On Thursday afternoon my students counted the photocopies of the book covers that I have hanging on clotheslines all around our classroom. Nearly every book I've read (save a few whose covers I never hung) to my students has it's cover posted around the room (laminated on mounted construction paper). They counted, with the ones… Continue reading Picture Book-Palooza
Category: picture book
Family Tree Book
Tomorrow's Interactive Read Aloud includes Alan Say's Book Grandfather's Journey. Since our IRA Theme for the past two months has been immigration, I thought it would be nice to end out the unit with a book that the kids compile on their families (sort of as an unofficial independent writing project). I'm giving these sheets… Continue reading Family Tree Book
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Gearing-up for tomorrow’s short fiction pub party
Pub Party Snack Alert Originally uploaded by teachergal Three of my students stayed after school to gussy-up our classroom for tomorrow's big Publishing Party. I love the sign they created on the classroom's mini-white board. Here are the cookies I've baking all afternoon. (I should write an ode to a chocolate chip cookie now.) ;-)… Continue reading Gearing-up for tomorrow’s short fiction pub party
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They’re publishing their books! They’re publishing their books!
My room was essentially controlled chaos today since my students began publishing their picture books. Paper cuttings were everywhere by the end of the day, as were markers, pens, pencils, and a myriad of other art supplies. I'm still at work (5:55 p.m.) since it took me awhile to straighten-up for tomorrow since there's two… Continue reading They’re publishing their books! They’re publishing their books!
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Short Fiction Rubric
I finally sat down and created a short fiction rubric for the picture books my students are going to "publish" this-coming week. If you're in the market for a rubric that provides space for students to self-assess their performance, then click here.
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Cybils 2007 Awards Have Been Announced
I was honored to have been part of the Fiction Picture Book Judging Committee for the 2007 Cybils Awards along with Mitali, Barb, Nikki, and Gail, which was led by Jules. As I was browsing for picture books when I was at Brookline Booksmith yesterday, I realized that I hadn't posted a link to the… Continue reading Cybils 2007 Awards Have Been Announced
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A new title
When I read Jamaica's Find for the purpose of introducing it as a touchstone text to my students last week, I felt as though many of them thought the book was a little young for them. However, one of my students really embraced it. In fact, he went home and discovered that he had another… Continue reading A new title
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Being inspired by a great picture book…
Today was spent immersing my students in the short fiction genre by reading picture books. Here are the texts my students read and enjoyed either by themselves or with a partner: Beatrice's Goat by Paige McBrier Betty Doll by Patricia Polacco * Duck and Goose by Tad Hills * Imagine A Day by Sarah L.… Continue reading Being inspired by a great picture book…
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Getting Ready to Launch a Short Fiction Unit of Study
Touchstone Text: Knuffle Bunny Too -- Craft Moves Chart Originally uploaded by teachergal One of the many books I'm going to use as a touchstone text is Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems. Why? My kids simply loved it! (Not to mention the fact that the character is well-developed and… Continue reading Getting Ready to Launch a Short Fiction Unit of Study
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Picture Books
pic bk announcement Originally uploaded by teachergal Instead of writing short stories, we're having our students write picture books. (Did this last year... loved it and HIGHLY recommend it.) In order to get the kids excited and immerse them, I'm asking them to bring in their favorite picture books this-coming Monday. I'm hoping they'll be… Continue reading Picture Books
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Getting Organized for a “Report” Writing
Th entire fourth grade is going to be doing a report writing within science class (separate from our Writing Workshop). (It's not actually a report since the final form will be an illustrated 10 page non-fiction picture book.) They're also reading nonfiction books about the Solar System in Science Class. Hence, we needed to teach… Continue reading Getting Organized for a “Report” Writing
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Art Appreciation (Picture Books)
I had the opportunity to visit The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts today. For someone who like me, who is obsessed with picture books, spending 90 minutes at this museum on a Sunday afternoon was definitely a treat! There was a big exhibit there on the Spiderwicks, which didn't interest… Continue reading Art Appreciation (Picture Books)
