Classroom Library Organization

Hello Teachers,

It is August.  Time to enjoy the summer breeze and begin to think about your classroom environments once again.  I want to devote some posts this month to organizing our classrooms to support student independence.  I can see that you like the classroom library photos, so I will post a few more of those today.  Many thanks to Phyllis for allowing me to share these photos from her classroom.  Click here to see more classroom library pictures.

A few tips for your library:

• Put out the books your students in need.  The baskets should represent the range of readers in your room.  

• Make sure the labels on the books are clear and consistent.
• Sort your nonfiction books into baskets with interesting categories and invite your students to make and resort the baskets with you.  I like to have the books in these nonfiction baskets leveled when possible.

• You can place author bins and other topical baskets on separate shelves (for example, an "Authors We Love" shelf, a "Partner Reading" shelf, and an "Ideas We Love" shelf) so kids understand the organization.  You may want to unveil this section and these baskets after you read books with these favorite authors and themes (perhaps in read aloud or in a unit of study that involves partners reading the same books) so kids know how to browse these sections, how to look and pictures and retell the stories, and where to put them back when they are finished.

Summer Reading Lists for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade Readers

Hello Teachers and Families,

I read a comment this week from a follower wondering about summer reading lists for young readers and I wanted to follow up with a few suggestions to keep young and budding readers reading over the summer.  It can be tricky to find leveled books to match the needs of our youngest readers.  I have a few series suggestions for teachers and families.  First, check your child's report card to see if the teacher mentioned a reading level.  If you aren't sure the level, read a few of these series to your child at the bookstore or the library and you'll be sure to find the right match when your child begins to read along with you.  I like to recommend series books for the summer because once a reader is hooked, he will have plenty of books to read!  In other words, it builds stamina easily.

Books that you can easily find at your child’s independent reading level:

Level C and D Readers: 

Brand New Readers Series

click here for information about ordering.  My favorite characters are Piggy and Daddy, Worm, Termite, and Mouse.  Adults will even find these simple books laugh out loud funny.  

Level E and F Readers:

Puppy Mudge Series by Cynthia Rylant

Tiny Series by Cari Meister

Kipper Series by Mick Inkpen

Level G and H Readers:

Turtle and Snake Series by Kate Spohn

Biscuit Series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Fly Guy Series by Tedd Arnold

 

 

Level I and J Readers: 

Dragon Series by Dav Pilkey  

Poppleton series by Cynthia Rylant

Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

Fox Series by Edward Marshall

Level K and L Readers

Commander Toad by Jane Yolen

Arthur Series by Lillian Hoban

Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel

Pinky and Rex series by James Howe

 

Some websites that will support oral language development and nonfiction reading:

National Geographic for Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

 PBS Kids http://pbskids.org/ 

 

And, if you are planning for summer bookstore or library time this week to get out of the heat, here are some books that kids and adults love to talk about together.  Remember that your kids are NEVER too old for read aloud.  They love hearing the sound of your voice and talking about books with you!  Happy reading!

Read Aloud Titles:

Keller, Holly  Sophie’s Window.  Greenwillow, 2005.

Fleming, Denise. Buster. Henry Holt, 2003. Ages 4 - 7

Montenegro, Laura Nyman. A Bird About to Sing. Houghton Mifflin, 2003. Ages 5 – 8

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, editor. Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins: Creature Poems. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. HarperCollins, 2002.

O'Connell George, Kristine. Little Dog Poems.

Marshall, James.  George and Martha.  Houghton Mifflin, 1974.

Marshall, James.  George and Martha Round and Round.  Houghton Mifflin, 1991.

Marshall, James.  George and Martha One Fine Day.  Houghton Mifflin, 1982.

Waber, Bernard.  Bearsie Bear and the Surprise Sleepover Party.  Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books; Reprint edition.  2002.  

 

Visiting NYC for a TCRWP Institute?

Are you looking for some after-institute fun?  I have some of my favorites listed here for all of you.

Casual dinner with a great view?
Take the 1 train to 59th street and enter the Shops at Columbus Circle.  Then take the escalator up to the third floor for Bouchon Bakery.  This will be close to Times Square (walk down Broadway after dinner for good Times Square at night photos) and provide some time for shopping too.

