The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story


Book Description

2021 ARAB AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD WINNER Children's Africana Book Award (CABA) 2021 Honor Book NCSS 2021 Notable Social Studies Book Kanzi’s family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants more than anything is to fit in. Maybe that’s why she forgets to take the kofta sandwich her mother has made for her lunch, but that backfires when Mama shows up at school with the sandwich. Mama wears a hijab and calls her daughter Habibti (dear one). When she leaves, the teasing starts. That night, Kanzi wraps herself in the beautiful Arabic quilt her teita (grandma) in Cairo gave her and writes a poem in Arabic about the quilt. Next day her teacher sees the poem and gets the entire class excited about creating a “quilt” (a paper collage) of student names in Arabic. In the end, Kanzi’s most treasured reminder of her old home provides a pathway for acceptance in her new one. This authentic story with beautiful illustrations includes a glossary of Arabic words and a presentation of Arabic letters with their phonetic English equivalents.




Literature and Literacy for Young Children


Book Description

The 8th edition of this bestselling text provides a framework and instructional strategies for identifying, selecting, and teaching high-quality children’s literature for ages 0–8. This new edition’s emphasis on diverse literature will assist in positively impacting the lives of all young people. Effective instructional approaches for using literature as a teaching tool are coupled with developmentally appropriate methods for sharing literature with young children. This book is a foundational text for graduate and undergraduate students in early childhood education, early literacy, literacy methods, children’s literature, and literature instruction.




Mentor Texts That Multitask [Grades K-8]


Book Description

Streamline literacy learning with power-packed children’s books Two of the most common challenges educators face is lack of time and resources. In Mentor Texts That Multitask, Pam Koutrakos shows how to streamline literacy instruction by using a single mentor text to teach reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and listening. When you integrate literacy instruction this way, concepts start to come together more clearly for children – and teachers save time and expense. This user-friendly resource is packed with ready-to-go lessons and tools to create, plan, and teach using multitasking texts. The lessons and accompanying ideas can jumpstart learning in the classroom by integrating and connecting literacy concepts in time-efficient ways. Resources include Full lessons centered on high-quality children’s literature to take the guesswork out of planning A DIY section to help teachers plan and teach lessons around other favorite texts Dozens of student and classroom examples to show you what’s possible Printables available online to help with immediate implementation. Designed to help teachers build a more inclusive classroom library and instructional practice, this guide highlights texts that represent and celebrate a multitude of characters and topics.




Shake Up Shared Reading


Book Description

The joyful path from rich read-aloud experiences toward supporting young readers’ independence. When young readers join their voices together in shared reading, their literacy skills and confidence soar. Shared reading surrounds students with the language of stories and the delight of learning in community. In Shake Up Shared Reading, veteran teacher Maria Walther offers teachers a simple but robust scaffolding for moving from teacher-led demonstration of read aloud to student-led discovery of literacy skills—across the bridge of shared reading. This easily adaptable structure features short, targeted bursts of shared reading that are connected to and planned as a follow-up to a read-aloud experience. The resource includes: Read-aloud experiences drawn from 50 recently published works of children’s literature from varied voices, that provide the foundation for the short, intensive shared reading interactions that follow. 100 short, laser-focused bursts of shared reading, two for each title, that invite students to dig deeper, with a precise aim in mind—perfect for a variety of learning contexts including virtual settings. Key vocabulary, kid-friendly definitions, along with a Nudge Toward Independence section for each shared reading interaction help teachers connect shared reading to guided reading lessons and students’ independent literacy learning. A companion website offering reproducibles and a Learning Target Chart that gives an at-a-glance view of every read aloud learning target and shared reading focus, along related titles and additional links. Let the power of a read aloud and shared reading lead your students to read, talk, ponder, and react on the way to becoming joyful, independent readers.




Engaging in Culturally Relevant Math Tasks, 6-12


Book Description

Empower your students as they reimagine the world around them through mathematics Culturally relevant mathematics teaching engages students by helping them learn and understand math more deeply, and make connections to themselves, their communities, and the world around them. The mathematics task provides opportunities for a direct pathway to this goal. But many teachers ask, how can you find, adapt, and implement math tasks that build powerful learners? Engaging in Culturally Relevant Math Tasks helps teachers to design and refine inspiring mathematics learning experiences driven by the kind of high-quality and culturally relevant mathematics tasks that connect students to their world. With the goal of inspiring all students to see themselves as doers of mathematics, this book provides intensive, in-the-moment guidance and practical classroom tools that empower educators to shape culturally relevant experiences while systematically building tasks that are standards-based. It includes A pathway for moving through the process of asking, imagining, planning, creating, and improving culturally relevant math tasks. Tools and strategies for designing culturally relevant math tasks that preservice, novice, and veteran teachers can use to grow their practice day by day. Research-based teaching practices seen through the lens of culturally relevant instruction that help students develop deep conceptual understanding, procedural knowledge, fluency, and application in 6-12 mathematical content. Examples, milestones, opportunities for reflection, and discussion questions guide educators to strengthen their classroom practices, and to reimagine math instruction in response. This book is for any educator who wants to teach mathematics in a more authentic, inclusive, and meaningful way, and it is especially beneficial for teachers whose students are culturally different from them.




