Literacy Connections
A Bi-weekly Round Up of Literacy Links & Resources
September 27, 2015
Last Saturday I participated in a virtual day of learning through The Educator Collaborative. I attended (from the comfort of my couch) an opening session with Penny Kittle, four different sessions throughout the day, and a closing session with Kristine Mraz and Christine Hertz. Of all the sessions, the one that spoke to me the most was the last one...and in this week's newsletter I share it with you. If you don't read or click on anything else, I really hope you'll take the time to watch this video! Start the video at 13:55...see I shaved off almost 14 minutes! :-)
Grades 3-5 teachers spent two days with Mike Ochs, TC Staff Developer, last week. I sense that everyone came away from those two days with new understandings and "ahas". I know I certainly did! Thank you to Crystal Boucher, Gayle Wolotosky, and Sara Martin who invited all of us into their classrooms.
Another reminder about my schedule:
MLS: Monday, Wednesday (all day)
DCS: Tuesday, Thursday (all day)
Fridays alternate between the two schools
Happy Reading!
Susan
A Mindset for Learning: Strategies for Joyful, Independent Growth
Take a Peek....
Writing Masters: Keeping a Writer's Notebook
Thank you to Molly Leding, 4th grade teacher at DCS, for sending this link to me.
Leverage Social Media
TCRWP Units of Study Reading FB Group
The Reading Strategies Book FB Group
Heinemann Professional Learning FB Group
You can also follow TCRWP (@TCRWP) and Heinemann (@HeinemannPub) on Twitter and Instagram.
Mike Ochs, TC Staff Developer Visits MLS
Inquiry w/ 5th Grade
Character Study w/ 4th Grade
Summarizing w/ 3rd Grade
The Book Buzz
All book summaries are from Goodreads.com
Kindergarten
Waiting is a big part of childhood—waiting in line, waiting to grow up, waiting for something special to happen—but in this book, a child sets the stage and pulls the strings. Timeless, beautiful, and deeply heartfelt, this picture book about imaginative play, the seasons, friendship, and surprises marks a new pinnacle in Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes's extraordinary career.
Grade 1
Grade 2
1. She always says what’s on her mind (even when she probably shouldn’t).
2. She rides a lobster boat to school.
3. There is a Fairy Tree in her front yard.
Life on an island in Maine is always interesting. But when a new teacher starts at Piper’s school—and doesn’t appreciate the special, um, accessory that Piper has decided to wear—there may be trouble on the horizon. Then Piper discovers the Fairy Tree in her front yard. Is the Fairy Tree really magic? And can it fix Piper’s problems?
Grade 3
Firefly doesn’t merely want to fly, she wants to touch the moon. Cricket doesn’t merely want to sing about baseball, he wants to catch. When these two little creatures with big dreams wander out of Firefly Hollow, refusing to listen to their elders, they find themselves face-to-face with the one creature they were always told to stay away from…a giant.
But Peter is a Miniature Giant. They’ve always been told that a Miniature Giant is nothing but a Future Giant, but this one just isn’t quite as big or as scary as the other Giants. Peter has a dream of his own, as well as memories to escape. He is overwhelmed with sadness, and a summer with his new unlikely friends Firefly and Cricket might be just what he needs. Can these friends’ dreams help them overcome the past?
Grade 4
And then more of her great-uncle’s unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.
Grade 5
Twelve-year-old Peter Lee and his family are baseball lovers, who bond over back lot games and talk of the Pittsburgh Pirates. But when tragedy strikes, the family flies apart and baseball no longer seems to matter. Is that true? Peter wonders if just maybe the game they love can pull them together and bring them back, safe at home.
Susan Dee K-5 Literacy Strategist
Email: dees@rsu5.org
Location: Freeport, ME, United States
Phone: 207-865-4561
Twitter: @literacydocent