Yes, indeed, more reading material!  This is different than the skilltext, since each book in this series is a cliffhanger, except for the last book.  It was designed to motivate the student to want to read more.  

Each interactive reader has five chapters.  Each chapter provides vocabulary and comprehension questions w/answers.  This program was designed for the intermediate student (grades 3 -5).

I still remember, as if it were yesterday, the first time I was bullied.  I was in the second grade and my family was experiencing a rough time.  My father was having 'night terrors.' He had survived being an Army officer in World War II in the Battle of Cherbourg.  For a time, he was a very, successful business owner and then one day memories began to surface, flashbacks of war.  He lost his business, and we were lucky to keep a roof over our heads.

I went from wearing store-bought clothes to donations given by neighbors.  These clothes were faded and no longer in fashion and the students in my class began to ridicule me.  But they did not put their hands on me!

Even though, Mrs. Hague did speak to the teasers, it did stop, but my self-esteem took a nosedive.  Once when you're teased or picked on, the only thing you can think about is not to cry.  You can't help but wonder what will happen the next day and the day after that.  It's very hard to pay attention in class and to complete your class assignments, without wondering if someone is talking about you behind your back.

Third grade turned out to be better, even though family finances had not changed.  My teacher, Mrs. Bray, was very strict and she ruled that classroom.  However, back then, corporal punishment was allowed, and she used it!  Parents seldom question when their child got a spanking and that's because the parent supported the teacher.

A favorite skilltext reading activity, used by many teachers (when it was offered for free), is one that involves bullying.  An owl is picked on by several blue jays and it's quite simple how he handles the situation.  This story opens the door in having a conversation about bullying.

A skilltext reader is a workbook containing a story with a variety of comprehension questions, vocabulary and word development.  It other words, it's the whole package combined into one.  It was low-cost, but quite effective.

This series of skilltext readers did go up in reading levels, much like the DRA reading levels we have today, but without having to keep an extensive, classroom library, along with buying additional materials. 

Since this skilltext reading program is no longer available, I decided to redesign this program focusing only on animal stories.  After teaching for so many years, as a classroom teacher and as a reading specialist (Master's degree in Reading), I've never came across a child that didn't like learning about animals.  That's what makes Grandpa Bunny so special.  All of the stories in this series are about animals.  Even though these stories are fictional (talking animals), there are some true facts embedded into each story.

I re-created these Grandpa Bunny stories to use as a reading supplement to help improve comprehension development, as well as to help focus the love of reading in a child.

What's so great about these stories is that they can be used in the classroom as supplemental reading material or at home.

Retirement offers new beginnings, if one is willing to take a chance.  My retirement from teaching began five years ago.  I had taught for 41 years.  I was only 20 years old when I began my teaching career in Hardee County, a rural county in Florida.  Now, I was fortunate it was an hour's drive, by taking the backroads, from my parent's home in Plant City, Florida.  After graduating, from the University of South Florida, with a B.A. in Elementary Education, to my dismay, there was a freeze on hiring teachers in the county I lived in, as well as neighboring counties.   One thing I am grateful for about coming to Hardee County, besides having a job, was becoming familiar with the programs they used.  Those-in-charge believed in using skilltext workbooks.  I taught there for three years before moving to Tampa and eventually getting married.  Since I was acquainted in using skilltext reading materials, I never thought I'd ever use this approach again, until my last three years of teaching for Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia.

What the public does not realize, is that teachers are told what to teach, as well as what materials they have to use, except when they are close to retirement.  So, when I entered my last three years, I decided to create and design my own products to use with my students, which included re-designing skilltext reading materials. 

For several years, instead of publishing these materials, I wanted to build a read-aloud library with free follow-up activities for my website, www.topsthemonkey.com.  Finally, after completely this 'love-of-reading' project, I am now able to post low-cost, but effective reading materials on Amazon Ignite.

FYI: My author's name for Amazon Ignite is Sharon Brown (my maiden name).