Now that teachers are wrapping up their Writer’s Workshop launches, they are gearing up for their first standards-based units on personal narratives. This is exactly why next week’s theme is SPECIAL PEOPLE. I especially love the background knowledge resources: a special StoryCorps video and some of my favorite picture books. In fact, one of the books, You Hold Me Up, IS a poem, so I created a copycat template. My week at the Poetry Foundations Summer 2019 Institute is where I discovered the other poem, “Abuelito Who” by Sandra Cisneros, and the strategy of creating templates for poems. A very special poem, indeed.

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

• The webinar PD page of Pioneer Valley Books is RICH with resources. Here are my faves:
  • Webinar: “Teaching Guided Reading Remotely”
  • Webinar: “Using Digital Books to Teach Guided Reading Remotely”
  • guided reading conversation points
  • “Word Study Skills for A-C”
  • “Quick-and-Easy Tips for Helping Your Child Read”
• Mental health break: “Double Major” ❤