One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

The two adorable girls in my kindergarten tutoring group selected this title for read aloud. Dr. Seuss dos a wonderful job of building phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, and capturing children's imaginations through those uniquely-Seuss illustrations. The picture of the "thing" with 11 fingers led to a  rather enlightening discussion:

Me: "Count the fingers..."

Girls: "Eww! He has eleven fingers!"

Me: "Do you have eleven fingers?"

Girl 1: "No, five."

Me: "Count your fingers."

*Girls Counting*

Girl 1 "Woah! *shared looks of wonder and awe* I have 10 fingers!"

 

You learn something new everyday you read. 

Reading Level from Lexile: 180L

The ABC Toy Chest

The Muppet's...what's not to love about them? Bert and Ernie were always my favorite (tucked into bed with me at night), but Herry Monster makes an exciting read in this colorful alphabet book. Perfect for read-alouds and early readers. My sister and I grew up on these books. Mom and Dad read to us from the extensive collection, and we would spend our free time picture-reading to ourselves. These Sesame Street books are classics in my opinion!

Tomorrow is Day 1 of tutoring at GSU's Urban Literacy Clinic. My classmate and I get to work with a kindergarten group for an hour or so every Monday. I'm thrilled to work with the little kiddos! Nothing grabs my heart more than watching a young child take ownership of their reading. Last fall I began my K-12 practicum experience in a high school. Four months later, I'am down to K-level. And it feels like coming home.

Are You My Mother?

Just finished watching "The Birds". Ew. I prefer this version of our feathery friends.

Longman Student Grammar of Spoken & Written English

Grammar. : s I know. It's not exactly the kind of read that you'd want to curl up with by the fire...but it's apparently necessary for certification. Every ESOL library should include a grammar book, right? This definitely isn't my fave, but it draws from a rich corpus. I'm beginning to sound as though I've been in grad school too long...

Strategies That Work

Day one of student teaching. One word. Tired. And I really only observed. I'm excited though. It's ACCESS season, so we're testing all the English Language Learners in the school. My mentor teacher is the head over the program, which means I get to experience the full assessment/placement process. How do we decide who needs English language services? I'm THRILLED to find out.

My student teaching placement is with 3rd-5th grade. However, I'll be tutoring little ones for my literacy assessment course on Monday nights. This text is one of the three required for the course. I love it! The prose style reads likea conversation with an old friend. The strategies are presented clearly and well supported. Did I mention that this is a textbook??? I'm loving it. Harvey and Goudvis have done their homework and the result is a wonderful classroom tool for content and reading teachers alike. Read it!

A Bilingual Dictionary of School Terminology English-Spanish

Last week I was supposed to begin my last student teaching placement. My hopes were dashed, however, when my classmate and I were informed that our mentor teacher worked part-time.  So much for 40hrs. a week! I spent the last seven days enjoying leisurely mornings, waiting for word of another placement. En fin, today was the day!

I received an assignment in Fulton County, where I'll be working with 4th &5th graders. The student population is predominately Hispanic. I have a feeling that this dictionary will proved to be a helpful resource!

Sense and Sensibility

This afternoon I had the pleasure of celebrating the life of Joe Legg, the father of a sweet sister. My heart goes out to the Legg family. Their loss is inestimable, as was the gift of Mr. Legg's life. My friend described her experience as the only daughter of her father and the special relationship they shared. She told about the times they would watch Sense and Sensibility together, tears falling from Legg's face as he watched Edward and Elinor's final parlor scene.  The story of the Dashwood sisters begins with the death of their father.  Jane Austen's first work is a commentary on 19th cent. English society and the complexity of expressing emotion.  The Elinor and Marianne take sharply contrasting approaches to expressing the feelings of their hearts. Austen illustrates the benefits and pitfalls of both as they experience death, first love, rejection, and healing.  Tears and laughter flowed freely throughout the memorial service today. There was an overwhelming sense of joy which blanketed even the most bitter moments. Heaven gets better and better every year.

Hatchet

What do you get when you combine a plane crash in the heart of Canada's wilderness and a teenage boy? Hatchet. Because survival wouldn't be possible without it, the hatchet that is. Book 1 of Brian's Saga begins the riveting narrative Gary Paulsen weaves throughout the series. This is where our protagonist first triumphs over nature and her fierce elements.

