book list

Literacy Links -Volume 86

book list, coaching, early literacy, literacy links, math workshop, reading
One of my daily slides for our week of remote learning.

For the week after Thanksgiving, our district was remote. Remote is not the end of the world, but it is very different from in-person pandemic teaching (and light years away from teaching in The Before). The structure and routines that I teach students in class don’t necessarily translate to remote teaching. One of the biggest missing elements is turn and talk, an essential element of my classroom since I believe learning floats on a sea of talk. Remote teaching ends up being uncomfortably teacher-centered. But other routines could easily work in a remote environment, like using my name sticks to call on students to avoid Zoom chaos. I feel so foolish for needing a whole week to realize this, but that’s my brain’s processing speed in The Now. Here’s to a better online learning session next time.

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

Literacy Links – Volume 84

book list, literacy links, math workshop
The sign = the rainbow connection scrap

A few weeks ago, I learned that I would be teaching kindergarten in November if the School Committee approved a new proposal. They approved, and a two week countdown began. Between monster cutting and laminating sessions, I decided to collage a cover for a kindergarten notebook for all of my ideas, to-do lists, and PD. I usually collage my PD notebooks, so whenever I find an image, quote, pattern, logo, etc. that strikes me, I stash it in a folder for my future covers. So I pulled out my folder, and the image above is what I found. I nearly gasped. I’d already decided on a rainbow theme for my room and the biggest word scrap in my pile said “the rainbow connection”. I took it as a sign, and I felt so much excitement.

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

Literacy Links – Volume 78

book list, literacy links, professional resources, writing
Fiction Learning Progressions for 2nd Grade
Nonfiction Learning Progressions for 2nd Grade

As a literacy coach, I usually have to stretch across six grades, so it’s a treat to focus on a single grade level this year. I’m pumped to be assigned to second grade for hybrid support, but the coach in me can’t help not coaching. As such, I’ve decided to develop toolkits for reading and writing. I’m going to pull from lots of sources: The Literacy Continuum, the Units of Study, and more. First up? Creating a fiction learning progression and nonfiction learning progression (only available to LPS teachers since we have already purchased the Units of Study for our teachers) to help teachers choose focuses for units, conferences, or read alouds. This may just become one of my goals this year…

Here is the first official roundup of literacy links of the 2020-2021 school year if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 73 (Last for 2019-2020 year)

book list, Harry Potter, Just for fun, literacy links, poetry, professional resources, summer, writing
Screen Shot 2020-06-19 at 9.23.02 AM

Dear teaching,

From the moment
I wrote on Mrs. Francescutti’s chalkboard during student teaching

and gave fourth graders
word search advice
in an evergreen Lake Forest Park classroom,

I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep I gave you my all–

From my creativity and money

To my loneliness and energy.

As a twenty-something

deeply in love with you,
I never saw the endless standards,
stacks of papers to grade,
or hours of lost sleep.
I only saw students

at the beginnings of their journeys.

And so I learned.

I read books cover to cover
and observed countless classrooms,
growing my pedagogy with
each page,

each visit.

You demanded everything.

I gave you my heart

because you yielded so much more.

I taught through the fatigue and hurt

Not because problem-solving called me
But because YOU called me.
I do everything for YOU.
Because that’s what you do
when someone makes you feel as

alive as you’ve made me feel.

You gave me my be-the-change-you-wish-to-see dream,

and I’ll always love you for it.

But this year’s crisis challenged me to my core.

These past three months I gave you more than I actually have.
I think my heart can take the pounding.
I think my mind can handle the grind.
But I’m so, so tired and so, so worried.

And that is going to have to be OK.

It’s so unlike me, but I’m ready for this year to end.

Let’s savor every moment we have left together —
The good and the hard.
We’ve given each other

All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what the summer and fall bring…

I’ll always be the teacher
Wearing the silly costumes,
Surrounded by books,
With a clipboard, pen, and notebook nearby
Happily reading and writing

Page after page after page.

