My sister is a social worker, and gave me this article. It definitely gave me something to think about. Check it out. Does it resonate with you, too? We as a district are definitely trying to think more about how to keep all of our high-achievers and gifted students engaged and motivated. We do not have a gifted program. Thus it makes this task more challenging, but certainly not less important.

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/3/10905466/gifted-black-students

If you have a snow day tomorrow, as we are anticipating, and if you have a few minutes, check out this article from the Huffington Post that one of the other Literacy Specialists in our district passed along. I found it so interesting. I hope you will too. 

Dyslexia Action: Denied and Delayed by Kyle Redford (October 2014, updated December 2014)

www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle/dyslexia-action-denied-an_b_5950008.html

Happy almost February! Are you looking for more information to help your ELLs? Check out the following book. It is a great resource with practical tips. I went to a session with Dr. Moses at the Literacy for All conference in RI. She was really helpful. Enjoy!

Happy 2016!!

I hope your first day back from vacation went well. How many wake-ups until the next vacation?!?!?

KIDDING, KIDDING!! 

May all of your new year's wishes and dreams come true. 

Well! I hope Thanksgiving was great! Now, we are on to the Winter Break. Want to help encourage students to write over vacation? I am sending home a hardcover white book with plain white pages and a list of suggested writing topics. Check it out. If you don't have a white book, don't worry. A journal would work just as well! Feel free to adapt this and make it work for you.

Ideas to Write About During Vacation

imagesbuddy.com

• the best gift you got
• the best gift you gave
• decorations in your house
• the most unexpected place your elf was
• what you did with your family
• a family tradition
• a book you read
• a movie you watched
• a game you played
• a trip you took
• what you were most looking forward to doing on vacation
• what are you excited about doing when you come back to school
• your hopes or wishes for the new year

Looking for a creative way to get your students to be a character in a story or to encourage the home-school connection?

This website lets you "create" a book using a child as the main character! Check it out. It isn't free, but it is fun! Happy creating! Happy reading!

www.putmeinthestory.com

Hello! Big news on the blog front. I recruited the technology trainer in my district and she helped me post some rubrics under the writing tab. Check them out. There is more to come. We have all 3 genres for all grades 1-5. Happy searching!!