School Days and Golden Rule Days

SSPP Reads celebrates its first anniversary! Thanks for joining this ongoing dialogue promoting reading in our daily lives. I really encourage you to check out some of the links to the right of this posting, they range from book lists to parent networking to learning disabilities. I try to keep them updated and look forward to your feedback. You can reach me by clicking on e-mail me near the top of the right column.

The American Academy of Pediatrics presents its annual Back To School Tips for kids and adults including:

• Making the First Day Easier
• Back Pack Safety
• Traveling To and From School
• Eating During the School Day
• Bullying
• Before and After School Child Care
• Developing Good Homework and Study Habits

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) also has words of advice for parents during this time of transition:

Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school life. The degree of adjustment depends on the child, but parents can help their children (and the rest of the family) manage the increased pace of life by planning ahead, being realistic, and maintaining a positive attitude.

So, what do you say?! Have a great year! School is fun!

Graphic from http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/894673.jpg

Summer Wrap Up 2009, Part 2

Continuing on last week's Summer Wrap Up 2009 theme, following are some interesting, free videos to expand your knowledge and just have fun. Be sure to check the closed captioning icon if available, so that you can read the words while they are spoken over the videos.

• Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, BrainPOP, funded by FWD Media, Inc., creates animated, curriculum-based content that supports educators and engages students. It does offer some free movies covering such topics as Asthma and Yo-Yo Ma,.
• NASA Multimedia Video Gallery offers a wide array of space science videos for your developing astronomical knowledge. NASA Television is also available on YouTube.
• PBS Kids offers new videos every week for the younger reader including Curious Georgie, Clifford The Big Red Dog, and Sid, The Science Kid.
• Storyline Online, presented by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, offers many books read to the viewer by an adult using the actual book including Stellaluna by Janelle Cannon , Thank You Mr. Faulkner by Patricia Polacco, and Brave Irene by William Steig. See if you can name any of the famous readers!
• National Geographic for Kids offers a wide selection of videos, some full length, some 3 minutes, all are well worth a look.
• PBS American Experience series, produced by WGBH Boston, features over 200 films. Watch full films online, download teacher’s guides, go behind the scenes, and learn more about your favorite films. While on the American Experience site, check out The American Experience for Kids, Wayback--U.S. History for Kids.

THIS JUST IN from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): The U.S. Department of Labor launches redesigned Disability.gov web site. Check that out, especially the Education links.

Well that's it for this summer. Be rested, energized, prepared with your summer reading assignments, and have a great 2009-2010 school year.

Graphic from http://www.flickr.com/photos/alasam/2473024612/sizes/m/

Summer Wrap Up 2009, Part 1

A variety of literature has made its way to my computer and my desk. Following are a few pearls you might want to explore. I start with some book award sites then to some interesting literacy activities you might enjoy.

• The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards are given annually to the children's books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.


• Founded in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental is the oldest and largest children's and family nonprofit literacy organization in the United States. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year.


• The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is presented every year, the largest international children's and young adult literature award in the world. The award is presented to authors, illustrators, storytellers and those active in reading promotion work. The award may be presented to a single recipient or to several, regardless of language or nationality. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.


• The Ezra Jack Keats Book Award was established in 1985 to recognize and encourage authors and illustrators new to the field of children's books. The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards are given annually to an outstanding new writer of picture books for children (age 9 and under) and are presented jointly by the New York Public Library and the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

Upcoming literacy events:

• International Literacy Day sponsored by UNESCO traditionally observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.


• The 1,000 Lights for Literacy Fund sponsored by the International Reading Association, empowers teachers to make positive change by giving large grants to teachers to power classroom literacy programs. Grants will be awarded each year for amazing and bold literacy programs created by classroom teachers.


• In 2006, Jumpstart created Read for the Record, an international campaign to bring preschool children together with valued grownups in their lives to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. In 2008, nearly 700,000 readers shared the classic children’s tale, Corduroy by Don Freeman. This year, Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be read on October 8, 2009.


• To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in and help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, National Council of Teachers of English(NCTE) has established October 20, 2009, as the National Day on Writing.

Next week I will share some links to engaging videos. Graphic from http://www.harley.com/art/abstract-art/images/(monet)-wheatstacks-end-of-summer.jpg