Welcome

I am continually delighted when I watch master kindergarten teachers integrate powerful vocabulary into the life of their classroom. 

Wise teachers build voracious vocabulary learning habits systematically, mindfully and playfully throughout the curriculum.  Their classrooms are talking classrooms.  Rich vocabulary is introduced through authentic learning experiences and often reinforced with poetry and song.  We watch the children become collectors of wonderful new words: SAT Vocabulary in kindergarten? Why not…

See article: Children are Voracious Vocabulary Learners
Parent as Partners Letter: Voracious Vocabulary Learners

The Metamorphosis Song  by Diane Bonica Tune: Alouette

Metamorphosis, meta, meta, morphosis.
Metamorphosis, it’s a word for change.
If you are a caterpillar, you’ll become a butterfly.
Caterpillar, butterfly!  Caterpillar, butterfly!
Metamorphosis, meta, meta, morphosis.
Metamorphosis, it’s a word for change.
(See entire song)

Oviparous Song by Diane Bonica Tune: Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song

There's a word that we have heard and YOU should learn it too!
Oviparous!  Oviparous!  They lay eggs for you!
Oviparous…egg layers!  Oviparous…egg layers!
It is a word and we have heard it’s true, true, true!
So come along and join this song for all egg layers too.
Oviparous!  Oviparous!  They lay eggs for YOU!

See our beginning collection of Spring Science Explorations in Poetry and Song: Bugs, Butterflies and the Earth

Earth Day is April 22nd every year. To celebrate Earth Day Sharon Mattioli wrote this song which became an illustrated class Big Book for shared learning around this important theme.

I Love the Earth (To the tune of Eency Weency Spider)

I love the Earth and everything that lives.
I love the flowers and beauty each one gives.
I love the animals and the fish at sea.
For I am a part of Mother Earth,
And it's a part of me.
              by Sharon Mattioli

We thank Terry Tunkel at Calico Cookie for this Earth Day unit.

Here is a great link on recycled inventions for your earth day theme – or year round. See photos and parent take-home letter from Mrs. Brittany Buchel's Kindergarten class.

Some Links for Spring Science Themes:

Oviparous Animals—
Testing the Strength of an Ordinary Egg
Mrs. Pohlmeyer’s Kinderpage
Calico Cookie
Little Giraffes

Insects—
Little Giraffes
Mrs. Pohlmeyer’s Kinderpage
Mrs. Chastain’s Kindergarten

• How do we use dancing, singing, and signing to accelerate literacy?
• See  video clips of Kathie Bridges and her kinders, Year-End Rap and Sing and Dance
• How can parents as partners multiply our teaching effectiveness?
• How do we teach for independence and responsibility from the first week of school?

Kathie Bridges is a dynamic, playful and highly organized mentor kindergarten teacher. She is a recipient of the Nellie Edge Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy Award, and a part of Nellie's action-research team on Multisensory ABC and Phonics Immersion. Her fresh and original teaching reflects her love of language and deep respect and understanding of young children. Kathie's room is filled with quality literature — the walls reflect children’s artistic connections to the delightful literature she shares. She is a gifted storyteller using music, dance, and dramatic flair to make literature come alive.

Our Saturday “In Kindergarten” workshops provide a unique opportunity to see master teachers in their language-rich environments sharing their passion for teaching. You will see how joyful accelerated literacy instruction is systematic, intentional and honors children’s needs for socio-dramatic play and magical learning experiences.

The seminar will feature a beautiful full-color book celebrating Kathie’s love of teaching through literature and thearts.  This book is currently only available to workshop participants.

See flier: Literacy Through Literature, or request a flier by e-mailing with your home address to info@nellieedge.com.

Learn American Sign Language through memorable songs this summer. Join a small enthusiastic group of kindergarten teachers and early literacy experts from across the country in Oregon, at the beautiful Sheraton Hotel, Portland Airport. (Limited to 75 teachers.)

See   ASL Video clips from the seminar DVDs featuring Diane Larson.
Diane Larson and Tanya Wall are the ASL experts for these seminars, and Nellie Edge will share brain research and joyful accelerated literacy connections.
See photo essay: Research and Benefits of Signing

• Accelerate all children’s language and literacy.
• Use multisensory ABC and phonics immersion.
• Learn helpful signs for class management.
• Build joyful community learners.
• We guarantee children love it. Parents love it. Teachers love it.

Discover why teachers tell us:

“This is just the best training I’ve ever had!” 
“It was worth traveling across the country for.”

Download seminar flier: The Magic of Signing Songs

You will be amazed at how much you learn – we promise! (Our seminars all come with a performance guarantee.)

Just in case you haven’t discovered this concise and thoughtful free weekly e-newsletter (The Big Fresh) for K-12 literacy teachers from the Choice Literacy site, you are in for a treat.  Brenda Powers, editor, provides weekly literacy support and personal insights that make me smile and ponder. She simply has a wondrous way with words. To read and subscribe, go to http://www.choiceliteracy.com.

Saturday, April 26 we will gather in Kathie Bridges’ kindergarten at Pringle Elementary from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for an energizing and inspiring look at the foundation pieces for accelerated literacy in a half-day kindergarten:

See  Video Clips, Kindergarten Year-End Rap and With Happy Hearts We Sing and Dance with Kathie Bridges
Download Flier

Thank you Salem teachers: There should be district funds available for this training and we are offering partial scholarships.

May Kindergarten Cadre Meeting

May 27th will be the last Cadre meeting of the school year with mentor kindergarten teacher Katie Nelson at Salem Heights Elementary.  Our topic is “What do the most effective “Kid Writing” classrooms look like?”  Janis Wurgler and Nellie Edge will facilitate. You will enjoy seeing Charlie the Turtle who is receiving adoring letters from his new kindergarten friends.

Those of you who missed our “living room seminar”, March 10th – not to worry.  I intend to repeat it before school starts next Fall. There are many important things to have in place before school starts and it is helpful to tie all the literacy pieces together around “Books that Sing and Rhyme,” a focus on fluency, high expectations and parent connections.

I will keep you posted. Please make sure all of you are receiving the monthly Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy e-newsletter at your home address. If not, you can sign up here.

Surprise! This letter is arriving before April Fools Day!

Smiles!

Nellie Edge