1. Visit Our Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy Award Sites - 2009

We are proud to share our 2009 Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy Award winners’ websites. The classroom environments captured in these inspiring, up-to-date sites reflect:

• A caring and responsive teacher who honors childhood.
• High expectations and joyful meaning-centered learning.
• Authentic engagement in music, literature, literacy, and the arts.
• A beautiful and alive classroom that makes children smile, teachers smile, and parents SMILE.

This year, we are delighted to add three amazing kindergarten colleagues and their informative websites to our literacy awards: Congratulations Wendy Manninen, Laura Flocker, and Joan Moser! These teachers share a unique passion for excellence—and high learning expectations. Technology allows us to share in
 their teaching gifts.

 In the suburbs of Boston, musician Wendy Manninen’s kindergartners and their 6th grade buddies sing and sign
  “Pure Imagination”. (Wendy is playfully exploring technology with this new site.)

 From Salem, Oregon, enjoy art, science and deep literacy connections with Reading Recovery® trained, teacher-
 artist Laura Flocker. See Folktale Unit and Images of Kindergarten.

 From the nationally celebrated website “Daily Café” reflect on the video clip, Conferring with a Beginning Reader
 with master kindergarten teacher, literacy coach, and coauthor of the “The Daily 5”, Joan Moser from
 Kent, Washington.

 Visit our entire list of annotated 2009 Literacy Award and Other Favorite Kindergarten Websites and...

Reach for the stars with the lives of your children.

 For more information about our philosophy of Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy, visit:

• Defining Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy
• The SMILE Approach to Joyful Accelerated Literacy
• Photo Essay: Accelerate Literacy Through Joyful Learning
• Celebrate Language and Accelerate Literacy Articles

2. Honoring the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. can be understood and honored even by young children. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught people to solve problems nonviolently. He promoted love and brotherhood. Retired kindergarten teacher Joanie Cutler shares books and stories about Martin Luther King, Jr. After much discussion, she encourages her children to apply Dr. King’s teachings by noticing when their kindergarten friends solve problems peacefully and show fairness and kindness at school. These acts are recorded on 1" x 6" strips of paper: red for acts of kindness or white for acts of peace. These are linked into a growing chain that honors the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. and adorns the classroom. A letter including strips of white and red paper chain links was sent to parents asking them to record the acts and reinforces these same traits at home, and the links were sent back to school for the growing chain. “We hope with your efforts and our own to set these traits as habits that will enrich the life of your child, and through them benefit out society.” -Joanie Cutler

• For the parents as partners letter, see Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.: Acts of Kindness.
• For more information about Martin Luther King, Jr. see Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Civil Rights Movement
• Here is a poem from our January Poetry Themes

3. Writing Teaches Reading in Kindergarten: Resources

We think this makes a great New Year's Literacy goal: “No matter what, let them write every day!” from Katie Wood Ray, author of About the Authors: Writing Workshop with our Younger Writers ( see book excerpts)

Visit the amazing Kid Writing site for inspiration:
Daily “Kid Writing” with adult underwriting is the vehicle to systematically teach phonics and build reading skills through meaningful engagement. Check out the Kid Writing Wall of Fame and Writing Display.

See Kid Writing Sampler e-Book (Many teachers and literacy coaches have downloaded all thirty full-color pages for an inspiring look at how writing teaches reading in kindergarten.)

See “Kid Writing” video clips with Julie Lay (Now reformatted for easier viewing)

• Introducing “Kid Writing”: First Lesson
• A “Kid Writing” workshop
• Kid Writing Conference and Sharing

Please email info@nellieedge.com if there are specific writing strategies you would like to see captured on our “best practices” video clips from accomplished kindergarten teachers.

Share Kindergarten Writing rubrics and News Story Writing with parents:

See photo essay with Julie Lay, “Writing to Read in Kindergarten II”

Create a culture for kindergarten writing:

See photo essay, Becky Leber’s Writing Centers
View and download complimentary e-book: Joyful Writing-to-Read in Kindergarten

Study the art of teaching kindergarten writing with Julie Lay:

Both new and experienced kindergarten teachers tell us Julie’s training is “the best!”

Writing-to-Read in Kindergarten: Explore the Power of “Kid Writing” with Julie Lay

Edmonds, WA - February 28, 2009

See Writing to Read Seminar Flier
See the photo essay “Writing-to-Read Part 1”

Future Writing To Read Seminars

• Spokane, WA – April 18, 2009 (tentative)
• Bend, OR – May 2, 2009 (tentative)

We are seeking to hear from literacy coordinators and teachers in order to finalize these arrangements.  Email info@nellieedge.com for information about bringing this seminar to your area in 2009.

July 2009—dates to be announced

• Portland, OR
• Cherry Hill, NJ
• Chapel Hill, NC

4. Oregon Reading Association Conference: February 6 and 7, 2009

Literacy: Reaching New Heights
The 2009 Oregon Reading Conference continues to bring “best practices” and thoughtful dialog to Portland, Oregon. Join us February 6 and 7. See http://www.oregonread.org/annualconf09.html for more information.

• Katie Wood Ray (one of our favorite authors) is among the featured presenters this year.
• I will be presenting a workshop Saturday at 11:30 a.m.: (stop by and say “hello”!)

Discover The Magic of Signing Songs: Enhance All Children's Language, Literacy, Fluency, and Joy!
ORA Conference, presented by Nellie Edge, February 7, 2009.

Signing songs helps build an active, joyful community of learners. It keeps students engaged and focused while building enthusiasm and motivation for learning. Add American Sign Language (ASL) to your ABC/phonics and spelling programs, and use ASL for effective class management.  Learn to sign The Pledge of Allegiance, ABC Phonics: Sing, Sign, and Read, You Are My Sunshine, What A Wonderful World, and more! Connect oral language to print. Plan now for memorable parent performances and year-end celebrations of language.

A Complimentary Full-Color e-Book: The Magic of Signing Songs featuring research, strategies, and ASL Instructional Guides from the presentation will be available on our website in February of 2009 for all of our newsletter subscribers.

5. Salem Kindergarten Cadre: Student-Led Conferences

January 26, 2009 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Student-led Conferences with Lisa Young and Continued Dialog About Implementing “The Daily 5”
Marion Miller Elementary, 1650 - 46th Place SE, Salem, OR 97317, (503) 399-3332.

Lisa will show her ongoing literacy assessment organization, which allows her to be ready for student-led conferences in the spring. You will also love seeing how Lisa organizes her songs on an iPod to support her language and music-rich, “Kid Writing” environment! Nellie Edge and Janis Wurgler will continue the dialog about implementing
“The Daily 5”.

Our Kindergarten Cadre Friends will receive a copy of my book, Parents as Partners in Kindergarten and Early Literacy: Family Connections that Multiply Our Teaching Effectiveness, thanks to Janis Wurgler and Salem-Keizer schools.  (Chapter Fourteen is about Student-led Parent Conferences).

It is a pleasure to send off a January newsletter (two days ahead of time!) to teachers who share our vision for really good first teaching.

Smiles for a joyful 2009!
Nellie Edge