers crossed we win 🙂

    Reply
  15. Natalie w says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:27 am

    thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  16. Dina C says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Thank your for sharing this great idea!!!

    Reply
  17. Sarah whitworth says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:17 am

    I love the stand up presidents! How Fun!

    Reply
  18. Sheila says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:16 am

    Grat idea!

    Reply
  19. Claire Labbe says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:11 am

    Great ideas! The books look awesome, too.

    Reply
  20. Amy emrick says

    April 14, 2017 at 8:02 am

    I Will check these publications out for My kids!

    Reply
  21. Erica Burlingame says

    April 12, 2017 at 11:16 am

    What a great idea! I would love to win this pack 😉

    Reply

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