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Articles by: Joan Wink

Thank you, IASL.

Thank you, IASL.

Thank you to IASL (International Association of  School Librarians) for the invitation to come to Austin to share some of my thoughts.  What a highly-experienced group of committed professionals.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with all of them.  My handout and my ppt. presentation are posted right here.

IASL Austin Ap 2015

IASL Joan handout final

In addition, here are 4 photos of beautiful Austin, which reminds me a bit of Davis, CA. A huge Davis, CA.

Here is the view from my hotel window.

from hotel windowJPG

And, here is that same river from the walking path, which runs for miles.

from walking path

Here is the same river from a bridge which runs above it.

from bridge

 

Finally, from that same bridge, I looked down Congress Street, and I could see the Texas State Capital.

TX capitol

Following the IASL, I was able to take part in the Texas Librarians Association annual conference.

#grateful

 

April 15, 2015Read More
Literacy and Love Last: Darcie, One of The Benson Kids

Literacy and Love Last: Darcie, One of The Benson Kids

WinkWorld

March 30, 2015

 

Dear WinkWorld Readership,

Much of what I know about teaching and learning, I learned from The Benson Kids in the 1970s and 1980s.  When I think of these kids, I am reminded of Paulo Freire’s comment: “Education is radically about love” (Wink, 2011, p. 2).

Read one of the stories about The Benson Kids.

However, tonight’s story about Darcie, one of the Benson Kids, is inspired by the story I heard this afternoon regarding a precious little neighbor girl, who sobs after a story of a little puppy. However, as you know, she immediately wants to hear it again.

Literacy and love last, as we see in this short story of Darcie, which is dedicated to the memory of Roxanna, one of the Benson Kids, who, only today, left us way too soon.

Where The Red Fern Grows

“’Lil Ann’ died peacefully yesterday,” Darcie said to me when I arrived to visit her after an absence of decades. When she greeted me with those words, we both immediately knew the literary reference, although years had passed since I read Where the Red Fern Grows to Darcie and her fellow 8th grade classmates.

Simultaneously and instantaneously, Darcie and I were carried back to the final scene in the book, when ‘Old Dan,’ the trusted hunting dog, died after saving Billy from a mountain lion attack. In the story, ‘Lil Ann,’ the female hunting dog, died within a few days of a broken heart. That fictional scene was so sad for me, that I was not able to continue reading aloud to the class. Fortunately, another 8th grade student jumped up from his desk to read the final pages of the novel to his classmates, Darcie, and me. Tears and silence prevailed, as none of us wanted to re-enter reality.

And, now here I was reconnecting with this former student, the day after her own beloved ‘Lil Ann’ had died.

Literacy and love last, indeed.

To read more about Darcie’s life today, see Changed Horse.

Read a summary of Where the Red Fern Grows.

 

March 30, 2015Read More
Tucson Festival of Books: WOW

Tucson Festival of Books: WOW

Dear WinkWorld Readers,

Recently, I attended the Tucson Festival of Books, and once again, it was an amazing group of 120,000 people celebrating literacy all over the campus of the University of Arizona. In the photo below, you can see a few of my new best friends.

TFOB  throng of people 2015

 

Below, I am posting a photo of a few of the approximately 1800 volunteers. Tucson Festival of Books has only one paid employee. This is truly a community event.

TFOB 4 volunteers

 

The first thing I found at Tucson Festival of Books was this sign.Free Book Giveaway Stocker

Next, I followed the directions of the sign and found this.

Free Book Giveaway Tent

Who would ever imagine a tent full of new, beautiful books for kids? Thank you, Stocker Foundation.

WOW

From the free books, I went right to WOW (World of Words) which is a huge collection of children’s and adolescent’s books from around the world.

World of Words (WOW)

Lots of authors, who write for young people, were hanging out in the hallways of the College of Education. Jacqueline Woodson was a highlight for me, as were Jo Knowles and Katherine Patterson. Now, I’ll need to dig out my kids’ “Terabithia” and reread.

Meeting and spending time with author, Sarah Bird, was a real treat.  She and I will soon see each other again in Texas, where we will both be sharing our thoughts with librarians.  More on that coming soon.

Meet Sarah.

J.A. Jance was at her best, and the crowd was very appreciative, as she told witty and even heart-wrenching stories. Our son, Bo, is an avid reader, so I always stalk C.J. Box  for him.  I did learn that Joe Pickett , the hero of Box books, is 46-years old. Apparently know one has known this factoid until the latest Box book.  Who knew?

