HATS - DF
#3 in Dominie Readers Series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
Dominie Readers are captivating books designed for K-2 children to promote early reading success. Filled with delightful rhymes, humorous stories, and beautiful illustrations, these books feature easy-to-read type, bright illustrations, and language repetition to reinforce reading skills. The engaging story lines and charming characters motivate children to read and develop comprehension while building rich vocabulary through interesting events. These readers, covering a broad range of genres, are suitable for small group, independent reading, and whole-class instruction. They support phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension skills as highlighted in the Reading First initiative.
Discussion points
What do you think hats are used for and why do people wear them?
How do the different hats in the book make you feel? Can you pick a favorite?
If you could design your own hat, what would it look like and what materials would you use?
Why do you think the author chose to write about hats? What makes them special?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by showing interest in your child’s opinions, asking them to describe the hats and their functions.
Encourage your child to use their imagination by asking them to think about designing their own unique hat.
Discuss the cultural and personal importance of hats to help deepen their understanding of diversity and identity.
Link the hats to personal experiences or family members, asking if they remember someone wearing a similar hat and discussing that memory.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Sharing is caring
Explanation: In 'HATS - DF,' children explore the joy of sharing hats among friends, demonstrating the happiness it brings to everyone involved.
Real-World Application: Children learn to share their own belongings with siblings or peers at school, understanding that this act can lead to collective happiness and stronger friendships.
Example Lesson: Creativity and self-expression
Explanation: The characters in the book use hats to express their unique personalities and styles, which shows kids the importance of self-expression through creative choices.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to explore their own creative ideas and express themselves through their choices in clothing, art projects, or even in their playtime activities.
Example Lesson: Respect for diversity
Explanation: Each character’s hat in 'HATS - DF' is different, symbolizing the diversity among the group. The story reinforces the message that everyone's choices and differences should be respected.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect the differences among their peers, whether they relate to appearance, interests, or cultures, promoting inclusivity from an early age.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The book presents a scenario where characters must decide who gets to wear which hat. This situation encourages problem-solving among the group.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to collaboratively solve problems with their friends or family members, enhancing their critical thinking and negotiation skills.
Example Lesson: Value of cooperation
Explanation: Throughout 'HATS - DF,' the characters learn to cooperate by taking turns wearing different hats, showing the positive outcomes of working together.
Real-World Application: Children observe the benefit of cooperating in group settings like classrooms or sports teams, leading to better social interactions and collective success.