
i am super excited about these science books by basher and dingle! i found them at my son’s book fair yesterday and was instantly mesmerized. the illustrations on each page appeal to the digital generation and look like they were taken straight from a manga.
in this periodic table version, each element is given a personality and an accompanying personality profile (likes, dislikes, etc.) on its “homepage.”
other ones in the series include rocks and minerals, astronomy, biology, and physics.
here’s a quote from dingle:
“It’s not going to be a primary reference or resource [in classrooms], but it is a book that makes a potentially difficult and harrowing subject open up for younger kids,” he says. “There’s a lot of fun incorporated with a few hard facts. It can be a gateway to learning by removing some of the mystery and making the subject more accessible.”
indeed.

it’s such a fascinating time to be a student! new forms of media have lead to a shift in pedagogy…particularly when it comes to literacy.
newmedialiteracies.org posted an introductory video on their website that discusses the various skills and strategies people will have to master to successfully navigate the digital world.
watch. learn. grow.

when I first stumbled across storybird, i immediately thought of how it could be used in the classroom and on a rainy fall day with my boys. using a set of pre-drawn illustrations, users create a short story which can then be shared with friends. the illustrations are so delicious and visually inviting that you will become hooked immediately.
take a tour of storybird here.


(*image courtesy of newschief.com)
the landscape of children’s and adolescent literature has changed greatly over the years. nowadays, the children’s book publishing market reflects a boom in realistic fiction and fantasy genres, with popular series like the Wimpy Kid diaries and Twilight (team edward!) weaving a common thread through the lives of young people.
read an article related to this sea change here.

one way to really celebrate your budding authors is to get them entered into a national writing contest. letters about literature, sponsored by the library of congress and target stores is one of my favorites for grades 4-12.
students are asked to write a letter to any author, living or otherwise, who has touched them in some way. i love this contest because it speaks to the power of words.
here’s an excerpt from a previous letter, as noted on the contest’s website:
We loved this opening line, written by 8th grader Lucy from Wyoming:
My world is alive with sensation and sound, laughter and music. But there are also shadows. Lying in those shadows are secrets, so deep they will never be uncovered.
click here for more information, sample letters, and lesson plans for teachers. the december 12, 2009 deadline is quickly approaching, so get to it.
:) happy writing!
nonfiction books about bugs and insects are very popular with young kids, especially boys. one fabulous series that i highly recommend are the backyard books.

often times, kids get bogged down with too much content and have trouble retaining facts in expository text. the backyard books are written in such an inviting way that kids almost automatically absorb the info. you know when we make teaching fun and children do not realize they are learning?
it’s kind of like that.
only better.