My World-Mi Mundo

Starting the year right...with a series on "Gratitude"

2012-01-17T18:55:00.002-05:00

There are many different possible "Beginnings" for this new year's post. I could've started with...

* new year's resolution
or with
*a deep apology for not posting for such a long time ( and I could've share with you the 1,001 things that happened in between)
or by
* sharing the books I've read during Winter Break
or I could...
*tell you about my awesome vacation in Paraguay with the family.

All these are great possibilities and I might just later on spend some time writing and sharing about all those topics. A writer has choices. A writer makes decisions every day. I repeat these messages over and over to my young ELLs writers during Writing Workshop everyday. However, today I make the decision of starting my 2012 blog with a post on gratitude. You see, there are many people out there that have helped me become a better person, a better teacher, a better writers, a better ME. I'm constantly working on improving myself, reflecting and implementing changes. However, there is no way I can do any of those things if certain people in my life has not shape me into the person I am today.

Today I am a learner. I love learning new things. I have many interest. I have fascination in a lot of topics. Big and small. The world is a big playground of knowledge and I love playing it in.

Today I am a reader. But you see, I didn't use to be one. I couldn't call my self a reader as a child. I didn't have a passion for books until....I was a teacher's aide in Paraguay (when I was 18). More on this story later.

Today I am a writer. I started learning English as a Second Language when I was 10. I didn't have anyone I could practice English with so I started a Language Journal where I had conversations with my child self so I could practice some English. Little did I know then that ever since language and writing would become a passion in my life.

Today I'm curious. I always wonder about things. I love to ask questions. On any given day, I have hundreds of "I wonders"in my head. There are times I wish I could play pause in this brain but it is part of who I am.

Today I'm in love with my mother tongue. I love Spanish and I have a different kind of appreciation for the words, the sounds, the poems, the writers in my culture.

But none of these could've happened without the support, encouragement, and love of many, many people in my life...some of them here in the USA, some of them in Paraguay, some who I met 10 years ago, others who I've met 3 years ago. Some whom I have share many dinners with, others who I've only had the privilege to share a small moment in life.

So the first person I want to dedicate this series on gratitude on my blog is a man I admire so much: my dad, my papa.

You see, my dad is a wise man. He is the main reason my mind is a curious mind. I have learned from my dad the art of asking questions, fetching information, pondering, and projecting. At a very young age, I helped my dad build our house in Paraguay. We would sit together at the dinning table planning our next move, talking about budgets, projecting and predicting. My dad and I built our house. Yes, we did. It is one of the most satisfying thing we've accomplished in life. I remember being 18 years old and discussing the architectural planning. My dad never made it to college but he carries more wisdom than any other people I know. Why? Because he has a curious mind that gets only satisfied with books, article, by listening to debates, and most importantly, by listening to the people around him. He was a restaurant owner for 25 years and he loves people. He loves listening to people vent, talk, debate. I guess he just loves words so much he always had the perfect ones at the right time.
My dear dad, the one who's getting old but wiser each day....the one whose memory fails him at times, the one who re-reads the same book over and over because he wants to absorb the words with each reading...the one who loves to sit under the palm tree in our house and watch the sunset settle down in our neighborhood.

to you my dad...my endless love and gratitude. Today and always.

Thanks for raising a curious mind in me. Thanks to you, today I wonder...I learn.

Powerful words, powerful illustrations!

2011-11-28T22:55:00.048-05:00

Monday evening in Columbus, Oh. It has been raining non-stop for the last two days. It's gloomy outside and I honestly didn't find the inner strength to work out today. When the weather is like this, it only calls for the essentials: a pile of picture books and a hot apple cider by my side. Even though, at times one can feel lonely or vulnerable, all feelings can change in the company of books...the right books. So, this evening the books that I will share with you took me on a journey: I found myself crying, smiling over at a writer's sense of humor through his book, laughing with some and reminiscing with others. And that's the beauty of books...they can transform you, they can fill up the empty holes, they can make you feel so many different and opposites feelings ...all at once, all in one sitting. welcome to the journey... in this set of picture books, I decided to show four books which not only the words but the illustrations have caught my eyes in a way that make the story stick with me.

Grandpa Green by the magnificent Lane Smith is one that I read a while ago, but I needed to read again. I wanted to remind myself how the book made me felt...optimistic.This story is told from the great-grandson 's perspective. He is narrating how amazing beautiful, eclectic and different his grandpa's life used to be. Grandpa loved his garden so much that every significant event in his life was represented in his garden, through is work. Now, it is the hands of his family to preserve that garden that constitutes nothing else but grandpa's memories. What a beautiful way to remember someone...
This is another book I immediately fell in love with but I must admit I'm a big fan of Melissa Sweet's art work so any work she does gets my immediate attention. This book will NOT disappoint any of her fans. In this book, readers will learn the story behind the colorful traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Parade that takes place in NYC every year. Little did I know that behind this spectacular parade was a man with the name of Tony Sarg who loved to figure out how make things MOVE. Thanks to his curious mind and his willingness to explore, he starting wondering and making things at a very young age. Tony Sarg had the creative and innovative mentality of "when no one is making...." then he will. And he did. Melissa Sweet's dedication in learning the story and details behind his life is beautifully illustrated through her words and her pictures. Melissa creates the kind of books that anyone would be willing to read because the format and style that she chooses to present new information makes it so appealing to any reader. From beginning, from the inside cover, to the last page and back cover, you'll learn something new along the way!
Let's continue with the flow of books that are so artistically and beautifully done. Paul Thurlby's Alphabet by Paul Thurlby is a one of a kind alphabet book. Every letter he has illustrated takes the shape and form of its subject. For example, letter C is for catch so he designed the letter C with two arms representing "catch". D is for Dog, so he made the dog's belly rounder and bigger to represent letter D. But what I love the most about this ABC book is the "vintage" appeal the book has. At the end of the book, Paul describes his style as retro-modern, using old books, postcards, and pieces of paper for the backgrounds.

My Hands Sing the Blues, Romare Bearden's Childhood Journey by Jeanne Walker Harvey. For me this book was completely new. I must admit not knowing about Romare Bearden but this is the beauty about books. It helps you grow knowledge and understanding...all through the book of another writer who decided to capture the life of an artist. Romare Bearden and his family had to leave North Carolina due to all the discrimination and Jim Crow laws affecting them. The family began the journey to New York City where Romare decided to capture his memories of growing in colorful North Carolina through his paintings. Romare and his grandpa spent many afternoons watching trains going by. Little did Romare know how those afternoons would later on influence his life and his work so much. One canvas after another, Romare combined two of his passion in one: his childhood memories with the love of Jazz. The author and illustrator did a wonderful team work in the making of this book. Both were able to capture and engage readers like me, who didn't know much about him. By the time I finished the book, I definitely wanted to read more!

These four picture books caught my attention on a gloomy Monday evening. These books always make me think how important and value is the work of the illustrator who is able to capture and embrace the writer's words and turn them into paintings, colors, and shapes. A round of applause to all artists out there who make readers fall in love with books even more, day after day!

First 8 days of School Reflection

2011-08-26T06:45:00.000-04:00

Here we are fellow educator friends. The new academic year 2011-2012 has begun. This new year brings many hopes. For me, this year bring hope that I will be able to turn every child that walks into my room a lifelong reader and writer. I hope that this year my students devour books with pleasure and not pressure. I hope that every child finds JOY in what he does, whether it is writing a note to a friend, reading that chapter book he's been waiting for, or simply find joy in coming to school day after day. It is my hope that my love for reading and writing is transparent and contagious to everyone that steps in Room 102-ESL.

This first 8 days of school has been amazing. They have already opened my eyes to some big small moments that I need to pay close attention to. This is what I've noticed this week:

* When I asked my 3rd/4th grade class how many of them read over the summer 29 hands went up. (Yay! Bravo!) and two children didn't raise their hands at all ( Challenge #1. How am I going to turn M and L into reading this year?)

*The 3rd grade teacher shared with the that the highest score in our first writing diagnostic of the year, the ESL students scored the highest. Every single one of them. I raised writers. (THank you Lucy Calkins, Katie Wood Ray, Lisa Cleaveland, Ann Marie Corgill, I couldn't have done it without your powerful teaching/books).

*Children's interest in books ignite my passion for bringing more books into the classroom. Finding out what they're INTO in the world of books is a MUST in my journey.

*I heard this week for the first time in my years teaching at Beechwood a child that said to me, " I can't read." I'll carry his words in my heart all year long and I promised myself that it will be the last time he'll ever utter those words.

*While I confer with my writers this week, I was able to synthesize all my information from my conferences right there on the spot. This allowed me to do a powerful wrap-up session after sharing time. A powerful wrap-up with a lead to next day's focus.

*Matching readers with books was THE MOST exciting thing to watch. Children "shopping" for the books they'll read in independent reading. I told me them it should be a balanced reading salad: a little bit of nonfiction, a little bit of picture books, with a big pinch of chapter books. They were ready to devour books after the intro.

* We have PebbleGo at school finally!!! I was happy to discover that a lot of my students have internet access at home. Can't wait to discover the possibilities there.

*I love watching 1st and 2nd graders totally into those reading phones and boy it helps keeping our voices down while reading. I discovered those 10 years ago and every year I'm thankful I was introduced to those by a talented teacher in Colorado.

*This very simple yet powerful workshop structure allows so much understanding from the children's point of view and flexibility from my end.

*The love for reading is contagious! One of my students went to the Columbus Metropolitan Library and checked out 7 books in a series she is very interested since our classroom didn't have copies of those books. She took charge and showed everyone that she is, in fact, responsible for her own reading life. Her enthusiasm made another students bring his favorite books from home so that he can access them here at school. May I just say around of applause for these young readers who are showing us they ARE ready to learn, to read volume this year, and to be in charge of their own reading life.

As Friday approaches, I will make sure I take some precious minutes to enjoy our accomplishments from this week and look ahead at another exciting week of learning and new hopes.

An Ode to Summer of 2011

2011-08-21T10:18:00.000-04:00

Summer of Growth

by Stella Villalba

This was the summer that I lived in New York City

for ten glorious days.

Living and breathing city lights and Broadway signs.

Columbia University was my destination after my morning coffee

Ipod in hand, books in the bag, a whole day of learning

ahead of me.

This was the summer that I became a teacher consultant

for the Columbus Area Writing Project.

A group of dedicated teachers bonded at Kenyon University

for a weekend retreat where the most beautiful and

inspirational writing bloomed along with writers-in residence

and actors preparing for their next big screen success.

This was the summer that I stayed cool by eating

tons of watermelon during the day.

While I was writing, while I was reading,

sitting on the front steps of my apartment,

watching people on their daily run.

Watermelon by my side was my key ingredient

to stay cool and refreshed.

This was the summer that I discovered more places

in Columbus than I’ve ever had.

Mozart Café, Milestone 229, Java Central, Dirty Franks,

and my favorite one of all times: Columbus Commons

where an ideal reading room was born.

This was the summer that Cycle 20 Project Diversity from

United Way made their marks in this city leaving our footprints

behind at the Parson’s store where hundred of families

seeked for help and support to start the new school year.

This was the summer that one book club was born,

a group of women challenged each other to Think about

issues that matters, topics that rise the bar

and questions that are so controversial and unspoken.

We discovered our differences but also got united by

things that move us the most, revealing more than

we ever will.

This was the summer that I met Maria Guzman and became her

mentor. I considered this more MY blessing than hers.

I can only hope she can learn a thing or two from me,

but in reality she has been teaching ME more.

She is the living example of faith and perseverance.

of hard work and success.

This was the summer that I witnessed three of my friends

getting married, each of them promising a life together

in healthness and in sick with the person that stole their hearts.

Their promising eyes and their unconditional love

were transparent for a whole audience to feel it and join them

in the prayer for this love to always be strong.

This was the summer I saw a Frida Khalo's original painting at MOMA in NYC.

Frida's life was a painful one but her love for the arts, for all things beautiful overcame the pain she learned to live with.

This was the summer I read over 100 books…

some picture books, some adult novels, and young adult as well.

Poetry never misses from my pile and discovered some

great graphic novels that I will take to my classroom.

This was the summer I watch my friends’ life

making some positive changes in preparation of

the lives that will join them in the fall.

Preparing their soul for a lifetime of giving and caring,

what a joy is to watch your friends turn themselves

into the mothers they are meant to be.

This was the summer my desk moved to my living room

creating a perfect writing space for my daily mornings

in company with coffee and books.

My blue desk symbolizes the writer I’m becoming

yet it also represents the long journey ahead.

This was the summer I celebrated 10 years in the USA.

Ten years of grow…

ten years of life time friendships

ten years of moving, packing, going, arriving.

Ten years of discovering an inner strength

I didn’t know it existed in me.

Thank you Summer of 2011.

You were so much more than I expected.

You didn’t disappoint. and I made it to the end.

New Early Readers for the New Year!

2011-08-08T07:32:00.000-04:00

As the new school year approaches, I get ready to talk a lot of new books I've discovered this summer right into my classroom. Maybe that's one of my favorite things about summer, besides the obvious which is pool and plenty of watermelon, is to have the time to read. I try to be as intentional as I can about the reading I do during the summer. Sometimes, I just go to the library and let the unexpectedness of it all to lead the way. Other times, I'm very intentional about the authors I want to discover, or a specific genre I would like to explore more.
On my last trip to the library I wanted to keep my eyes open for new early readers. I love being able to match my dear young readers with the just right book. This of course means keeping my eyes open for new possibilities and stretching my horizons when it comes about books.

Here are my latest finds on early readers on my last trip to the library:
: Kat's Maps by Joh Scieszka. What a great Ready to Read Level One book series book! In this particular one, Kat loves to draw maps. She draws maps of her bedroom, of her block of her town and of her world! She loves maps so much that she gave Jack a surprise. A surprise that only Kat could give to her dear friend!

Also by Jon Scieszka, comes another great early reader. In Trucks Line Up, Jack Truck lines up all the great trucks as soon as he is ready to start the day. Everyone is in a beautiful line, but wait a minute, where is Pete? How can he forget about him? I'm sure my young readers, especially the boys will find this book so appealing! After all, who doesn't love a great truck, right?

Mouse Loves School by Lauren Thompson
A tiny little mouse gets inside a backpack only to find out the wonderful world of school filled with all the best things: colors, shapes, and mostly, friends! A perfect one for the beginning of the school year.

And now for all my dear Splat The Cat fans, here are some titles you may want to add to your library:
Splat the Cat Good Night, Sleep Tight by Rob Scotton. A great short story involving three friends (well...sort of) and camping out.
Splat the Cat: Back to School, Splat! by Rob Scotton. Oh so much to share about summer time with friends during Show and Tell! How can he only chose one? What will Splat discover about this homework? Read to find out!

And last but not least, the special Fancy Nancy is out with a new book: Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl. Jane O'Connor sure knows how to give us a special and lovable character like Fancy Nancy whose love for fancy words is bigger than her. This time, our young girl faces the problem of realizing she is not a good runner and thus wanting to avoid Field Day at all cost. I love how this early reader has a great message for our young readers who not only will learn more fancy words but also learn a valuable lesson.

My wish for you is that your summer was filled with adventures, fireflies, plenty of sun and plenty of watermelon too. But mostly, I hope it was filled with great books that you simply can't w-a-i-t to share with your students!

Guest blog post!

2011-08-05T16:03:00.002-04:00

Today please visit the amazing Two Writing Teachers blog. I'm honored to be a guest blogger today. My topic? One that is dear to my heart: Teaching Writing Through an Author Study. Hope you find it useful and remember to always enjoy the journey.

Columbus Area Writing Project (CAWP) Part II

2011-07-28T12:25:00.000-04:00

On my last post here at My World/Mi Mundo, I've shared my summer experience of participating in the Columbus Area Writing Project (CAWP). You can read the first part of this blog right here.
In the first part I shared the big ideas and the philosophy behind such an amazing program like this one. Today I want to share with you what a day at CAWP looked like and some of the amazing titles recommended to all of us.
Every day a group of writers would gather in the classroom at Ramseyer Hall at The Ohio State University to start a day full of ideas, wonders, words, questions and books. Coffee brewing in the back, sleepy teachers walking one by one with excitement of a full day of writing ahead of us. Every morning, Robin Holland would filled our world with books, wonderful books, picture books, poetry books, large books, small books. This part of the day allowed our brain to wake up slowly in the preparation of the day ahead. Her knowledge and passion for books is admirable. Robin's passion for books opened our mind to genres, different genres of writing. She tuned my attention in different forms of writing and how to allow our minds to read a variety of texts, authors and genres. Every day our notebooks got filled with titles and titles to explore later.
Some of the titles I have gathered during those days include:

Teaching with Fire Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach by Sam M. Intrator
Professional Book: To Teach, The Journey in Comics by William Ayers
Listening-A Framework for Teaching Across Differences- Katherine Schultz
Terrible Thins-An Allegory of the Holocaust by Eve Bunting
Seeing the Blue Between- Compiled by Paul B. Janezco
Haiku This Other World by Richard Wright
A Postcard Memoir by Lawrence Sutin
Six Word Memoirs (there are several of this kind)
The World's Shortest Stories Compiled by Steve Moss

This is really a partial list of the many many titles shared. I loved the fact that this was built in our daily schedule. I loved being read aloud. I loved being introduced to different "containers" where stories and words live. It helped me pay attention to other genres and formats.
Besides being immersed in the world of books, we also have daily writing time. A huge part of our day was allotted to just writing. This simple yet amazing daily moment allowed us to try new things, to create a routine and a schedule for us. We would get together with our writing group for feedback and suggestion. Other times, we would just write for our own purposes and by ourselves. We could write in any part of campus that allowed us to get into that writer's mood and let the pencil guide our way.

