Dear Educator,
It's time to gobble up some new ideas for reading, writing, and math. This month we are bringing you ideas on teaching literary nonfiction, texts to get your students reading & writing during the holiday season, and much more! We also have many professional learning opportunities coming up that will be sure to add to your expertise toolbox. Happy fall and happy teaching!
-Kelly Harmon & Randi Anderson
Webinars are a Great "MIni-Conference" Opportunity
1. Levels are a Teacher's Tool-Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell
“It is detrimental to a student’s self-esteem and to their love of reading when they are encouraged to measure their own progress by ‘moving up levels,’" (Fountas and Pinnell 2017).
Click here to listen to the complete webinar
2. Making Sense of Math-Greg Tang
This TedTalk presented on YouTube discusses the impact of visualization, reasoning, and number sense. Click here to listen.
What is Literary Nonfiction Exactly?
Literary nonfiction, also known as narrative nonfiction, is one of the best genres for getting students to engage in large quantities of reading. But what exactly is literary nonfiction? We hear the word nonfiction and instantly think informational, which is only partly true. The word literary means "narrative" and nonfiction means "accurate". So literary nonfiction is essentially a true story. And who doesn't like a really good true story?
Literary nonfiction is a true narrative that uses literary elements to tell factually accurate stories.
Narrative
Literary nonfiction is a true story that follows the elements of fiction.
- Setting
- Plot (problem/solution)
- Characters
- Beginning, Middle, & End
- Sequence
Examples of Literary Nonfiction
- Autobiography
- Biography
- Memoirs
- Diaries
- Journal Entries
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ESPN 30 for 30 (Video) Videos are a great way to introduce literary nonfiction to students. Videos can be less threatening than a text. Use videos with students so that they can uncover the elements of literary nonfiction. Have a discussion about how the author (playwright) uses the elements to convey a message. ESPN 30 for 30's are great to use with grades 4 through 12 to show how a true story looks. Here is a great 30 for 30 short about the drink Gatorade. | More Than Anything Else More Than Anything Else is the narrative of Booker T. Washington. This story is great to read aloud with students in order to locate the genre elements. Students can also work to uncover the theme of the story. Written by Marie Bradley Get it on Amazon here. | Who is Walt Disney? Who is Walt Disney is a great biography to use with our young learners to illustrate the story of a person's life. This book goes through the chronological sequence of Mr. Disney's life. Students can work to make inferences about how the events of his life impacted his decisions throughout life. Written by Whitney Stewart Get it on Amazon here. |
ESPN 30 for 30 (Video)
ESPN 30 for 30's are great to use with grades 4 through 12 to show how a true story looks. Here is a great 30 for 30 short about the drink Gatorade.
More Than Anything Else
Written by Marie Bradley
Get it on Amazon here.
Who is Walt Disney?
Written by Whitney Stewart
Get it on Amazon here.
Great Texts for Fall
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Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins Bestselling author and artist James Dean brings us a groovy rendition of the classic favorite children’s song “Five Little Pumpkins,” sung by cool cat Pete and perfect for Halloween. | There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! Our favorite old lady is back and swallowing autumn items! That wild old lady is back swallowing fall-themed items. What can you make from leaves, clothes, a pumpkin, and rope? That's right, a scarecrow! | Stellaluna When young fruit bat Stellaluna is separated from her mother, she’s adopted by a family of birds with very different habits in this award-winning and bestselling picture book classic. |
Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!
That wild old lady is back swallowing fall-themed items. What can you make from leaves, clothes, a pumpkin, and rope? That's right, a scarecrow!
Stellaluna
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What Was the First Thanksgiving? The history of the feast! After their first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims at Plymouth shared a three-day feast with their Native American neighbors. Of course, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag didn’t know it at the time, but they were making history, celebrating what would become a national holiday. Amazon | The Puppeteer Who Brought Balloons to the Thanksgiving Day Parade The story of the puppeteer who introduced balloons to an American tradition. Found on TweenTrinue. Print the article here! | The Story of the Pilgrams From the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to the first harsh winter to the delicious Thanksgiving feast, all the excitement and wonder of the Pilgrims’ first year in America is captured in this vivid retelling that is perfect for the youngest historians. Amazon |
What Was the First Thanksgiving?
