Monica Edinger's Blog, page 127
February 14, 2010
February 11, 2010
The New Yorker's Civil Rights Portfolio
This week's New Yorker contains an incredibly moving photograph collection of civil rights era icons. And you don't have to get the print issue to see them as they are also on their website in their "… interactive portfolio about the civil-rights era, with contemporary portraits by Platon, historical photographs, interviews, and audio commentary by David Remnick, whose written introduction appears below the portfolio." Highly recommended.
February 10, 2010
In the Classroom: A Mural of When You Reach Me
Last year I enjoyed reading When You Reach Me on my own, but it was when I read it aloud to my class that I fell headlong in love with it. For this year's class I began reading it aloud shortly before the ALA awards announcements. When I returned to school and told the kids that it had won the Newbery Medal they were momentarily pleased, but then urged me to continue reading.
Remembering how much fun last year's class had creating a mural of the 2009 Newbery winner, after finishing the book ...
In the Classroom: When You Reach Me
Last year I enjoyed reading When You Reach Me on my own, but it was when I read it aloud to my class that I fell headlong in love with it. For this year's class I began I began reading it aloud shortly before the ALA awards announcements. When I returned to school and told the kids that it had won the Newbery Medal they were momentarily pleased, but then urged me to continue reading.
Remembering how much fun last year's class had created a mural of the 2009 Newbery winner, after finishing...
February 6, 2010
In the Classroom: The Shared Book Experience
I love leading my students in a shared experience with one book. By "shared book experience" I mean when the whole class studies/reads/discusses/delves into and otherwise spends time with a single book together. While I understand that there are teachers who make this a misery I think there are others of us who do not. Done well, the shared book experience can be joyful, enjoyable, and even transcendent.
While I agree with the importance of choice for much of children's school reading...
February 5, 2010
Hunger Mountain Online
The latest issue of the VCFA's journal of the arts is full of superb stuff including:
A really lovely and insightful essay by Kathi Appelt.
J. Patrick Lewis on the importance of children's poetry.
Deva Fagan on proactive princesses.
Check it out!
February 4, 2010
Learning about Africa: Tinga Tinga Tales
A new animated series for pre-schoolers set and made in Africa. From the press release:
From the producer of the multi award-winning Charlie And Lola, Tiger Aspect's Claudia Lloyd, this vibrant, new animated series (52 x 11-minute episodes), for children aged three to six years, brings to life the traditional art of storytelling with tall tales of how all your favourite animals came to be the way they are today.
Inspired by traditional African animal folktales and the art of Tanzania, Tinga...
February 3, 2010
Summer Lovin'
I first read and fell in love with Rita Williams-Garcia's new middle grade novel, One Crazy Summer last summer and more recently reviewed it for the New York Times. Being winter, it may be more snowy than summery, but now that the book is on the shelves I'm glad to see others feeling the love. Say, the Horn Book which is starring it in their next issue. And Betsy Bird who just gave it an enthusiastic review. For a kid perspective, here's a review from one of my 6th grade Book Bloggers. ...
February 1, 2010
All Good Things Come to an End…
at least temporarily. Say the terrific Heavy Medal blog which is going on hiatus until the fall when the 2011 Newbery season will start heating up.
In the meantime, may I suggest that you keep on eye on this space or here or here for news of the forthcoming 2010 SLJ Battle of the (Kids') Books? Jonathan "Sue Sylvester" Hunt will repeat his role as commentator, we've got a stellar set of competitors, and the judges are extraordinary — truly the creme de la creme of children's literature. I...