Brian's Winter - Brrrr

This classic man vs. nature account posits a teenage boy against winter in the great Canadian wilderness . Brian is a plan crash survivor who managed to live off the woods for a summer before being found. At least that's how the first story ended. Author Gary Paulsen decided to continue the tale when readers questioned Brian's ability to survive the winter on his own. Paulsen took the challenge and the result is Brian's battle against beasts, the elements, and his own psyche. Young men and women a like will appreciate this suspenseful yet introspective story. Against the backdrop of earth's severe beauty, Paulsen steers the reader into the core of what it means to be human.

I decided to begin with book #3 of Brian's Saga because it seemed appropriate. Word has it that we may get more snow this weekend; it's only been a week since we were snowed-in for five days! What's this state coming to??? I figure it wouldn't hurt to brush up on my winter survival skills, which Paulsen depicts so vividly. No charging elk or bears in Atlanta, but I may need to learn how to build a fire! Dad used to have us listen to this series during our summer road trips across North America. We didn't always have air conditioning, and the Canadian prairie can be pretty miserable around August. Brian's Winter offered a cost-effective escape. Never underestimate the power of a book, or a book on tape!

Age Range: 12 and up

Teaching Multilevel Classes in ESL

I've never taught an English class where my students shared the same ability level across the board. It rarely happens, especially in adult education. Sinclair Bell's resource is a valuable must have for the instructor who wishes to fully engage every student. That's where I am tonight, planning for my adult level 2 class tomorrow.  Some of my learners have strong oral skills, but lack basic writing technique. The reverse is true for others. Sinclair Bell addresses the nuances of the multilevel classroom by detailing  strategies such as effective ability groupings and activity adjustments.

The First Four Years

It's official! Laura has agreed to marry Almonzo "Manly" Wilder. They wed in a simple ceremony to the displeasure of Almonzo's mother and sisters, who had something a little bit larger in mind. Some things change very little over the years : ) Besides saying "I do", Laura also agreed to be a farm wife for three years. Manly promised her that if he doesn't make a successful living for them by that time, he'll move anywhere Laura desires. Sounds reasonable...right? Now the question is whether or not these young newly-weds can make it through the first three years. Farm life on the South Dakota prairie is challenging, to say the least. Add a baby to that mix and your work is definitely cut out for you! The pioneer spirit of The Little House books have enthralled generations of American readers; you'll have to read this conclusion to the series *tear, sniff, sniff* to discover whether or not that pioneer spirit is enough to sustain Laura and Almonzo through the harsh reality of prairie life.

These Happy Golden Years

"Only yesterday she was a schoolgirl; now she was a school teacher. This had happened so suddenly... But tomorrow she would be teaching school.


She did not really know how to do it. She never had taught school, and she was not sixteen years old yet. Even for fifteen, she was small; and now she felt very small." -Chapter One

The cover of this book depicts a confident looking young woman joining hands with smitten young man. There is so much more to the story, although Laura and Almonzo's budding romance is a definite theme. Laura transitions from childhood to adulthood as she assumes classroom responsibilities far from home.  The distance tears at her heart, but she does it because of her love for the ones she holds close. Life is ironic like that. These Happy Golden Years poignantly illustrates time's bittersweet beauty, celebrating the wonder and of novelty of young adulthood in the midst of childhood lost.  

Little Town on the Prairie

Laura is a teacher! As a bright student and a dutiful sister, Laura acquires her teacher certification so that she can support older sister Mary's education at the college for the blind. Talk about a dedicated fifteen year old. Just thinking of her entering her classroom for the first time thrills me to the core! On a side note, tomorrow I begin my final student teaching assignment at a Decatur Elementary school. Laura Ingalls Wilder's relentless curiosity and thirst for learning have always inspired me.  In some small way, she deserves credit for my current career track. You're my hero, Laura! Apparently Almonzo Wilder thought she was too cool for school himself. He requests permission to walk her home from church *OOOHOOOH*, heralding a new season of friendship...and more to come! Ahh, there's nothing better than a coming of age- teacher tale with a side of heart-flutters and sweet nothings.

