Donalyn Miller's Blog, page 9
May 30, 2010
Summer Reading Plans
School ends in four days and on Friday I worked with my departing students to set reading goals for the summer. Discussing "summer reading slump," when students' reading levels decline over the summer because they don't read, I shared with my students the advice of researcher, Jimmy S. Kim, who recommends that children read four or five books over the summer to maintain their end-of-school-year reading levels. We discussed series we would like to finish, new releases, and the titles we never ...
May 23, 2010
Access to Books Key to Academic Achievement
Findings from a University of Nevada research study reinforce the importance of providing access to books in order to increase children's academic achievement.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
RENO, Nev. - Whether rich or poor, residents of the United States or China, illiterate or college graduates, parents who have books in the home increase the level of education their children will attain, according to a 20-year study lead by Mariah Evans, University of Nevada, Reno associate professor of sociology ...
Access to Books Key to Academic Achievement
Findings from a University of Nevada research study reinforce the importance of providing access to books in order to increase children's academic achievement.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
RENO, Nev. - Whether rich or poor, residents of the United States or China, illiterate or college graduates, parents who have books in the home increase the level of education their children will attain, according to a 20-year study lead by Mariah Evans, University of Nevada, Reno associate professor of...
April 27, 2010
Paving the Way
"I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." ~Winston Churchill
I don't think Davis knew who Winston Churchill was, but he was the living embodiment of Churchill's words. With pouting lips and a permanent sneer, he strutted into my classroom and chose his own desk, ignoring my seating chart on the board. It was a bad sign that the other kids knew him and didn't seem happy that he was in the class. That first day, Davis pulled over an entire bookcase in my room...
Paving the Way
"I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." ~Winston Churchill
I don't think Davis knew who Winston Churchill was, but he was the living embodiment of Churchill's words. With pouting lips and a permanent sneer, he strutted into my classroom and chose his own desk, ignoring my seating chart on the board. It was a bad sign that the other kids knew him and didn't seem happy that he was in the class. That first day, Davis pulled over an entire bookcase in my room...
April 10, 2010
The Battle for Federal Literacy Program Funding Hits the NY Times
As I mentioned on this blog back in February, the reorganization of funding under the proposed federal education budget endangers landmark programs such as Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and the National Writing Project (NWP), as well as several US Dept. of Education library and school literacy programs. This week, an article in the NY Times, "U.S. Plan Threatens Free Book Group," emphasizes that without direct funding and continued federal support, these long-standing, successful programs...
April 3, 2010
Resources for Discovering Books (and authors): Twitter
When I was in fourth grade, our teacher assigned an author's study. As the culmination of the project, we composed a letter to our chosen author, asking questions, and offering opinions about the author's books. I remember Miss Porter helping each one of us locate the publisher's information on the copyright page of our books and using a phone book-sized directory of publishers, find the address. I carefully composed my letter to Marguerite Henry (I was in my horse phase at the time), ...
Resources for Discovering Books (and authors): Twitter
When I was in fourth grade, our teacher assigned an author's study. As the culmination of the project, we composed a letter to our chosen author, asking questions, and offering opinions about the author's books. I remember Miss Porter helping each one of us locate the publisher's information on the copyright page of our books and using a phone book-sized directory of publishers, find the address. I carefully composed my letter to Marguerite Henry (I was in my horse phase at the...
March 30, 2010
Resources for Discovering Books: Jen's Book Page
Jen's Book Page
If there is one blog I mention to every teacher, librarian, and parent I meet, it is Jen Robinson's fantastic blog, Jen's Book Page. With weekly book reviews and links to scores of literacy-related articles and blog posts, Jen's blog is one-stop shopping for busy readers who want to stay abreast of the latest news in the kidlitosphere. I have discovered more new books and authors in one summer of visits to Jen's site than I could find in a year of web-surfing.
Jen, co-founder...
Resources for Discovering Books: Jen's Book Page
If there is one blog I mention to every teacher, librarian, and parent I meet, it is Jen Robinson's fantastic blog, Jen's Book Page. With weekly book reviews and links to scores of literacy-related articles and blog posts, Jen's blog is one-stop shopping for busy readers who want to stay abreast of the latest news in the kidlitosphere. I have discovered more new books and authors in one summer of visits to Jen's site than I could find in a year of web-surfing.
Jen, co-founder of a software c...
