Monday, November 17, 2008

Writing Across the Curriculum

If you are like me as a writing teacher...you are always on the hunt for literature that connects the subject you are teaching and your student's writing. This website is great for connecting Social studies and writing. This gal has alot of ideas for teaching the subject as well as picture books and chapter books for children based on the subject. I just had to recommend and promote her!

www.carolhurst.com

Friday, November 14, 2008

Fall in Northwest Arkansas


Finally Back!

Well, it has been an extremely busy Fall, ya'll! This is my favorite season!! I have simply been covered up and drowned in a new approach to teaching reading...and it's great! My school is giving it a trial run...with the intentions of adopting it completely after all of us have been fully trained. It really teaches kids to "think" about what they are reading. I must say...that it is powerfully effective! Through the combination of questions as well as graphics to organize the "picked a part" story, students are compelled to "get" what they are reading. It was amazing to see the light bulbs going off in their heads...as seen on their faces...while discussing and finding the problem, climax, and resolution of this week's well loved story...Lon Po Po, a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. After working through the "plot-line" visual graphic...students understand how the author thinks while planning out a narrative piece. I believe it is going to make them stronger writers in the end...I am loving it!!