Almost every day we had a speaker, a guest that came to be talk to us about a specific topic. On these days, CAWP would treat all of us to an amazing lunch while we listen to another amazing person in the community share their knowledge and expertise with us. Some of our guest included Pat Enciso, Mollie Blackburn and our keynote speaker this year was William Kist whose topic included New Literacies. The set up for this guests allowed thinking and discussion time. Every voice was heard and respected. I attribute this type of atmosphere to the three instructors we had: Robin Holland, Melissa Wilson and Kevin Cordi who created this safe environment since day one. They made it possible for all of us to feel validated and appreciated regardless of our level and expertise in the writing or teaching world for that matter.

From our retreat at Kenyon College to our classroom at OSU, writing happened everyday and because of it, we all grew as writers ourselves. I highly recommend this amazing program because in order to be excellent teachers of writing, we must be writers ourselves or at least understand what it is like to be in those shoes. Teaching writing is not enough, igniting a passion for writing is a must. I invite you to look at the National Writing Project in your area and get involved. After this experience, I feel that our job has just now started as we begin to advocate for a program that has changed and enriched the lives of many educators along the way.

On our last day together at CAWP, I wrote this poem inspired by all the hard work my classmates and fellow teachers have put into their own lives. It is a magnificent group of educators, and it is an amazing program that opened our eyes to the importance of getting involved and advocating.

Advocate

by Stella Villalba

Stay connected

expand yourself

stay connected

get involved

stay connected

there's so much to do.

Stay connected

we're all in this

together.

Stay connected

because that's

the beauty of

a community

It encourages

personal connections

sharing ideas

sharing stories.

Stay connected

get involved

so what when

you reach

a crossroad in your life

and it's time to reflect

and look back

you can say,

"job well done"

Stay connected

stretch yourself

what are you

afraid of anyways?

~~Of expanding your~~

~~horizons~~

~~and not being able~~

~~to look ahead?~~

Stay connected

stretch yourself

pick up the phone,

email,

participate

share.

There is no YOU or I

in this community

There are only WE

and present tense

Stay connected

get involved

Participate!

Advocate!

Whatever you're passionate about, do your part, get involved, advocate. There is so much to do for one person to do alone. I want to thank our CAWP professors, and my fellow teachers for a wonderful experience of growing as a reader and as a writer!

Columbus Area Writing Project (CAWP) Part I

2011-07-14T07:59:00.000-04:00

This summer I had the opportunity to attend, participate and become involved with the Columbus Area Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project (NWP). Under the patient guidance of the CAWP directors: Robin Holland, Melissa Wilson and Kevin Cordi, a group of writers were led every day on an outstanding journey of self-reflection, daily writing and encouragement. The writers came from all over Columbus: from east to west, from north to south with one common goal in mind: to become better writers and better teachers of writing.
The outstanding journey began at a retreat at Kenyon College. To all my dear Ohioan friends, let me just say this is a MUST place to visit. Their campus is gorgeous, small but with a flare of vintage. Their streets beg to be walked on while paying attention to the smallest details. The buildings' architectural design is one you want to pay attention. It is covered with unique twist and turns. The town is filled with brilliant minds, inquirers, researchers, word lovers, tales and superstitions. It was impossible not to feel inspired to write at a spectacular setting like this. Kenyon Colleges invites all writers to take out their pens and let them lead the way. It was at Kenyon College where CAWP Institute 2011- A Community of Writers was born. Our group bonded over poetry and read alouds. Our group connected through experiences and words. Our common love for all things well written brought us together. Our common passion to become better teachers of writing became our mutual goal.
Our group even had the chance to meet a celebrity on campus: Richard Jenkins (from the movie: Eat, Pray, Love)

That was definitely one of our surprising moments that we all like to remember and talk about. It is life's little moments or big ones that bring a community together and make us all look back and think, "hey, that was fun!" But Jenkins wasn't the only famous person that had the privilege to enjoy a walk on Kenyon College's campus. Other writers like Nikki Giovanni, Jonathan Kozol, Henri Petroski among other celebrities left their footprints and words among those buildings.

Our amazing instructors filled our Writing Institute with books of all sorts, types, backgrounds and genres. We explored a variety of books that led us to try unique pieces of writing. Our instructors are full of knowledge and expertise and the invitation to explore was impossible to resist. I'm a strong believer of creating safe communities in the classroom where students will feel safe writing, reading, talking, sharing, asking, making mistakes and exploring. Our three CAWP directors not only talked about the importance of creating a community, they showed us how it is done by creating that culture and environment in our Writing Institute. We all felt safe putting ourselves out there. We all came from different background and different levels of experience but together we became ONE writing community. One that listens, respects, provides feedbacks and get involved with the community.

I became a better teacher of writing through CAWP. I learned to put myself in the shoes of my students. I learned to listen and pay attention to details and to recognize beautiful language when I hear it. I learned to stretch my horizon as a reader by exploring different genres and how it is written. I learned to give my words a new meaningful, a new taste. I learned the importance of marinating my writing and let it soak it to acquire new taste. I learned to come back to old pieces of writing and firing my the grill of words again. I learned to listen, to pay attention and how to give productive feedback. We all learned to validate each other for who we are. I can honestly say I loved everything about this Summer Institute. I'm certain that our journey together did not end at our Writing Institute. I'm positive that this is only the beginning of bigger and better projects.

On my next post, I'll share with you what a day at CAWP Summer Institute looked like. I will also share some great titles recommended plus some projects we got involved in.

Collecting Read Alouds-Early Grades

2011-07-13T11:10:00.001-04:00

Oh there are so many reasons I love summer time. Here are just a couple:

*endless time to read

*watermelon and patio dinners

*fireflies

*pool and the smell of coconut+vanilla lotions

*road trips

* collecting Read Alouds for next academic year...

Oh yes, I keep my eyes open for great read alouds for next year. I'm blessed to work with the same group of children every year (I teach ESL) and this blessing gives me the extra challenge of keeping myself updated on the world of children's literature. This way, I can bring a range of great read alouds to the various group I teach.

For my younger ones in Elementary grades I have:

Walk on by Maria Frazee

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

my classic: Leo The Late Bloomer

and now I want to add : Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator by Mo Willems

Mo Willems did it again! He created yet again another adorable book with great characters and a situation that children will understand. I love what he did this time. He created a short chapter book. This book is perfect to start introducing our younger readers to the world of chapter books and sustaining information. Amanda is a reader. She gets lost in the world of books because you know..."books beat boredom!" She has a best pet friend Alligator (a stuff animal really). Alligator and Amanda knows how to have fun, just the two of them. Until one day Amanda comes back from the zoo with Panda (another stuff animal!) Is this going to work? Amanda, Alligator & Panda? Read to find out. Another great addition to any library.

Summer Reading

2011-06-15T08:19:00.000-04:00

Oh the days in summer allows us educators to press the pause button and to enjoy and get caught up with what's new in Children's Literature. I'm sure many of you will feel identify when I say that during the year, I get to hear a lot about great books but sometimes finding time is an issue. So, I keep a list of those titles so during Summer Time I can finally get to them.

One of the titles that has been on my "Get to it already!" list was Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst. Let me just say that all the positive things I read about this book, it is absolutely true. I can NOT wait to share this book with my students next year. I will definitely be put to wonderful use not only as a read aloud but hopefully for what I hope it can become one of our mentor texts in Writing Workshop. But first let me just tell you a little bit about the story. Someone is telling and writing this story about Lulu and her wish for a pet brontosaurus. This narrator have a conversation with the audience (you, the reader) about some of her/his choices when writing this book. As this narrator tells her/his story, we get to meet Lulu, a young girl whose parents always gave her anything she asks. Since she is an only child, her family feels so happy to have her and they want to give her everything! Lulu is used to hearing the word YES. On the few occasions, Lulu gets to hear the word NO from her parents she made sure she screamed and threw a tantrum. As a result, her parents always gave in with her demands.
One day Lulu, decides to ask for a pet brontosaurus! Yes, out of all the animals she could have as a pet, she chose a dinosaur. Well at this point, once again, the narrator is telling us (the readers) why she chose that pet. This time Lulu's parents are standing firm on their answer NO! So Lulu decides to take matters in her own hands, and so the adventures begin!
This book is just so perfect for elementary students because it provides a great story line, a wonderful lesson, interesting characters, intriguing choices (as to which the narrator explains his/her choices) and each chapter is short enough to keep younger children at focus.
The story provides three different endings and the narrator does a fantastic job explaining her/his choices for rewriting then endings. (Talk about powerful lessons rights here!)
Honestly, I can't wait to listen and learn from my students' reactions to this book.

Another early chapter book is Princess Posey and the Perfect Present by Stephanie Greene . A year ago, I wrote about the first book in this series entitled Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade. You can read the review right here. In this sequel, Posey continues to be the adorable girl she is but this time she gets in a bit of a problem. Posey LOVES her teacher, she loves her so so much that when it is her teacher's birthday, Posey thought this would be the best way to show her teacher how much she cares. Posey even had an idea of a unique present that would make her teacher's heart even happier. But when Posey realizes that her idea of a birthday gift is not an original, she is totally disappointment, angry at her best friend, and sad for letting it get to her. Pose would need to make a decision about all this. Keep on reading to find out how this adorable first grader still manages to find the perfect present and learn a bit more about herself.

Next chapter book is actually a book in the series. Last year, we werer introduced to Freddie Ramos in Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off (Book 1). First, it's important to know that Freddie is an only child who lives with his mom. They're both very close to another, especially since his father passed away. They're very good at taking care of one another. One day, Freddie receives a special box from Mr. Vaslov which contained the most amazing purple shoes. You're probably wondering, what are some amazing about it? Well, these are just not your regular shoes, these are Zapato (shoes in Spanish) with extra power. It makes Freddie zooms from one place to another in no time. All Freddie wants to do is help people. These shoes allow him to not only do that but also get himself into some great adventures.
In book number 2 and number 3 Freddie keeps helping people either stay out of trouble or solve their problems. But in book number 2 Freddie Ramos Springs into Action, Mr. Vaslov is able to improve Zapato Powers by adding the coolest bracelet that Freddie has ever seen. Now the possibilities are endless and Freddie keeps improving his skills of helping people out in no time.
In book number 3, Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue, the newest addition to Freddie's all improved powers is an awesome pair of goggles. Except that this time, this present is not from Mr. Vaslov. So,who's it from? Not only there is a purple squirrel that needs help, but now the goggles come from somewhere but Freddie has not clue from where. What I love about this series is that Freddie is a lovable character. He worries about his mom's being, he takes such a good care of her. He also likes to help people out and is always on the lookout for new adventures. Children will love it and boys will feel great seeing more boys as main characters. I think these series would be a wonderful read aloud addition to any classrooms.

This is what summer time is all about for me. It's about staying current with children's literature, it's about finding new books to fall in love with next year. I love introducing my students to the latest literature. I want their knowledge to keep on expanding throughout the years and it is my duty to make sure that happens.

Happy Summer Reading! Enjoy the journey!

We Are America

2011-06-08T14:00:00.000-04:00

We are America: A Tribute from the Heart by Walter Dean Myers. WOW. Get ready to have the chills as you read this book. It is like riding a roller coaster of emotions to watch a country goes through the roller coaster ride in history. Moments of pain, anguish, fear, pride, contemplation, doubt and back to pride all add up to make the history of ONE nation. Combining the gift of words from Walter Dean Myers and the talents of Christopher Myer's paintings and you have a book that you would definitely want to read and reread.
I don't think my review can do justice to this book. So my invitation is for you to open this book and immersed yourself in a book that traces the complexity and beauty of its people and the events that marked this nation.
I'll leave you with a poem to just get you curious enough to pick up this book...a sneak peek like I like to call it.

We are America
The land of the free
Wealthy beyond belief
and not wealthy
the land of equal opportunity
and not equal
The land of justice
and injustice

To each child a freedom dream
To each soul the sweet taste of liberty
to each heart give the promise
of America

To my dear America, I'll be celebrating 10 years of living in this beautiful country this July. I'm forever thankful for the people I've met, the places I've been, and the lives of children I was able to touch. Thank you.

Our End of the Year Reading Celebration!

2011-06-05T00:20:00.033-04:00

Ohio was very luck to have Debbie Miller here for a workshop that The Literacy Connection has organized it a couple of months ago. In her latest book Teaching with Intention, Debbie reminds all of us to make sure that our educational practices in the room reflects our teaching beliefs. This book is so powerful and it should be not only read by every educator but also should be LIVED by. What I mean is the following...if an educator has a strong foundation in his or her philosophies and beliefs of teaching and learning, then the classroom should reflect that. Every practice we do, every instructional decision we make, every thing we ask our students to do has to come from a belief, a foundation. Otherwise, our teaching is totally disconnected and we're just asking our students to do random things that we don't understand WHY.

One of my personal beliefs in teaching and learning is that I believe the influence the family has in their child's education. Therefore, I see them as partners in education. We both want and are working toward the same common goal: a child's learning. We want them to be strong readers and writers so they can lead in the future. Regardless of whether the families can speak or read in English (since I work with ELLs), their role and influence is priceless. I CAN'T raise their child as readers by myself. They spend about 8 hours of the day at school, but they also spend the rest of their hours at home. Therefore, our duties should be combined and strengthened by working together.
I'm blessed beyond words. The ESL families are so dedicated into Education. Our attendance to parent-teacher conferences is 100%. They listened to their children read, they take them to the library, they are ACTIVE in their education and language has never been a barrier because we both BELIEVE in the same practices.
This slideshow was from our last event of the year A Family Reading Celebration where I invited our families to just come over and listen to their child read a story to THEM. The roles were reversed and now the children were providing the story time. It was an amazing afternoon. There was support, commitment, enjoy, and a common bond for reading. Each child took ownership of the evening by being in charge of reading their favorite books and poems. They thought carefully which books to share with their families for that night, and they were working intentionally on their fluency. This was a chance for them to show their families how far they've come. And they surely did. A strong of readers and writers were born this year at Beechwood Elementary. I hope you enjoy the slideshow. Enjoy the journey!

Free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

48 HOUR BOOK CHALLENGE (Part II)

2011-06-04T22:30:00.000-04:00

Oh what an awesome Saturday! There is so much I love about this day. For me, it is day #2 of Mother Reader's amazing event 48 Hour Book Challenge. So to kick off this day, the Central Ohio bloggers got together for our annual Breakfast at Northstar and then a group trip to the one and only Cover to Cover Bookstore. Seeing all these amazing bloggers is just always a treat. Such a great time. Plus we get to witness Bill (from Literate Lives) enjoy his granola like no one. Traditions. It is all about traditions.
So today after our great get together, I got all comfortable to continue reading The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha. What a great up-lifting, positive yet humorous book. Like I mentioned yesterday, it is not the cheesy, oh too-much sunshine kind of book. The author (and may I just say male's sense of humor is always amusing!) keeps it entertaining yet realistic. In a world that moves so fast every day, it is just AWESOME to slow down once in a while and start noticing the things that make us smile. I truly enjoyed it.
Next in my pile was Fatty Legs: A True Story written by Christy Jordan Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. I must admit not having any background knowledge on the Inuvialuit, the aboriginal people of the western Arctic. There condition of living, their struggles for survival was all new to me as I read the story of this girl: Olemaun Pokiak. In the area called Aklavik, there were the only schools that the children could attend. Every time Olemaun would mention to her father her wish of learning how to read and get an education, the conversation ended abruptly. However, she was a determined little girl, and she kept on insisting. In those schools, they had the key to the future: reading and she wanted more than anything else to receive that possibility. Even though she know that going to that school meant a five day trip to that place and not seeing her parents for a whole year. Still, Olemaun was determined to go. What no one knew was that the nuns running that school had other business in mind. During those two years she spent there, she learned the meaning of struggle, cold, abuse, bully, and humiliation. A compelling story that the author decided to finally share with a bigger audience after many years of silence.
The next book in my pile was an ARC I received this morning at Cover to Cover. Dear Bully 70 Authors Tell Their Stories will be available in August, 2011. What an amazing and intense book! In this book you'll find famous authors like Jon Scieszka, Lauren Oliver, Lisa Yee, Amy Reed, Mo Willems, among so many others. The book is divided into sections: Dear Bully, Just Kidding, Survival, Regret, Thank you, Friends, Insight, Speak, Write It and It Gets Better. Each writer chose his own format to talk about a personal experience with bullying or bullies. Some of them chose to write a letter to them, others choose a free verse poems, and even illustrations. The stories are not easy to read because they are personal stories. These kinds of things happen to people, young adults, children all the time. Each author reflects on their journey some providing insight, others words of encouragement, and others advocating for victims to speak up. What a valuable resource for middle school and high school since so many students go through situations like this and would be able to relate, and gain perspective on things.
One of the lines that I've read in the book stick with me. They are from Heather Brewer who at one point in high school considered suicide due to bullying. But soon realizes that it is NOT the solution. She reflects, "Bullying is a horrible thing. It sticks with you forever. It poisons you. But only if you let it. See, there's a secret that no one ever tells you when they're filling your head that this" will build character" or just completely go away when you're an adult. You have the power to decide what hurts you and what doesn't, what sticks with you, and you use as a fuel to pull yourself out of the muck."

