Kids and Teachers: Read! Tweets of the Day (6/4/2012)

Love the 'Make Art Not War' poster.

Teachers are always thinking about teaching because it is who we are, not what we do. Here's a good article for thinking about next schoolyear and some serious topics:

1. 'My Favorite (Teaching-Related) Things'

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-resources-suggestions-social-justice-elena-aguilar

Here's another good blog by Elena. We need to feed our brains and imaginations, too, like the kids.

The sequel of 1491. Must see what happens.

2. 'What Are You Reading this Summer?'

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/summer-read-recommendations-elena-aguilar 

3. 'How to Inspire Your Students to Read this Summer'

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/inspiring-summer-reading-students-rebecca-alber 

 "Some teachers like to get back all their classroom library books before the school year ends. I was not that teacher. Check ‘em out, read ‘em, and share ‘em. A dog-eared, weathered book returned in fall (or not) is an ideal book in my book."

Three cheers for you, Rebecca! The kids are so validated by actually being able to use the books, and being treated as though they are more important than the book, that the book is there to serve them. Thanks for putting books into the kids' hands. And I love her rationale:

1) Invite students to give Book Talks to the entire class. Who influences kids the most? Their peers, of course, so providing children opportunities to pitch books to classmates can be incredibly effective and powerful. 

2) Introduce kids (and especially those reluctant readers!) to a book series. This will inspire them to seek out the next book, and the next, and the next.

3) Provide your students and their families with the “Latest and Greatest” in fiction and non-fiction for the grade level you teach. I’ve had students come back to me the next year, and there are x’s by several book titles (they used the reading list I gave them as a check list!)

4) If teaching older kids, set up a Facebook page all about books. Students will then be able to share with their classmates (and you!) updates on what they are reading and post their book reviews.

5) Start or end class with a Read and Tease. This means you read a few enticing lines from a book (it can be the opening words, or midway through). For my students, I’d give a dramatic reading of the opening paragraph and then place the book on the rim of the whiteboard. At the end of class, at least 2 or 3 students would ask to check it out.

6) Advise families to take children to the library and bookstores on a regular basis. Send a letter home or an email with a list of neighborhood libraries and bookstores. Possibly include some inspiring quotes or a bit of research, giving some evidence to why reading is so very important.

7) Encourage your students to register for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. You can even make it a homework assignment. Scholastic also offers creative suggestions for classroom lessons using the Summer Challenge. Once a student does register, she will be able to enter a contest with prizes by simply logging in her reading minutes. Consider sending the Scholastic link to parents where they can download reading lists and get some tips for supporting their child’s summer reading.

And last, but not least, comic books! 'Teachers have begun to accept comic books as a tool for teaching literacy through group projects.' (comment from the article.) About time. The stories, being illustrated, engage both sides of the brain.
    
4.' Comics Make for Colorful Learning' 

http://www.edutopia.org/comic-books-teaching-literacy

 

Thank you again, Edutopia.