After their first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims at Plymouth shared a three-day feast with their Native American neighbors. Of course, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag didn’t know it at the time, but they were making history, celebrating what would become a national holiday. Amazon
The Puppeteer Who Brought Balloons to the Thanksgiving Day Parade
Print the article here!
The Story of the Pilgrams
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What was on the First Thanksgiving Menu? An article explaining the items found on the table in 1621. This article is found on Tweentribune.com. | Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field? Children piling off school buses to pick one out. Carving out funny faces, smiles, or scary frowns to illuminate Halloween doorsteps. Amazon | How to Cook a Turkey This recipe is great to show students a procedural text with steps to cook a turkey. Video included too! |
What was on the First Thanksgiving Menu?
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin
How to Cook a Turkey
Add Your Thoughts to Our Wall
Here are a few ways you could use a graffiti wall:
1. Put up pictures of the covers of several books you have available in the classroom. Have students add comments after they read the book. What was the best part? How is this character similar to you? What is the best sentence in the book and why?
2. Have students make book recommendations by writing the title of a good book and why they recommend the book. I recommend the book...because... You will like this book if....
3. Write a question about a topic of controversy and have students add their opinion and support for the opinion. For example "Is Fortnite good for kids?" or "How much screen time is too much?"
4. Post a complex math problem. How would you solve this problem? Is there more than one way to solve the problem?
Graffiti walls are a fun way to get students up and sharing their thinking. Through this silent discussion, you can collect and analyze data that can be used to guide future instruction.
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Strengthening Your Guided Math Instruction November 9, 2018 8:30am - 3:30pm San Antonio, TX Grades K-6 In this interactive training, Kelly Harmon will share a variety of guided math strategies, techniques, and ideas for addressing all students' math needs. Walk away with resources and ideas for strengthening your math instruction immediately! You will learn the best research-based instructional strategies to help your students develop conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge, fluency, and how to transfer those skills to math problem solving. Registration opens on September 4th. Space is limited to 50 seats. For more info, click here. | Teaching Comprehension Strategies (Figure 19) February 4, 2019 8:30am - 3:30pm San Antonio, TX Grades 2-12 In this energizing, fast-paced seminar, educators will learn research-based strategies students need to use to process a variety of texts. Take your students from think alouds to literature circles as they learn to think about the text and beyond. Explore ready-to-use techniques and activities to help student master Figure 19 Comprehension Strategies.Kelly Harmon will provide instruction, activities, and ideas for engaging students in close and recreational reading. Registration opens on September 4th. Space is limited to 50 seats. For more info, click here! | Guided Math 2 Day Conference December 5th & 6th 8:30am - 3:30pm Boston, MA What do 21st Century students need from their education when it comes to mathematics? It makes sense for teachers to be constantly aware of the skills that are actually required in the workplace. If those skills change, so should the education we provide. Join Barb as she explores which math skills need to be nurtured for our students and how they relate to the mathematical “habits of the mind” that we are requiring them to achieve. Let’s start this dynamic Guided Math conference with a keynote address that will leave you feeling empowered, energized and well equipped to meet the diverse needs of your students! For more info, click here! |
Strengthening Your Guided Math Instruction
8:30am - 3:30pm
San Antonio, TX
Grades K-6
In this interactive training, Kelly Harmon will share a variety of guided math strategies, techniques, and ideas for addressing all students' math needs. Walk away with resources and ideas for strengthening your math instruction immediately! You will learn the best research-based instructional strategies to help your students develop conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge, fluency, and how to transfer those skills to math problem solving. Registration opens on September 4th. Space is limited to 50 seats. For more info, click here.
