UALR Center for Literacy Is on Facebook

Did you know you can like UALR Center for Literacy on facebook? 

 By doing so, you will get updates from Linda Dorn 

on many literacy related topics.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Shel Silverstein

Click on the picture for 6 surprising math activities 

Integrate ELA and Math with Poetry

Check out the fun math activities that correlate 
with some of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems:

Band Aids

One Inch Tall

Baloney Belly Billy

Shapes

$mart!

18 Flavors

Picture Books for Teaching Writer's Craft

Everyone has their favorite mentor texts for teaching writer's craft, but check out this website to see it you can add some new books to your writer's craft repertoire:

http://www.mauryk12.org/Literacy/writing%20mentor%20texts.htm

Shannon Reynolds, 3rd grade teacher at Espy, shared this wonderful website with us. The website has categorized picture books/mentor texts and what writing craft/s you can teach with each book. You will find a book list for each category listed below:

• Creating Characters
• Crafting Beginning, Middle, and Endings
• Crafting Endings
• Crafting Voice
• Crafting Leads
• Crafting Titles
• Crafting Settings 
• Crafting with Words

Have fun checking out this picture book packed website!

FREE Web-based Book Resource

Annie Rauch, reading specialist at Inman, let us know about a free book resource for teachers that recently expanded from iOS format to web-based. It is called EPIC For Educators.  It's FREE to use if you sign up with your school email. The site offers thousands of interactive books for all reading levels.  You can sort the texts to use for a variety of purposes; differentiation, interactive read alouds, or maybe as a way to get reluctant readers reading more. 

Here's the web address:

https://www.getepic.com/educators/ 

Make sure to use your school email when you sign up. 

Analyzing Point of View

Did you know that we LOVE to get your questions?  One question that we received recently was about point of view.  The Teaching Channel has an excellent video of a lesson on analyzing point of view.  In the lesson, students read nonfiction texts about a historical period, identify stakeholders from that time period, and analyze the points of view of those stakeholders.  *Be sure to check out the supporting materials that go along with the lesson including accountable talk bookmarks (these are great tools!) and a graphic organizer.  You can find the entire post HERE.

Another Great List of Literature Discussion Guidelines from Linda Dorn

The goal of literature discussion groups is to promote deeper comprehension through interactive dialogue and conversational moves to keep the discussion in motion.  In the past, before we knew better, teachers  lead literature discussions and asked all the questions.  Now, because of research, we know it's best for students to actively participate in discussions, ask questions, make inferences, provide evidence from the text, offer opinions, and more.  When students discuss a book or piece of text in depth, the gain a deeper understanding of the text.

Remember literature discussion guidelines will start small.  Focus on a few behaviors at the beginning and add more guidelines as the school year progresses.

LITERATURE DISCUSSION GUIDELINES
by Linda Dorn

Be prepared:

• Bring your book and other needed materials to the discussion.
• Your book is flagged with places you want to talk about.

Actively participates:

• Look at the person who is talking.
• Listen to the person who is talking.
• Find the page someone is talking about.

Gives evidence from the text:

• Using events, characters, phrases, etc. in your log entry to support your thinking.

Stay on topic:

• Talk about the book - don't start talking about things that are not related to the book.

Listens carefully:

• Show that you are listening by looking at the person and expressing your interest in what they are saying.
• Show respect.

Offers opinion or builds on others' thinking:

• When someone talks, you build on what they are saying.

Uses response language:

• You say something to add your thinking to others.

Asks questions for clarification:

• You ask questions if you don't understand what someone has said.

Making Reading and Writing Relevant to Students

Have we said lately what awesome teachers we have in Nixa?  Here's another example of how our teachers make reading and writing relevant to students.  Cindy Enlow's 2nd graders wanted a class pet, but they didn't get one just because they wanted one.  Back in September, these second graders began earning 100 class compliments to get their class pet.  When the students were within reach of meeting their 100 class compliments goal, the work for their class pet of choice, guinea pigs, was just beginning.  

First, these eager-to-be pet owners  researched 2 different sources from their classroom's website:  

• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care
• http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Guinea-Pigs

They read to find out about a guinea pigs' diet and what kind of shelter is best for this mammal.  The students learned about different types of lettuce and which ones were most nutritious for guinea pigs, and they had to figure out if their classroom would be a good habitat for guinea pigs. They also learned about a guinea pig's general care and what supplies were needed to take good care of a guinea pig.  They learned how to take notes while reading for information.

After researching, the students wrote a friendly letter to their parents to inform them about the ins and outs of guinea pig ownership.  Students used their research notes to compose their informative letters.  They shared their friendly letters with their parents explaining what they learned from their research before the break.  Did you know that guinea pigs should eat romaine lettuce rather than iceberg lettuce?  It's true.  Guinea pigs don't produce vitamin C, so it's good to feed them foods high in vitamin C.  Romaine lettuce happens to be high in vitamin C.

When students came back from Christmas break, Mr. Enlow had a surprise waiting for them.  The Century second graders were the proud owners of three guinea pigs named Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes.  They were named after the main characters in Mr. Enlow's favorite western.   Since then, second graders have been feeding and cleaning up after their new, little friends. Mrs. Enlow's students absolutely love their new classroom pets, and they have become very responsible pet owners. They love holding the guinea pigs and reading to them to tame them.  Students can also use their PBIS signatures to spend time with the guinea pigs.

At parent/teacher conferences, many parents thanked Mrs. Enlow for teaching their students about responsibility in such a relevant way.  This is just one example of how Nixa teachers go above and beyond everyday to make learning relevant for students.  Thank you Nixa educators for the great job you do!