Yesterday I posted a document that contained a week-long series of lessons for teaching vocabulary from Willow's Whispers, a new book by Lana Button and Tania Howells. Since this type of vocabulary-building teaching was new to me in 2007, I figured it might be new to some of you. Therefore, I put together an overview… Continue reading Building Bigger Vocabularies Through Books: Part 2 of 2
Author: Stacey Shubitz
Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her forthcoming book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.
Save the NWP!
On February 1, the Obama administration released its 2011 budget proposal. In this proposed budget, funding for the NWP is consolidated with five other literacy programs under a new states-based competitive grants program that provides money for improving literacy. The NWP national network would not be eligible to compete for its own funding. In… Continue reading Save the NWP!
Share this:
Share this:
Building Bigger Vocabularies Through Books: Part 1 of 2
In this month's issue of The Reading Teacher, there's an excellent article, "The Vocabulary-Rich Classroom: Modeling Sophisticated Word Use to Promote Word Consciousness and Vocabulary Growth," which deals with ways teachers can broaden students' vocabularies. Holly B. Lane and Stephanie Arriaza Allen, the article's authors, provide concrete examples from a kindergarten and a 4th grade… Continue reading Building Bigger Vocabularies Through Books: Part 1 of 2
Share this:
Share this:
SOLSC: Today’s Challenge and Prizes for the Month-Long Challenge
It's Tuesday, which means it's time for the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge! The Third Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, which will run from Monday, March 1st - Wednesday, March 31st, begins in just a few days. Anyone who writes (and links to their posts by leaving a comment on this blog daily)… Continue reading SOLSC: Today’s Challenge and Prizes for the Month-Long Challenge
Share this:
Share this:
Digital Storytelling: Technology & Mentors
The latest copy of NCTE's School Talk arrived in my mailbox yesterday. The present issue is entitled "21st Century Literacies: Young Children Reading and Writing in a Digital World." Ceil Candreva wrote one of the articles, "Paving New Pathways to Literacy in the 21st Century," in the issue. Candreva asserted: Digital storytelling expands the potential… Continue reading Digital Storytelling: Technology & Mentors
Share this:
Share this:
Share a Slice of Your Life Today!
It's time for the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge! In less than two weeks the Third Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, which will run from 3/1 - 3/31, will begin. I've already obtained several prizes for our third annual challenge. As you know, last year, one author and a bunch of artists who… Continue reading Share a Slice of Your Life Today!
Share this:
Share this:
Writing Inspiration
Last weekend, when we were getting hit with the first big snowstorm, I was looking through our cable guide to find a movie. A film starring Sean Connery, Rob Brown, and Anna Paquin, "Finding Forrester," caught my eye. I knew I could sell it to my husband since it wasn't just about writing, it was… Continue reading Writing Inspiration
Share this:
Share this:
Yes, students CAN publish their writing in two languages!
“The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.” -- Joseph Joubert When I was at NCTE less than three months I was captivated with the bilingual picture book, Si, Se Puede! / Yes We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A., written by Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco… Continue reading Yes, students CAN publish their writing in two languages!
Share this:
Share this:
Snow Day Poetry Activity
Schools from Indiana to Pennsylvania (and beyond) are closed today. While I'm spending time working on the book we're writing, I've also spent close to a half hour on Facebook. As a result, I've noticed a lot of people are feeling trapped indoors with their kids because the wind gusts are pretty strong. Sledding doesn't… Continue reading Snow Day Poetry Activity
Share this:
Share this:
SOSLC
It's time for the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge! In just a few short weeks the Third Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, which will last for the 31 days of March, will begin. I'm continuing to think about prizes for our third annual challenge. As you know, last year, one author and a… Continue reading SOSLC
Share this:
Share this:
Letters of Gratitude
I am consistently moved by meaningful letters. When I write thank you notes, I am sure to take time with them so the recipient can feel my genuine gratitude. However, when I write other notes, specifically condolence notes, I find it more challenging. (Let me be honest, I've even looked for mentor letters to help… Continue reading Letters of Gratitude
Share this:
Share this:
Op-Ed
The New York Times published an Op-Ed, "Playing to Learn," today by Susan Engel, who is a senior lecturer in psychology and the director of the Williams College Teaching Program. It's about education reform, specifically curriculum reform. Engel spent one full paragraph on the type of writing that she things should exist in elementary school… Continue reading Op-Ed