Beautifully said. Kept it real!

I started my 48 hour book challenge on Friday at 7:00am which means my time ends tomorrow at 7am. However, we all know that the passionate readers we all are, we will continue our journey of discovering books, learning from each other and sharing our knowledge with the world. Mother Reader, thanks for bringing all of us a bit closer through this challenge. Even though there are so many bloggers I have not personally met (yet), there is a strong community in this blogging world. We are all very supportive. Thank you to everyone that visit my blog and left words of encouragement and kept the cheering going.
I'll keep on reading but I need some picture books and poetry in my life. But I'll share with you my findings on that next week. For all the ones that still have another adventurous reading day tomorrow, I say...Enjoy the journey!

48 Hour-Reading Challenge

2011-06-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

Oh I love that Mother Reader organizes this big blogger event every year. 48 Hours dedicated to reading (yes, you may insert the occasional eating and sleeping in here). This event brings Central Ohio bloggers together for our annual breakfast at NorthStar and then our visit to our favorite local bookstore: Cover to Cover. This year will be no exception. Tomorrow we get together to make it an amazing morning. Just like we know how to do it!

Of course, it almost seems that every year that I participate in this fabulous literacy event, there seems like another big personal event happens that same weekend. This year, my dear friend Roxana is getting married in Dayton. So, here comes a road trip, fancy dress, high heels, and books in my packing bag. Although I couldn't read as much as I could, I still enjoy and mostly, LOVE this annual event. So, Mother Reader: thank you for the opportunity.
I will like to start my reading pile with a book that touched a spot in me. I felt like the first time I read this book, I read it too fast. I needed to go back, re-read, mark some poems and pages that I would like to keep for future reference. This 2nd reading allowed me to do that and here is an much updated review of this book. I saw my students in this story, I saw the struggle, the pain and the desire to learn and to be part of society that all immigrants like myself go through.
Inside Out and Back by Thanhha Lai again describes the story in free verse of a girl whose family is faced with a decision to make. This decision brings a reaction of events some of which are bound to happen, and others are just life experiences. Meet Hà and her family who patiently waits for the father to come back home from the Vietnam War. But after waiting and waiting for years, hope starts to fade and the family is left with no option but to leave Saigon. This journey represents that if their father ever comes back....how would he find his family? But little by little people are leaving taking ONE item with them. The long journey to American in the ship is harder than what they imagine. The food is starting to scarce and with this anxiety, anger, and frustration arises among the travelers in the Ship.
Once they FINALLy arrived in America, the 2nd part of this journey began. Now Hà and her family is being adopted by an American family and their lives as an immigrant began. Their divided world: the new one where they try to adapt and the home culture that they try to preserve. As Ha tries to learn English in school she realizes that is not only the language she will be struggling to understand but also her classmates who make fun of her and even bully her.
One particular poem in the book caught my attention as she describes how her teacher makes her feel at school...

Feel Dumb

Misssss Ssscott
points to me
then to the letters
of the English Alphabet.

I say
A B C and so on.

She tells the class
to clap.

I frown.

MiSSS SScott
points to the numbers
along the wall.

I count up to twenty.

THe class claps
on its own.

I'm furious
unable to explain
I already learned
fractions
and how to purify
river water.

So this is
what dumb
feels like.

I hate, hate, hate it.

After reading this poem, it is almost mandatory to have a moment of reflection. A moment where I quietly ask myself, "Did I ever unintentionally made a student feel like this?" I hope the answer is NO because I do understand that when you're learning the language you got to start somewhere. But along the way, the integrity of the learner must be at the front.
I highly recommend this book for many reasons but mainly for understanding and awareness.

The next book in my pile was a graphic novel. I must confess that I have a particular fascination for this genre. I just love everything about it. Looking at the detailed illustrations, the coloring of the drawings, the way an author, illustrator and colorist all work together to create a sensational book. I love to pay attention at how sounds are created in a graphic novel. The whole process is just very intriguing to me. This time I read the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Some of you might already be familiar with this book but I'll still share a bit about it. Percy Jackson's life is a puzzle, even for himself. His world is made up of mythological monsters and also the Gods of Mount Olympus. Not very common for a typical 12 year old to be surrounded in this world. But this is HIS world and he is about to discover some things that will not make sense and others that will only help him answer some of this questions. Problem is the poor child is trying to figure out his world and purpose as he is accused of stealing Zeus's master lighting bolt. Now...it's up to him to return it to the proper master. But it is in this journey that he will answer his questions, doubts, and will get to know so much more of WHO he is.

The third book in my pile is one that I have NOT finished yet but I can already tell you that I'm LOVING the positive yet humorous approach The Awesome Book. It is not one of those cheesy optimistic book. It is an OPTIMISTIC one BUT the author makes it so much more entertaining to read it as he adds details and descriptors to each scenario. This book will definitely be my companion this evening. But I'm taking a pause in order to support our 50th Anniversary of Columbus Arts Festival. My friends know that I support all the summer festivals in Columbus because that is ONE of the many things that make this city an amazing one!
Happy Reading Journey my friends. I hope you are your books are having an awesome one on one time!

Ready, Set, Go!

2011-06-03T07:29:00.000-04:00

All I can say is Mother Reader...what an awesome annual tradition you had started! Central Ohio Bloggers are SO ready for this! Let the reading begin. Enjoy the journey!

A special love to awesome picture books!

2011-05-31T07:57:00.000-04:00

Oh picture books...how I adore you!
Let's start with an amazing equation as a presentation to this book: Amy Krouse Rosenthal + stories= inspiration. Yes. That's how I would define her. She is a total inspiration. Whatever she does, whether it is a book, or making a short film/video, or city project, she inspire people to notice, to care, to pay attention to life's details. In her newest book This Plus That Life's Little Equation, Amy brings us some simple yet wonderful day-to-day observation. This book is all about possible combinations in less, the adding of this plus this equals this experience. It is also about what happens when we divide little or big tasks. Another fun book to share because you know that...
joy+books= endless blessings!
Jack's Path of Courage The Life of John F. Kennedy by Doreeen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares. Yes, not only was John F. Kennedy, the most memorable and amazing USA President this country ever had, but he was above everything a unique individual. He worked very hard in life to become his own "talent", to shine in his own way. Joe, his brother, was outstanding at everything he did. It was hard for John not to be compared with this brother. But his determination and courage in life made him succeed in life. This is another publication by the amazing Doreen Rappaport who has done several high-quality and accessible biography for children.

Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! And Other Poems More or Less About Manners by Robert Kinerk and Pictures by Drazen Kozjan is a must read!!! What a fun book. I can't wait to read this ALOUD to my students. The verses are so catchy and fast, it is impossible to resist great manners with a book like this! Seriously. A collection to be read over and over.

Underground Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane W. Evans is a living proof that you can tell a powerful story with as few words as the author has done here. This IS a story about freedom, about the underground railroad, about history but Shane W. Evans decided to tell it in a unique way. But for a book like this to have a long lasting impression in a reader, it needs powerful strong images. And this book has it. Even the colors used are very limited. Amazingly creative.

Little Chicken's Big Day by Katie Davis and Jerry Davis is another short and sweet picture book for the early and young readers in Preschool thru 1st. This particular range of ages would appreciate the curiosity and wondering mind of Little Chicken who is ready to explore the world at its fullest. Luckily, mother is only a couple of steps away for those moments where anyone could need a final push to get home.

Happy Endings A Story about Suffixes by Robin Pulver and Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. I'm really curious to see the students' reaction to this book. Would it help them understand suffixes better? Would it hold their interest? I look forward to giving my students a chance to explore this book and watch their reactions. The story is about how all the suffixes in the book react when they found out that they will be tacked after lunch. In order to save themselves, the best they can do is prove that suffixes are indeed needed and are helpful.

Fred Stays with Me by Nancy Coffelt is a great story about a little girl spends her time with the best of a companion, her dog Fred. Sometimes she lives with her mom. Sometimes she lives with Dad but no matter wherever she goes, Fred is sure to follow. Of course a pet always brings new challenges to any household but nothing that it can't be resolved and negotiated. I love the positive outlook this book gives to the characters' situation even with a sensitive topic like divorce.

A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid is simply an adorable picture. From the illustrator who created The Wonder Book, comes a sweet story about Petunia who wants nothing ELSE but a skunk for a pet. She thinks they are adorable, so cute, with their amazing strips, and big black eyes...until she encounters a real skunk and she realizes they STINK!!! The simplicity of the illustrations and few colors used for this book makes it even more STINKY cute!

Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss is one AMAZING nonfiction book!!! When I started reading this book I thought to myself, "The authors must have read a book on presentation by Steve Jobs!" As many of you know Steve Jobs works very hard in the art of giving magnificent presentations for Mac, working on particularly so his ideas stick with people. So they would remember. That's how I feel about this book. Each fact given in this book about a particular animal is given in such a creative way, and visually attractive! The layout, the format, the numbers, the illustrations, everything in this book worked together beautiful to give the audience a book that they would for sure REMEMBER!

On my last trip to the library...

2011-05-26T15:13:00.000-04:00

I'm so blessed to live 5 minutes from one of the branches of our Amazing, Number ONE in the Nation: Columbus Metropolitan Library. I know a lot of the people that work there in the evenings, and I think they know me by now. Yes, I'm the one that overwhelms their bookshelf with my reservations. What can I say for myself? I'm a book lover and I'm not ashamed to admit it. In February, I started a section on this blog called: On my last trip to the library....in which I share only the best books from my checkout list!
Now, Let me start with a bilingual poetry book....
When you see the name Jorge Argueta on the front cover of a book, I'd say pay attention, grab it, read it and enjoy it. Jorge Argueta has written other great books like A Movie in my Pillow/Una Pelicula en mi Almohada; Moony Luna/ Luna, Lunita, Lunera; Sopa de Frijoles/Bean Soup among others. All these books just mentioned are fantastic addition to any library or classroom that celebrates language, poems, diversity and culture. Through his poems, Jorge is teaching or sharing with the audience a piece of culture, a part of who is he.
In this book Arroz con Leche/Rice Pudding he shares a "cooking poem" on how to prepare his favorite recipe: rice pudding. For a lot of latino families, rice pudding became a favorite dessert, and one that brings a lot of great memories. I believe Jorge does a great job sharing that portrait with the audience.
The fact that the book is written in two languages: Spanish and English allows it to reach even a greater audience.

The next book....get ready to fall in love: Blackout by John Rocco

I don't think I can name all the reasons why I LOVE this book but I will give it a go. In Blackout, a little girl is looking for someone in the family who would like to play a board game with her. Sadly, everyone in the family is busy: older sister is on the phone, dad is cooking, mom is working on the computer. Frustrated but left with no options, really, the little girl goes upstairs to play video games since for that one, she really doesn't need someone. She can just play it by herself. But all of a sudden...something happens in the city: a BLACKOUT!!! everything is dark, everything is quiet at first. But to the family's surprise, there is a party going on the rooftop! everyone decided to come out and admire the starry night.
When they go outside, there is a block party happening in the neighborhood. People are talking, people are playing and dancing, and NO ONE is busy.

Now the beautiful story that I just told you is told in a beautiful, amazing way...in graphic novel type of book. Look at it this way....I wish I had this book in my hand when I wanted to teach one of my students about graphic novel and how to organize his writing that way. This book has outstanding illustrations and a wonderful message to all families. PLUS it is the perfect mentor text for teachers who want to put an accessible graphic novel in the hands of a 1st and 2nd grade writer!!

The End of the School Year- The time for Reflection

2011-05-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

The end of another school year is here (for me) and for others is fast approaching. We all find ourselves in the middle of a mixed emotions of excitement, exhaustion and also a bit overwhelmed of the hundred and one things it needs to be done before we can finally say "Happy Summer everyone" It is during those last particular days that I keep reminding myself that when all the boxes were packed and put away, things were label and organized, that I would take a couple of days to s-l-o-w down and look back.
As I look back in my 13th year of teaching, I have learned a couple of things about myself as a teacher:

* I love challenges. I feel like I need them in order keep pushing my thinking to higher levels.
* I fear "getting stuck in my ways" I believe that is one of my biggest fears. I don't want to find myself pulling out the same format, same worksheet, same book just because it is "familiar" or because I don't want to explore something new.
* Parent connection is not just "important" to me. It is vital for my teaching life to make sense. If I don't see the families or communicate with them often, I feel out of place. I feel that when I have them by myside, then there's nothing my students and I can't achieve. They've proven to me over the years that they want to be considered partners in education. I understand it . I really do.
* I have to fight the struggle of balancing the "pressure to perform" and my beliefs to raise life readers and writers. I had that fight with myself constantly because I hear administrators telling us what it needs to be done, what it needs to happen, but I also know who I am as a teacher and what I believe in. This struggle for balance has help me push my thinking into a new direction. By pondering on the question..."how knowing this can help me in real life?" has helped me put in perspective some real-life situations in their hands, making the preparation for OAA testing less painful and more concrete.
*Life is intense at times. People get very intense as well. We all deal with a huge amount of stress, fears, complications in our daily personal lives. Some people like to bring all that into a school setting and it comes out in the wrong places and at the wrong times. In my last 13th years of teaching, I have never eaten my lunch at the teacher's lounge. It is not because I don't care about the people I work with. I actually get to work with some of my closest friends in Columbus. However, I like to remain balanced and focused during the school so I can be there for the students and their families. Sometimes, we carry a negative aura when we overload ourselves with all the daily negative comments.
*I had a lot on my plate this year. There were time when I couldn't simple be part of some events or put on my shoulders another responsibility. I had to learn to say no and I believe that it is OK to take the
" time card " for one year. I needed to find solid ground. We always have next year to bring it.
* When my students request a familiar read aloud for just enjoyment and fun, it is still one of my favorite moments. The time freezes, nothing else matters. It is just the book and us. Nothing else is needed.

And last but not least.....Maya Angelou's quote is still my mantra in my personal and my teaching life:

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Pebble Plus and the World of Nonfiction Books

2011-04-27T06:39:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the series of Informational Books Pebble Plus but if you teach students in Elementary grades, you may want to get a hold of some of these amazing books. Any book in the Pebble Plus series will be a wonderful mentor text for Informational Reading & Writing.
Their formats are so accessible to younger children (ages 6-7-8). All of these books have amazing real photographs, short chapters (perfect for younger ones), and writing in a straight, easy reader format. These books make the perfect books for younger readers not only because they will be able to read the information on their own but also be able to focus on other parts of nonfiction books like the table of contents, glossary, index, maps and labels, and "read more" sections, etc.
I was really excited that Pebble Plus series books have several new 2010 titles:

I invite everyone to check out these new titles. You'll love the amazing photographs and you'll also enjoy watching your students being totally engaged with these nonfiction books!!

Inside Out & Back Again

2011-04-23T10:26:00.000-04:00

Thanhha Lai brings to us a memorable story Inside Out and Back Again and journey of a girl and her family as they transition from her old life to a new one. Há and her family live in South Vietnam and are witnessing how her country is falling apart. In the midst of confusion, anxiety, fear and hope, Há's father is missing in action. But what would a family do when the options of a safe life in your own country is less and less? What would a family do is the head of the household is missing in the middle of war? What options do they have? Starting a new life in America seems to be one of those options. But the journey to here is not as simple as it seems. Thousands of people are face with that situation, with that decision to make, so when they decide to embark on such a journey, it means all traveling pack together in the worst of the conditions in a small ship for months and months to come.
Leaving home with almost nothing but a pair of clothes, and small amounts of rice for survival, Há's family makes a journey that would forever change who they are and who they are about to become.
Thanhha's style of writing is absolutely beautiful, capturing the essence and the emotions of a remarkable journey like theirs. Written in free verse, this is a book that portrait the journey of many others like Há who must start over in a new culture, a new language, a new place.

New books here, new books there, new books everywhere!

2011-03-15T06:29:00.000-04:00

I love holding in my hands new treasures... new companions, new best friends in my classroom library. Ready for some new books ready to bloom just in time for Spring...

Questions, Questions by Marcus Pfister is an excellent resource and companion to any classroom. Whether you're covering a unit on "the beauty of wondering" or teaching students to be curious or ask essential questions, this is a must have. This book reads to me as a great brainstorm of questions to open children's natural sense of wonder and curiosity. Thirteen engaging couplets, beautifully written and equally engaging.
Check it out!: Reading, Finding, Helping by Patricia Hubbell. This book is dedicated to "all the wonderful librarians who inspire a love of books and reading in children everywhere." I know so many amazing librarians that fall into that category. Yes, I'm pretty lucky! And tons of children out there feel the same way about their magnificent librarian who help them find the just right book, who helps with school work, and plans amazing book themes! Yes, I agree with the author, librarians are spectacular! they deserve a special shout out!

Shoes for Me! by Sue Fliess is a wonderful book with a special rhythm that plays with words and adjectives! It all happens because Hippo needs new shoes and on her way to discovering the perfect pair, she discovers that she has SO many choices!! I mean, there are shoes that...
light up
sparkle
snap
with buttons
with bows
that zip up
that clop!

Who would believe shoes could be described in so many different ways? in such fun ways?! Yes they can be. Author Sue Fliess finds an amazing way to describe something simple that who knew could be so much fun? Rich vocabulary and an interesting journey all the way!

As Spring approaches, it brings tons of great titles and selections that are way too much fun to discover! Books...such a wonderful way to grow, learn, and have fun. Who knew? ;-)
Enjoy the journey!

On my last trip to the library...

2011-03-05T08:55:00.000-05:00

I started a new section at My World-Mi Mundo called "On my last trip to the library...." where I share some of the books that I checked out from the library. Some of these books might be brand new, just published, and others just worth mentioning and sharing.

Chick 'n' Pug by Jennifer Sattler is a wonderful story about an adorable Chick who is looking for adventures. So, on his quest for one, he found a real, live Wonder Pug. Chick found him fascinating, intriguing, a perfect find for an adventurous life. The problem is that this Wonder Pug doesn't want to do much other than sleep and rest. So Chic realizes that sometimes you got to put things in your hands and deal with them. Written with a fantastic sense of humor, and enjoyable illustrations.

Tony Baloney by Pam Munoz Ryan and Edwin Fotheringham. I bet so many of my students would feel familiar with this scenario: a family with several children in it...and you are stand right in the middle of all that! Oh yes, it's hard to be the middle in the family, you are too old to play with the younger siblings, and you're too old (or immature) to play with the older sibling. So where does fairness stand? is there a middle ground? That's the case for Tony Baloney, an adorable "middle" penguin who seems to be loved by TROUBLE! So what do you do when you feel trapped? Do you have a hiding spot? do you stay away from all siblings? Get into Tony Baloney's life and his family for a peak of what life is or could be all about.

Rereading a favorite and discovering a new one...

2011-02-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

When this book Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine came out a couple of years ago, I knew it was going to be one of those books that I will go back year after year. There are so many reasons why I love this book, it is a true story from the Underground Railroad, it is written in a beautiful language that reaches the youngest of readers. The illustrations are simply put: unforgettable. Of course, you can only expect amazing art work coming from Kadir Nelson.
I have used this book for so many reasons and so many different audiences. Last week, my third grade ELL class were learning all about reader's feelings and attitudes as one of the Ohio standards to cover. Once again this unforgettable story made an impact on my students' day. As they listened to this read aloud, I can see in their facial expressions their concerns, confusion, sadness and even relief at the end of the story. It was the perfect read aloud to teach my students about the power of word choice and the feelings it arises in the audience/readers.

I told my students about the Freedom Center in Cincinnati and about the section in the museum that talks about Henry "Box" Brown.

A new book that caught my attention this week and one that I will definitely love to share with my students, especially during Black History Month is Ruth and The Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey. This is the story about Ruth and his family who after getting a new 1952 Buick, they decide to go on a family road trip. Ruth is excited and more than ready for an adventure on the way to grandmas' house. But little did she know that black travelers weren't treated very well in many towns. Reality was that many hotels and gas stations refused service to black people. Ruth had no idea that this was going on outside of her dear Chicago. She saw the pain and frustration in her family's eyes when they couldn't even find a place to stay overnight and rest. At an Esso Shop, Ruth and her family discovered The Green Book which listed all of the places that would welcome black travelers. Even though Ruth's story is fiction, The Green Book is a true part of history which helped millions of African Americans travel with dignity. The Green Book was written by an African American living in New York City named Victor Green. He made a list of all the hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and general businesses that would serve African Americans in his city. This book received such a wonderful respond from the people, that he decided to include other towns in the editions that followed. Esso stations were the only gas stations that sold to African Americans, therefore, it was decided that The Green Book will be sold at those stations for only a quarter. I love the fact that this book included so many important facts at the end of this picture book. The author even included a link to view a copy of The Green Book online by visiting www.ruthandthegreenbook.com. A fantastic addition to any collection!

On my last trip to the library...

2011-02-21T08:48:00.000-05:00

Going to our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library is always a treat for me. After all, they're NUMBER ONE in the nation for a reason, right? I'm one of those blessed people that live two minutes away from one of the library branches so I'm practically there all the time, know people by their first name, and even meet new people constantly. So, yes it feel like home. I know some bloggers have a nice section on their blog called In my Mailbox which I enjoy reading. So, I decided to come up with a simple title for a similar concept. So here it is...
On my last trip to the library these are some of the books I discovered...

Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh is the story of two creative little mice who are looking for some fun. They found a rock, they found a stick, and ta-da! you got a teeter-totter. But what would happen when more friends want to join the fun? can they manage to fit them all? can they still balance and have some fun? A great read aloud for the younger ones who will enjoy all the "Whoops!" Whoa! Hmmm....Oh no! expressions that the author included for extra fun. You would love the book as you appreciate also the art familiar to many of us who also enjoyed the classic Mouse Paint and Mouse Count.

A Dazzling Display of Dogs Concrete Poems by Betsy Franco is another fun little treasure for any classroom. Let me just say that the combination of Betsy Franco whose poetry I enjoyed, the topic of dogs which is a popular one with children plus the idea of concrete poems which students are always so interested in discover make this book a winning one! The illustrations done by Michael Wertz is a fantastic one! Love the action, the busy art, the combination of words intertwined with the pictures. What a perfect companion to her book A Curious Collection of Cats.

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes is such a great picture book to start a conversation on "wonders" and "discoveries." On a wonderful Spring Day, Little White Rabbit sets out to discover the field, hop around and wish for adventures and a day filled with fun. With few sentences on each page, the author allows the reader to get into little rabbit's wondering mode inviting and encouraging the reader to do the same. A fun and simple book with plenty of possibilities!

10 Myths About Immigration | Teaching Tolerance

2011-01-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

10 Myths About Immigration | Teaching Tolerance

As an educator of English Language Learners I feel it is my duty to spread knowledge and understand about our students, their place of origins, cultures, traditions and of course, spreading understanding about immigration misconceptions. Please take a minute to read this article from Teaching Tolerance, an amazing for all educators!

Some January Book Companion....

2011-01-27T06:13:00.003-05:00

I've learned that during the tough winter months here in Ohio, you have to look for positive things in order to survive. So here's my reflection on that: yes, it is cold; yes, it's no fun how soon it gets dark but I AM getting a lot of great reading done while sipping my hot cup of coffee and relaxing on my couch. So, I'm thankful for the time to read, for the cozy place I have to remain warm and for the wonderful books in my hands. Now, having said that, I would like to share with you a couple of picture books that have been on my lap the last couple of days.

Mirror by Jeanni Baker is one special book. Here is the story of two families, two boys living in two different places. One family lives in Australia and the other family lives in Morocco, North Africa. Their lives are so different from one another yet so similar in so many small and big ways. Regardless of where a family is from, there are some things that remain universal. Now the challenge for the reader is to figure out the author's message relying solely from the pictures provided. Yes, it is a wordless picture book. The author and illustrator of this book shares her experiences making this book, starting with drawings, then turning them into collages. An absolute piece of art. The author explains that the idea behind Mirror stems from her own experiences traveling as a woman by herself in remote Morocco. Absolutely worth taking your time to create your meaning of this book by paying attention to the details.

Ernest, The Moose who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner is a great picture book that knows how to capture the readers' attention through its illustrations. So what can a Mooose do when he is so so large that he doesn't even fit in the book where he is being portrayed. After some not successful trials, a little friend has a perfect idea so that Moose can not only fit but also shine as his true self. This books leads to wonderful conversations in the classroom such as predicting the possible solutions, exploring themes, and of course, discussing the craft and art of writing and illustrating this book!

The newest book by Oliver Jeffers is out. I must confess that I really didn't know much about Oliver Jeffers and his books until I discover The Heart and The Bottle which I loved from the very beginning! So what is Up and Down all about? Well simply put, it is about two dear friends who are inseparable! They enjoy each other company and do everything together until one day penguin decides he wants to fly. This feels like a mission to penguin, something he must conquer by himself. So he sets out to find out the possibilities of flying but that's when he realizes that he needs his friend for things to make sense....because you know....there's nothing like the supporting arms of a best friend!

Oh I love Emily Gravett!! She never disappoints and wait until you see what she has created with her newest picture book! Amazingly creative, this book is a journey through the 12 months of the year and the problems that these adorable rabbits face each month, until they get to December....

Each page is featured as a month of the year, with the statement of the problem and the unique illustrations that provide the perfect balance and combination of fun and wild imagination! I can see this book being a big HIT with the children!

No Name Calling Week

2011-01-23T23:13:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Jan. 24 through the 28 is No Name Calling Week in the USA? Yes, and it is a wonderful opportunity for honest conversations with children and young adult about how name calling can be hurtful, how bullying someone can lead to terrible consequences for both ends, and what are possible solutions or ways to handle different situations.
No Name Calling Week was created in 2004 by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. During this week, educational and creative activities are designed with the purpose of putting an end to name-calling of all kinds. If you click here, it will take you right to the official website where you'll find resources, lessons and activities for elementary, middle and high schools.
In my last visit to our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library, I found an awesome new book on a topic that is a reality in our daily school lives: Bullying. Author Ouisie Shapiro wrote the book entitled Bullying and Me Schoolyard Stories which is a collection of brutal and honest experiences from people that experienced being bullied. The stories comes from kids, young adults, grownups who knows what that pain feels like. Photographer Steven Vote captures a picture of each person that brings a testimony to the book. One great contribution to this book is the advice from Dorothy Espelage, a professor of educational psychology who offers an advice or perspective at the end of each story. These different advices become a practical toolbox of ideas on how to deal with bullies.

It is a sad reality to know that there are so many children that face this kind of struggle everyday. Sometimes it is difficult for educators to realize that this happens because we don't "caught" other students during the act of bullying. However, if teachers create and raise an environment of trust and respect in their classrooms, students would feel more likely to turn to adults for help. Let's help our children, and young adult and be a voice for the voiceless.

Clever Jack Takes the Cake

2011-01-17T08:03:00.002-05:00

Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas is indeed a CLEVER tale. So what is a boy to do when he is invited to the princess tenth birthday party and he has absolutely no money for a present? Well, this is where Jack's cleverness comes into play. Jack decides to bake an amazing cake for the princess but he doesn't have the ingredients. So Jack has to be creative and resourceful to get the ingredients for the cake, like giving extra handful of seeds to the hen in exchange for two fresh eggs.
So when humble Jack gets all the ingredients ready and bakes the most amazing cake for the princess, then it is time to start the journey to the castle where the party will be held. But little did Jack know that on the way there, he would run into some crazy troubles like running to 24 blackbirds that took all the walnuts that spelled Happy Birthday. Jack found himself protecting that cake all along the way, but there was nothing he could do, with each step, more danger came his way. So by the time humble Jack made it to the castle, his amazing cake was gone. What would he tell the princess? What would the princess reaction's be when he sees him empty handed? Oh Clever Jack and his tremendous heart mixed with creativity makes the ending of this story such a clever one. I guess you would have to read it to find out, eh?

Happy Journey!!

A Long Walk to Water

2011-01-08T08:29:00.000-05:00

When I finished reading the last sentence in this book and closed the back cover, I just sat and stayed on my couch digesting one more time all I've just read. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park will have that effect on you. I guaranteed you the story will stay with you for a long time and it will make you ponder many things. This book is based on the true story of Salva, a young boy in Sudan who at the age of 10 had discovered the meaning of the word death, lost, pain, survival, fear and struggle. The way Linda Sue Park tells us Salva's story set in Southern Sudan in 1985 is by simultaneously telling us the story of Nya, a young girl also in Southern Sudan by set in 2008.

A background information important to understand and one that the author provides beautifully in the book is that in Sudan in 1983 a war had started between the southern part of Sudan and the northern part of this country. The Southern part of Sudan were fighting against the government who wanted all of Sudan to become a Muslim country. Most of the people living in the northern part of Sudan are Muslims. Therefore, the long fight for independence of religion starts in Sudan and it spread all across the country killing, injuring, and devastating hundreds and hundreds of families.

One of the families affected by this war was Salva's family. They are separated, each person looking and struggling to survive. Salva joined hundred of other people who are also running away from the war and looking for protecting. But the question was where would they feel protected? Where would they run in the middle of Africa? That's when their long journey from Sudan to Ethiopia started going through nights of living and surviving among the wildest animals. Days crossing the land with nothing to eat and barely anything to drink. Once they arrive in Ethiopia, they soon discovered they are not wanted there either so they are forced to leave to Kenya. Throughout all this journey, I stayed wide awake reading every detail of their survivor, feeling every fear and even found myself holding my breath as I was afraid to turn to the next page. The author kept Salva's story alive in this book and when you thought that the story reaches a point of hope for Salva, then the book surprises you with Salva's determination and perseverance to help his people, his country, their safety and their health. A man like Salva teaches everyone not only about the Lost Boys in Sudan but he wants to teach the rest of the world the possible ways that people can help. After all Sudan still struggles with some of the most basic needs: having access to clean and safe water.

Salva have started an organization called Water for Sudan, a project that helps drill borehole wells bringing clean and safe water to thousands of people in some of the most remote villages in Sudan. Please visit their website Water for Sudan to find out ways to help, donate, and raise awareness and understanding among people.

Some wonderful book to teach Themes

2011-01-07T06:31:00.000-05:00

Teaching Theme is one of my favorite lessons for Third and Fourth graders. However, it is not necessarily an easy one to teach. Deciphering the theme or message behind a story requires a higher level of thinking and reasoning. It involves a lot of modeling and exposure to great quality children's books. It also requires a lot of conversation, negotiation, and paying attention to details and clues.

Here is a list of some of the books I have used for teaching Themes to Intermediate Grades;

Help! A Story of Friendship by Holly Keller

Walk On1 A Guide for Babies of All Ages by Marla Frazee

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Ish by Peter Reynolds

The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell

Eight Days by Edwidge Danticat

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

The Little Engine That Could

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

In my last visit to the Columbus Library, the front cover of a picture book caught my attention...

How did I miss this book? This book was published in 2008, and I have just now discovered. Boy, I am so glad I did. The simple text and the basic colors in this book stands out in those simple white pages. The story is absolutely fantastic. Blue is a quiet color and Red is a hot one that picks on Blue. Even though the other colors don't agree with what Red is doing, no one has the strength to stand up against Red until.... One comes along and shows everyone how to stand up for themselves.

This book, winner of 10 awards including Teacher's Choice Awards, looks at the subject on Bullying in the most creative and unique way.

So...what are some of the books that you have used for Teaching Themes? Please DO share! Picture Books should be driving our instruction when teaching such big concepts (instead of OAA passages that we see so much in the classrooms!)

Enjoy the journey! Enjoy your weekend!

My first readings in 2011

2011-01-04T07:04:00.000-05:00

The new year is here and with it all the expectations, hopes and goals for the new year! Regardless of what your resolutions are for this year, or your goals are, remember that CONSISTENCY....is your key ingredient to succeed. Whatever you do, do it consistently. And you will see RESULTS.

These are a couple of the first books that started the year 2011 with me:

Have you heard the true story of Biblioburro yet? It is a story of passion, of reading, of helping people, of dreaming and achieving! Luis Soriano is a teacher in Colombia whose biggest passion in life is reading. He found happiness in books, he found a world to discover and be entertained in books. But he wanted to expand the bliss and joy for reading. He wanted other children to have the opportunity to read even if they live in the country and too far away from anything. So Luis embarks on a journey with the help of two donkeys and starts delivering books to children located in rural areas in Colombia. Soon the word was spreading about this man who goes to the country, delivering books to children and reading them story. So what started to small, with only a couple of books to share, has now extended to tons of books coming from all over the world that want to help Luis Soriano's dream come true: for every child to read!

You can click here if you would like to read the special report CNN made about this amazing teacher and his passion for reading, books, literacy, stories! Jeanette Winter did a fantastic job writing this book. Thus sharing with the rest of the world the amazing initiative of a humble teacher willing to do the hard work every weekend to distribute books to children!
If you remember and are familiar with the book A Visitor for Bear, then you will love A Bedtime for Bear. Bonny Becker and Kady MacDonald Denton joined forces again to create another brilliant, interesting and intriguing friendship between Bear and Mouse. Both characters couldn't be more opposite from each other. So, when Mouse comes over for a sleep over at Bear's house, then all kinds of "noise problems" start emerging. But Bear can't help it...with his supersensitive hearing, he can't just fall asleep so easily...until the noise doesn't come from Mouse anymore. But then...from whom? With a nice and unexpected switch, the story unfolds beautifully at Bear's house...all while trying to sleep! Not to miss! You'll love it and the children will too!

The newest book from Mary Ann Hoberman is here! From the famous series, You Read to me, I'll Read to You comes the latest companion. This time the stories to be read together are very short fables including The Boy Who Cries Wolf, The Country Mouse and the City Mouse, among others. What I love about this series so much is the wonderful and authentic way for students and children to improve their fluency skills in reading. The stories are short, color coded and beautiful illustrated by Michael Emberley. I have used the series in these books over and over with my students and I'm happy to say that because the stories are either familiar or highly structural and easier to understand, then students feel more successful at reading and concentrating in other parts of reading as well like fluency!

Happy 2011!!!

2011-01-01T11:57:00.000-05:00

First of all....

★Happy★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★New Year★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田｜門｜ ˚May you be blessed abundantly in 2011 ♥ ♥

First day of the year 2011. I will like to start the year with a poem I wrote this morning inspired by the poem The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams.

2011
by Stella Villalba

So much depends upon us
the new year is here
and with that the possibilities
of roads not yet taken

So much depends upon us
the paths are open
some of us are afraid to cross it
but can't help but wonder

So much depends upon us
on the hope and faith
we have on ourselves
and our daily actions

So much depends upon us
if we only allow to
trust it wide open
can you imagine....

where would we go?
where would we be?
what will we learn?
who will we meet?

So much depends upon
you
and
me.

Happy New Years! May this be the beginning of a journey of ever changing and every growing!
Sincerely,
Stella Villalba

New Nonfiction Faves

2010-12-29T08:52:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone is enjoying this Winter Wonderland of Break!! Whether you are cuddling up with a book (or books), sipping coffee and just relaxing or taking a short trip, whatever it is, I hope you are enjoying it. That's the point of mini-vacation. Do whatever your heart desires. Mine? Well...I can't spend a vacation without wondering and diving into a good book, well...because that's just me! I'm pretty excited to discover a couple of great nonfiction books that will help me with an intense unit I'll be teaching after break. So here are four fantastic informational books for the young ones that I'm expecting to be a huge success, and they are all around the theme of animals!

Wild Alphabet by Mike Haines and Julia Frohlich. Oh too much fun...so here it is! Not only an informational book, but also a pop-up book which guarantees children to go crazy for it! Each animal has a short description written in first person (as if the animal itself is talking), and one of the cool features is the ONE word chosen in that description that stands up from the rest....like JUMP, ROLL, FAST, SPLASH. Each word is featured in a different way, just a fun way for that word to get attention. A fun tool for young writers to know and understand how it is being used.

Just One Bite 11 Animals and Their Bites at Life Size! by Lola Schaefer and illustrated by Geoff Waring. Just like the title suggests it, this book teaches us how much an animal can eat with just ONE BITE! For example, with just one slurp octopus can eat this much crab. Each fact is supported with life size bites illustrations so readers can have a clear and true understanding. I must say that the illustrations in this book are AMAZING! The artist behind this book is an amazing London-based art director with years of experience working in the artistic world. Such a winning team!
Zoo Borns! Zoo Babies from Around the World by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland. Oh get ready to melt with each brilliant photograph! This book will be a favorite for all children regarding age because when it comes to baby animals, most children can't resist to wonder! I love how photographers from different parts of the world joined forces to put together an incredible book. The book is written in first person thus giving personalities to each zoo born. The short, simple and sweet description of each animal is interesting enough to allow children to wonder more. This is all intentional since at the end of the book you can find three pages filled with MORE information about each baby animal including the zoo born location.
Get ready to hold a huge book in your hands and to have wondering eyes all over you as you lift each flap and read cool information! Out of sight by Pittau & Gervais is a work of art as well. This lift-the flap book shares more than 50 animals with its interesting fact. This is the kind of book you want to take your time and read it with no rush. Take days to discover, read a couple of facts each day, put the book away and come back the next day for more new learning! I might need two copies of this book in my classrooom because I can see children going back to it each day for more independent reading time.

So here are my discoveries so far! I can't wait to share these new titles with my students. I can't wait to dive intensively in our unit of Informational Books because we will be learning and reading them as readers but with writers' eyes as well.

So this is it for 2010! My last post of this year! I wish each one of you a quiet moment to reflect and be thankful for the year we're about to say goodbye to. I know it hasn't been easy for everyone, but I also believe in finding beauty in imperfections as well. I wish each one of you make of 2011 the year you would want to always always remember. Life is too short. Carpe Diem.

Pecan Pie Baby

2010-12-13T06:14:00.000-05:00

Jacqueline Woodson has a way with words and that is why we all just love her books! So when I saw a picture book at the library written by her, I immediately had to read it. And may I just say...I wasn't disappointed. The powerful language that Jacqueline Woodson uses in her books was very present in this picture book. The story is about changes, big changes....like Gian's new baby brother or sister who even though hasn't born yet, has already created some changes that worries Gia. The way Gia's mom deal with this changes and with her daughters reaction is the sweetest part in the book. I love how Jacqueline Woodson made mom such a strong, caring, and understanding individual who knew just how to connect with her daughter so that she will still feel so special. The story flows beautiful between the words and the illustrations, and it soothes the spirit of the readers for sure.

Living the Life of a Writer-Part II

2010-12-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

In my recent blog post about Living the Life of a Writer-Part I, I shared some of my recent experience about belonging to a group of Spanish Writers in Columbus, Ohio. If you missed that first post, you can click here to find it. This journey is encouraging me to reflect so much about writing in my first language, in the process and craft of writing, in the importance of taking risks, and belonging to a community of writers.
After our poems got published in a local newspaper, our next step was to hold the first Spanish Poetry Night in Columbus, OH. This project started with four writers and we grew slowly throughout the week. Now there are eight of us and I am sure very soon this number will change.
Our meeting place was Express Yourself Music Cafe in Powell. An amazing and cozy coffee shop that hosts music events on a nightly basis. It is also decorated like an Art Museum with amazing work by local artists. It was the perfect place for us to hold such an event.

Because pictures are worth a thousand words....

So having choosing the perfect place to hold the event on a cozy Friday evening, the next step was just rehearsing and preparing ourselves for that evening. That special evening came in and was indeed a night of achievements, but mostly it was the beginning of what hopefully would be new beginnings. The seeds were planted that night, and hopefully it will bloom into a strong tree of writers who would give shade and house to hungry Spanish writers.
Here are some pictures of our first Spanish Poetry Night held on Friday December 3:

This is the stage where magic unrolled. Well-known and respected Mexican Artist Santiago Pablo brought his paintings that night for display:

Enrique Infante, the man behind this project, opened the night by welcoming everyone and explaining the goals and ideas behind this group of Spanish writers.

Here is a group picture of the amazing people I was able to share a stage with last Friday December 3. Let the love for learning, Spanish language, writing, and sharing grow and take us places that we couldn't imagine. The seed has been planted...now, time to let it bloom!

Living the Life of a Writer-Part I

2010-12-04T07:56:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, Ohio teacher extraordinaire and Columbus blogger, Julie Johnson received the Donald Graves Excellence in Teaching Writing Award. What an honor, what a pride, what an accomplishment. I was reading Julie's Words of Gratitude post on her blog and I stumbled upon a sentence that is so true, so close to my heart. She said, " I became the writing teacher I had always wanted to be…I became a writer and it felt genuine. I, too, found my voice."
That's right Julie, when we become writers ourselves, we understand the process of writing at a different level. Donald Graves believed that teachers of writing should be writers themselves. It is through this understanding and powerful statement that this year I decided to do something that I have never really done here in Columbus before. Under the encouragement of my friend, Enrique Infante, I joined the Latino Writers in Columbus. Enrique is an excellent musician, he has his own band, and was recently elected as the Most Growing Latino Artist in the United States. He writes poems, and of course, he writes lyrics for his songs.

Enrique organized and scheduled meetings at a wonderful and most inspirational coffee place: Express YourSelf Cafe in Powell. If you haven't visited this cozy and magical place, you should. So once a month, we got together, read our poems to each other, learn 2 or 3 new words in Spanish, and choose the next meeting time. It felt amazing to be part of a small group of writers. We share the passion for words, we share our love for Spanish. We love writing, and we were willing to take risks.
The newspapers Sol de Ohio decided to highlight our work in their newspaper. They choose one of our poems and published our work. Below you can find the link to the newspaper (online version).

http://elsoldeohio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=17&Itemid=107

There is so much more to share with all of you. That's the reason I will write about this process in different parts. But so far, this is what I'm learning in the process...

Having a community of writers here in Columbus feels safe.
Being able to express myself in my first language is like opening an old door. It feels familiar but it's been so long since I went through that particular door.
I love learning new words in Spanish. It shows that learning is, indeed, a never ending process.
Living the life of a writer feels authentic, feels real.
I'm taking a lot of risks by sharing my work with others but it is a risk I am willing to take in order to learn, understand and grow.

Our California

2010-11-30T21:52:00.000-05:00

Pam Muñoz Ryan and artist Rafael Lopez created an amazing and colorful book about the beautiful state of California simply titled "Our California". The author takes us on a journey starting way down south in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, Los Angeles, Monterey, and all the way to the top through Eureka and back down to Palm Springs. Through poems, Pam takes us through an amazing tour filled with historical facts, and descriptive paintings of each place. Each place is describe in a four line poem, but if you wish to have more information surfing in San Diego or visiting the mountains of Yosemite, then you can go all the way to end of the book where is filled with more detailed information and interesting facts. It is a wonderful resource book that makes informational reading fun and captivating because of the colorful paintings that go along with each poem.
This book provides such a wonderful idea instead of the traditional "All About the State of ________" reports. Our California can serve as a mentor text, a springboard of ideas from which students can find inspiration to create their own original book!
What can I say? Pam Muñoz Ryan did it again, and it is a hit!

Thanksgiving Reflections

2010-11-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

My dear blogger friends,
I owe you all an apology for not posting on My World/Mi Mundo for over a month. What can I say? Sometimes life happens and the unexpected all of a sudden becomes a reality. I will be honest. It hasn't been the smoothest ride since the beginning of the school year. Sometimes we are called to fight a bit harder for what we believe. It is in those moments, where I believe, your character as a teacher becomes more solidified. I am happy to say that all the ups and downs I went through, were worth the ride because the ESL program stands strong, and every day we are teaching and raising language lovers, readers and writers.
But my personal life took a detour from my teaching world, when my dad suffered from a stroke and I had to leave to South America immediately. I have an amazing principal, the best teaching partner, and an amazing staff that were so supportive during this difficult time. My dad is recovering and we were all giving a second chance in life. This journey with my dad's health has been such a miracle that five hours before my departure flight, the doctors sent my dad home after being in the hospital for two weeks. It was the best present, and the best way I could possibly come back to the States.
Here are some pictures of my dad coming home which is what I want to remember from that trip: the happy moments.

Dad arriving home and my nephew couldn't be happier to have him back. I want to freeze that moment and always remember it.

This picture gets me. Our dog...hugging my dad, how amazing is that?

My little nephew and I made that banner hanging out in the backyard of our house. It spells: Welcome Home Dad. We loved hanging it up. In the backyard you can one of the palm trees my dad planted 15 years ago. The story behind that is a simple one: I have always LOVED palm trees. And they are not really typical in Paraguay. When my dad finished building that house, he planted two palm trees: one for my sister and one for me. Yeap....that's how amazing my dad is. My dad received a second chance in life and so did we. And for that....I will always be thankful.

Blessings to all, And Happy Thanksgiving!

More Fall Books...

2010-10-05T06:54:00.001-04:00

Time Zones by David A. Adler and illustrated by Edward Miller was one of the books in my pile after my visit to our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library. This book is filled with fun facts and even some history on how Time Zones came about. This book answer questions like What is Daylight Savings Time? why do we reset our watch when we travel from one city to the other? Has it always been this way? Why do we have several time zones? Questions like these and much more are explored in this book but in a fun, concise manner. Even though it contains many facts, the book keeps a light approach to this topic by balancing it with some fun illustrations created by Edward Miller.
While discovering this book, I learned that the author has written other nonfiction books on the topics of Math, Science, and Economics. Definitely worth discovering, especially well written nonfiction books for the young ones!

Oh how I wished I've seen this book earlier in the school year! But it will still be a fun read aloud no matter what. The very young author, Alec Greven, gives his audience all the experience he has earned in his 7 years of life about how to survive school, especially the first day of school. Written in a straight forward, and with some spice of humor here and there, Alec Greven knows how to entertain his audience starting with rule # 1 that states that "You have to let go of summer." I could've have used that advice as well. :-) He simply states that "it is a good idea to switch to "school time" three days before the first day of school. Smart kid. And of course one of his last rules: Appreciate your teacher is one of my favorite. A fun read aloud for our young children in Elementary School!

And on a much more serious note, the book Eight Days, A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat is one that will steal your heart for sure. This book is a tribute to the brave children of Haiti for their courage to live and survive. Edwidge Danticat brings us the real story of Junior, a seven year-old boy trapped beneath his house after the terrible earthquake that forever changed this country. Junior's amazing willingness to live and his incredibly smart way of using his imagination, helps him wait for the rescuers and for his time to finally be saved and healed after 7 days of being trapped under his own roof.
The amazing work of the artist, Alix Delinois is a perfect compliment. He knew how to paint Haiti since this is his hometown, his country, his people. Please don't miss the opportunity to bring this book into your classroom! It will leave so much to think about!

Enjoy the journey dear friends! I'm excited to see what this new season will bring in terms of books and experiences for our young readers and writers!

Some wonderful Early Fall Findings

2010-09-11T13:41:00.001-04:00

Oh, I feel very lucky when I visit our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library and I find some wonderful new additions:

Little Black Crow by Chris Raschka. I must confess that when I see Chris Raschka's name on a book, it immediately gets my attention. There is somethings incredibly powerful about his style of writing. Is is his great use of repeating lines? or is it the voice that surfaces in his books? or could it be his unique style of drawing?? or a combination of all? May be that's what it is.
Little Black Crow invites and encourages to question, to wonder, to be curious. In a story that contains 27 questions, what would this little Crow find in his way? who would he meet? what is he afraid of? who does he love? where would he sleeps? What a wonderful new addition to any library....a book that encourages questions, questions and more questions!!!

Another great finding, another great companion for your Writing Workshop unit on Writing Small Moments. Orlando on a Thursday by Emma Magenta is about a a boy who loves spending time with his mom. They do so many things together like having snacks, going for a walk. The exception is Thursdays because on Thursdays Orlando's mom is super busy running errands all day long. Even though Orlando does not like to spend time away from mom, Dad reminds Orlando about all the great, super super things that can happen on a Thursday like....eating pancakes for lunch, taking super fun baths, reading stories together. They way the author Emma Magenta weaves the story is so beautifully done because she zooms in the life on Orlando on one particular day and balances beautiful the feelings of missing mom but enjoying dad at the same time.
Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw is also another great addition to any library. Lola loves stories so much, so much that with each story she reads, she immerses herself in the story line, in the characters, in the setting. By playing pretending games, and dressing up, Lola gets to live the stories from the books she reads. A great celebration of what book offer the readers, an opportunity to escape and explore!!

What's the Big Idea, Molly? Written by Valeri Gorbachev. In this story, you get to meet Molly who loves to write and puts all her thoughts on papers. But Turtle's b-day is coming soon and she can't think of an original story or poem to write. Molly and her friends all think very hard to come up with an original gift but what would they do when all of them show up with the same idea? Read to find out how a group of friends search for inspiration and come up with clever solutions to a common problem.

What other great books would this season bring? I can't wait to discover more. Enjoy the journey.

Some wonderful Early Fall Findings

2010-09-11T13:40:00.000-04:00

A reflection on the virtual communities

2010-08-22T15:09:00.000-04:00

We are exposed to so much technology in our daily lives. The possibilities to connect, learn, and grow through the different online networking are amazing. It is really our own decision how much we want to be participate in all the different online communities. Some people resist joining or starting but truth is the learning, growing and helping that goes on in virtual communities are endless. Since I joined the blogging world, over two years ago, I have...

*met (in person) some amazing people that with time, they've become friends.

*met other people that opened other doors for me.

* learned and continue to learn from so many other bloggers in different parts of the world

*took part of projects that involved helping other people, other communities

People have inspired me in so many different ways. I can only hope that through this blog I could give back half of the the things I learn every day. I have joined Facebook and Twitter a while ago, and just like anything else in life, if you "follow" the right people, you would stay on track and not be distracted by the unimportant things in life.

Today I want to share what I learned from two other bloggers who give so much to the rest of us. They are Mary Lee and Franki over at A Year of Reading. They don't know about this but a long time ago, they wrote about Hannah's Socks on their blog. If you're not too sure about the story, you can visit their page and learn about this amazing project was born.

Anyways, after reading this post, I thought to myself there has to be a way I can integrate this into my teaching, my school. And sure enough, I found the perfect opportunity: at our Annual Cultural Festival. And I'm proud to say that our dear Whitehall Community responded so well! We were able to collect over 400 pairs of socks. You can read the story about Beechwood Elementary's donation in Hannah's Socks webpage. I'm so proud of my dear school community, our families and our students who are big motivators behind everything we do. And all this was possible through ONE POST that my friends over at A Year of Reading decided to write about. So, as summer comes to an end, and other seasons will appear, keep in mind about Hannah's Socks especially during the season of giving. To all my blogger friends out there, you never know how your postings can affect (in a positive way) other people's life. Keep up the amazing job, and let's keep our community growing!!

Classroom Designs

2010-08-16T11:37:00.000-04:00

The school year has started for us and with that a year of possibilities, changes and growth. So much it's changing in my world, in my ESL world. But one thing still remains the same, our students have a room in our building that they can call their own: their ESL classroom. Even though we're spending the majority of our time doing inclusion in ESL, I wanted our students to feel that despite he changes, this classroom is still theirs. A place they can come in anytime, and feel identified, feel they can relax their minds, be themselves, recharge their energy to keep on facing their bilingual world for the rest of the day. So here is what I came up with, a very simple concept but powerful one. I asked each child to draw a self-portrait picture of themselves. By using oil pastel crayons and a dark border to make their work stand out, the final product shone on our walls. The frames are different sizes so it is visually more appealing and by the time we put it all up on the walls, the classroom sends a message loud and clear: this classroom belongs to THEM.
As you organize your classroom this year, I invite you to think, "if anyone walks into my classroom, what would they see? That this space belongs to me or to them? Or was it a collaboration from both ends?

Enjoy the process of discovery. It's always a fascinating one.

Great New Books to Start Your Writing Workshop!

2010-08-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

Today I would like to share with you some wonderful picture books I've discovered lately. I'm excited about these books because each one provides an amazing opportunity as mentor texts for Writing Workshop! The language, the choice of vocabulary, the repeating lines, the illustrations, all these characteristics you'll be able to find in each of these books. Take a look...

Who Said Coo? By Deborah Ruddell.

I'm very excited about this book! I can already foresee that this book would quickly become a favorite read aloud in the classroom. How can it not be? With it's wonderful repeating lines, funny outcomes, it's intriguing sounds, and mysterious page turners, this book would be one of those that the children will be asking to listen to over and over!
So the story is about how all this little pig wants to do is get some rest at night, except he hears a sound every time which leaves him wondering who said....? Coo?whoo? Moo? Shoo? With every turn of the page, you'll find something new! Written in beautiful and repetitive language and with gorgeous illustrations done by Robin Luebs.

Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming.

Once again, this author brings to us a wonderful story to enjoy over and over with our very young audience.The story line is very simple...baby animals are going to sleep, so using a repetitive language such as "tiny baby panda, sleepy oh so sleepy" you'll encounter different animals getting ready to go to sleep. But the pattern is broken when at the end, we find the most special creature of all. The sweet illustrations in this book are a great company to the text and the rhythm of the story.

Seasons by Blexbolex and published by Enchanted Lion Books. There is something so "vintage" about this book that I just love! It's illustrations are definitely original, the colors chosen throughout the book were very carefully selected and the texture of the pages all adds up to give this book a special look. The title of this book says it all....it is a book about seasons but it doesn't tell a story with full sentences. It uses one or two words per page to describe something particular about that season or associated with that season. The book encourages you to read each word carefully, pause at the illustrations and find the association with the next word. For example, It is beautifully done and easy to appreciate what the author has done here. Plus the exquisite vocabulary is always an EXTRA plus!

Tap, Tap, Bang, Bang by Emma Garcia
Oh another fun book to be read over and over. Why? Because the language in this book is so inviting for repetition, for choral reading, for enjoyment!!! What is this book about? You might be wondering....very simple, it's about tools, what can you use them for and the sounds they make while you use them. For example:

" We can cree craw crew craw cut with the saw and chippety chip with the chisel."
Then at the bottom of the page the sound words are written again in bold. It is so important for students to listen to language, enjoy it, repeat it and play with it. And this book provides exactly that opportunity. And what a great mentor text for writing workshop!!!

For some of you, the beginning of the school year is near. For some of us, we just made it through our first week. Regardless of the situation, I hope you're preparing yourself for a wonderful year surrounding and immersing your students with great picture books!
Enjoy the journey my dear friends!!!

Organizing my Mentor Texts

2010-08-05T10:46:00.000-04:00

The beginning of the school year is here. Organizing ourselves for the beginning of the school year is the key to a smooth year. It is impossible to think of every little detail ahead of time, but some things we can predict or learn from experience. One of the things I use the most in my lessons for either reading or writing are mentor texts. These books are the backbone of my literacy program for ELLs. I need and depend on them in order to either prove my point, ease the transition or provide model for the final outcomes or expectations.

Through the years I've collected many many mentor texts. I think of them as an "investment" (It helps me justify the money I spend on them, yikes!). This summer I came up with two ways of organizing my mentor texts in order to keep a better track of what I have and their endless possibilities.
Today I'll share with you one of those ideas. Here is what I did, a system that works for me. It might work for you or it might inspire you to come up with something that would work for you.

First, I purchased address labels by bulk (Sam's Club was my choice). Then I generated a label that could be used for mostly fictional books and poetry as well. The label reads like this:

Title________________________________________

Author______________________________________

Possible Mentor Text for:

Memoirs/Small moments

Comparions Repeating Lines

Punctuation Characterization

Noticing Language/Vocabulary/Word Choice

Theme______________________________________

So it looks like this....

Then I added a label to the inside of my collection of mentor texts and highlighted the possible ways I could use that particular book.

I'm excited to discover other features as I use each of these mentor texts. It seems to me that every time I re-read a book, I find other ways I could use that book. Love this journey of being a reader, it is a never ending one, for sure!

The Dancing Pancake

2010-08-01T14:41:00.000-04:00

Oh, I think I found the first book I would like to kick off our ESL Book Club!! I'm very excited to write about Eileen Spinelli's newest book: The Dancing Pancake. I must say that I already LOVE Eileen Spinelli for her previous published work like Where I Live. I'm happy to report that you will NOT be disappointed with her latest work. The Dancing Pancake is a wonderful story about the changes that we must face in life. In this case, meet Bindi, a middle school student trying to take it all in. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and loves her family deeply. Life seems to be running smooth until her parents announce their temporary separation. With this major change in her life happening, others seem to follow like: moving to a new apartment, the opening of The Dancing Pancake, new room, a new love (may be).
When life takes a turn this big, what can help us cope? What are the things or the people that help us make sense of all this? This is Bindi's self-discovery journey. One that will make her mature even faster, one that will make her notice her surrounding, and the other people's pain besides her own. Written in free verse, this story has you captured and hooked right away. Not only, it makes you ponder and stop throughout to take it all in, but it also transports you into Bindi's world in a way you didn't think you could.
I can NOT wait to read this story with my students and have a peek at their own thoughts, ideas, and wonderings. Books like The Dancing Pancake are books that help you discover so much about your students not only as learners but also as individuals. Enjoy the journey of The Dancing Pancake. I can guarantee you'll love this ride!

Mid-Summer Book Report Part II

2010-07-22T19:47:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago I shared with all of you a couple of Chapter Books for Elementary students. Summer time is that perfect time in between those morning coffee to get some reading start and to start looking at some new possibilities for the next school year. Today I will like to share with you some more titles that fit under the category of Chapter Books for Elementary grades.

Frankly, Frannie by A.J Stern and Frankly, Frannie Doggy Day Care

Oh sweet Frannie, our little friend who can not wait to be an adult. See, there are so many things that are so cool about Frannie: she loves office, has some terrific ideas (according to her), and loves to use big, big words. She believes in herself so much, without boundaries, especially age boundaries. Frannie sees every moment as an opportunity to be that adult she wants to be so badly, with responsibilities and unlimited knowledge. What is so cool about the way A.J. Stern writes is the different she uses to catch the audience or readers attention on extraordinary, magnificent words or expressions. I'm sure our young students will LOVE learning to pay attention to words and language when it is done in such a fantastic way. Adorable character, great language, excellent illustrations! What is there not to love?

Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Stephanie Greene and Illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson I believe many, many anxious first graders will feel identify with this young lady. Posy will be starting first grade in a couple of weeks, but there are so many changes coming her way that she is not sure First Grade is a good idea anymore. I mean, Posey must say good bye to mom at the Kiss and Go lane. She has to walk to her classroom by herself. The only time that Posey feels very strong and courageous is when she wears her tutu. One day Posey runs into her future First Grade teacher at a shop and both Posey and her teacher had an amazing eye-opening moment, one that helps everyone on that first day of First Grade. You would have to read to find out the moment that help all those little one start a new academic year!

Stay Tuned my dear blogger friends. There are more great summer reading I got to share with all of you! In the meantime, enjoy the journey!

Mid-Summer Book Report Part I

2010-07-18T14:22:00.000-04:00

Oh my dear friends! Summer 2010 is proving to be quite the summer. As always I try to find a balance in my life between work and fun, between fun and being productive with my time. Do you find this a challenge as well? It sure is for me. But I'm here to share with you some of the books that have kept me company at the pool, at the coffee shop, by the entrance of my apartment, and in many other little places where I love to read. How's your summer reading going? Do you have any favorites? Please share them with me! That's how we love, learn and grow! ;-)

Elementary Chapter Books

43 Old Cemetery Road Dying to Meet You Book One by Kate Klise and Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

Oh I much I enjoyed the humor of this book! Talk about voice, talk about unique! So what is happening at this house located at 43 Old Cemetery Road? Well, definitely some interesting things. First, a famous writer named Ignatious B. Grumply is trying to find inspiration and peace so he can write more children's books. But he has a terrible case of writer's block. With the hope that the Victorian mansion will provide him with the freedom to write again, he moves in the house for the summer. Did he find what he was looking for? Well, he found a bit more of what he was looking for. Let's see....he found a boy named Seymour whose parents abandoned him at the house so they can tour Europe and speak at conferences. He also found an interesting ghost Olive Spence who was once a writer herself. So how did these three awkward, uncommon trio live in the same house? Well, that's part of the adventures happening at 43 Old Cemetary Road. The unlikely trio actually found something in common but I won't tell you what it is ....you'll have to discover it by yourself.
I can't tell you much about the Book 2 in this series without spoiling Book 1 but you'll have to trust me on this one. It is as good as the first one. I'm planning on sharing this with my Third Grade ESL class about mid-year. I have to make sure my students don't believe in ghosts or get easily scared by ghost stories before reading it as our Read Aloud. I have to know my audience first! I certainly enjoyed the humor in it! My recommendation is for students in grades 3 and up.

Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan
I always enjoyed the work of Patricia MacLachlan and I can see the endless possibilities and potential with this book. In this chapter book, we meet Ms. Mirabel, a writer who will be spending several weeks in a 4th grade class. This writer introduces, encourages and teaches the children to think of the power of words in writing. Lucy, one of the girls in this 4th grade, believes that she doesn't really have much to contribute to this writing class. She doesn't think her life is interesting enough to be shared in writing. However, little by little, word by word, the students in this class start finding new discoveries and excitement in writing. But most importantly, the writer helps students understand that by writing about things that matter, they're also learning how to cope with some of the most difficult moments in life. A wonderful beginning of the year story to set the mood for Writer's Workshop.

More books coming your way in Part II of Mid-Summer Book Report! Stay tuned. So much to share! So many great books!

One Smart Cookie

2010-07-17T13:00:00.000-04:00

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, you're brilliant and I just ADORE your books!

Now that I got that out of the way, I can start writing about her newest book: One Smart Cookie, just in time for the new school year! Get ready to love her new books, just like the others! In One Smart Cookie, Amy invites us to discover a whole new batch of fresh words, tasty new vocabulary for our young ones to devour. From organized, to contribute, to persevere, all these words are so delicious, it's impossible not to go for seconds (multiple reading of the book). I've mentioned this before in my blog and I will say it again, vocabulary enhancement and language development is something that ALL students would benefit from. Not just your English language learners benefit but ALL our children do. So I can't think of a better way to start the year, establishing that community feeling than with one of Amy's books. She gets it. She really does!

The Red Umbrella

2010-07-10T13:39:00.000-04:00

Oh The Red Umbrella!! How I LOVED this book. The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. The waiting for this book was completely worth it. Chirstina Gonzalez brought us a story that although it is a work of fiction, the story is based on real events. Let me take you to Cuba back in 1960 when Castro to over the country. At first a lot of people believed in Castro and his idea, but later you realized but his true intentions really are. He wanted to retain complete control of the country by taking away the right to private property, stopping freedom of speech, censoring the press and limiting people's choice in religion. But worst of all, he wanted to also control Cuban children's lives. Children were being separated from their parents, sent to Russia to attend boarding schools. The fate of many children and their families did not look promising.
In The Red Umbrella, you meet Lucia and her seven-year old brother who are sent to the United States when her parents fear the worst: that their children would be taken away from them. Lucia's family is against the regimen, they do not believe in Castro's ideas, therefore, their lives are at risk.

The Red Umbrella brought me tears, laughs and at the end a sense of hopeful and optimism. The author has done such a successful job describing this story the way it is, painful at times, confusing but optimistic. Her work in this book is absolutely brilliant. And in this hard times in the United States when there is so much talk about immigration, The Dream Act and the Immigration Reform is imperative for educators across this country to read books like this one because it forces you to look and consider other perspectives as well.

I invite you read the following excerpts from the book which I believe are so powerful:
"I stared at the crumpled pages that filled my bedroom wastebasket. Who knew that a simple five-hundred word report on a book of my choice was going to be so difficult? I'd thought by picking something that I'd studied in Cuba, the whole thing would be easy to do, but it was hard to express myself in English when all my thoughts were in Spanish."

"I just want to get good grades because Papa always said that's what's in here-I tapped my head-"no one can take from you"

"That in the U.S, I'd found friends, happiness, and something she could never have with the revolution...freedom. It was here that people were free to choose their own path in life, free to speak their mind, free to have a different opinion, free to be themselves...all without fear."

"I'd carry Cuba with me wherever I went. That no matter what, I'd never stop loving my childhood home."

Like I said, this story will stay with me for a very long time as a reminder of the reasons why so many of my English language learners are here. Thank you Christina Diaz Gonzalez for writing this book which would hopefully bring clarity, compassion and understanding to many people and educators in the United States.

Hope you get to read this book as well. That's my invitation to you! Enjoy the journey, it is where we learn the most.

Kindergarten Diary

2010-06-24T10:48:00.000-04:00

Antoinette Portis has a new book out! Yay!!! I'm sure you know her from her previous books Not a Box and Not a Stick. My students LOVED both of her books.

Kindergarten Diary comes in a perfect time for the next school year. In this story, Annalina is excited but scared at the same time about starting Kindergarten. Annalina tells us in her diary all about her new life in Kindergarten, meeting the teacher, playing on the monkey bars, making new friends, sharing the toys, the first Show and Tell, the first birthday party. I love reading how Annalina practices writing her name but discovers that it has too many letters. She will learn how to write Anna first and the rest will come later.
Throughout her diary, she takes us into her Kindergarten world, the real Kindergarten world where she discovers that the kids in room 2k will be fine, after all.
A fantastic read aloud, a must have for the beginning of the school year when we are trying to build a sense of community in the classroom.
Enjoy your summer, Enjoy the Journey.

For the Love of Soccer!

2010-06-21T09:36:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I talked about Soccer, the importance of this sport in many cultures around the world. If you missed that post, you can click here. Reality is that right now around the world, millions of people are gathering to watch the soccer matches during the World Cup. It is a world event, it is without a doubt a celebration. I have recently discovered a new book in our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library, which by the way, it is Library of the Year! How about that??!!! We are have so many reasons to be proud. My new discovery at the library was this book: For the Love of Soccer written by Three Time World Cup Champion: PELE and illustrated by Frank Morrison. Now, for soccer fanatics out there, you know how BIG Pele was in his days. He is a world champion soccer star, he played for BRAZIL soccer team and his career has been nothing but brilliant. Pele is not only an amazing professional soccer play but he is also an amazing individual who carries his country's flag in his heart, who emphasized the love for the game but also the importance of playing in a team. I believed he did a fantastic job in his first children's book conveying that message. That's what this book is all about: you can play soccer anytime, anywhere, but being part of the team is something SPECIAL. You win, you lose, but you play for the love of the game.
I can not wait to share this book with my students when we come back to school. Regardless of their age, everyone knows PELE. That's how HUGE he is.
.

Soccer...so much more than just a sport!

2010-06-16T11:20:00.004-04:00

I can't think of a better time in the year to share this with all of you, so much of what is going on right now involves soccer! Yes, that's right, the Soccer World Cup is going on and it is a world event. So many cultures share the passion of this sport, and it is the one thing that so many countries have in common. For so many cultures, soccer is more than just a sport, it is a bonding time in the neighborhood, in the community. I remember growing up in South America and just playing soccer with the other kids in the neighborhood in any open space we could find. We didn't have a fancy field, we didn't even have goal posts but we have each other and we knew how to have FUN.

As our Hispanic English language learner population grows here in the United States, so does the love and popularity for this sport as well. Here is what I have noticed while I'm on duty on the playground: our kids are playing soccer everyday...regardless of where they are from, regardless of their skills and endurance, they are out there playing soccer every day. It has become so popular during recess time, and I believe this is a wonderful thing that unites children. As this sport increase in popularity at recess time, so does the behavior problems. Why? very simple: they're becoming passionate about the sport and they haven't quite been taught the rules of the games. They are learning as they go, as they play. And here's is when our role as educators come into play: I saw this as an opportunity to address the issues by teaching them the rules, and starting to develop a sense of TEAM in our young players.

Columbus Crew Soccer Team won the MSL Cup in 2008 and since then the love for this game has grown so much in this city! I contacted our amazing Columbus Crew and explained the situation in our school, my vision and expectations and the reasons for why I would love for a visit to our school. I have to say working and coordinating this event with Robin has been such a wonderful experience. They are all so supportive of schools, and so professional about what they do!

And so it happened...just like magic, our dear Beechwood Elementary welcomed two players from the Columbus Crew: Eric Brunner and Kenni Schoeni. I have coordinated with them the important issues and topics that I was hoping they would address to our children and they were very receptive to our needs. Both players talked about their passion for soccer but most important they emphasized the sense of team playing over and over. Our students needed to hear this message loud and clear: it is not about shinning individually in soccer, it's about shinning as a team, playing together to reach a common goal.
They accepted questions from our audience, and then they demonstrated some of the basic soccer skills. They were absolutely FANTASTIC. Our students listened to them so carefully, they felt so lucky to be the ones welcoming such amazing players. Not only they had a chance to meet them and get free tickets to the Kicks for Kids game but they also had a chance to practice those basic skills with the players.

All in all: an unforgettable experience for our students in Whitehall City School and for our staff as well. And may I just add that the behavior soccer issues decreased after their visit?? YES! I thought you would be interested in learning that as well. :-) Because taking their soccer away at recess time was not the answer to the problem, it will be like taking a big part of their culture away. Soccer= culture! Enjoy the journey!

Discovering Oliver Jeffers

2010-06-15T13:48:00.000-04:00

When the book The Heart and The Bottle came out this year, I became very interested in the work of Oliver Jeffers. Who was this amazing illustrator and writer with quite the imagination? I have to be honest with you and admit not knowing much until I got the book The Heart and The Bottle in my hands.
Each time I read this book, I discovered new things...what is The Heart and The Bottle about? It is about a little's girl world who was full of wonders and discovered nurtured by her dad who continuously supported and encouraged this journey until one day...
Dad is not in the picture anymore and the girl felt lost and confused so she decided to tuck away her heart in a bottle.

My fifth graders and I read this book in a Book Discussion Group and their thoughts, observations and journey throughout this book was fascinating!! The text in this book in very minimum so my students have to rely heavily on the pictures in order to infer. And may I just say they INFER!!! High level thinking and questioning. We talked about how magnificent and fascinating is the work of Oliver Jeffers as an artist. So my students' challenged was to record their thoughts and how their thinking changed throughout the story by using pictures. Once again, my students were up for the task impressing me not only with their artistic talents but also with their inferences.

Of course, after reading The Heart and The Bottle, I was thirsty for more books by Oliver Jeffers and to my surprise I discovered not only other equally wonderful books but also several of his books are available in Spanish. Check them out!

Keep an eye on this amazing artist, I'm sure we will be hearing more from him as the book The Heart and the Bottle will becoming a motion picture very soon!

Literature gets a ride in the streets of Buenos Aires

2010-05-23T22:11:00.000-04:00

Our Journey As Readers-Making Inferences/Part II

2010-05-21T22:32:00.000-04:00

On one of my latest post, I shared with all of you part of our journey as readers where our ultimate goal is to become better at inferring so our comprehension can increase. If you would like to read the Part I of this post please click here. In Part I, I shared my students' work on making inferences by looking at the pictures in the story.

Our mentor text: The Story of Ruby Bridges
Language Structure: I can infer that___________________because_____________________(insert picture evidence from the book).
Our big discovery together: Inferring with pictures means not telling what I clearly see in the picture but what the picture means.

After several practice of inferring using pictures, we were ready to finally move on to the next step: Inferring using words/text. Here is what I do know as a teacher: how to teach inferring. Here is what I discover throughout our journey: they will guide me through my teaching, helping me decide what to teach next, how to break it down into more manageable chunks or what mini lesson I must prepare!!

One of the things that I have learned that worked very well with ELLs was to underline the text where they evidence for the inferring was provided. At times, this was a challenge for them to remember, but the expectations were always there. So, they knew it needed to be done.

One of our mini lessons (based on what the children were showing me they needed) was how to paraphrase information so that students showed their understanding. It did provided a new level of challenge, but at the same time a lot of vocabulary was learned in context. I also provided them with a list of adjectives (juicy words) to expand their knowledge.

Once again, my ELL students showed me that they can think at higher level if...

*some language structure and vocabulary was provided beforehand so their learning could be scaffolded. Eventually, they didn't need that list of adjectives anymore, they were acquiring vocabulary in authentic ways.

Here is my number ONE suggestion with any literacy activities you do with ELLs: give them plenty of oral language opportunities. Learners need to talk, think aloud, negotiate meaning, construct meaning together. We are a community of learners. Like Samantha Bennett, author of That Workshop Book would say, "The one who is doing the talking, is the one doing the thinking."

After we explore the book The Story of Ruby Bridges inside out, we synthesized all our learning together. This is what the children say about What Inferring is...and What Inferring is not, in their own words, of course!

Because a picture is worth a thousand words...here we go! Enjoy the journey!

Emma's Poem

2010-05-09T10:01:00.000-04:00

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddle masses yearning to breathe free..."

My heart was filled with excitement and I felt a knot of my throat while I was reading Emma's Poem The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser. This book moved me in so many ways. As you know, I teach English Language Learners who family came to our country with hopes of better education and a new beginning. Emm'as Poem is the story about Emma Lazarus who in 1883 wrote a poem that would change this nation.

But who was Emma Lazarus you may wonder...

Emma Lazarus, born in 1849 in New York City. The daughter of a wealthy Jewish family who found a passion for writing from an early age. She wrote poems, stories and article and quickly became a well-known writer in society. Emma Lazarus is the writer behind the amazing poem "The New Colossus" which is nowadays engraved inside an entryway to the statue's pedestal.

How did Emma Lazarus found inspiration for this poem you may wonder...

And that is what this book is all about. Linda Glaser shares with us the story behind Emma Lazarus and this meaning that the poem "The New Colossus" had for her. The paintings of this book created by Claire A. Nivola go pefectly with this book, especially the one created for the front cover.

The publication of this book came at a perfect timing as we all witness the changes that bill 1070 brought to Arizona and the painful consequences that those actions could carry to English Language Learners there. The author's note in the back of the book reads,

" Emma Lazarus strongly believed that if immigrants received job training and education they would contribute to society."

I hope you find this book as powerful and hopeful as I did because at this point that is exactly what we all need: HOPE. Hope that things will be done differently, hope that when we make decisions we keep in mind the integrity of the human being.

Enjoy the Journey.

Our Journey as Readers: Making Inferences/Part I

2010-05-02T17:28:00.003-04:00

Last week I announced that My World/Mi Mundo has a new feature entitled Visits to My World/Mi Mundo at the ESL Cafe. The main reason for adding this new feature is because I want to virtually open the doors to my classroom and our learning journey. As I teach, learn and grow with my ELL students, we all become smarter and stronger together. If you would like to know more about my school population, languages and background, you may click here to read more.

Now, for our first session, I would like to share with you our Journey as Readers. This year, our 4th grade team was focusing on a deep, intense study of INFERRING. Of course, as a support system that we are, our 4th grade ELLs were also focusing intensively on this reading strategies. First, let me make clear that we did NOT just focus on Inferring, we also learned about all the other strategies. We encourage and teach them to use them simultaneously as they read. However, we noticed that the art of Inferring is exactly that...AN ART. It is complex, it is messy and it requires a good eye in order to pay attention to details (clues).

So, we all embarked on this journey of "On the Road to Becoming Great Reading Detectives."

As Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis, authors of Strategies That Work, state about Inferring..."is at the intersection of taking what is known, garnering clues from the text and thinking ahead to make a judgement, discern a them or speculate about what is to come."

It was very important for our students to understand that in order to Infer you need to use your own background knowledge (on the subject, topic, etc) and also combine clues from the texts. So it almost sounds like a formula:

Background knowledge + context clues from the text= Inferring

The beauty and (the many, many plusses) of having my students year after year is that I know the things we have covered the previous year. When they were in Third Grade we spend a lot of time talking about background knowledge, what it is and why is important. So, this year the conversations about background knowledge continued as our level of thinking becomes more sophisticated as we are growing.

This year we had to spend a lot of time talking about clues that the author gives us throughout a story. First, we must break the clues into even further chunks: Clues from the text could be defined as: pictures, words, character's actions.

Once we broke the clues down into manageable chunks, we were ready to explore how all these sound like, or look like. The use of mentor texts is a MUST in this process because rich, quality literature makes it possible for all to become relevant and alive.

One of the texts used for this journey was The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. One of the many beauties of using a rich, historical fiction story is that you are hitting so many other standards as you embrace students in a powerful, deep conversation about an important event in American History.

As a language teacher, I BELIEVE in the power of oral language, and in giving students countless opportunities to talk, discuss, ask, answer, wonder about the story. This belief is so engraved in me, and in my teaching that it is natural for me to give students daily opportunities to talk with each other as they try to make sense of how to infer as the strong readers that they are. The students worked in pairs a lot during our journey before they were asked to work independently so they could support and learn from each other. Through partner work, they make inferences first by using just the pictures as clues.

I gave them the language structure:

I can infer_______________________because______________________.

They were all expected to use this language structure to explain their thinking and their inferences.

When they worked in partners, the support was great. However, when they were working individually, I could start seeing very clearly who is not understanding and what is happening. My revelation was that my students thought they were inferring, however, they were telling me what I can clearly see in the pictures. For example, they would say, I can infer that the mom reads to the girls at bed time. This statement is what I, as a reader, could clearly see from the pictures. However, this revelation lead us to our next day mini-lesson which focused on:

Are you telling me what I can see clearly in the pictures? or what the picture means?

This was our guiding question for our next lesson practice. And after several feedback and practice time, students were able to generate inferences that sounded like this:

I can infer that reading is important for this family because I can see that mom reads to the girls every night.

Awwww!!! yes! Now we are talking!!!Finally my students started producing real, powerful inferences using pictures as clues from the story.

From all theses particular sessions on Inferring I learned that...

By giving my students the language structure, I set them up for successful conversations. They didn't have to think about HOW they were going to say it in English. They had to think of content, not on the grammatical structure.

By breaking down the clues into manageable chunks, we could explore each clues more in depth.

We learned a lot about ourselves as readers as we were using pictures for clues. We learned that we had to look beyond the picture in order to figure out meaning.

Next we will be exploring Making Inferences using words from the text as our context clues to infer. Stay tuned for Part II on this post. I hope you found this session useful and adaptable to your own teaching situation.

Enjoy the journey. We certainly do.

Poetry Friday 4/30/10

2010-04-30T06:52:00.000-04:00

It is impossible that a book cover like this one does not get your attention right away! Poetry Speaks Who I Am Poems of discovery, inspiration, independence, and everything else... Edited by Elise Paschen. This book is a collection of the work of some of the most amazing poets and writers of all times. The range of poets found in this book knows no limits when it comes down to timeline. We have the work of William Shakespeare and Walt Witman but also of Carl Sandburg, Julia Alvarez, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marilyn Nelson, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, among others.

Besides holding an awesome collection of poems for middle grade & high school students, this book comes with a CD where over 30 poems are being read aloud. Most of you know what a big fan I am of poetry books with an audio version or files available. This simple but powerful addition to the book allow all readers to have a role model for fluency, reading with rhythm and intonation. All part of learning to read, reading to learn.

Don't miss a chance to sit outside on a spring afternoon and let the work of Edgar Allan Poe, Christina Rosetti and Sandra Cisneros (among so many others!) keep you company for rest of the day.

Poetry Roundup today: Great Kid Book.

My World/Mi Mundo -New Features

2010-04-26T19:53:00.000-04:00

On April 11 2010, My World/Mi Mundo celebrated two years of blogging, of learning and of joining a community of children's book lovers, well known as Kidlitosphere. Writing and keeping a blog is definitely a commitment and I'm so glad I have started this. The journey has been nothing but a bliss.

Now, as part of growing and challenging myself, I would like to incorporate a little bit more in this blog.

I'm starting a new feature in this blog entitled Visit to My World/Mi Mundo @ the ESL Cafe. Everytime you see this picture:
It means I'm virtually letting you in on our literacy journeys as readers and writers. Teaching Literacy to English Language learners is what I do with all my passion and my heart. They have taught me so much and I would love to share these things with you through this blog.
Some of you are already familiar with the physical setting of the classroom which looks like this:

Yes, I love colors and I'm not ashamed to admit it. :)

And books are at the heart of my daily instruction so you'll see books everywhere:

There are a couple of basic facts that I would like to share with you before we start these visual visits to the ESL Cafe so that it helps you better understand some of the things that are going on in the classroom.

1. I teach English Language Learners in grades K-5. I serve 75 students in my school. They come from all over the world: Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Ethiopia, Laos, Bangladesh, among others.
2. Ohio Language Arts Standards guide my teaching as well as the TESOL standards. In other words, I teach Literacy as the core of my instruction.
3. The ELL population keeps growing in our district. As of right now, it constitutes 15% of the total student population.

As I share with you our literacy journey, you'll notice that oral language is a big, important component in my daily teaching instruction. For me, it is a MUST that I grant students time to talk about their thinking, their writing, their ideas, their wonders, their connections. So please keep in mind as we go through this journey together.

Looking forward to have you in my classroom (virtually), and letting the learning and growing keep on happening!

I heart Amy Krouse Rosenthal's books!

2010-04-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

Oh yes, you know exactly who I am talking about! The talented Amy Krouse Rosenthal has a new book out, and once again it is FUN FUN FUN!
So, most bedtime stories we read are about how a mom, dad or grandpa, or big sister puts a little one to bed. Always sweet. Always tender. But what would it look like if we reverse roles and the little one is the one that puts mom away to bed? Ahhh! That's what Bedtime for Mommy is all about. In this adorable twist and reverse of roles, Mom is the one asking for five more minutes! The little one is the one gathering mom's bath toys (which includes lotions, soaps, and bubbles). And my favorite scene is the one where the little girl reads Mom a book. I always tell my students that I am always the one reading the stories aloud. Saying this always guarantees me a story time provided by my students. :-)

And when you think the book is over, here is the little girl coming down the stairs saying, "Okay. One down, one to go." And when you turn the page, who do you believe you'll find?

Exactly. :-)

Thank you Amy for another wonderful book. I wonder how's The Beckoning of Lovely coming?

Don't Lick the Dog

2010-04-24T09:34:00.000-04:00

Wendy Wahman wrote a book that our young readers will absolutely love. Don't Lick the Dog Making Friends with Dogs shows children how to interact and treat unfamiliar dogs. Written in a how-to manual kind of way, this book provides all kinds of great advices for kids for example...

Stand still and let dogs come to you to smell your hand or sniff your shoe.

Gently stroke his chin or chest or rub his cheek

Before you give a treat to Kate, make your hand into a plate.

This is Wendy Wahman's first book and I believe she did a tremendous job keeping the writing alive and accessible to children. I believe our readers will truly understand, learn and appreciate the tips and advices on how to treat new dogs.

Poetry Friday-Muu, Moo!

2010-04-23T06:18:00.008-04:00

For Poetry Friday today, I would like to share with you a fantastic book of Animal Nursery Rhymes. This bilingual collection of rhymes were selected by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy. I loved loved this book for many reasons. First of all, Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy know poetry! Their knowledege put together is a guaranteed sucess. Alma Flor Ada has been one of our biggest advocates for promoting cross-cultural understanding. She values languages, cultures, traditions. Her values are shown in her work, in her publications. F. Isabel Campoy is a poet, a storyteller, and researcher of Hispanic Culture. Both of them are big advocates for language learning. It is not surprising at all that when I read the introduction to this new book, they wrote, "During the extraordinary process of acquiring our first language, we learn to play with sounds, delighting in rhymes and alliteration." Clearly, they understand the power of words.

One thing that I'm always careful when I read bilingual books (English/Spanish) is that the translation of the work in either language does not lose its sense of rhymes, and the author's intention. I was happily surprised to see how beautifully these animal rhymes have been translated. The rhythm, rhyme and author's message was kept beautiful in each poem. To illustrate what I mean, let me share with you, one of the poems in the book:

La Lechuza The Owl
F. Isabel Campoy F. Isabel Campoy

U, u, u Boo, hoo, hoo
oigo en la noche un revuelo In the night I hear a cry
U, u, u Boo, hoo, hoo
una lechuza en su vuelo It's an owl fluttering by
U, u, u Boo, hoo, hoo
me da mucho miedo The eerie sound gives me a fright!
U, u, u Boo, hoo, hoo
-Mamá, enciende la luz! Mom! please turn on the light!

If you read this poem in either language, you'll notice that the message and the rhythm were kept in both poems. The translator or adapter for this book was Rosalma Zubizarreta. I enjoyed reading the note about her at the end of the book because it explains, "want to help people understand each other better, and when I am translating a story or poem, I want to make it possible for readers to enjoy the grace and spirit of the author's original work." As I was reading each poem in this book, I can confidently say that she definitely "kept the spirit of the author's original work."

I hope you and your students or children enjoy this book as much as I had. Please stop by Anastasia's blog Picture Book of the Day to enjoy more of Poetry Friday.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2010-04-22T11:00:00.000-04:00

For the past 40 years, we have been celebrating Earth Day. I can't think of a better book to share with my early primary ELL students than Todd Parr's newest book: The Earth Book. This is his latest publication and the timing is just perfect. I have blogged about Todd Parr's books before because I believe he is such an amazing writer for our little ones. Our younger ELL students have learned so much from him because as a writer he keeps his language structure predictable for students to feel successful. He keeps a good rhythm and his sentences are not too long. The amazing illustrations support his messages so beautifully. With just one fantastic books, my ELL students learned different things that they can do to take care of our planet Earth. And of course, the super poster at the end of the book sums up everything you learned throughout the book.

Todd Parr, you never disappoint us! Your newest book is fantastic and my ELLs are already devouring!
Enjoy the journey and Happy Earth Day!

The Red Scarf

2010-04-18T16:11:00.002-04:00

The Red Scarf by Anne Villeneuve is the story of a taxi driver Turpin who was having an ordinary day until...someone left behind a red scarf on the passenger seat of his taxicab. Turpin knows the right thing to do is give the scarf back to its owner. So he follows the red scarf owner without knowing in all the adventures he will be crossing and experiencing at the circus. The illustrations in this book says it all. That's right because there is hardly any text in the story keeping the reader absolutely engaged and participating all the way. This creative book has won the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustration.

I fall in love with books like this. I love to watch my ELL students tell the story in their own words, at their own level of understanding as they construct meaning. I love watching them pay attention to the smallest details in order to help them construct their story. And while I listen to them, it gives me a very good idea of where they are in the process of language acquisition. I invite you to give your students a wordless picture book and watch the magic unfolds right in front of you. It's pretty amazing. Enjoy the Journey.

P.S Adding new small features to my blog soon as part of my growing & learning changes after my two years blog celebration. Time for some changes. Soon.

Lights on Broadway

2010-04-14T06:28:00.000-04:00

If you have been following My World-Mi Mundo then you know how much I enjoy Broadway Shows. Last year, I wrote about the amazing Broadway Show In The Heights which luckily came to Columbus last November. So you can picture my excitement when I found this new book Lights on Broadway A Theatrical Tour from A to Z. This colorful and creative book was written by Harriet Ziefert and the responsible person for the amazing cover and illustration is Elliot Kreloff. Brian Stokes Mitchell also contributed to the success of this book.

Once you open this book, be ready to find amazing little facts, definitions, and even quotes by famous actors/actresses. For example, on the first page you will find....

A is for Audition

There is a quote by David Alvarez, who played Billy Elliot and his experience, thoughts and feelings the first time he auditioned for a play.

On the left hand side you'll find an brief paragraph that explain what is an audition.

And at the bottom of the page you'll also find two more side notes: what is a headshot and what is the role of the director in an audition.

That was only page number 1. Whether you are a Broadway fan or not, this is a book that explains and teaches so much about the "behind-the-scene" happenings. I don't know how many other books are out there that teaches about Broadway shows to children in such an accessible manner but I sure LOVE this one.

At the end of the book, you'll find three cool extras: a poem written by Brian Stokes Mitchell. You'll also learn about the Actors Fund whose mission is to "help all professionals in performing arts and entertainment." You will be happy to know that a portion of the book sales will be donated to The Actors Fund. And last, but not least, the book includes CD "I Was Here" by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty performed by Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Happy Blog Birthday! It's the Magic 2!

2010-04-11T11:19:00.000-04:00

Two years ago, My World-Mi Mundo was born. When I started writing on April 11, 2008 I had no idea the amazing journey that creating a blog would be. I am still in awe of all the extraordinary gifts that came after My World-Mi Mundo was born. You may be wondering what kind of gifts am I talking about? Well, I'm talking about the one you can't buy with money. The kind of gift that fills your heart with nothing else but happiness and gratitude. Let me show you what I mean. Come with me to a journey of these last two years of being part of the Kidlitbloggers World.

*After spending a great deal of time reading on the web, I was inspired by these bloggers and their work. Some of these blogs are for educators. Others are related to the visual arts, design and creativity. Regardless of what the topics on these blogs are, I was amazed at the amount of information I was learning from those blogs. There was so much learning and sharing going on that I also wanted to be part of this great experience.

* I joined and learned from the amazing Poetry Challenges that Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers created. So much fun!

*I was happy to share with all of you my special Annual event at my school: The Cultural Festival. A festival that I started 5 years ago and welcomes around 500 people each year.

* I met the extraordinary Columbus Bloggers. We met, got together, and got along beautifully! Together we embraced the Reading Challenge posed by Mother Reader (a favorite of ours!)

* Sharing some of my Summer Projects at home gave my friends at A Year of Reading the idea of sharing with each other our classroom spaces. It was a lot of fun to have a peek at each other's daily world.

*Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with all of you has definitely become one of my favorite moments of the year. And of course, hosting Book Giveaways is always fun!

*Joining Poetry Friday has helped me feel stronger about being in a community of bloggers. I look forward to Fridays, to Poetry, to sharing, to inspiration all around!

* Celebrating Jon Scieszka was just spectacular. My friends at A Year of Reading had this amazing idea to celebrate our first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. And the fact that Jon Scieszka himself stopped by the blog to visit was just EXTRAORDINARY.

I'm humbled and thankful for the experience of creating a blog, making a commitment to sharing with others. I'm proud of my fellow bloggers who inspire me every day with their endless ideas, powerful thinking and deep reflections. I have learned so much in these last two years. I feel honored to be part of the Society of Bloggers in Children's and Young Adult Literature, our amazing Kidlitosphere Central.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Gracias, Muchas Gracias for being part of My World-Mi Mundo.

Stella Villalba

My Brother Charlie

2010-04-10T15:15:00.003-04:00

As many of you already know, April is Autism Awareness Month. As an educator, I feel like my journey on understanding and learning about Autism has just started. I have long ways to go. But I want to learn how to teach and how help a child with autism learn and be successful. Today I read My Brother is Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete. This story is very different since it is told from a twin sister's point of view. Callie and Charlie are twins and they adore each other. But each sibling has its own unique way of showing that love for each other. Charlie has autism so he shows his love in unconventional ways because his words get locked inside him, and sometimes he seems so far away. But Charlie has so many other great wonderful qualities that Callie just loves and appreciates. This story is just beautiful because it is a celebration of hope, understanding and tolerance. Both authors (mother & daughter) joined their understandings and personal experiences on autism in order to create this story. Holly's son (which is Ryan's brother) has autism and their journey, of course, represented many challenges. However, through this book they transmit this sense of hope, charm and patience to all individuals who have a loved one with Autism. Like Ryan Elizabeth shared on a note at the end of the book,

People with autism are exceptionally smart, but their brains are wired differently. It can take them longer to process information. Please be patient.

Mirror Mirror-Poetry Friday

2010-04-09T03:00:00.002-04:00

When I picked up the book Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer at our Columbus Metropolitan Library, I had no idea how much I would have reading this book. Why? You may wonder. Well, this book is like no other, it offers readers the possibility of exploring two sides of every fairy tale. How is that possible? You may wonder. Marilyn Singer wrote a unique collection of reversible verse. That's right...First you read the poem from top to bottom like you would anyways. But if your curious to know the "other side of the story" then you must read the poem but this time from bottom to top.

Let me share with you the example from the author's first reverso inspired by her cat:

A cat Incomplete:

without A chair

a chair: without

Incomplete a cat.

Isn't that sweet? I can imagine our young readers in grades (2-5) enjoying it, reading these verses over and over again.

A round of applause goes to the illustrator Josee Masse that recreated a wonderful "fairy tale" fun with the illustrations in this book.

My World/Mi Mundo will be celebrating its 2nd B-day this Sunday April 11. What an amazing two years of learning and growing! Stay tuned next week for a fantastic book giveaway coming to celebrate our two years together.

And please stop by Paper Tigers to check out the round up on Poetry Friday.

A Classic Story. Always Fun. Always Great

2010-04-06T03:00:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Emma Chichester Clark. And yes, like so many of you, already know and love the story. So how am I going to share this book with my darling English language learners? Well, here is my thinking. This is a story known and loved by so many of my students. But Emma Clark's version of this story is filled with great choice of words, words that bring dramatization and emphasis to the story. Here are a list of words I found that the author has used that are perfect example of a brilliant writer's work.

swallowed an enormous mouthful

Disgusting!

she dipped a spoon in the middle-sized bow.

She plunged a spoon ...

after nosing through the shelves...

It's so stiflingly, smotheringly! suffocatingly soft!

This book is filled with examples of great, exquisite vocabulary that can enrich a story so much! I definitely read this book as a writer, paying close attention to the craft. And I'm not disappointed! What a great resource for children, for writing workshop, for tunning into great words. I highly recommend this version of a classic story loved by so many.

P.S. The word is stupid is used in this book. I always explain and talk to my students about words like this before I read the book. I thought I would give you a heads up on that particular example.

The Hallelujah Flight

2010-03-29T03:00:00.001-04:00

The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bildner and illustrated by John Holyfield is another great picture book based on actual events. I must confess that I haven't even heard of James Banning before. So this book was a total new discovery to me, and I admit loving learning about the first black aviator that obtained a license and the first African American to complete a transcontinental flight.

James Banning had a dream and it was very clear to him. He wanted to fly a plane from sea to sea using his OXX6 Eagle Rock as their dream plane. There were a couple of problems with this dream:

1. their plane was too old. It's entire engine needs to be replaced.

2. They had no money

3. Times were hard, so people really didn't have much to even spare.

But a dream is a dream. And problems like such didn't stop James Banning and his copilot Thomas Allen to achieving their dreams. Both friends thought of creative ways to make their journey possible, collecting food along the way, receiving donations from people and sometimes experiencing discrimination along the way as well. But James Banning was an example of strength and perseverance, so these rocks along the way did not stop him from becoming the first African American to flight over the Atlantic ocean completing his dream! Hallelujah!

Poetry Friday

2010-03-26T08:21:00.010-04:00

Oh Douglas Florian! He did it again. Brilliant. Beautiful. Poetrees by Douglas Florian is one of my latest favorite poetry books. When you open the book, you will see a table of content presented in a vertical way symbolizing a tall gorgeous tree. Inside, you will find poems that celebrate all kinds of tree from Coconut Trees, Oaks to Weeping Willows. But it does not stop there, you can also find poems on the different parts of a tree from its roots through barks and leaves. All poems and illustrations in this book are presented in a vertical position strengthening the vision of trees and its sizes. The illustrations completes this book perfectly. The smooth yet strong oil pastel colors compliments the poems in simple yet beautiful ways.

My ELLs studetns LOVE Douglas Florian. They have read so many of his books but best of all, they understand his poems. And I believe that is the key to engage young children into poetry.

Poetry Friday is hosted at The Drift Record/Julie Larios. I can't imagine a better way to start the weekend by immersing yourself with good poetry. Happy Reading! Enjoy the journey.

SIT-IN

2010-03-25T03:00:00.001-04:00

My latest find at our amazing Columbus Metropolitan Library includes this book: SIT-IN How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting DOWN by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. May I just say, "WOW!" Hands down to Andrea and Brian Pinkney for a job so well done. This inspirational story retells the events from February 1st, 1960 when four friends went to a "ONLY WHITE" restaurant, and waited patiently and peacefully to be served. Their order was a simple one: a doughnut and coffee with cream on the side. Their plan was simple: they'll wait peacefully to be served. But not only the waitress ignored them and refused to serve them, but people around the treated them either like they were invisible or yelled at them. But day after day, these four friends sat at the counter waiting to be served, and since they didn't do or say much to other people, they brought homework and books to read. But day after day, they got treated the same: as if they were invisible.

However, something WAS happening. People started to hear about these four friends that are waiting to be serve. Soon, people were following the four friends on the radio and T.V. The impact of their peaceful actions were huge. And people started to notice them and even support them.

I won't tell you the ending but let me just say what a tremendous find at our local library. I enjoyed reading this book so much, I always feel inspired and energized when I read stories about real people, real fights and struggles, and perseverance.

This book is truly a treasure to have in the classroom. The poetic and rhythmic language in the book makes it so enjoyable to read aloud. At the end of the book, you'll find a Civil RIghts Timeline which is a treasure all by itself. The author also included a page with other books in the same subject and some suggested websites for further exploration.

A story about courage

2010-03-21T14:26:00.007-04:00

When I finished reading Testing the Ice- A True Story about Jackie Robinson by Sharon Robinson, I sighed and read it again. There are so many things I love about this book. First, the story is about a man that not only talked about being brave and standing up strong, but who was a living proof of all that. Jackie Robinson, knows as the man who opened the doors for blacks in Major League Baseball changing history for ever. So knowing this about Jackie Robinson, makes you appreciate this picture book even more. Especially when the story is told by his daughter, Sharon Robinson, the author of this book.

When Jackie Robinson moved to Connecticut, the family is able to spend time and fun moments around the beautiful lake in their property. Regardless of what season it was, the lake provided endless hours of entertainment and fun. Except that Jackie never went past the shore, and even though the children begged him to join them in the lake, he just wouldn't. Jackie shared time with his kids and their friends in other ways though. By sharing stories from his baseball days, true stories of bravery and courage. The children were always so fascinated with all the details he provided.

One winter the children were ready to go ice skating on the lake. But they need his father approval to make sure it was safe to ice skate on it. And this is the moment in the book that makes you wonder, is he always afraid to go to close to water? Jackie Robinson's determination and courage make him go and "test the ice" even when he doesn't know how to swim.

Kadir Nelson's illustrations enhances the story in magnificent ways. It is a work of art that I can not stop looking at. Kadir Nelson's careful details to all the pictures make those come alive. Kadir Nelson is quickly becoming my favorite illustrator. And the fact that the pages in this book are larger than most picture books compliments Kadir's work of art beautifully.

Do not wait too long, get this book in your hands and be prepared to be amazed at the perfection that words and pictures can create.

Enjoy the journey. Happy Reading. Happy Spring.

A Tale of Two Seders

2010-03-16T03:00:00.001-04:00

I am always excited when I find books that celebrate diversity, whether that is culture, holidays, traditions or stories from around the world. I love to see people represented in children's books. I love to learn about what other people believe or celebrate life. A Tale of Two Seders by Mindy Avra Portney and Valeria Cis tells a story about celebrating Passover in two different households. A little girl is concerned about celebrating Passover now that her parents are divorced. Her life is well organized since she has her own bedroom and her own things at each house. When it is time to celebrate Passover, with its two seders, gives her a perfect chance to celebrate this important holiday with each parent. The Tale of Two Seders narrates the beautiful traditions that Jewish families have when celebrating Passover. The author who is the Rabbi of Temple Sinai in Washington, D.C. included at the back of the book Charoset Recipes and glossary with the important terms used throughout the story. I was also happily surprised to see that the illustrator is from my beautiful country, Argentina. Her illustrations are absolutely fantastic capturing the sweet and tender images in the characters, especially of the little girl. I loved her work. I also enjoyed checking out her website/blog. You can see more of her work there.

Share a Story-Shape a Future

2010-03-13T03:00:00.003-05:00

Share a Story - Shape a Future

(Logo created by Elizabeth O. Dulemba)

Wow! What an amazing project! What a tremendous week of learning, conversation and ideas. All these was possible thanks to the wonderful literacy journey Share a Story- Shape a Future. This annual blog tour for literacy is possible thanks to a team of bloggers whose passion for books, reading and learning is shown throughout their blogs. Please see who those amazing contributors are by clicking right here.

Today at My World/Mi Mundo, I would like to answer one of their prompt questions:

Do you have a favorite chapter book for reading with kids of different ages (e.g. 4, 9, 13)?

As many of you already know I teach English as a Second Language to students in grades K through 5th. So, I have a wide range of ages I work with, therefore, I'm always keeping my eyes open for rich literature that my students could benefit and enjoy from it, despite some language barriers. Here at My World/Mi Mundo, I have shared with you all several times some of the things I look for in books to read/share with my ELLs. I'm a language teacher, and I work with ELLs, thus, I'm always paying attention to the language/choice of words used in a book. One of the purposes in my read aloud is for students to enjoy the story, love the characters, get into the story without worrying too much about trying to understand the meaning of each word. If a book contains too many slangs/idioms, I know that I will spend a lot of time explaining the meaning of those phrases than reading the book it self. BUT again, it all depends on the purpose/intentions of your read alouds. Sometimes, my intention and goal for reading certain books is to tune my students into paying attention to the choice of words, language, idioms that the author decides to use in order to enhance meaning. So again, it is all about being intentional.

So, what are some of the chapter books that my ELLs and I have shared and absolutely loved? Well, here we go:

My first grade ELL class is in love with the series Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo. And I knew they would! How could you not love a pig who gets so extremely happy when she gets to eat "toast with a great deal of butter on it." Seriously! How adorable is Mercy. Kate DiCamillo has created the perfect chapter book for 1st graders. The chapters are not long at all, there are tons of illustrations for support, and the familiarity of the characters throughout the series makes it easier for young readers to learn and get to know the characters really well. Every time my 1st grade class and I finish reading one of the Mercy Watson books, we have a "Toast Party" with a great deal of butter on it (just like Mercy!) and we write about our favorite part in that book.

We are so lucky that Kate DiCamillo wrote 6 in this series. How great is this? The books below are shown in the order of publication.

Kate DiCamillo won the 2007 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride. This award is presented for excellence in beginner reader books. I highly recommend these series of chapter book for students in K-Grade 2. The laughs, the predictions, the conversations are all part of the reading journey. So, enjoy the journey!