Meet Joe Pickett

From CJ Box and JA Jance, I went right to Noam Chomsky, the internationally-esteemed linguist and philosopher. In my entire life, I had never heard him speak. He had just flown in from Argentina, and he still had the vigor of a young man, and the intellect of a mountain of men.

Chomsky photo

This little boy’s hug of “Lady Bug Girl” of captures the spirit of the book festival.

TFOB hug red dress

In addition, during this road trip I was able to visit Wyatt at Adams State, where I found him thriving in his new university home. #proudandhappygrammie.

Grammie Wyatt AS

 

During the road trip, I met up 4 other Winks. It was a great trip.

4 WinksThank you to Darryl Dobras for the photos from the Tucson Festival of Books.

March 28, 2015Read More
Books Beget Books: Burnett Did This to Me

Books Beget Books: Burnett Did This to Me

Dear WinkWorld Readers, this post is a bit longer than I usually post: Here, I have the equivalent of 3 typed pages, and the first page is an adaptation to a story I published originally in Critical Pedagogy: Notes from the Real World, 4/e, 2011, pp. 16-17. The remainder of this post is an update to that original story.

Books Beget Books: Burnett Did This To Me

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was my home run book. It was the first book that made me want to read more and more books.

What is a home run reading book?

Flash-back

I learned to read by way of phonics in the first grade from Mrs. Larson: Oh, how I loved Mrs. Larson. And, oh, how I loved her son, Paul; we all loved Paul. But, back to my reading story: First, I learned the individual letters and their sounds; from letters and sounds, I went right to words. Next came sentences, paragraphs, and pages. I learned to read by building up the parts–from bottom to top. Reading specialists would say that was a parts-to-whole reader. Some would say that phonics gets the credit. I slowly and carefully put the puzzle together piece by piece.

In school, I read every assignment, every chapter, every set of comprehension questions at the end of every chapter, every spelling list, every grammar assignment. I read everything I was told to read; I got good grades.

One problem: I hated to read. I read only the exact number of pages assigned. I never took a book home to read for pleasure. I went to college and continued this pattern. I spent every free moment in the library, got good grades, graduated with honors in literature, yet I still hated to read.

When my children were babies, I started to read to them. The baby books said that I should, so I did. With our first child, Dawn, something started to change. I loved the big black-and-white checkered book, The Real Mother Goose. I thought Winnie the Pooh had been written just for me. By the time we got to Charlotte’s Web, I was hooked on books.

I remember the first time Dawn didn’t want to hear The Secret Garden again, as she wanted to read the Laura Ingalls Wilder chapter books by herself. It was an a-ha moment in my life: I could read it for myself! It was my home run reading book. Suddenly, I had fallen in love with reading. I was about 30-years-old.

The Secret Garden from JulieJPG

 

With our son, Bo, I broadened my literacy base. I probably have read The Three Little Pigs several thousand times, and I still huff and puff with vigor. Pecos Bill was the highlight of Bo’s preschool years at home. From there, he moved to BMX magazines and then on to motorcycle books. At this point, he jumped right into Stephen King, and I chose not to go along. Another a-ha moment: Now I could read whatever I wanted. Liberating.

When did Dawn and Bo learn to read? I have no idea, but it was before kindergarten. One day Dawn came home from kindergarten crying because she was not allowed to check out The Secret Garden from a library–she was told that only older students were allowed to take that book home. The same library had a rule that kids could only check out one book at a time–a rule Dawn hated. One day, she checked out her one allotted book, and shoved 3 more up inside of the front of her t-shirt, and headed for the library door. She had detention for a week.

Dawn and Bo learned to read the opposite way that I did. Reading specialists would say that they are whole-to-part readers. They look at the whole picture of the puzzle first and then put the pieces together. Do they love to read? Yes. Do they read for pleasure? Yes. They have been avid readers since the days of The Secret Garden.

Flash-forward to the Present

Since that time, I have bought multiple copies of The Secret Garden to reread and eventually give away. My pattern through the years has been something like this: Look for my copy of The Secret Garden on my shelves–realize I gave it away–buy another copy–read it–love it–give it to someone–tell them that they will love it. I even gave one to my Little Free Library.

LFL Joan Wink

My friend, Jodi, is now reading that copy  to her daughters.

Secret Garden from Jodi

Another friend, Missy, teaches at Atall School, a one-room k-8 isolated school on the prairies. She decided to read The Secret Garden to her 12 students, and I wanted to read along with the students. One problem: Jodi now had my last copy. No problem: Missy gave me two copies (knowing that I would give one away).

