In Focus: Poetry Children are naturally drawn to humor, rhyme, and rhythm, and these are all found in poetry. Learn how to use poetry to motivate kids to read and as a tool to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Go to article > Many ELLs come from cultural backgrounds rich in poetry and folktales. Discover ways to use poems to introduce or practice new vocabulary, language structures, and rhyming devices. Go to article > "A little glop, a little goop…" Discover a delightful new poem from this special edition of Silverstein's well-loved anthology A Light in the Attic, plus an animated sampler of other published work and ideas for bring Silverstein's poetry into your classroom. Go to resources >
Find many more resources in our Poetry section.
Books & Authors Whether writing about llamas in pajamas or a raucous auk, Hoberman's poems celebrate the pure joy of language and reading aloud. Through 50+ years of writing, Hoberman's work remains consistent in its craft, simplicity, playful use of language, and sensitivity to children's deepest feelings. Watch interview > What can be counted? Everything! Explore the concepts of counting and sorting, find your spot on the map, and discover the diversity of people and places in the U.S. in this eclectic Top 10 list. Survey booklist > Meet Tomás who is introduced to the world of books by the local librarian during harvest season, 'that book woman' who delivers stories by horseback to children in the Appalachian hills, and a lion who one day decides to walk right into the library. These books (and 7 more) will remind you of the many reasons why our libraries — in all their forms — are such special places. Browse booklist >
Ideas for Educators Learn how to seamlessly integrate student progress monitoring (SPM) into your class routine. You can also find links to related resources: a comparison of different SPM tools, a fact sheet on the benefits of SPM, and information you can share with parents to help them understand what it all means. Go to article > Searching for Earth Day materials? Thinkfinity offers lesson plans, activities, projects, videos, interactive tools about conserving energy, and finding innovative ways to solve environmental challenges. Go to website > Idioms, cinquains, guidebooks, adventure stories, historical fiction via Twitter, and more… Megan McDonald (Judy Moody) and Timothy Basil Ering (illustrator of The Tale of Despereaux) provide the inspiration for this month's writing prompts. Give your students a chance to flex their writing muscles — and win fabulous prizes! Go to writing contest page >
Ideas for Parents Kindergarten Readiness "I knew it was coming — re-enrollment time at preschool. Top of the form, first question: Will your child be going to kindergarten next year? Our answer: UGH!! We can't decide!" The Reading Rockets family literacy bags encourage hands-on fun and learning centered around fiction and nonfiction books. Celebrate Earth Day's 40th anniversary (April 22) by digging into our environment-themed literacy bag. Download literacy bag > In this overview from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, learn about the signs of autism, discover what research is being done, and find tips for parents and teachers on how to support a child with autism in the classroom. Learn more > April is National Autism Awareness Month. Visit the Autism Society website for ideas on how to be involved.
Research & News Reading scores from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show no great leaps overall and reveal an ongoing achievement gap between white and black students. The good news: some long-term advances among the lowest-achieving students. Read full report > "Until we start paying more attention to content, expect flat reading scores," says cognitive scientist and professor Daniel Willingham. What NAEP Reading Scores Really Show > "Transforming the elementary school 'literacy block' into a rich, meaningful and sustained engagement with subject matter would be the single greatest transformation of instructional time in decades," says E.D. Hirsch Jr., founder and chairman of the Core Knowledge Foundation. Common Core Standards Could Revolutionize Reading Instruction > As smartphones and handheld computers move into classrooms worldwide, we may be witnessing the start of an educational revolution. In this article from Fast Company, read how technology could unleash childhood creativity — and transform the role of the teacher. Read article >
"Words were a conjuration,
and their charms had begun to bewitch him." —The Trouble Begins at 8
A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West
by Sid Fleischman
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