The Long Winter

Brrr! Dakoata Territory winter smothers the countryside in snow. The Ingall's little town is bombarded by blizzards, which cut-off supplies crucial to their survival. Waiting for the snow to melt while watching the food stock dwindle to nearly nothing makes for a desperate Christmas season! Is hope lost? Not if Almonzo Wilder has anything to do with it. Our childhood friend from the New York farming community reappears on the scene, this time as a courages young man. Together with a friend, Almonzo rides a daring journey across the Winter-streaked plains to secure food for the starving town's folk. The atypical Christmas story sends readers on a suspense-packed ride through the midst of the blizzard and into the enveloping warmth of loving hearts.

By the Shores of Silver Lake

Laura takes her first train ride as the Ingalls begin a new adventure. Pa's pioneer spirit leads them to Dakota Territory, where Pa works on the railroad. The new territory is sparsely populated when the Ingalls arrive. Laura and her family are the first to establish a home in the new town by Silver Lake. How long will they remain in Dakota Territory? It looks as though Pa's pioneering spirit has finally found sanctuary on the Western plains. 

Farmer Boy

Ok, up to this point we've tracked the Ingalls family as the traveled around the Midwest. And by they, I mean Pa, Ma, Laura and Mary.  Farmer Boy alludes to Laura's future relationship status by ushering us into the daily grind of Almonzo Wilder.  Tracking this young man around a New York farm offers the reader a broader perspective on 19th century  life. I personally found this forray into farm life intriguiging as a child.  I certainly didn't grow up anywhere near on, and none of my relatives were farmers. The simple details skillfully acquaint the sub/urbanite with a life-style that still characterizes many around the globe. Almonzo is a tough, hardworking kid with a passion for horses...a passion that may send away from the East Coast and out to the plains one day.

On the Banks of Plum Creek

Move 'em out! The Ingalls are back in the wagon and headed across the prairie to Minnesota. Laura trades in her little house for a dug-out nestled beside Plum Creek. Your budding architects and civil engineers will love this one ; ).  Pa eventually builds a real house, sheltering the Ingalls  from blizzards and a plague of pestilence.  Book three of the Little House series continues the saga of planting and uprooting: the rhythm of pioneer life.

Little House on the Prairie #2

Pa says it's time to move. As more and more people move into the big woods, Pa feels the need to cultivate unsettled land.  The Ingalls family does precisely that in this second installment of the Little House series. This title book recounts the Ingalls journey by covered wagon from their log-cabin in Wisconsin to a little house Kansas.  The prairie is dangerous, unfamiliar, and beautiful; but most importantly, it is home.

Little House in the Big Woods

The best part about this book is that it is true! Wilder penned her first-hand experience into The Little House series, which is the classic American saga of 19^th century pioneer life.  We meet Laura as a young girl residing in the great white north and follow her across the years to the even whiter prairie plains. Are you beginning to since a pattern here? Think winter weather. I'm slightly preoccupied with the issue as we head into day 3 of Atlanta's 2011 snow-siege. Laura Ingalls devoted a whole book to the subject, recounting her family's survival in the face of starvation one harsh winter (not a concern these days...thank God for Whole Foods down the street :).  But I'm getting ahead of myself – The Long Winter is book #6. 

Book #1, Little House in the Big Woods, begins the series with blizzards and sleds, a quirky pig game, and (my faves!) syrup-turned-snow-candy. According to my sources, “sugar on snow” is a long standing tradition for our northern-dwelling brothers and sisters. My Mom (Illinois native) helped me and my siblings make our own candy on the back porch as kids. That was when we lived in the States of course! Definitely didn't taste any snow candy in Ghana. 

 Mom loved the Little House  series. Sitting on her lap, gazing at the sketches of Laura and Mary while listening to the story of Pa and the panther is one of my earliest Mommy-read aloud memories. The Little House Books are ideal for early readers with their short chapters and Garth Williams' descriptive sketches. Young boys and girls alike will enjoy these heart-warming narratives of olden-day life.  

• Age Range: 8 to 12
• Lexile: 0930L

Barney Bear's Pizza Shop

Making pizza is hard work. Not all of us are cut out to be great dough-masters, as Angelo discovers in this tantalizing picture book. Good helpers stick with it, and good bosses help their workers reach their full potential. Chef Barney realizes that Angelo would be a better fit outside the kitchen. 

 Instead of firing Angelo for failing to be just like him, Barney capitalizes on Angelo's strengths and places him in a front of the restaurant service position. The shop does mad business while both Angelo and Barney excel in their complementary roles.

New Living Translation

I was introduced to the NLT my freshman year of college. Today it is my favorite translation for personal devotions. 