2 pink books

What a joy it was to rediscover the story with a new group of kids, even if we were a bit bothered by a pink cover. This time as we read the book, the kids and I fell in love with the chapter (Curtain), which looked at children through the eyes of robins. I have reason to believe that Jodi is going to return my dark and loved soft book and take that extra pink one.

Remember, Books Beget Books

Flashback To Last Summer

Now, you would think that this is the end of the story, but no. A woman friend visited the ranch last summer and read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. When she finished it, she handed it to me to read and pass on. The book lay around on my bedside table for several months. When Missy, the Atall kids, and I had finished the Secret Garden, I began searching for something to read. Yes, you guessed it: The Forgotten Garden  jumped up off my bedside table and into my hands. And, yes, there is a dark, secret garden in this story, which holds the answer to the question, which haunts three generations of women in one family.   Of course, the granddaughter eventually solves the mystery. (Thank you, Barb Gentry of Philadelphia for sharing this luscious read with me.) And, buried in this book, about 2/3 the way through (chapter 37), suddenly a Mrs. Hodgson Burnett makes a little cameo appearance in the story.

Frances Hodgson Burnett is the author of The Secret Garden.

One Last Story About Books Begetting Books

Last week I was in Tucson at a bookstore, and a book filled with a magical world of ink drawings of secret gardens caught my eye; the title was The Secret Garden by Johanna Basford. I knew the Atall kids had to have it and could use their felt-tipped markers and/or colored pencils to recreate their own works of art.

See the cover of this book here.

Wouldn’t you know it: The very next day on Facebook a colleague from Brazil posted the cover of the book, which she had found in Sao Paulo. The original black/white ink etchings on the cover page were already colored with the words, El Jardim Secreto. Remember, they speak Portuguese in Brazil. Thank you, Daniela Alves Meyer.

el jardim secreto by Johanna Basford

 

And, to think that this story all started years ago because Dawn wanted to read the chapter books of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Bo wanted to read Stephen King. Fortunately, for me, the first book I grabbed was my home run reading book.  If you have not found yours yet, just keep grabbing books: One of them will be your very own home run reading book.

For more about Johanna Basford, read here.

 

 

March 3, 2015Read More
Poe and Powtoons

Poe and Powtoons

 

I love it when teachers and students in various classes find unique ways to solve problems. For example, last semester the teachers in my class had an assignment, in which they, not only had to write about a totally new topic for each of them, but they also had to share their project with software, which was new for each of which them.

The various topics ranged from the five hypotheses to accountability to close reading to culture to poverty to TPRS. The software was also varied: PowerPoint, Prezi, iMovies, and Powtoons.

Deb, a secondary teacher in WY, had recently discovered her home run reading book, The Power of Reading by Steve Krashen. A home run reading book is that one book, which turns a reluctant reader into an avid reader. It is the one book, which opens the door to more and more books. A home run book is the first book, you fall head-of-heals in love with. Mine was Secret Garden, but more about that in a later WinkWorld blog.

Read about The Home Run Book

Since I knew that Deb on was on fire with the ideas within The Power of Reading, I suggested that she do something to make these ideas visible for her colleagues in class. She decided to do this with Powtoons, although she had no idea what it was. She solved her problem by enlisting her high school students to use Powtoons to enhance their study of poetry and, also, to help Deb learn how to use this software.   When Deb collaborated with these secondary kids, we all learned a lot about Poe and Powtoons.

With their permission, I am sharing some of the Powtoons.

Deb, a teacher, shares her Powtoons on The Power of Reading

Jake and Katie, 2 high school students, share The Fall of the House of Usher

Emma, another high school student also shares her Powtoons of The Fall of the House of Usher.

 

 

February 26, 2015Read More
No Cow Left Behind

No Cow Left Behind

This idea was originally written by Ken Remsen, a school principal from Vermont, and was based on farming and falling milk prices in 2003.

Available at: No Cow Left Behind 2003

Remsen, K. (2003, July 25). No cow left behind. Burlington Free Press, p. 11A.

I adapted Remsen’s original article to fit the context of ranching on the prairies and shared it on the Pine Ridge Reservation in August 2007.

Recently, on Facebook (2.23.15) I posted the following image.

cows teachers test scores

The responses I received made me think of No Cow Left Behind. Please note the dates: 2003 to 2007 to a new update 2015. When this struggle began in the late 1990s, I had no idea that kids and teachers would still be suffering under this top-down, corporate approach to teaching and learning in 2015.

