passionately curious

Thankful for Children's Literature

Hosted by Anne-Marie of A Readable Feast, this month's Carnival of Children's Literature asks, "What Are You Thankful For in Children's Literature. Here's my list:

 

• I'm thankful for my students' love of books!  Each child, whether a beginning or fluent reader, has found something to love - the humor of Captain Underpants, the adventures of Jack and Annie from the Magic Tree House series, the information from a Gail Gibbons book, the engaging photographs of Ken Robbins, the whimsical poetry of Douglas Florian, or the amazing paper illustrations of Steve Jenkins. 
• I'm thankful that there's a "just-right" book for every child.
• I'm thankful that my job as a teacher gives me the chance to read great children's literature everyday. Children's books teach me new and wonderful things!
• I'm thankful for the chance to nurture a love of books and reading in children.
• I'm thankful that children's literature has made me a better teacher. Children's books are essential to my daily curriulum. I use books to teach the strategies of decoding and comprehension, to introduce science or social studies topics, to model what good writers do, to encourage discussion, or wind-down a busy school day with a good read-aloud.
• I'm thankful for Mo Willems, Cynthia Rylant, Douglas Florian, and Mem Fox.
• I'm thankful for the time I spend with my own children each day as we snuggle together to read a book. They already love stories and books at such a young age.  Amidst a pile of books, my 16 month old can always find his favorite, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Picture Cues for Phonics Work

This a great resource introduced to me a few years ago by one of our Reading Specialists.  The posters and display cards from PhonicsQ have simple, colorful pictures that are just right for elementary students.    As we work on the different components of our spelling program, I refer to them almost daily. You can use the cards for your Word Wall or to introduce spelling patterns. The blackline student cueing sheets can be used for bingo, word games, and reference while writing.   

Poem For An Autumn Day

 
   

  Yellow Tree 
  Originally uploaded by easement.

The Tree on the Corner

I've seen
the tree on the corner
in spring bud
and summer green.
Yesterday
it was yellow gold.

Then a cold
wind began to blow.
Now I know-
you really do not see
a tree
until you see
its bones.

       by Lilian Moore
       ©1969

This poem was taken from a Morning, Noon, and Night: Poems to Fill Your Day, selected by Sharon Taberski.

How to Make Your Kid’s Teacher Love (or Hate) You

Teachers try so hard to get to know each child -recognizing talents, humor and wit, sensitivity, kindness, determination, eagerness, curiosity, resilience.   We meet each child where he or she is academically and emotionally. We develop and plan curriculum, mediate social disagreements, encourage and console, and try to make each child feel important.  And we do this for 20 or more students!  Sometimes, this hard work and care is diminished because of one difficult parent.  Cristina of My Topography has posted a great list entitled How to Make Your Kid’s Teacher Love (or Hate) You.  As she writes to parents, "If you’re stumped and don’t quite know what to say or how to interact to advocate for your child, start with being nice. Kindness goes such a long, long way."

On a similar note: From a February 21, 2005 issue of Time Magazine cover article "What Teachers Hate About Parents", Michael Thompson writes about how parents can make the most out of parent-teacher conferences.

 

Whooping Crane Life Cycle

Word Ladders

During Reading, I like the to be engaged in independent work so I can work, uninterrupted, with small reading groups.  This year, I've been trying the management system described in The Daily 5.  As a part of their weekly assignments, the children complete various Word Work (Spelling) activites.  I love the Word Ladder Kit from Primary Concepts. Children have their own sets of letter tiles and can work at their own pace. 

Below is one an example of Word Ladder.  The children build each new word by changing one or two letters or rearranging the letters.

bell
ball
bill
bib
crib
crab
cab
car
card
cart

                     

 

Whooper Halloween

These were our costumes for our school's annual Halloween parade.  When we first opened the classroom door, one child said, "I knew it, but I thought one of you would be an ultralight!"  Not quite sure how we would have pulled that one off.

photo courtesy of Anne Ryan