Going down to SoHo?
I have a few favorite places in this neighborhood.
My new FAVORITE NYC restaurant is The Dutch.  It is on the corner of Sullivan and Spring Streets.  You can take the downtown A,C, or E train to Spring Street.  Get there at 5:00 if you don't want to wait.    This restaurant is close to The Angelika, a small movie theatre that plays limited released films.  It might be a great after dinner, air-conditioned treat.

Dinner and a show in midtown or Times Square fun and an inexpensive place to eat:

I love Memphis.  This musical is inspiring and filled with great music.  Before or after the show, you can get dinner in one of may great restaurants on 8th and 9th avenue.  Here are some good bets:

Vynl on 9th ave and 51st street

Eatery on 9th and 53rd street

Toloache  on 8th and 50th street

El Centro on 9th and 54th street

Are you looking for something a little sweet after school or after dinner?  Try some of my favorite bakeries:

Crumbs for cupcakes.  Various locations.  There is one on Columbus Ave near 98th Street, another on 75th and Amsterdam, another on 52nd and Broadway, and several other locations in NYC.

Levain Bakery  Hands down, my favorite cookies in NYC.  This bakery is tiny so be careful to look for the little sign.  You'll find them on 74th street just off the corner of Amsterdam Ave. (right around the corner from a market)

Magnolia Bakery  I love the banana pudding from Magnolia.  And the ice box cake too...  Yum.  Go here if you are headed to Rockefeller Center (see the plaza, the Today show, the Top of the Rock, etc.).  There are other locations, but this location on 49th street and Avenue of the Americas is a good one.   You can also find them on Columbus and 69th Street.

Check back throughout this week for more fun NYC ideas!

Summer Reads for Teachers and Coaches

Hello Friends,

For many of you this month signals the end of one school year and the beginning of another.  I want to give you a great big THANK YOU on behalf of the students you teach!  

As you sort through placement cards, cumulative records, and report cards for this year's class, you can't help but think ahead to the kids who will gather at your meeting area in September.  Even if you have 4-8 weeks away from school this summer, I know you will be thinking of the year ahead.  That's what we do.  So, with that in mind, I have a summer reading list for you - filled with lots of fun reads for you, both professional and to help you connect again with your own reading life.

I get several text recommendations from Amanda at her blog Reading Myself Into the Word.  This year she gave me two of the books I put on this list.  Thanks Amanda!

Now, on with the list!

My favorite NF book this year was a tie between Born to Run and Play.  Both books inspired me to think hard about the parts of teaching that feel playful to me.  Born to Run is not just a book for runners.  It is for all of us who need a story of hope and a story of defying odds.  It is also a great example of how a writer turns a simple question or wondering into a big project, one that reaches to several continents and helps readers meet a cast of interesting people who will live with you as you read.

 

Play is a must-read if you are thinking about recapturing that child-like joy over the summer and carrying it with you into the next school year.  It is written by a doctor who has investigated the science of play, emotions, joy, and productivity.  It is easy to read and gives you opportunities to think about the kind of play you want to put back in your life if they are missing.

I should also say that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was one of my favorite reads this year.  I admire Rebecca Skloot's tenacity as a writer with each and every page I read.  She weaves beautiful narrative passages and information text in a way that we can all read, react, and synthesize.  If you need a good book club book this summer, I love this one.

This summer, I am planning to read the NF text, Moonwalking With Einstein.  Read along with me and post your comments!

I also love to have some humor in my tote bag or on my nightstand.  I highly recommend the book People Are Unappealing.  It is a memoir, filled with short stories of a young woman's life in Brooklyn, NY.  You will laugh out loud when you read this book.  I think it is perfect for reading at the pool, while the kids are taking a swimming lesson, or on a plane ride.

I am also planning to read Bossypants by Tina Fey this summer.  I am sure we'll get some good laughs in that one.  If you missed Let The Great World Spin or Freedom last summer, and/or want a great fiction read, I can recommend both.  Both have interesting text structures and plot lines that push you to read, "just a few more pages."