A bit more history: As a nation, we followed the guidelines of ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) for decades; in the early 1990s, we began operating schools under NCLB (No Child Left Behind), which morphed into RTTT (Race To The Top) in the early 2000s. In my view, RTTT is simply a louder, meaner, tougher, harder version of NCLB. And, now, as a nation, we are crazed with measuring and blaming kids and teachers.

NO COW LEFT BEHIND, 2015

Since many assume that testing is the cornerstone to improving student and teacher performance, I do not understand why this principle isn’t applied to other businesses. For example, if we test cows and ranchers, wouldn’t this be effective in improving their performance, too?

Therefore, I propose that the government mandate testing all cows and ranchers. I know that it will take time and cost money, but that should not detract us from what must be done.

There are plenty of statistics to show what good cattle performance looks like. It should, therefore, be easy to figure out the characteristics necessary to meet these standards. The testing will begin by finding out which cows (a) exceed the standard; (b) meet the standard, (c) almost meet the standard, or (d) fail to meet the standard. Points will be assigned in each category, and it will be necessary to achieve a certain mandated score. If this score is not achieved, the government will send in experts to give advice for improvement–never mind that these experts have never been to a ranch. If improvements do not occur, punitive measures will begin immediately. The state will take over your herd and your ranch, as they know more about ranching than ranchers.

One Size Fits All (Cows)

Ranchers believe in hybrid vigor, but it is important to remember that every cow must meet the same standard. Black Baldies have to be just like Texas Longhorns; Herefords have to be just like Angus; Beefmasters have to be like Charolais. All Brown Swiss, Guernseys, and Holsteins must also measure up and be held accountable for producing good beef, even though their family cultural patterns have stressed only milk production. One-size-fits-all is our goal for all cows in the United States. In addition, No Cow Left Behind will not make allowances for new cattle, which the rancher just bought at the sale barn: Just because the previous rancher did not provide the proper nutrition or a proper environment, accountability must be maintained.

One Size Fits All (Ranchers)

Another key factor will be the placement of a highly qualified rancher on each ranch. It doesn’t matter that some ranchers have more money and experience than others, it will be necessary for all ranchers to become certified by the same test. It is irrelevant what the ranchers knew before or where they learned it, No Cow Left Behind has new standards for ranching on the prairies. Ranchers will need to begin taking classes at night and during their summers. There will be a bit more paperwork: Accountability, you know.

Choice

It will also be necessary to allow “choice” for the cows. If cows are not meeting the standard on a certain ranch, they will be allowed to go to the ranch of their choice. Transportation may become an issue, but it is critical that cows be allowed to leave their low performing ranches. This will force low performing ranchers to leave their home ranches and look for minimum pay work in town. This is simply good business!

A few cows may become so discouraged that they simply wander off and drop out. This is not a problem, as the remaining cows will bring up the test scores for the nation. A few ranchers may also become too discouraged to stay in the business. This is an opportunity to bring in other, more compliant ranchers.

However, the government officials who mandate No Cow Left Behind know better, as they eat beef.

No Cow Left Behind is not good for the ranching industry, nor ranchers, and it sure is not good for cows.

February 24, 2015Read More
The Passing of Richard Ruíz of the University of Arizona

The Passing of Richard Ruíz of the University of Arizona

February 10, 2015

We are saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Dr. Richard Ruíz, who had a long and beautiful career at the University of Arizona. His thinking has influenced many students, teachers, and me.

When kids, who speak other languages, come to your school or community, what is your perspective, your orientation, your approach?   For example, if a French-speaking student comes to your class and still needs to learn English as a new language, what is your perspective? Or what if that student speaks Spanish, what is your perspective? Do you approach the students as if their language is a problem, a right, or a resource? Turns out that we are in the classroom with them. Our own perspective/orientation matters.

Ruíz argued that there are three social orientations toward languages and their role in society:

 Language-as-problem

Language-as-right

Language-as-resource

As a nation, we have a long history of the language-as-a-problem. However, much of the world approaches other languages as a right and/or resource. Today in our little Howes, SD (Pop. 2) grocery store/gas station/post office, I heard a wonderful conversation in Lakota. And, I’m happy to report that I saw no evidence of anyone carrying around the baggage of language-as-a-problem.

In 1988 Ruíz argued that the language-as-resource orientation offered the most social, economic, and political benefits.  Many in the world now assume that language is a human right.

Ruiz, R. (1988). Orientations in language planning. In S. L. McKay and S. C. Wong (Eds.), Language diversity problem or resource: A social and educational perspective on language minorities in the United States (pp. 1-25). New York: Newbury House Publishers.

