Create Lessons Easily on Blendspace

A "NEW to ME" teacher resource came to my attention at a recent professional seminair I attended on Saturday, it's called Blendspace.  Its easy to use and has so many practical applications in the classroom.  Check out the LESSON we created below or hop on over to Blendspace and check it out for yourself.  As always let us know what you think of this resource, and don't forget to check out our STEM Problem Based Unit we created on our newest page!

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Resource: Your Next Read

Your Next Read is a great resource to discover a book you'd like to read next, using a book you liked.  It's so simple to use, and I've found the recommendations to be excellent.  Check it out, and let us know your thoughts about Your Next Read here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

New Page: Teaching the Short Story

Checkout our new page:

Teaching the Short Story:  Thank You Ma'am by Langston Hughes, All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury. Although this is still a work in process there are some excellent teaching resources, which have already been added to aid teachers and home schoolers in teaching these two short stories.  If you are looking for additional resources to teach story elements such as plot, visit our Elements of Fiction and Teacher Resources page.  Stop by and visit our newest page and let us know what you think here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

Summer Literacy Challenge!

Summer Literacy Challenge!

By: Reading Rockets

 

For most parents, it's a challenge to keep kids reading and writing all summer. Suddenly 10 weeks of summer can feel like a very long time! We've got a summer literacy challenge for you and your child. It's modest enough to be manageable — pick just one thing a week to kick start your week's literacy adventures. But it's also challenging enough to include a wide range of literacy fun for the whole family.-Reading Rockets

Read the full article at Reading Rockets.  Here are some ideas mentioned that will make for some fun learning over the summer:

• Investigate your public library's summer reading program
• Listen up! Audiobooks are a great way to engage readers and can introduce students to books above their reading level-Speakaboos.com, offers free audio books for children.
• Make your own audio book!
• Go wordless. Wordless picture books are told entirely through their illustrations.
• Visit a museum, online! You'll be surprised by how much you can explore without leaving your house. One example is the Smithsonian Institution Kids site.
• Pack in a whole adventure! Find FREE themed reading adventure packs that encourage hands-on fun and learning, centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books. Visit the Reading Rockets Adventure Pack page. 
• Point, shoot, and write.
• Explore author interviews from over 100 authors on Reading Rockets Author Interview page.
• Write it down. Encourage your child to keep a simple journal or summer diary.

Let us know if you try any of these over the next few weeks.  We'd love to know how they worked out for you!

Happy Reading

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

 

Best Resource for Critical Thinking!

Film English is the brainchild of teacher, trainer and author Kieran Donaghy (view Kieran’s LinkedIn profile).
The site promotes the innovative and creative use of film in language learning. All of the lesson plans revolve around the use of video and film to teach English. The site promotes cineliteracy, the ability to analyse moving images, and considers cineliteracy as a 21st century skill which our students need to learn. In addition, the lessons promote critical thinking in the language classroom, and encourage learners to reflect on values while learning a language.
Film English has become a very popular resource bank and is visited by over 50,000 teachers every month. It has received critical acclaim winning various awards, including winner of Best Individual Blog and Runner-up in The Best Use of Video in the 2011 Edublog Awards; the 2011 TEFL.net Site of the Year; and British Council Teaching English Featured Blog of the Month. It also won an ELTons awards for Innovation in Teacher Resources in 2013.

Click on over to Film English you won't regret it!  Let us know what you think of this great resource here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy Reading and Happy Blogoversary to
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Summer Reading Resources

Check out some of these suggestions for Students and Parents provided by the Virginia Library!

__________________________________________________________________________

FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS

Demonstrate the Power of Words

Here are some simple things you can do to develop a lifelong love of reading, writing and learning:

• Read and write for pleasure.
• Read the newspaper.
• Read a book.
• Write a group letter or email to family or friends
• Talk about steps in projects or chores and explain why you’re doing them.
• Review maps for a family trip.
• Listen to audiobooks in the car.
• Write notes, make lists.

Research shows that children who read for pleasure in the summer do better and forget less when they go back to school. And it's not just in reading. Kids who don't read over the summer can slide backward in all subject areas. This means the summer months and other breaks from school offer great opportunities for families and caregivers to help improve reading and writing.

Keep Learning Alive in the Old Dominion This Summer

Download a Summer Learning flyer available in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) orbookmark (PDF).

Here are some ideas to support learning all summer.

Reading

Find a Book – Create a custom list of books at your child’s reading level and take the list to your local library or a nearby book store.

• Go to Find a Book and enter the child’s grade level.
• Pick the child’s interest categories and view/refine the search results.
• Print the child’s custom reading list and take it with you to your local public library or bookstore.

