When We Reach Them
Picture Book Parade
This seaÂson, if you visÂit MinÂneapoÂlis’ MidÂtown FarmÂers MarÂket, you’ll stroll by a harÂvest of picÂture books by MinÂnesoÂta authors: PicÂture Book Parade — a new iniÂtiaÂtive by children’s authors Sarah WarÂren and CatherÂine Urdahl.
We Are the Future
We Are the Future: Poems with a Voice for Peace is imposÂsiÂble to read withÂout being deeply moved by the open hearts and minds of refugee and immiÂgrant youth in the SeatÂtle area, guidÂed by poets and teachÂers MerÂna Hecht and CarÂrie Stradley.
Children’s Literacy Foundation
ImagÂine the joy of a child who nevÂer had the privÂiÂlege of ownÂing a book being able to choose new hardÂcovÂer or paperÂback ediÂtions for free out of hunÂdreds disÂplayed in front of him. The Children’s LitÂerÂaÂcy FounÂdaÂtion doesn’t have to imagÂine. Staff have seen the excitÂed smiles on these young faces for the past 23 years,
A Good Word
As teachÂers and writÂers, we all love words. WouldÂn’t we love to be able to infuse that same love into each and every one of our stuÂdents! TeachÂing EngÂlish to midÂdle schoolÂers and high schoolÂers for years gave me plenÂty of opporÂtuÂniÂties to try out difÂferÂent ways of attemptÂing to kinÂdle enthuÂsiÂasm in my students
Shhhhhh
This is the sound of walkÂing into retireÂment for me and so many teachÂers this spring. Although friends are already emailÂing to conÂgratÂuÂlate us on this new jourÂney, we’re all alone while packÂing up our offices and classÂrooms for the last time. There will be no big parÂties, no forÂmal farewells, no cozy get-togethÂÂÂers where
The Gems: Revolutionize Your Teaching of Writing
The stack of stuÂdent papers lurks on the corÂner of your desk, just waitÂing to be marked and gradÂed. Yes, the rubrics and gradÂing stanÂdards will be applied conÂsciÂenÂtiousÂly, paper after paper. Your stuÂdents wait, some in dread, some in hopeÂful anticÂiÂpaÂtion, for your final judgÂments on their papers. But wait — there’s anothÂer way to evaluate
Timeless Tales Program
CreÂatÂing a ConÂnectÂed ComÂmuÂniÂty of ReadÂers: InterÂgenÂerÂaÂtional StoÂryÂtime After seeÂing a handÂful of artiÂcles about nursÂing homes openÂing up preschools in a shared space, as well as the benÂeÂfits from this partÂnerÂship, I wantÂed to find a way to creÂate the same interÂgenÂerÂaÂtional conÂnecÂtion in a library setÂting. We already had a relaÂtionÂship with our local retireÂment home as our CirÂcuÂlaÂtion Supervisor
#OneStatelinerStory
ModÂeled after the One School, One Book premise, PhillipsÂburg School DisÂtrict EleÂmenÂtary ELA & Social StudÂies CurÂricuÂlum DirecÂtor DarÂlene Noel creÂatÂed a school-wide event called #OneSÂtateÂlinÂerÂStoÂry: Every ClassÂroom. Every StuÂdent. Every FamÂiÂly. The funÂdaÂmenÂtal purÂpose of this event is to build a comÂmuÂniÂty of readÂers through a shared readÂing expeÂriÂence. Think of it as a realÂly large book club!
When We Reach Them
We’re out of school today in obserÂvance of Oaks Day here in our area. This mornÂing, AniÂta SilÂvey, chilÂdren’s litÂerÂaÂture expert and resource, remindÂed us on FaceÂbook that Pete Seeger celÂeÂbrates a birthÂday today. 100 years. I might not have known that withÂout her post. How many of us would? How many of us would have known