Richard Ruíz Remembered for his Passion and Humor

Read the UofA’s Tribute

Happy Memories to all of you who have borrowed my treasured book.

Ruíz book

Ruíz Orientations in Language Planning

February 11, 2015Read More
Joan’s YouTube Videos, Language Acquisition

Joan’s YouTube Videos, Language Acquisition

The following videos were created between 2011 and 2014 for specific graduate classes with the support of Cal State Stanislaus and Black Hills State University.  If any of you can use any of this content for your own classes, help yourself.  The teachers I have worked with seem to like it as a pre-reading or post-reading process. Citations are provided at the end of each video.

Krashen’s 5 Hypotheses: or, Mamas, Meaning, and Motivation: 11 minutes
Watch Now

3 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning: 7 minutes
Watch Now

Principles of Bilingual Education: 11 minutes
Watch Now

The Ebb and Flow of the Big Ideas of Education: 15 minutes
Watch Now

Bilingual Basics Part One: 50 seconds
Watch Now

Bilingual Basics Part Two: Images:
Watch Now

Spiral of Literacy: 11 minutes
Watch Now

February 3, 2015Read More
Oh Fudge

Oh Fudge

WinkWorld

“I love your fudge recipe,” Josie said to me. “May I have it?”

“Sure, I’ve got the recipe in my head,” I replied. “Let’s sit down, and you can write it on that scrap of paper. It’s fast and easy.”

“Oh, just send it to me on an email,” she responded.

I spent the next several hours feeling really bad. “What’s up with my feelings about this fudge recipe?” I mused to myself when I went on a long walk later in the day. Writing a recipe with my computer really does make sense. Why am I feeling dismissed? Suddenly, I knew: This was not about chocolate; this was about a story.

I wanted to tell Josie that this fudge recipe came from dear Grandma Mary, who moved into my life when was I was 17 years old. She was my dad’s 4th of 5 wives, and I wanted Josie to know who Mary was for me.

She was the first person who told me that I didn’t have to finish eating everything on my plate. I cringed at a Sunday noon fried chicken dinner, when she looked at my dad and said, “Oh, Billy, she doesn’t have to eat that strawberry shortcake if she is full.” I put my head down and waited for the explosion. This time, none came, and I quickly excused myself and hurried to the safety of my basement bedroom. I marveled at Mary speaking the simple truth to the power in that house.

Mary brought elegance and beauty to my life, too. I loved to look at her as she rode her bike, as she worked about the house, as she sanded and finished furniture, which she rubbed with real walnuts. I could barely believe the meals: So many colors. I remember feeling that she brought a hint of safety to my life: Dare I hope?

I wanted Josie to know how much I loved Mary; how I day-dreamed about her growing old with me; how I wanted her navy blue polka-dot silk shirtwaist dress; how I wanted to look like Mary in that dress.

I wanted Josie to know that Mary flew to Philadelphia, when our first baby was born and helped us. In my wildest imagination I never thought I’d ever have anyone who would do that for me.

I wanted Josie to know that Mary left us far too soon, after a wild fire of cancer took her in a few months; I wanted to tell Josie how gorgeous Mary looked in her bright fuchsia blouse and her striking silver hair on the weekend after her diagnosis. I wanted to tell Josie how two months later when I flew to be with Mary, I didn’t recognize her at first, as cancer had consumed her: her passion, her fire, her gorgeous hair. I wanted Josie to know how my friend, MJ, had arranged a first class airplane ticket for me to come see Mary in the hospital, and how I drank too much wine on that flight on the way home, when I knew I would never see Mary again.

And, did I tell you that Mary read books? Lots of books. Every time she had a free moment. I had never seen anything like this, and I was intrigued. As a senior in high school, I read, but only what was assigned–it had never occurred to me to read for pleasure. Suddenly today, decades after Mary died, it dawned on me that I may have received, not only the fudge recipe, but also my love of books from Mary.

I wanted to share that fudge recipe so Josie would know me. Stories are like a super highway that run right into our hearts. Here is the fudge recipe:

 

Grandma Mary’s Fudge Recipe

 

Place three 6 oz. pkgs. dark chocolate chips

1/4 lb. butter

2 c. chopped nuts

3 T. vanilla in a large mixing bowl.

 

Place 4 ½ c. sugar and

One tall can evaporated milk in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil and boil 8 minutes.