I also want to tackle a few professional books this summer.  Katie Wood Ray's book In Pictures and In Words has been on my list as well as Engaging Young Writers: Preschool - Grade 1 by Matt Glover.  I'm also in the middle of Comprehension Going Forward.  I think all three of these will be a good shot in the arm.  I love each of these authors (the third book is a collection of authors) because reading their books makes it seem like I am in a conversation with each of them.  They have a great ability to talk directly to their readers and give honest and practical advise.  

Happy Reading Everyone!

Summer Reading and Writing Projects

You can have worked so hard to support your students' growth in reading and writing this year.  Now you'll want to send them off for the summer with their bags filled with ideas for summer reading and writing. 

Kelly, a first grade teacher, and her students spent the final days of the school year last June making summer reading and writing plans.  Here are some photos from her room and some tips on making your own summer reading and writing kits.

Remember that summer reading and writing is all about independent projects.  Kids can think about the following:

• What can I make all by myself?
• What favorite authors/series do I want to read?
• What topic do I want to learn more about this summer?
• What tools will I need?
• Where can I keep my tools?

Kelly's class decorated simple tote bags with fabric markers to hold their summer plans.

They took home blank calendars for the months of July and August and jotted some of the things they might do over the summer. 

Then they used the calendars to dream up some of the writing they would like to make.  For example, if they knew that they were spending a week at grandma's house and grandma has cats, they might decide to make an All About Cats book at her house.  Or, if they really loved the poetry unit and they knew that they were going to be at a summer camp or day care program, they might take several sheets of poetry paper to make an anthology.  Be sure your kids plan for several projects to create over the summer. 

Kelly's class used old charts from previous units to make decisions about the writing they will make over the summer.  They could choose from a paper buffet that included the following:

• Small moments and fiction story booklets
• All About book paper choices
• Poetry paper 
• Letter writing paper
• How to Paper

Kids can also imagine audiences for their summer writing projects.  Kids will most definitely do their summer writing projects if they have someone to send their story/letter/book/poem to in the mail.  Kelly's class made these simple address books so kids could collect (with family permission) the addresses of friends and family.

You'll also want to fill the kits with tools (besides paper) that will help kids follow through with their summer reading and writing plans.  You might include the following:

• Pens and pencils
• Copies of your word wall, alphabet charts, or other spelling tools that have supported kids
• Strategy charts from some of the units that kids have found helpful
• Phone numbers of writing buddies or partners (with family permission)
• Library card
• List of favorite books/authors/genres
• Small summer reading log 

One of my favorite blogs, Tiny Reader, has lots more great ideas for summer reading and  writing kits.  Click here for the post.  

Look for another post soon about creative ways to get students to read over the summer including a post about making a summer reading DVD for kindergarten and first graders as well as making summer reading plans for yourself. 

Poetry Charts Part 2

Hello Teachers,

We all want our students to write one poem after another during our poetry unit of study.  We hope that they choose meaningful topics and look at the world with a sense of wonder.  You can give them some mentors who do this such as Georgia Heard and Valarie Worth.  And, you can chart some of the same strategies these poets use on charts for your young writers. 

Two examples of these charts are shown below.  Thanks to Bianca, one of our followers, for sharing these!  You'll notice that the second chart was used to help kids make songs too.

We also know it is important to have examples of poems up in the classroom so kids can see the writing craft that their mentors use.  Bianca shared this example of a Valarie Worth poem with me.  Notice how she and her students highlighted some craft the author has used.  Now, with coaching, the students can try some of these things themselves.

This Valerie Worth poem, Coins, can be found in her book tall the small poems and fourteen more.  it is filled with great poems to use in your k-2 writing workshop.

Poetry Charts

Hello Poets,

Lucy Calkins and Stephanie Parsons teach us that poets often write about deep feelings with honest and precise language in their beautiful minilessons in Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages.  I love the way they ask kids to be honest with the words they choose.

I have been wondering how I can capture some of the things that poets do, like using honest and precise language, and create some strategy charts to go along with the minilessons I teach.  I want the young poets I teach to be able to write poems about big feelings too, and to have some ways of finding honest and precise words.  The following is a chart that a first grade class and I made together this week to help us write poems with big feelings using honest and precise words.

Happy writing.  I hope you and your writers enjoy this time to celebrate poetry with one another!