Reading Rainbow Inspired: A Show and Tell Book Club for Young Literacy Lovers
In this ongoing class students share their favorite books, authors, and illustrators with friends. Students are encouraged to retell the story, describe the setting and characters, and explain why they would recommend the book to others.
What's included
1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade Kindergarten - 3
Does your little one love to be read to or read books on their own? I do! I also love to talk about what I am reading and hearing about what others are reading. In this ongoing class students will share and tell about their favorite books and receive reading recommendations from their peers. CLASS FORMAT: Each class will start with a peaceful and predictable rhythm and positive intentions for the day. Our fun and playful welcome song includes a big mindful breath and a stretch. Children will be greeted individually by the instructor and students will be encouraged to warmly greet each other and engage in conversation. To begin the literary show and tell I will share my favorite book of the week and model how to present an oral book report. We will review the job of the author, illustrator, and elements of a story. With my support, students will introduce their book to the class and identify the title, author, illustrator and genre. I will then guide them to describe the elements of the story including: Setting, Characters, Plot, Conflict, Resolution, Point of View and Theme. Students will complete their presentation by detailing why or why not they would recommend this book to their peers. This class is designed to build oral language and confidence, help children develop reading comprehension and retelling skills, and identify the elements of a story. Finally, we will end each day with a mindfulness breath, a positive affirmation, compliments, and a goodbye song. This class does not build upon itself, students may join at anytime! Themes Include: Drama: Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action. Fable: Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale. Tale: Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children. Fantasy: Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality. Fiction: Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. Folklore: The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth. Historical Fiction: Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting. Humor: Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in all genres Legend: Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material. Mystery: Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets. Mythology: Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. Poetry: Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses. Realistic Fiction: Story that can actually happen and is true to life. Science Fiction: Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets. Short Story: Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots. Tall Tale: Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance. Nonfiction: Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject. Speech: Public address or discourse.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Get $10 off my classes with coupon code FRIENSUMMERFUN10 until Jun 1, 2025. Look through my classes at https://outschool.com/teachers/noraryszka-yahoo-com and enter the coupon code at checkout.
Welcome to The Friendly Forest School!
I come to you with a wealth of knowledge, classroom experience, and a passion for teaching young children though play.
My classes follow a Waldorf-inspired approach that focuses on the holistic development of children, ensuring that academic skills are nurtured in an engaging and imaginative manner.
A predictable peaceful rhythm, delightful melodies, American Sign Language, and captivating tales (often set in the Friendly Forest) infuse every lesson, making learning a joyful exploration!I
By embracing the ebb and flow of nature's cycles, my goal is to help children feel grounded, secure, and ready to absorb knowledge with open hearts and curious minds.
ABOUT ME:
My journey in education began in the summer of 2001 with an internship in Early Childhood Education at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. After earning my Bachelor's Degree from Purdue University, I worked as a social worker and case manager for young children in LaPorte, Indiana.
I later moved to Phoenix, AZ, where I transitioned into Special Education, working as an in-home therapist for children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. My focus was on developing expressive language through American Sign Language, as well as supporting the whole child through sensory integration and positive behavior strategies. In 2005, I was honored to be named Arizona’s "Caregiver of the Year" by the Governor.
In 2006, I earned my Master’s Degree in Special Education and began teaching in a K-6 self-contained classroom. During this time, I developed an award-winning, school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support program rooted in peace and mindfulness. For this work, I received the "You Make a Difference" award from the Osborn School District.
My daughter, Eleanor, was born in 2010, and in 2013, I left the classroom to focus on motherhood full-time. That same year, my youngest daughter, Annalise, was born. During this time, I embraced Waldorf philosophies at home and began homeschooling using Waldorf and Montessori-inspired methods.
In 2017, I founded my own Early Childhood Center, Let’s Play Learning, which provided a developmentally appropriate curriculum centered on the belief that young children learn best through hands-on exploration of the natural world, a thoughtfully prepared environment, and nurturing guidance from both caregivers and skilled educators. When the pandemic began, I transitioned to teaching online—a shift I have come to love!
In my classes, I strive to cultivate a culture of peace and mindfulness, integrating academic learning with nature, imaginative play, storytelling, and artistic expression.
Today, I live with my family just five minutes from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 8 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-10
3-6 learners per class