Summer Learning for Parents, Kids & Educators! Reading Rockets Newsletter: June 2011

If you are having problems viewing images in this e-mail, click here to view it in your Web browser. June 2011 Newsletter In Focus: Summer learning: Reading Rockets mobile, podcasts, family literacy bags In Focus: Dads and reading Books & Authors: Robert Neubecker (Wow! City!) | Summer-themed booklists Ideas for Teachers and Librarians: Songs, rhymes, and fingerplays | Lesson plan round-up from The New York Times Ideas for Parents: Local nature activities | Nature journals for digital natives | Choosing your child's school Research & News: Do kids need more school? | New study on word learning In Focus: Summer Learning for Parents, Kids, and Educators On-the-Go Summer Learning with Reading Rockets Mobile Reading Rockets is excited to announce the launch of our mobile website! Now our content is available for you to use on the go — no matter where you are. Featured content includes the reading tip of the day, daily news headlines, the latest articles and research, reading blogs, FAQs, a weekly Top 10 list, book of the day, themed booklists, and 'snack-sized' video via YouTube. If you see things you like, there's easy one-click social sharing on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about Reading Rockets Mobile > Tell us what you think of our new mobile website using the "Send us feedback" link on Reading Rockets Mobile, and you'll be entered to win children's book prize pack — including an autographed children's book. Sharing gets rewarded, too! Tweet about Reading Rockets mobile to be entered for a chance to win an iPod. Find out more about the contest > More On-the-Go Summer Learning Refresh your knowledge about reading instruction anywhere, anytime this summer with our Watch & Learn podcasts. The video podcasts are excerpted from our award-winning PBS Launching Young Readers series, covering a wide range of topics: print awareness, spelling patterns, fluency, comprehension, writing, and more. Download podcasts from iTunes > Watch online > Dive Into Family Literacy Bags for Summer Fun Reading Rockets' themed Family Literacy Bags provide imaginative hands-on activities centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books. Topics include farms, folktales, dinosaurs, music, and more. The perfect relaxed activity for parents and kids (or caregivers and kids) to do together on a summer's day. Our newest literacy bag: Oceans > See all literacy bags > In Focus: Just in time for Father's Day…Dads and Reading Dads play a critical role in their children's literacy development — by modeling reading, sharing stories, exploring the world together, and engaging in meaningful conversations that build critical thinking skills. The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development > The statistics are consistent: Young male readers lag behind their female counterparts in literacy skills. This article looks at the social, psychological, and developmental reasons why, and suggests solutions — including the need for more men to become role models for reading. Boys and Books > For the busy dad who wants to learn more about literacy, what good reading instruction looks like in the classroom, and award-winning children's book authors, check out our DadCast podcast series. Download DadCast from iTunes > Say thanks to a special dad with our Father's Day e-card > Books & Authors Wow! Robert Neubecker! Robert Neubecker's picture books have zip — they burst with color, energy, and fun. Neubecker can really capture the world through a kid's eyes, whether it's the first day of school (Wow! School!), a first trip to the big city (Wow! City!) or the trials and tribulations of being the big sister when the new baby arrives (Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth). Watch interview > Great Reads for Hot Days Summer is for reading whatever you want to read — whether you're swinging in a hammock, or tucked into a sleeping bag at night with the flashlight glowing, or just sitting under the cool shade of a favorite tree. Here are some of our favorite summer-themed booklists: Books to Welcome Summer Summer Science It's Summer Vacation Ideas for Teachers and Librarians Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays The Storyblocks video library demonstrates songs, rhymes, and fingerplays appropriate for early childhood. Information about the developmental milestones and early literacy needs of very young children is included with each video clip. Parents and daycare providers can use Storyblocks to learn fun new rhymes and songs to share with children. Library staff can use Storyblocks to learn new rhymes and songs for storytime and tips they can pass along to caregivers in the library. Go to website > Lesson Plan Round-Up If you missed the great reading and writing lesson plans from The New York Times' Learning Network this school year, here's your chance to catch up, browse, and get inspired for next year. Read-aloud ideas, exploring slang, and how metaphors make meaning are just some of the ideas presented. See lesson plans > More from The New York Times Summer 2011 on The Learning Network > Ideas for Parents Nature Rocks! Let's Go Explore This family-friendly site will help you find all sorts of nature activities, plus tips and tools to help guide and plan your adventures. With the nifty "Find Nature" tool, just type in your zip code, select your favorite activities (zoo, nature centers, hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and much more), and how far you want to travel — and up pops a list and an annotated map, filled with ideas. You can also start a community of nature explorers (a "Flock") and get outside with friends, neighbors, family, or school groups — a free guide shows you how. Go to website > Nature Journals for Digital Natives Young kids love technology, gadgets, and nature. While parents may be looking for ways to reduce screen time for their kids, here are a few helpful suggestions for integrating simple digital tools to record and share their nature observations. (In English and Spanish) Go to article > Find more Literacy in the Sciences resources > Choosing Schools The neighborhood public school or the charter school across town? A school focused on special education? Or should we try a private school or homeschooling? Today's parents have a growing number of options for their children. These two articles describe the different school types and offer a step-by-step guide to making the right decision for your child. Choosing a School: Types of Schools > 4 Steps to Selecting a School for Your Child > Research & News Do Kids Need More School? In May, panelists at a K-12 education forum on extended-learning time discussed the role of extended-learning programs on student achievement, particularly at low-performing schools. Cincinnati Public Schools, for example, runs a non-mandatory program in June called the "Fifth Quarter." Students are given academic lessons in the morning and participate in academic-enrichment activities in the afternoon. The panel marked the first day of a two-day forum held in Washington, D.C. called "Reimagining the School Day." Read article > "Sudden Insights" Key to Learning Words "If language experiences are not rich, then where is your interest to retain them?" says Janice H. Im of Zero to Three: the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. A new study from University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University suggests that understanding basic words may come from a flash of initial insight more than repetition. The study's findings suggest that children build concrete vocabulary by interacting with a complex, rich learning environment, not just repeated exposure to words in isolation. Read article > "I, Judy Moody, am ready for the ultimate summer, and it doesn't include my brother, Stink." — From the new book and movie "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer," written by Megan McDonald All the best from Reading Rockets Noel Gunther Executive Director Christian Lindstrom Director, Learning Media Shalini Anand Technical Web Manager Bridget Brady Web and Video Coordinator Tina Chovanec Director, Reading Rockets Kelly Deckert Associate Manager, Online Media Ashley Gilleland Producer Joanne Meier, Ph.D. Research Consultant Maria Salvadore Children's Literature Consultant Laura Schreiber Project Associate Rachael Walker Outreach Consultant Newsletter editor: Tina Chovanec About Reading Rockets Reading Rockets is a national educational service of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital. The goal of the project is to provide information on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Learn about easy ways you can link to us to let others know about the many free resources available from Reading Rockets. Reading Rockets is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Send your questions, comments, or suggestions to readingrockets@weta.org. Our mailing address is WETA/Reading Rockets, 2775 S. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22206. We look forward to hearing from you! Tell a friend about Reading Rockets News. If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up here to receive Reading Rockets News. This message was sent to aliatasbpp.disorder@blogger.com. Visit your User Login page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving Reading Rockets News, click to remove yourself from our subscribers list (or reply via email with "Unsubscribe Reading Rockets News" in the subject line).