Dig Into Reading – Contact your local public library to find out more about the Library of Virginia’s summer reading program. A list of public libraries in Virginia is available.

DaybyDayVa – For daily activities related to reading, check out the Library of Virginia’s Family Literacy Calendar.

Find it Virginia – Free, round-the-clock access to resources – such as newspapers, magazine articles, journal articles and books including encyclopedias – may be found through the Library of Virginia’s Find It Virginia. Materials are available for all age ranges and interests. For summer learning, these links might be of interest:

• Fact Monster
• For Kids
• Kids Click

Any of these work for you?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read! 

Happy Reading!

Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

The Artist's Way for Parents

Click HERE

“The Artist’s Way focuses on a creative recovery. We re-over the ground we have traveled in our past. THE ARTIST’S WAY FOR PARENTS focuses on creative cultivation, where we consciously—and playfully—put our children on a healthy creative path toward the future.”
—Julia Cameron

We are big fans of The Artist's Way and we were so surprised to see that Julia Cameron has now offered her guidance to parents and children.  We can't wait to use this resource with our children at home and in the classroom.  Like Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."  Julia Cameron helps everyone find the inner artist within.



Since its publication over twenty years ago, Julia Cameron’s revolutionary bestseller, The Artist’s Way, has inspired millions—including notables like Alicia Keys, Steven Tyler and Jessica Simpson—and has become the go-to program for artists of all skill levels. Now, Cameron brings readers the most anticipated and requested addition to her canon of work on creativity: THE ARTIST’S WAY FOR PARENTS. In its pages, readers will find an enriching program that parents can enter and re-enter at any pace and at any point in their children’s early years. Focused on parents and children from infancy to twelve years, THE ARTIST’S WAY FOR PARENTS has its roots firmly planted in The Artist’s Way and brings those creativity tools to the next generation. It offers practical exercises to spark innovation, curiosity and connection, and assists parents as they guide their children to greater creativity and, ultimately, greater self-awareness.



Click HERE

Let us know if you are familiar with Julia Cameron's body of work.  Better yet, let us know if this sounds like a resource for you!

Happy Reading!

The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!



Three of the Best Poetry Websites

A Dozen of the Best Poetry Websites 

In recognition of National Poetry Month here are three of the best poetry resources the web has to offer, according to BookBrowse.

General Poetry Sites

Poetryfoundation.org. The Poetry Foundation has a huge selection of poems supported by substantial biographical info. I particularly enjoyed browsing poems by geographical region. It's the sort of site that you could dip in for a couple of minutes or a couple of days.

Poemhunter.com. Whether you're looking for themed quotes, the lyrics to an almost forgotten song, to revisit a favorite poem or discover new poets, this vast resource of over 800,000 poems and 80,000 poets will deliver the goods. You can sign up to receive the poem of the day by email and, once you create your free account, catalog your favorite poems for future reference.

Poets.org is affiliated with the Academy of American Poets. At first glance, it seems a little less welcoming than the two sites mentioned already, but when I started digging in its resources are great, not least the very cool regional map of the USA, including bios of key poets, poetry events, poetry-friendly bookstores, and poetry history. The Academy of American Poets inaugurated National Poetry Month so, unsurprisingly, they're also a great resource for that as well.

Want more recommendations Click HERE

What poetry site would you add to the list?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

National Poetry Month

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

April is National Poetry Month: The Rime of the Modern Mariner

Books on the Nightstand made this recent recommendation for April...Check it out!

The Rime of the Modern Mariner is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Nick Hayes. It recasts Coleridge’s poem as an ecological fable for today. The illustrations, done in shades of blue and black, are simply stunning! (This link has some interior images)

National Poetry Month

Do you have any tips for writing poetry?  We'd love to hear them.  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

National Poetry Month Continues with @PenguinUSA

Follow Penguin on Twitter for National Poetry Month 

The team behind @PenguinUSA on Twitter has put together a grand campaign to celebrate National Poetry Month 2013. Follow us on Twitter beginning April 1st to join in sharing daily poetic verse culled from Penguin's wealth of poetry collections spanning the ages...from ancient times to modern times. There’ll be daily giveaways, too! 

Browse our new Pinterest board of Penguin poetry titles.

Check out the Poetry Month app Poems By Heart from Penguin Classics and watch the video 

Think you can read a poem with the best of them? Prove it! Email us your recitation of William Blake's "Eternity" or William Shakespeare's "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and you'll be entered for a chance to win over five hundred dollars' worth of Penguin poetry titles!

Let us know what you plan to do to celebrate National Poetry Month!