 Dwell on this truth for the week:


"And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation."  Romans 5:9 

The Secret of the Unicorn & Red Rackham's Treasure

Barbary Pirates, a nutty professor, a centuries old legend, and buried treasure – this double adventure is is chocked full of intrigue and suspense. Dive to the bottom of the sea and back with Tintin and friends as they scour the ocean for gold. The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure mark a significant change in the tone for Tintin and his friends. However, the new setting and additional character Professor Calculus only serve to make the journey more exciting.  The full-length film The Secret of the Unicorn (directed by Steven Spielberg and staring Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, and Jamie Bell) is actually coming out later this year. Don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who hates to see the movie before reading the book; I find that going that route rarely enhances the story. My recommendation for the best Tintin experience is that you read the comic before hitting the theater. 

Age Range: 12 and up

The Adventures of Tintin

Over the next few days I'll be writing about Les Aventures de Tintin, one of Europe's most popular children's series. Tintin is a Belgian reporter who travels the world, tackling daring adventures with his precocious fox terrier sidekick, Snowy. The Belgian comic book series was originally published by Hergé (George Remi) in French, but has since been translated into numerous languages. I grew up reading the English version of Tintin's mystery, political suspense, science fiction, fantasy and comedy. During my visit to the Decatur library today, I was delighted to pick up a copy of The Red Sea Sharks en français. I can't wait to revisit a childhood favorite in my second language! I'm curious to see what was lost in translation. 

Wondrous Words

Two days. Forty-eight hours until I sit for the exam of my life. I'm taking my Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®) in Reading and ESOL. Each exam is comprised of two tests. Each tests contains two essay questions, which happen to be my least favorite component. I'm finding it difficult to practice, even with the website's sample prompts. My last mentor teacher was kind enough to give me this helpful resource when she retired. Perhaps Woodray will offer a technique to clear my writer's block...

Professor Q's Mysterious Machine

Choices! Have you ever paused reading part way through a book, wishing you could write the ending? The author may have produced a fantastic intro, but you just don't like the direction the plot is taking. Professor Q's Mysterious Machine will solve your quandary. I can't tell you too much or else I'd be giving away the story. However, it's safe to say that you'll be steering the plot at every turn of this action-packed adventure.

Ages 9-12

The Usborne Book of Funny Poems

“The Old Lady of Rye”

There was an old lady of Rye

Who was baked by mistake in a pie,

To the household's disgust

She emerged through the crust,

And exclaimed, with a yawn, 'Where am I?'

- Anon (1990, p. 26)  

Cartwright, S., & Amery, H. (1990). The usborne book of funny poems . Great Britain: Usborne.

The Brand New Kid

Lazlo speaks English with an accent. He's new to school, and no one wants to get to know him. As the other students tease and reject him, Lazlo struggles to adjust to second grade in a new country. Loneliness is his only friend until Ellie McSnelly decides to reaches out to the brand new kid. Katie Couric's simple friendship narrative poignantly captures the difficulties English language learners (ELLs) face in the public school system. The lively illustrations by Marjorie Priceman vivdly portray elementary school life. This book is a wonderful spring board for lessons on friendship, school routines, and the value of ethnic diversity.

• Age Range: 3 to 8 Reading Level from Lexile: AD570L

The Boxcar Children #1

“No one knew them.

 No one knew where they had come from” (Chandler Warner, 1942, p.7).

Now that's how you begin a story. Gertrude Chandler Warner pulls you into the life of one family of four orphans: two brothers and two sisters. Initially homeless, the kids miraculously find shelter in an old red boxcar. Situated in the midst of the woods, these resourceful children make a comfortable living for themselves. Then the unforeseen strikes, threatening to unravel the world which they worked so hard to weave together.

My eight year old imagination was captivated by the adventures of the Boxcar children. I don't know where I found this book, but I was an instant fan. Even though my West African upbringing differed considerably from that of the protagonists, I was able to relate to the themes of orphan-hood, adoption, being a stranger, and family. The Boxcar is just the beginning, meant to introduce Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. The razor sharp children go on to solve dozens of mysteries, such as The ---

                                              actually, you just GO READ about it for yourself!

Warner, G. C. (1977).The boxcar children. Chicago: Albert Whitman.

Age Range:7 to 11 Reading Level from Lexile: 0490L