(use low to medium heat and stir ever-so reluctantly)

 

Pour boiling hot milk/sugar mixed over chocolate mixture in that large mixing bowl. Stir a bit until smooth. Pour onto 9X13 buttered cookie sheet.

January 28, 2015Read More
WinkWorld: Teachers Sharing Diverse Projects

WinkWorld: Teachers Sharing Diverse Projects

One of my great joys of retirement is that I get to work with local teachers in various contexts. In this issue of WinkWorld, I’d like to highlight the work of some of the teachers, who are enrolled in the English as a New Language (ENL) endorsement programs at Black Hills State University (BHSU), which is a collaborative program supported by Technology and Innovation in Education (TIE).

Each teacher chose his/her own topic; they each wrote a short paper and presented their ideas with any software, which was new for them. We all learned a lot from the process. Below, you will see the language acquisition concepts shared with Powtoons, Easel.ly, Emaze, and Prezi. Enjoy.

Deb may have discovered her favorite book in this process, and she and her high school students had great fun making other Powtoons.

Deb Harrison
Topic: The Power of Reading by Steve Krashen, a book review
Software: PowToons
http://www.powtoon.com/show/d5r7ZVuYbik/the-power-of-reading/
Krashen on “The Power of Reading”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSW7gmvDLag

None of us knew about Essel.ly until Julia created this presentation. Many of us found it to be software, which we might use in the future.

Julia P. Henkes
Topic: Culture in the Classroom
Software: Easel.ly
http://www.easel.ly/create/?id=https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/643503/FInalWink&key=pri#

We often follow the many generous contributions from Larry Ferlazzo. As Jenise’s computer was being repaired, she first demonstrated her learning with a PinWheel, which she drew. When she got her computer back, she created an Emaze, an appealing software for teachers.

Jenise Higaski
Topic: Larry Ferlazzo PinWheel
Software: Emaze and the symbol of the Pinwheel
http://app.emaze.com/1323343/ci-final-ferlazzo-pinwheel

Connie is a German and Piano instructor at BHSU, and I was particularly happy that her topic was TPRS. I predict we might get to see some German TPRS examples this spring.

Connie Hubbard
Topic: Teaching Proficiency in Reading Through Storytelling (TPRS)
Software: Powtoons
http://www.powtoon.com/show/bGjETWMK6Xr/tprs/#/

Lindy was attracted to the sharing of Diane Ravitch, who calls us to a new paradigm for accountability. Lindy envisions a rubric, which might work to support the ideas of Ravitch.

Lindy Latham
Accountability of kids, teachers, and school: A rubric to assess the whole, Inspired by Diane Ravitch, A New Paradigm for Accountability,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/a-new-paradigm-for-accoun_b_6145446.html

In our class last fall, we looked at various examples of close reading, and we read the pros and cons of the process. Courtney continued her learning by also creating an Easel.ly to support her ideas.

Courtney K. Oelke
Topic: Close Reading and ELLs
Software: Easel.ly
http://www.easel.ly/create/?id=https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/663442/CloseReading&key=pri

Courtney wants to improve her skills in teaching writing to emergent bilinguals. Her Emaze captures her thoughts.

Courtney Prosenick
Topic: Writers’ Workshop with First Grade Emergent Bilingual Students
Software used: Emaze
http://app.emaze.com/1201914/ed-692-final-project

In Jill’s district, many of the teachers are reading about close reading, so Jill created a Prezi to capture her new learning.

Jill Soto
Topic: Close Reading
Software: Prezi
http://prezi.com/unv0dmat1myc/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Sheila is intrigued with the important role of the families of emergent children, and she shared a Prezi. I’m thinking that this semester, I need to direct her towards Funds of Knowledge, originally conceptualized by Luís Moll.

Sheila Sutter-Rives
Topic: The Power of Bilingual Families and Literacy
Software: Prezi
https://prezi.com/0xgio4xmfgi3/bilingual-families/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Lila is learning about the dreadful effect of poverty on children’s learning. I hope that she continues to study and share this topic. Here she has created a Powtoons to capture her learning.

Lila Scantling
Topic: Poverty
Software: Powtoons
http://www.powtoon.com/show/bMTeVMGObvZ/poverty-and-literacy

Nikki is beginning a new position in a new state and town. She wants to know more about language acquisition and kindergarten children. We hope that you will enjoy her Emaze.

Nikki Williamson
Topic: Language Acquisition in the Kindergarten Classroom
Software: Emaze
http://app.emaze.com/1347192/kindergarten-la-copy1

Thank you, Teachers, for all you do!

January 20, 2015Read More