Synergy: Celebrating Poetry

POETRY is a literary form that elicits an emotional response through the use of language. This condensed art form can be written, spoken, or performed. Often spoken aloud, the words and phrases are arranged for meaning, sound, and rhythm.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:

POETRY PROMPTS written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated Georgie Birkett jumpstarts the writing process for children. Prompts feature a variety of techniques and use examples to help young writers enjoy learning about poetry. Poetry Power-Ups provide tips and encouragement. ARC courtesy of Wide Eyed Editions, an imprint of Quarto Group.

COURAGE OUT LOUD: 25 POEMS OF POWER written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett shares poems that encourage confidence-building in children. It’s the third book in the Poetry to Perform series. These original poems can be used as personal mantras as well as inspiration for children’s own poetry writing. ARC courtesy of Wide Eyed Editions, an imprint of Quarto Group.

CHAMPION CHOMPERS, SUPER STINKERS AND OTHER POEMS BY EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS written by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Aparna Varma features poems for children about a wide range of animals. This interactive picture book features poems with hints about an animal that are followed up with facts and special characteristics. The book concludes with information about protecting endangered animals, measurements, and mask poems. A glossary is also included. Involve children in incorporating animal facts into their own nature poetry. ARC courtesy of Kids Can Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

WELCOME TO THE WONDER HOUSE is written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard, then illustrated by Deborah Freedman. The poetry collection for children encourages creativity and inquiry across the curriculum. ARC courtesy of Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Publishing House.

Synergy: Celebrating Mail

MAIL are items sent, carried, or delivered by a postal system. Many types of transportation may be used in transporting bags and boxes of letters, packages and other items. Maps and postal routes increase the efficiency of mail.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for children:

WHO’S GOT MAIL? by Linda Barrett Osborne explores the history of the postal service in the United States. Short chapters, interesting side-bars, engaging primary source visuals and the nonfiction narrative format bring this history of the U.S. Postal Service to life. Of particularly note is the emphasis on diversity and less-known facts. Back matter extends the experience. ARC courtesy of Abrams. 

SPECIAL DELIVERY by Polly Faber is a picture book tracing a book’s journey around the world from printing and shipping to sales. Children will be attracted to the bright colors and use of flowchart type infographics. ARC courtesy of Candlewick, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

FROM HERE TO THERE: A FIRST BOOK OF MAPS by Vivian French examines the world of maps and mapmaking. When her play date invitation includes a map, Anna decides to learn more about maps and how they are made. Readers are encouraged to make their own map. ARC courtesy of Candlewick, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learning: Writers and Writing

Several recently published and upcoming titles explore writing and writers. From unconventional writing rules to new ways of presenting content, explore approaches to writing, spaces for creation, and techniques to jumpstart writing.

Robert’s Rules of Writing, Second Edition: 111 Unconventional Lessons that Every Writer Needs to Know

Robert Masello, 2021, Allworth, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

Themes: Language Arts, Communication, Writing

Exploring problems and issues faced by writers across genres, the author challenges traditional approaches and provides over 100 useful and often humorous ideas.

Take-aways: Students will enjoy many of Masello’s practical writing suggestions. Weave them into classroom presentations or post “the rules” on a bulletin board.

The New Academic: A Researcher’s Guide to Writing and Presenting Content in a Modern World

Simon Clews, 2023, Sourcebooks

Themes: Language Arts, Communications, Writing

Although designed for academics, this book explores practical ways to think about sharing information for anyone interested in writing, speaking, profiling, and communicating. The hands-on approach provides useful examples and publishing ideas.

Take-aways: Use this book to make real-world writing assignments and encourage students to think about audiences that go beyond the classroom. Consider about ways to collaborate across the curriculum for authentic writing projects.

Write Away! Poetry: Guided Poetry Journal with 75+ Writing Prompts

Editors, 2023, Chartwell Books

Themes: Language Arts, Writing, Journaling

With over 75 writing prompts, this guided-journal provides ideas for playing with memory, words, senses, and form. Although designed for poetry writing, the ideas can be adapted for other types of writing experiences.

Take-aways: Weave the writing prompts in the classroom as part of springboard or reflection activities.

Writer’s Retreat: Literary Cabins, Creative Hideaways, and Favorite Writing Spaces of Iconic Authors

Neil Burkey, 2021, Imagine, an imprint of Charlesbridge Publishing

Themes: Language Arts, Literary Figures, Biography

Exploring the writing spaces of over 50 authors, this fascinating quick-read provides unique insights into the writers, their works, and the places they create.

Take-aways: Personalize your examination of the authors already found in the curriculum by adding insights about the locations where they wrote.

Rooms of their Own: Where Great Writers Write

Alex Johnson, 2022, Frances Lincoln, an imprint of Quarto Group

Themes: Language Arts, Literary Figures, Biography

Readers explore the spaces, habits, and rituals of 50 famous writers. Going beyond the locations themselves, the book examines how specific spaces impact the writing process.

Take-aways: Use the examples in this book to talk with students about the connection between authors and place. Also, connect to personal habits and writing rituals.

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Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

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Website: The Writing Center

THE WRITING CENTER at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides a tips and tools resource.

Although designed for the college level, the tips and tools at this website are useful for middle and high school students. The materials are organized into four categories: writing the paper; citation, style, and sentence level concerns; specific writing assignments or contexts; and writing for specific fields. Most of the resources are handouts, but a few involve short YouTube videos.