Culturally Sustaining Literacy Pedagogies


Book Description

"A number of academic texts address culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP), but very few focus on literacy practices that are culturally sustaining, unlike this one. Despite widespread interest among educators in culturally sustaining pedagogy, implementation of its practice is limited. This text provides authentic examples of culturally sustaining literacy pedagogy in real classrooms so that readers can see how CSP is enacted in practice, across multiple grade levels"--




A Year for the Books


Book Description

With a focus on fostering a deep love for reading and prioritizing student growth, A Year for the Books: Routines and Mindsets for Creating Student-Centered Reading Communities is a must-have for educators from kindergarten through middle school. Discover a teacher-friendly resource crafted by Katie Walther, esteemed educator, and respected veteran teacher Maria Walther that will take you behind the scenes and through the school year as they share simple, practical strategies to design learner-centered literacy experiences. Starting with the first few weeks of school, each chapter highlights multiple ways to embed literacy experiences across the entire year that prioritize learners and literacy. To support you in your decision making, the classroom-tested ideas in each chapter are arranged around five grounding principles: Actionable strategies for launching and sustaining a vibrant reading culture Clear processes to define and communicate community beliefs Creative structures for establishing and maintaining reading routines Innovative ideas for cultivating an inclusive reading community Equitable techniques for partnering with families and caregivers Within each chapter you will also find nuggets of wisdom from the Walthers' collective years of teaching, practical ideas about how to keep it simple, and several book suggestions. As an added bonus, this book features companion podcasts or PDCasts where you can hear the authors tackle authentic classroom dilemmas and share their decision-making process. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned educator, you’ll want A Year for the Books by your side as you advocate for your student readers and promote independent reading in your classroom all year long.




Let Nature Be Your Teacher


Book Description

Let Nature Be Your Teacher: Integrating Nature-Based Learning in the Elementary Classroom advocates for a transformative shift in elementary education through incorporating nature-based learning into the curriculum. In an era dominated by indoor education and heightened screen time, Louise Ammentorp and Helen M. Corveleyn respond to the urgent need to reconnect children with nature. This book aims to gray the boundary between indoor and outdoor learning, bringing students outdoors as well as bringing nature inside. Supported by a growing body of research in a flourishing movement for nature-based learning, this book highlights ways to incorporate authentic experiences across content areas. Each chapter offers vetted lesson and activity ideas that can be adapted to any classroom. Let Nature Be Your Teacher aims to inspire educators, parents, and administrators and equip them with the tools and knowledge to prioritize nature-based learning, fostering a generation that values and protects our natural world.




Becoming a Teacher of Writing in Elementary Classrooms


Book Description

The Second Edition of Becoming a Teacher of Writing in Elementary Classrooms is an interactive learning experience focusing on all aspects of becoming-writer and teacher of writing in the Writing Studio. The Writing Studio is illustrated with authentic classroom scenarios and include descriptions of assessments, mini-lessons, mentor texts, and collaborative and individual teaching strategies. The parallel text, Becoming-Writer, allows readers to engage as writers while learning and applying writing process, practice, and craft of the Writing Studio. The new edition includes integration of preschool writers, multilingual learners, translanguaging, culturally sustaining pedagogy, social emotional learning, Universal Design for Learning and an updated companion website with teacher resources. This dynamic text supports teachers’ agency in the ongoing journey of joyful teaching and writing.




Rebellious Read Alouds


Book Description

Spark meaningful conversations about race, identity, and social justice in your classroom using read alouds as an entry point. Students need to see themselves and their peers in the books they read, and to engage with varying viewpoints. How can educators create a safe and nurturing space that inspires young children to explore diversity and ask curious questions? In Rebellious Read Alouds, author Vera Ahiyya—beloved by educators worldwide as The Tutu Teacher (@thetututeacher and @diversereads on Instagram)—empowers teachers to encourage classroom conversations about important and culturally relevant topics using daily read alouds as an entry point. Presenting a broad range of read aloud lessons around current, diverse picture books that can ignite deep conversations and learning about self, others, and the world, this wise and joyful guide prepares educators to tackle "hushed topics" with young children. It includes: Booklists, tools, and recommendations for building an inclusive classroom library of titles written or illustrated by people in traditionally marginalized populations Tips and resources for facilitating diversity conversations in a way that’s developmentally appropriate — and meets ELA and social justice standards 45 complete lessons plans around children’s books, with prompts and recommended stopping points for conversation, and suggestions for inspiring discussion and scaffolding deep thinking Interviews with educators and parents who offer advice from their experience doing rebellious read alouds Suggestions for partnering with administration, parents, and colleagues on this important work Spark the rebellious reader inside you and lead your students toward creating a more just and equitable world.