MARESA Literacy Monthly: December 2021 Edition

 

Spotlight on the Essentials

MARESA Literacy Network Session #2

    The MARESA Literacy Team continued its efforts to support Literacy Essential #3, Small Group and Individual Instruction, during session two of the MARESA K-5 Literacy Networks.  The session focused primarily on the instruction portion of small group literacy time.  We unpacked explicit instruction together and through discussion and a small collection of videos and resources, amazing teachers were: affirmed in good practices already happening, reminded of practices that have been set aside, and expanded explicit instruction lessons in their classrooms!  All of the resources and asynchronous content is found here!  

 

For the Love of Reading

Generate Excitement About Reading and writing with these Tips and Tricks from your MARESA Colleagues

This document is worth checking out!  At our second MARESA Literacy Teacher Network sessions held in December, we began with sharing.  Each amazing educator shared one thing he/she does to engage and excite students in literacy!  You will surely add to your toolkit!!

Back By Popular demand:  Last Year's December Edition of the MARESA Literacy Monthly:  

Many of you have shared that you loved what you saw last year in the December edition, but didn't have time to fit it in.  Below you will find an abundance of wonderful ideas that will fit with the holiday season!  Enjoy and Happy Holidays from your MARESA Literacy Team!

For the Love of Reading

A Collection of Winter Reads:  Digital Text and AudioBook Collections

There is an abundance of digital texts at our fingertips!  These resources were found by searching for texts using the eBook K-8 Collection found on the Michigan eLibrary site.   Keep it contained in Google Slides...simply paste an image of the book cover and link it to the permalink from the PDF version of the book.  Add a small description of the story and voila!  Access to digital text is granted!  Another option is to do it Bitmoji style...just add your Bitmoji to personalize.  Both formats allow students to make choices in book selection as well.  Cheers to motivating young readers and giving them digital text options!  

Use the resources below to encourage some digital reading in December!

Digital Text Collections: 

*If you or your students receive the error message shown below, no worries!  Follow this link for a quick fix!  

Kindergarten-1st Grade Collection

2nd-3rd Grade Collection

4th-5th Grade Collection

Bitmoji-style Library (Keep grade level page and delete those that are not!) 

Audiobook Collection: 

K-5 Collection

*As with all of our MARESA Literacy Monthly topics, we are here to follow-up and support you in the incredible work that you do!  Email hmuscoe@maresa.org for assistance in creating your first digital collection or kmpeterson@maresa.org to create your first audiobook collection!

EVERY CHILD, EVErY DAY WRITING

GIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON THROUGH WRITING

Open this document to find messages from children book authors and a treasure trove of ideas to spark gifts that will last a lifetime.  

Go! Go! Gaby!

Tell a Story with a tech twist:  Claymation & Google Slides Animation

Share these easy to follow tutorials to engage the family in fun creative projects that will spark the imagination and promote writing and telling stories. (Young children may need some adult guidance and supervision)

First, we have a fun "Flip animation" project using google slides! Get your own copy of this lesson.

Next we have a "Claymation animation" project that will trigger their creative storytelling juices! Get your own copy of this lesson.

Managing It All!

The "I'm Bored" Jar

    We all know that students can struggle with what to do during idle time.  Let’s support them and their families with a simple idea...the “I’m Bored” jar!  Simply add your name to this printable, edit as you wish, and send it home to your families.

Engaging Families

Literacy Through the Holidays:

THE GIFT OF READING

Scan QR code with your phone camera to access book gift ideas.	This year give your child a gift that will stay with them forever, the gift of reading.
	1.  1st Gift of Christmas Leave a book on your child’s bed so Christmas morning their first gift opened is a book. For book ideas, check out 20 timeless Christmas book lists.
	2. Stuffed Animal Book Characters  Reading with a special stuffed animal is super motivating for children. Many children’s books have stuffed animal characters available to go with the titles.
	3. Comfy Chair or pillow Does your child have a cozy place for reading?  A beanbag, comfy chair or pillow are great gifts to encourage reading.
	4. Reading Lamp, flashlight or headlamp Brighten your child’s favorite place to read with a reading lamp, flashlight or headlamp.
	5. Children’s Cookbooks Reading recipes and cooking together is a wonderful family activity.
	6. Graphic Novels Graphic novels are super popular and fun for all children!
	7. Boxed Set of Beloved Books Does your child have a favorite series? Box sets are treasured gifts for readers.
	8. Gift Cards Gift cards for books make great gifts and stocking stuffers  Snowbound Books, Scholastic, Amazon Do you have family members asking for gift ideas?   Have your child create a book wishlist on Amazon.
	9. Audible Subscription  Audiobooks are not just for road trips. Developing the habit of listening to audio books is a wonderful gift to give your child.
	10. Magazine Subscriptions Support your child’s interests all year long with a monthly magazine subscription.

Click Here for Printable Version

 

Use this "Let's Talk About the Holidays" poster from Talking is Teaching to help families recognize that by simply engaging in talking, they are providing a powerful boost to early literacy!