Librarians will find the handouts and videos useful across many grade levels. Be sure to share the Writing for Specific Fields section with teachers in each content area.

To visit the website, go to https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/.

Website: ReadTheory

ReadTheory is a free reading comprehension website for students of all ages and ability levels.

The program’s adaptive approach helps students learn at their own pace as they work their way through thousands of skill building exercises. The quizzes span reading levels from elementary through college levels and are aligned with standards. Teachers can use the program to track individual student progress.

Youth begin with a short quiz that involves reading a passage, answering a question, and receiving feedback. After a longer pre-test, students are assigned exercises matched to their reading comprehension needs.

Librarians will find this to be a useful resource for students, teachers, and parents.

The program is available for both desktop and mobile devices.

To visit the website, go to https://readtheory.org.

Website: New Jersey Center for Teaching & Learning

The NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR TEACHING & LEARNING is a nonprofit website providing STEM learning materials along with other educational resources.

The website contains classroom teaching materials in the areas of mathematics, math intervention, science, English and Language Arts, and computer science. A section on teaching methods includes specific areas such as assessment and technology resources. The website also contains self-guided open courses for students and teachers.

Librarians will find a wealth of lesson and classroom ideas to weave across the curriculum. Of particular note are the many English Language Arts lessons that can be integrated into information literacy activities.

To visit the website, go to https://njctl.org.

Website: BBC iReporter

The BBC IREPORTER is an interactive game designed to help students explore the importance of fact checking.

In this online interactive educational game, users become journalists while learning about the benefits and pitfalls of using social media to collect information.

A teacher’s guide provides a series of lessons, exercises, and other learning materials to guide and extend the interactive experience.

Librarians will find this interactive to be an engaging tool in teaching media literacy skills. Youth will particularly enjoy the fast-paced, video and audio enhanced format of the interactive.

To visit the interactive, go to https://bbc.in/2LDkvyj.
To visit the teacher’s guide, go to https://bbc.in/2wvmaR8.

Website: ABC Media Literacy

MEDIA LITERACY from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation contains educational materials related to media literacy.

The ABC Education website includes sections focusing on News Challenge, Questioning, News, Understanding News, and Making News. Although designed for an Australian audience, most of the materials can easier be adapted for a global audience.

The For Teachers section contains teaching and learning materials associated with the website activities such as a source checker and fake news interactive. It also links to other useful media literacy resources.

Librarians will find the website particularly useful in providing a more global perspective on issues such as fake news. Youth will enjoy the online interactive.

To visit the website, go to http://www.abc.net.au/education/media-literacy/.

Website Review: The Breadwinner

THE BREADWINNER is an interactive website and film based on the popular children’s book.

The story focuses on the journey of a young girl who gives up everything to help her family and reunite with her father. The website contains a movie trailer, an exploration of the story and its characters, a study guide, and an area where users can read stories and share their experiences.

Librarians will find the website and film to be excellent companions to the original book. Weave the book, movie, and website into both the language arts and social studies curriculum.

To visit the website, go to http://www.thebreadwinner.com/.

Website Review: Progressive Punctuation

PROGRESSIVE PUNCTUATION is a website showcasing fascinating punctuation marks.

This easy-to-use website features old and new punctuation that never became part of standard practice. Users move forward and back through examples that include a description, inventor, year, location, and appropriate uses of the marks. The resource explores how punctuation is used to bridge the gap between verbal language and written language. The project is intended to encourage conversations about written communication. Users can even download a font containing the punctuation marks.

Librarians will find that this website is a hit with English teachers. Use the website as a creative way to introduce punctuation rules. Encourage students to discuss their favorite punctuation marks and invent their own.

To visit the website, go to http://progressivepunctuation.com/.

Website Review: Radio Garden

RADIO GARDEN is a website resource that helps users locate and explore radio stations around the world.

Upon entering the website, users are shown the live streaming radio stations their area. Clicking the green dots on the map shares information about the streaming stations. The History section provides historical information about radio stations and transmissions. The Jingles area shares radio jingles. The Stories section explores stories about experiences with radio. Users can submit their own stations and experiences.

Librarians will find curriculum connections related to communications and social studies. Involve students in listening to radio stations around the globe. Also, connect the website to foreign language classes.

To visit the website, go to http://radio.garden.

Tech Review: Kinetic City: Active Explorer

KINETIC CITY: ACTIVE EXPLORER is a website and app used by educators to create Quests for their students.

Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, educators use the website to build Quests using an easy-to-use web-based template. These activities may ask students to conduct experiments, observe their environment, or create a product. The Quest lists specific activities and lists of tasks for students to accomplish. Youth can share their notes, images, audio, video, and other communications using the App. They can also answer questions or create a chart.

Students create accounts and log in using the app to create their projects using a tool called SmartWorks. Youth can create comic strips, posters, ebooks and other projects.

The website also includes both a SmartWork Gallery of student projects and a Quest Gallery showing teacher-generated activities for grades K-12.

Librarians will find this easy-to-use website and app useful across the curriculum. It only takes a few minutes to create a Quest for students. Learners of all ages can use the app to record data and build projects that can be shared.

To learn more, go to http://www.active-explorer.com/.