Teaching Comprehension Strategies (Figure 19)
8:30am - 3:30pm
San Antonio, TX
Grades 2-12
In this energizing, fast-paced seminar, educators will learn research-based strategies students need to use to process a variety of texts. Take your students from think alouds to literature circles as they learn to think about the text and beyond. Explore ready-to-use techniques and activities to help student master Figure 19 Comprehension Strategies.Kelly Harmon will provide instruction, activities, and ideas for engaging students in close and recreational reading. Registration opens on September 4th. Space is limited to 50 seats. For more info, click here!
Guided Math 2 Day Conference
8:30am - 3:30pm
Boston, MA
What do 21st Century students need from their education when it comes to mathematics? It makes sense for teachers to be constantly aware of the skills that are actually required in the workplace. If those skills change, so should the education we provide. Join Barb as she explores which math skills need to be nurtured for our students and how they relate to the mathematical “habits of the mind” that we are requiring them to achieve. Let’s start this dynamic Guided Math conference with a keynote address that will leave you feeling empowered, energized and well equipped to meet the diverse needs of your students! For more info, click here!
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Kids Need More Opportunities to Write! But How? November 10, 2018 Saturday Virtual Seminar 9:00am - 12:00pm CST Grades K-6 Tired of the same old writing projects or instruction? Join us for a 3 hour virtual seminar focused on giving students abundant opportunities to writing in authentic and FUN ways. Empower your students to improve their quality of writing and stamina. Learn how to spice up your writing block quick non-pressured writing that is meaningful and engaging. Walk away with prompts and ideas to use immediately. Click here for more info! Registration opens on September 4th. Seats are limited to 30 participants. | Editing & Revision is Not Boring! December 8, 2018 Saturday Virtual Seminar 9:00am - 12:00pm CST Looking for ways to get your students excited and achieving in their grammar practice? Join us for a 3 hour virtual seminar focused on giving students abundant opportunities to edit and revise in authentic and FUN ways. Equip your students with tools to effectively revise their writing to hook their audience. Learn about using children's books and real world resources to teach grammar rules, how to help students immediately apply rules, discover resources for assessments, and much more! Click here for more info. | Literacy Centers + Reader's TheaterJanuary 19, 2019 Saturday Virtual Seminar 9:00am - 12:00pm CST Grades K-6 Learn how to create meaningful literacy stations and activities where students work with partners or independently during small group ELAR time. Add a ten-minute-a-day readers theater and you've created the perfect combo for accelerating reading achievement! Register today! Seats are limited to 30. For more info, click here. |
Kids Need More Opportunities to Write! But How?
Saturday Virtual Seminar
9:00am - 12:00pm CST
Grades K-6
Tired of the same old writing projects or instruction? Join us for a 3 hour virtual seminar focused on giving students abundant opportunities to writing in authentic and FUN ways. Empower your students to improve their quality of writing and stamina. Learn how to spice up your writing block quick non-pressured writing that is meaningful and engaging. Walk away with prompts and ideas to use immediately. Click here for more info! Registration opens on September 4th. Seats are limited to 30 participants.
Editing & Revision is Not Boring!
Saturday Virtual Seminar
9:00am - 12:00pm CST
Looking for ways to get your students excited and achieving in their grammar practice? Join us for a 3 hour virtual seminar focused on giving students abundant opportunities to edit and revise in authentic and FUN ways. Equip your students with tools to effectively revise their writing to hook their audience. Learn about using children's books and real world resources to teach grammar rules, how to help students immediately apply rules, discover resources for assessments, and much more! Click here for more info.
Literacy Centers + Reader's Theater
January 19, 2019
Saturday Virtual Seminar
9:00am - 12:00pm CST
Grades K-6
Learn how to create meaningful literacy stations and activities where students work with partners or independently during small group ELAR time. Add a ten-minute-a-day readers theater and you've created the perfect combo for accelerating reading achievement! Register today! Seats are limited to 30. For more info, click here.
Kelly Harmon & Associates