A Chair for My Mother
by Vera B. Williams
After their home is destroyed by a fire Rosa her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a comfortable chair for all to enjoy.
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The word “Chair” in the title starts with the letters ch. These letters say /ch/, like in cheer and chip. Point to the letters and say the sound together: /ch/, /ch/, /ch/. Brainstorm other words that begin with the sound /ch/ with your child (cheap, chest, chase).
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Tips: A small gift of money given as a way of thanking someone for a service
Save: Keep or store for future use
Spoiled: Having been led to think that one can do or have whatever one wants
Bargain: Something that is bought or sold at a good price
Questions to Discuss
What work does the little girl do at the restaurant? What work does the mother do? What do the little girl and her mother receive for their work?
Why did the little girl and her mother save their income? Why did they have to save?
Why was the chair important to their family?
How did family and neighbors help when the girl’s family found their home burned down? How did they feel about the help?
Have you ever helped or been helped by extended family or a neighbor? What happened and how did it make you feel?
Look at the pictures on the very last page of the book. What can you tell about this family from these pictures?
Let's Play
Make a homemade bank with three parts. Use the bank to sort earned money into three categories: money to spend on wants, money to save for a special purchase, and money to donate (share).
Use a variety of recycled containers for the three-part bank such as water bottles, milk containers, cardboard tubes, or potato chip tubes. Glue or tape the three cylinder-shaped containers side by side so the openings all face the same way.
Decorate the container with a variety of collage and art materials (buttons, glitter, cut up fabric, pieces of felt, markers, glue, etc.)
Label the sections of the bank with spend, save, and share.