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

National Poetry Month Continues

Writing Poetry with English Language Learners

Poetry gives students a chance to play with language and vocabulary. Although writing poetry can be intimidating, this article recommends some poetry forms just for beginners, including writing group poems and acrostics. Read the article to discover many other poetry forms, and find the approach that works best for your students!-Adlit.org

National Poetry Month

Do you have any tips for writing poetry?  We'd love to hear them.  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

National Poetry Month Continues

Using Poetry to Teach Reading

Start with humorous poems that rhyme! That's the first piece of advice in this easy-to-read guide to using more poetry in your classroom. Other advice includes tips for choosing poems, how to manage poetry readings, and how to avoid breaking copyright laws when you copy poems for class.-Adlit.org

Do you have any tips for writing poetry?  We'd love to hear them.  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

More: April is National Poetry Month

Poetry is a wonderful way for students to explore language, and April is National Poetry Month!  If you're looking for ways to incorporate more poetry reading and writing into your classroom, we've got you covered, with suggestions ranging from the Library of Congress to book recommendations and more.  Check out: Teaching Poetry with the Library of Congress

Looking for ways to celebrate National Poetry Month? Poems can be a great way to assess student learning. The Library of Congress Found Poetry Primary Source Set supports students in honing their reading and historical comprehension skills by creating poetry based on informational text and images — with topics as diverse as Helen Keller, Walt Whitman, women's suffrage, and the Harlem Renaissance.

Let us know what you plan to do to celebrate National Poetry Month!

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

Wordless Picture Books

Sharing Wordless Picture Books

A book with no words. It almost sounds like a contradiction in terms. However, wordless picture books can be a very enjoyable and beneficial addition to your child's bookshelf, whatever your child's age.

What are some of the advantages?  Well, according to Reading Rockets:

Sharing wordless books is a terrific way to build important literacy skills, including listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension and an increased awareness of how stories are structured. 

Have you read wordless picture books to your children?  Let us know why or why not?  Looking for a good one to try?  Checkout Arrival:

The Arrival

by Shaun Tan

4.33 of 5

In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family.

Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy.

Hardcover, 128 pages

Published October 12th 2007 by Lothian Books

ISBN

0734406940 (ISBN13: 9780734406941)

edition language

English

original title

The Arrival

url

http://www.shauntan.net/books.html

literary awards

Hugo Award Nominee for Best Related Book (2008), Locus Award for Best Art Book (2008), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2007), New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards for Book of the Year & Community Relations Commission Award (2007), Australian Book Industry Award for Australian Book of the Year for Older Children (2007)

Western Australian Premier's Book Award for Overall Winner & Childrens Book (2006), Children's Book Council of Australia Awards for Picture Book of the Year (2007), Parents' Choice Award for Fiction - Gold Award (2007), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2008), Australia Publishers Association (APA) Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Book Design Awards for The Scholastic Australia Best Designed Children's Picture Book, The Hardie Grant Egmont Best Designed Children's Book Cover and Highly Commended for the McPherson's Printing Group Best Designed Cover of the Year (2007), Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Short Story & Golden Aurealis for Best Short Story (2006), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2008), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Special Citation (2008), Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards (2007)

Resources: 

Reading Rockets

Children's Books and Reading

Read Write Think

Happy Reading!

The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Did You Know? March is National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month!

Yes, I Repeat, It's National Reading Month 

5 Reading Strategies

March is National Reading Month!  So with that in mind, checkout these reading-related blogs:

Burying the Book Report: 5 More Book Report Alternatives
Let’s face it, there are only so many book reports a teacher can read in a lifetime; here
are five alternatives.

I read it, but I don't understand it: 4 reading strategies that work
Learn about a collaborative reading strategy we gleaned from Janette Klingner, Sharon 
Vaughn, Alison Boardman and Elizabeth Swanson called “Click and Clunk.”


Teaching Reading Means Teaching Students to LOVE Reading
Most of us excel at something when we truly love it. Raw talent, natural inclination and 
drive help, but passion is an inextricable part of success. What if we applied this 
principal to teaching reading?

5 Tips for Creating an Effective Classroom Library
Early Literacy Education scholars suggest that the classroom library should literally 
be “the backbone of classroom activity.” Here are five strategies to consider as 
you design (or redesign) your classroom library.

Creating Avid Readers: 5 Reading Strategies for Parents & Teachers
There is a lot teachers can do to nurture a love of reading in their students, but 
we certainly can’t do it all. Here are five simple reading strategies for teachers 
and parents.

Any of these work for you?  Let us know!

Again, Happy National Reading Month!

Happy Reading!

Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!