Real Books for
Real Readers
Higher! Higher!
by Leslie Patricelli.
(Candlewick Press, 2009)
|
|
See below! |
New Book Release
Our new book and CD "ABC Phonics: Sing, Sign, and Read!" will be out next week! We will send an e-Blast to you the moment the amazing complimentary video tutorials are online. The book will be available in our Online
Bookstore—Yes! |
 |
Newsletter Friends Special
$50 coupon towards Read and Sing Big Books™ & Anthologies,
when you register by April 20, 2010 for a summer seminar.
Read more information and register online.
The coupon will be sent to you upon registering. |
Update Request!
Please take a second to update your account with your state, so that we may send you location specific information. |
|
Update Now. |
|
1. The Earth is Wet: Celebrate the Seasons with Poetry |
|
The Earth is Wet
The earth is wet.
The sky is gray.
It looks like it
Will rain all day. |
|
by Karla Kuskin |
|
|
 |
|
Whether the Weather
Whether the weather be fine
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not. |
|
traditional |
|
|
See Songs and Rhymes for a Rainy Day,
A Nellie Edge Read and Sing Big Book™ in our
Online Bookstore. |
Yes, it rains in Oregon, and once again, we are hoping that April showers bring May flowers! Consider greeting your children at the door with a small poem reflecting the weather or the changing seasons.
See article:
Wondrous Words About the Weather: A Poetry Ritual
Parents as Partners:
Learning the Language of Weather
April is Poetry Month!
Weave poetry into your ongoing science adventures. Here is our expanding collection for your Poetry "I Can Read" Notebook:
When children memorize, recite, and perform the words of carefully selected poetry, they develop English language fluency with the most exquisite language we speak; they practice high-frequency words and phonics in an authentic context;
and, most importantly, they develop a love for the sounds of language.
-
Community is served when children learn things “by heart.”
-
Owning wonderful words enlivens the art of speaking and writing.
What words do you carry on the walls of your mind from childhood? Let's help our children paint words in their own memories that will last a lifetime! |
|
2. Oviparous and Metamorphosis: Voracious Vocabulary |
|
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
(Used with permission.)
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
(Used with permission.)
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
See Diane Bonica’s
Science Gallery
|
|
3. Earth Day and April Science Connections |
|
April 22 is date of the annual Earth Day. 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"
Tune: 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
I love the Earth: “I Can Read” anthology page
Explore the Earth Day Unit: Thank you, Terry Tunkel at Calico Cookie
Here is a great link on recycled inventions for your Earth Day theme or year-round Kindergarten Recycled Inventions.
See
photos and
parent take-home letter from Mrs. Brittany Buchel's Kindergarten class.
Some Direct Links to Spring Science Themes
Oviparous Animals
Insects
|
|
4. Mentor Kindergarten Teachers Who Sing and Sign! |
|
The most inspiring kindergarten teachers we know sing and sign to create celebrations of language! Children memorize, recite, and perform language. It is these joyful oral language foundations that boost the
children’s literacy skills.
Wendy Mannehan from Boston is one of the award-winning kindergarten teacher-artists who flew out to Oregon to study The Magic of Signing Songs Seminar with us. Enjoy this
delightful video of her kindergartners singing several of our favorite seminar songs.
Learn about
THE MAGIC OF SIGNING SONGS SEMINAR.
See Photo Essay:
Wendy Mannehan Sings, Signs, and Celebrates Language |
|
5. Real Books for Real Readers |
|
There is nothing as motivating to a beginning reader as real library-type books with engaging illustrations and delightful language. While it may be helpful for emergent readers to experience the predictable security of a few leveled
readers with a very limited text, children know the difference between these “practice reading texts” and real books: the kind you choose and can’t wait to take home and read with your family—over
and over again. Often, the motivation alone pushes children to a higher level of reading fluency, because they delight in reading real literature again and again.
We found this to be true with our “Elephant and Piggie” books by Mo Willems. The children were so engaged with the hilarious stories that they loved reading them to at least three appreciative listeners, who signed their
initials the on special Elephant and Piggie Book Club Bag.
See :
The Elephant and Piggie Book Club.
For a look at some of our other favorite “Real Books” for Beginning Readers, see our Children’s Literature Book Lists:
Favorite Predictable Books: The Classics
Favorite Predictable Books: New Titles
|
|
6. April & May: Salem Kindergarten Cadre Meetings |
Celebrate Language and Literacy!
with Katie Nelson, Marcia Zegar, and Nellie Edge
April 19, 2010 (Monday): 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Salem Heights Elementary, 3495 Liberty Rd S, Salem, Oregon 97302.
School phone number is (503) 399-3187. Come early if you can!
This will be a fast-paced “learn by doing” workshop where you will experience life in Katie Nelson’s joyful and literate kindergarten. We will sing and sign, engage in “Kid Writing” Workshop, and experience
“The Daily 4,” along with favorite literacy and word work centers. Bring your cameras! Katie will share the initial results of her award-winning literacy grant. This practical meeting is a synopsis of what will later be an
all-day kindergarten workshop with Katie Nelson. (Note: This meeting lasts until 6:30 p.m., and you are encouraged to come early.)
Art, Science, Literacy, and the Kindergarten Child: Continued Explorations and Inspiration from an Arts-Rich Kindergarten
with Laura Flocker and Nellie Edge
May 10, 2010 (Monday): 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Candalaria Elementary
935 Hansen Avenue South, Salem, Oregon 97302.
School Phone is (503) 399-3136
Learn more from master kindergarten-researcher, teacher-artist, Reading Recovery® teacher Laura Flocker about our action-research on kindergarten-friendly handwriting and brain exercises to build fluency with letters, words, and
reading. How do we teach children to see like an artist and think like a scientist? What are the best art materials to use? What are some simple framing ideas? Laura will demonstrate how she weaves art, science, and literacy connections
throughout the curriculum. Learn how Laura organizes parent volunteers. Look through several beautiful “I Can Read” Notebooks and Year-End Memory Books. (Bring one of your own to share!) Come early and have an opportunity to
visit Kate Anderson’s joyful kindergarten classroom again too! Bring your cameras!
|
Surprise! This letter is arriving before April Fools Day!
Smiles!
Nellie Edge |
|