Love you always,

Ms. Vigna

(my copycat poem of “Dear Basketball” by Kobe Bryant)

Here is the LAST official roundup of literacy links for the 2019-2020 year if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

 

Literacy Links – Volume 69

book list, literacy links, online learning, poetry, summer, writing

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Last week, I hosted a PD for my staff on creating Bitmoji digital libraries that you can access HERE. Before showing them how to build their Bitmoji digital libraries, I sprinkled in some PD on classroom libraries, how to curate a collection, and digital book platforms. Together with the how-to portion of the session, I don’t think I’ve ever talked THAT much during a PD! Afterwards, I reflected on how I could’ve avoided yapping for so long: HOW do you show people how to do something tech-y without telling them everything?! Regardless, it has been SO fun seeing everyone’s creations they’ve shared with me! I’m collecting them all for some summer reading fun at Center School. Stay tuned!!

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

Literacy Links – Volume 67

book list, literacy links, online learning, professional resources, writing

Bitmoji Virtual Library - Caring for the Earth

Two weeks ago, I shared my first iteration of a virtual library. Since then, I’ve seen lots of other versions pop up online so I expanded my repertoire and created my first Bitmoji virtual library. I couldn’t love it more! The collection’s focus is Caring for the Earth. All you or your students and families need to do is click on the image above, and then click on a book cover you want to read. You will be led to a read aloud or read along of the book! So fun, right? I learned all sorts of tricks to make this virtual library: how to make my first Bitmoji (I know, 4 years too late!), how to find images without background (Tip: Include “transparent” in the search box!), and how to remove backgrounds (Tip: Go to remove.bg!). This teacher’s tutorial was SO helpful. Maybe I’ll run a fun PD for teachers where we create a BUNCH of virtual libraries covering all sorts of topics. We could promote them for summer reading! Now my juices are flowing!!!

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

Literacy Links – Volume 65

book list, literacy links, online learning, professional resources, science, writing

Screen Shot 2020-04-24 at 9.11.34 AMSince we’re officially continuing remote learning for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, my new goal is to begin each forthcoming Literacy Links post with a remote learning instructional resource. I’ll make a video lesson and include all of the necessary resources to share with students. WOO HOO! This week’s lesson is for science: How to Make a Scientific Illustration. It comes with a video lesson, anchor chart, and virtual classroom library. I was so inspired by Clare Landrigan’s Virtual Classroom Library idea that I created a virtual bin around the theme “Think Like a Scientist”.

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

Literacy Links – Volume 64

book list, literacy links, online learning, poetry, reading

Screen Shot 2020-04-16 at 10.20.35 AMThe book fair coordinators at my school arranged for an online book fair! Usually, I clear my schedule the week of the Book Fair so that I can attend as many classrooms’ visits to help kids find just right books. Since we’re all in quarantine though, I decided to book talk my way through the digital flyer that they sent home to families. After filming my book talks, I gathered book trailers for many of the books I recommended. Check out my recs here!

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

Literacy Links – Volume 57

book list, literacy links, poetry, professional resources, reading, writing

Screen Shot 2020-02-28 at 2.40.55 PM

On Monday, I hosted my fourth Writing Clinic. This one focused on revision, and while the attendance was the lowest yet, I still enjoyed the opportunity to present, discuss, and support. Plus, teachers got a chance to make a revision microprogression for each of the big three genres (narrative, information, and opinion) and start a revision toolkit, complete with revision shades. 🙂

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

Literacy Links – Volume 55

book list, literacy links, reading

Screen Shot 2020-02-02 at 10.07.55 AM

Last week, the Reading Ambassadors decided who would like to be Community Readers for World Read Aloud Day on February 5th. They then decided what book they’d read aloud and prepared thoughtful questions to ask. Teachers are signing up for read aloud times as I type this! World Read Aloud Day is the perfect opportunity to share information about the importance of reading aloud with families, so check out Literacy Links – Volume 53 and my links below.

Special roundup of literacy links for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment in honor of World Read Aloud Day: