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Greetings!
It's our eNews launch! Learning Unlimited is growing and that's kept me and our associates busy! We plan to release our eNews each month and feature a theme.
Since it's officially countdown time, the theme of this Literacy eNews is Summer Reading: Renew and Refresh! These are books too good to miss! I hope you'll find time to catch up on professional reading and dive into some great children's literature as you head to your favorite vacation spot or spend time under a shady tree or by the pool!
Highlights of the May Literacy eNews:
- Professional Books Check out some of my recent reads that shape my thinking specific to engaging readers and writers in our classrooms!
- Children's Literature Some of my favorite reads - from authors and illustrators that sit upon my shelves and should be on yours!
- The Literacy LensTM The Literacy Environment Audit has evolved to The Literacy LensTM. We believe the new name better reflects the process and lenses we use when reviewing literacy practices and policies in school districts.
- Professional Development Check out our new Literacy In Residence offering. This past year we've worked with teachers using the In Residence model and believe it produces the job-embedded professional development that really helps change instructional practice and provides for more in depth, professional conversation.
- Associate Spotlight Linda Cornwell, our Lead Associate, brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to teachers and administrators.
- Upcoming Workshops Read about this new, exciting workshop held in Indianapolis. Launching Reading and Writing Workshop will include many classroom-based, practical strategies for getting the most out of your readers and writers! Bring a team of teachers and save!
It's been a pleasure to work with many of you this year as you grow in literacy learning. Now...grab a great book and happy reading!
Kimberly Tyson |
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Professional Books
The Daily Five by Gail Moshey and Joan Moser (Stenhouse)
 This classroom-based book helps support a balanced literacy classroom that incorporates genuine reading and writing practices. The "daily five" literacy practices include: reading to self, reading with someone, listening to reading, writing, and word work. Woven and integrated throughout this book and easy to implement practices aimed to build children's reading and writing stamina. The book includes strategies for modeling and practicing reading and writing behaviors that lead to student independence! Check it out - I think it's has lots of practical information for elementary teachers!
The Wonder of It All: When Literature and Literacy Intersect by Nancy Johnson and Cyndi Giorgis (Heinemann)
 Looking to really integrate children's literature into your literacy instruction? Check out this new book! The Wonder of It All details how elementary and middle school teachers can invite children's literature to become a partner in their teaching. The authors show how to integrate children's literature throughout the day and to use it for a variety of purposes, including addressing curricular expectations.
The Reading Zone by Nancie Atwell (Scholastic)
 In The Reading Zone, author Nancie Atwell builds the case that frequent, voluminous reading builds enriched, engaged, and skilled readers. Books come first in her middle school classroom! She shares - with much practicality - how to get and keep kids engaged through choice, booktalks, comprehension questions, time to read, and more! After reading this, you won't think about reading in the same way and you'll want your students to read "in the zone!"
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Children's Literature
Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
 Caldecott Award 2008
It's difficult to sum up Hugo Cabret - part graphic novel, part novel, part flip book. The style of Hugo Cabret is difficult to summarize but easy to read and lose yourself in the intriguing story of Hugo, a 12-year-old boy who lives in the walls behind a Parisian train station. Combined with text, the detailed pictures tell the fascinating story. The setting is 1931; Hugo is left to the care of his uncle after his father died. Hugo's job is to keep the 27 clocks in the stations running smoothly. He steals food to keep alive and steals parts to fix a cherished automotan that his father had been working on when he died. Though this book weighs in at over 500 pages - each page is well worth the adventure! Part mystery - part coming of age - children as well as adults are captivated by this well-crafted story.
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler
 Are you the teacher that wants to find just the right book for each reader in your class? Then you would have a lot in common with Miss Malarkey! Miss Malarkey, who thinks that reading is the finest thing a person can do, goes to great lengths to find just the right book for each reader in her class. Even the most reluctant boys - who prefer video games, sport, and just about anything over reading - are one over one by one through her tenacity. This is a great read aloud brimming with colorful illustrations and reminds each of us that finding the right match can make all the difference in the life of a reader!
Zen Ties by Jon J Muth
 Jon Muth is one of my favorite author and illustrators. His books have a gentleness and theme that transcends the covers of the book. His latest book, Zen Ties, features Stillwater, the giant panda, who is a also a character in Zen Shorts, an earlier picture book. Zen Ties is a story of goodness, kindness, and friendship that reminds children that things are not always as they appear. Muth's refreshing and magical watercolor pictures are a delight to the eyes as well!
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The Literacy Lens
What
a research-based review and analysis of the literacy environment, practices, resources, and policies in a school or corporation.
Why
to help educators identify areas of strengths and gaps for defining data-driven steps to improve the literacy environment and practices to positively impact reading and learning
Results
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identify literacy program strengths and gaps
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develop a comprehensive K-12 literacy framework
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align curriculum across and between grade levels
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define professional development needs
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strategically allocate resources
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develop an action plan to impact literacy achievement
Custom Options
Zoom
a focused review and analysis that zooms in on a specific aspect of literacy practices or policies
Snapshot
a snapshot review and analysis that focuses on literacy practices, environment, and policies
Duplicate
a train-the-trainer model in which the Literacy Review Team trains district staff to use the literacy lenstm Protocols - Learning Unlimited provides analysis and recommendations
Wide Angle
a comprehensive review and analysis that provides an in-depth examination of the literacy environment, practices, resources and policies
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Professional Development
Literacy In Residence (all-inclusive fee structure)
strategic. job-embedded. personal.
Are you looking for job-embedded professional development that can make a real difference in classroom instruction? Then Literacy In Residence is what you're looking for! We work with you to design the 3 days to supports your teachers and schoolwide goals. Teachers will walk away with research-based classroom strategies and feel renewed and refreshed!
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3 In Residence Days with a Learning Unlimited Literacy Professional with you and your staff in your school.
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Partnering with you, we'll help plan the literacy-rich days to meet your literacy and schoolwide goals!
- Receive complimentary professional books, children's literature, publications, and other literacy materials.
New Literacy Workshops
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Guided Reading: Putting the Pieces Together
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Launching Reader's and Writer's Workshop: Strategies for Success
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Build Better Readers with Effective Classroom Libraries!
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Effective Mini-Lessons in Reader's and Writer's Workshop
Popular Literacy Workshops
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Growing Fluent Readers: Strategies that Work with Real Kids in Real Classrooms!
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Top 10 Vocabulary Strategies In the Classroom and Out!
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Comprehension Strategies for all Readers!
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Literature Circles: Creating Independent Readers!
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Literacy Workstations: Supporting Readers and Writers
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Associate Spotlight
As a former classroom teacher, media specialist, and director at the Indiana Department of Education, Linda brings a wealth of practical and diverse experience to teachers across Indiana and the country. Most recently, Linda served as a National Literacy Consultant for Scholastic Classroom Books. Her knowledge of children's literature and classroom libraries is unsurpassed! As an associate of Learning Unlimited, Linda serves on the Literacy Review Team for The Literacy LensTM review process and works with administrators, teachers, and literacy coaches through professional development. |
Upcoming Workshops
Launching Reader's and Writer's Workshop: Strategies for Success!
with Kimberly Tyson & Linda Cornwell
date: Thursday, August 28th
time: 8:30 - 3:00 p.m.
place: Junior Achievement Center
Indianapolis, IN
Target audience: K-8 teachers, literacy coaches, reading specialists, principals
Workshop Description: Launch next year with a successful, engaging, and purposeful literacy block - reading and writing workshop! Join us for this pfast-paced session - chock full of practical ideas and strategies! This session will feature instructional and management strategies to support a rich literacy block - the largest chunk of the day!
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Sincerely,
Kimberly Tyson
Lead Consultant
Learning Unlimited LLC |
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