The Literacy Lowdown
Seawell Elementary - December 2014
Happy Holidays!
Here are some gifts from us to you. Scroll down for book recommendations, cool resources, literacy links, and important dates for your calendar. Enjoy!
- Tina & Dara
Tomas and the Library Lady
Encouraged by his storytelling grandfather, Tomás, son of migrant workers, escapes to the library on hot days as his parents work in the fields. There, a librarian takes him in, offering books, reading with Tomás, and even letting him take books home in her name. Eventually, his family must move on, but he carries the love of reading with him. Based on a true story about Tomás Rivera, who eventually became the chancellor of the University of California at Riverside and inspired the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, founded in his honor.
Tomas and the LIbrary Lady is a great book to discuss character motivation and social issues.
Brown Girl Dreaming
In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. (Grades 5+)
The Julian Chapter
Teacher Treat
Thanks to 3-5 Coach Rosemary Campbell who made us aware of this free online site. You can find lots and lots of reading passages by grade level, lexile, nonfiction, or fiction genre with questions to go along with the passage. Take a look and enjoy! http://www.readworks.org
Focus on Reading and Writing Conferences
When we confer individually with a student, we interact with the child in a purposeful way in order to support and advance their ability to process a task.
Research – Have the child explain the work.
Decide – Think about what the child needs.
Teach – Give a focused, individualized lesson.
- Make a Record – Keep track of what you have done.
How Do I Conference With Students? - Writing workshop nuggets in easy to read format.
Robust Vocabulary Instruction
Important Dates
It's Your Choice! Literacy PD
Our differentiated-by-choice and cross-grade level professional development kicks off on Thursday, December 11th. Each group will meet from 7:30-9:30. "Walking the Tightrope: Balancing the Literacy Framework" will be led by Dara, and "Writing for Real" will be led by Tina.
Here are the meeting dates for the rest of the year:
January 7th Faculty Meeting (1 hour)
February 4th Faculty Meeting (1 hour)
- February 25th (1 hour)
MOY Assessment Calendar
mClass Window
January 7-30
Performance Series Window
January 7-30
Fountas & Pinnell Window (for 4th and 5th grade students that are RED/YELLOW on Performance Series)
January 7-303rd Grade Family Book Club
3rd graders just kicked off their first family book club. We are reading The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. It's the first book in a wonderful series about a delightfully funny and adventurous hamster.
Here are the rest of the dates:
Book Club #2
Wednesday, December 10
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Seawell Library
Read Chapters 6-10
Book Club #3
Wednesday, January 28th
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Flyleaf Books
Read Chapters 11-15