Symbaloo Collection of Nonfiction Links

    Hello everyone! I've created a Symbaloo collection of links which highlight nonfiction in some manner.You'll find links to suggested authors that are great for a study of nonfiction author's craft. Also, you will find links to kid-friendly websites and blogs that give instructional ideas for teachers. You just need to simply click on the picture to start your exploration! :)

 

Read for the Record Day 2012

    The Jumpstart literacy organization is once again co-sponsoring with the Pearson Foundation the Read for the Record Day! The organization's mission is to help young children have more exposure to books and reading. There are volunteers who participate in reaching out to low-income communities to support families in cultivating a love of reading. The official website for Read for the Record Day reports that there were 2.2 million known participants in the special day! Since the day's inception in 2007, the site reports that they have been able to raise over 7 million dollars to go towards its programs. That is an astonishing feat! The beauty of the day is that when you participate online through the Pearson Foundation's site We Give Books, a book is donated  every time the book is read. That is a win-win situation!  You can check out more about We Give Books through its website, on Facebook, and Twitter.  Jumpstart can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. 

      This year's featured text for Read for the Record Day is Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad  written by Jacky Davis and David Soman (Dial, 2011). It is part of a popular series of books starring a spirited girl named Lulu. The books in the collection are stories that hit a chord with young children because the issues Lulu deals with are very identifiable for kids. Her stories explore themes of compromising, using your imagination, responsibility, and being a good friend.

     If you you need a copy of the book, you can read it online for free courtesy of the Read for the Record Day website. Just click here for Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad. If you have a laptop/projector hookup in your classroom, you'll be all set to share it on the screen with your students. :) 

   There is also a certificate available on the website for children after they read or listen to Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad on the special day of October 4. 

    You can explore the Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy series through their official website. On the site, you can read more about the authors. Other books in the series that you might be interested in exploring include:

• Ladybug Girl and Bingo (Dial, 2012)
• Ladybug Girl at the Beach (Dial, 2010)
• Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (Dial, 2009)
• Ladybug Girl (Dial, 2008) 

   There are some "just for fun" activities kids can do at home when exploring the kid-friendly website. They can enjoy doing some of the free printables or games, too.  Lulu's sidekick, Bumblebee Boy, has his own site that boys and girls would like to check out as well. Have fun!

Read Across America Day is Here!

     Read Across America Day is here! The birthday of The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss will be celebrated across our country on March 2. It is officially sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA.) You can visit the link here for ideas. If you are on Facebook, there is a page from NEA dedicated to the day as well.  You can find the official Dr. Seuss Books page on Facebook, too. Also, Read Across America Day from the NEA is on Twitter.

     Do you have a special person coming to read to your class? It can be anyone from a parent, a fellow teacher, administrator, a regular volunteer, or a special member of the community. Our Mayor, Clyde Haulmanm and our Vice-Mayor, Paul Freiling, are among 15 special visitors scheduled to visit our school on March 2! We are so happy to host them all!  I will take plenty of photos (that do not identify children) to share after the event. I will also show pics of cute Dr. Seuss themed projects, writing pieces, and decorations. 

More To Explore:
  

• Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and check out my board for Dr. Seuss projects, websites, and creative ideas for Read Across America and Dr. Seuss's birthday! (pinterest.com/wmsbg301)

• Dr. Seuss Official Website: Visit Seussville for fun inspired by the classic books from Dr. Seuss. The teacher page also can give you a fun inspiration or two during these cold winter months. :)  

• PBS Kids Show: PBS Kids hosts an all day Suess-A-Thon on March 2 with episodes of the show The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!

• For older kids, you can share Hooray for Diffendoofer Day (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1998). This text was created from work of Dr. Seuss and completed by the duo of Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith.  A neat feature of the text is the additional information provided about the book's creation after the end of the story. Here is a lesson plan of ideas to use with this book provided on the Dr. Seuss site. I have a copy available to borrow! Of course, I have a big collection of Dr. Seuss's classics that I'm happy to lend out, too. :)
  
  
  
  Happy Read Across America Day everyone!
  
  

  

  Dr. Denise Johnson of the College of William and Mary Shared Hooray for Diffendoofer Day in 2011.