Middle School Literacy Instruction: A Sandbox
Dr. Vicki Sherbert sherbev@ksu.edu 785-210-6349 Twitter: @sherbev College of Education, Kansas State University June 22, 2016
Read Aloud
Today’s Topics • Literacy Classroom • A Literacy Sandbox – Hard work and hard fun • Resources – Book Browse - Professional Resources – Book Browse - Children’s, Middle Grade, & YA lit – Resource links • Apps to engage - Adobe Voice, Opinion, Pic Collage • Projects that foster engagement - (sandbox-messy) – Multigenre literacy project – “It’s a Wrap!” – Alternative Voice
Some Truisms to Consider We can’t make assumptions about the literacy experiences students have had before they come to us.
Literature affords opportunities for all students to examine their own identities and to consider and affirm the identities of others.
We must create a safe, low-risk environment for all students in the class community.
Reading aloud to students of all ages offers a literacy experience that supports the further development of all literacy skills.
We get better at reading and writing and creating by reading and writing and creating.
The best learning and understanding is immediately followed by further questions. The learning is never done.
Technology tools can allow students to experience traditional & non-traditional texts and to further develop literacy skills.
Expansion of Definition of Literacy
“Traditional definition of literacy - once simply to read and write - now includes competency in understanding the visual and aural as well as the verbal.� - Milner, Milner, & Mitchell (2012)
Media Literacy Media literacy is more than merely being able to use technology or technical devices. Technology is ever changing. Media literacy empowers learners to competently navigate and negotiate our 21st century world.
Literacy Classroom Experiences • Wide exposure to all texts (consuming AND creating) – Print texts • poetry • picture books • novels • non-fiction • graphic novels • quotes – Non-print texts • paintings • lyrics • movies • audio
Consider Establishing a Classroom Sandbox
• Sandbox Environment – Experimenting with language • Reading and writing – Experimenting with technology – Messy, but safe
If we want our students to be creative, we must give them safe spaces to create.
Book Talks
Book Browse
Resource Links • The Nerdy Book Club: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/ • Teaching Books: https://www.teachingbooks.net/ • BookList Online: http://www.booklistonline.com/BookReviews.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 • Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD): http:// www.clcd.com/#/welcome • ReadWriteThink: http://www.readwritethink.org/ • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): www.ncte.org • Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN): http://www.alanya.org/ • International Literacy Association (ILA): www.reading.org • Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE): http:// www.kansasenglish.org/
Engaging Texts
Engaging Texts
Read Aloud Picture Book: ish - Peter H. Reynolds
Read Aloud Memoir: I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives - Caitlyn Alifirenka & Martin Ganda with Liz Welch
Sandbox Time (Research, Investigation, Exploration) • Caitlyn: http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/05/04/ pen-pals-book-caitlin-martin • Martin: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=mgUsKnRYFMA • Zimbabwe (current news): http://www.cnn.com/ 2016/05/03/africa/zimbabwe-park-sell-animals/ • Zimbabwe (culture & music): https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKbfUEhjuH4 • Zimbabwe (culture & music): http://www.mbira.org/ instrument.html • Children’s & Young Adult Literature
Suggested App: Adobe Voice • Free app for the iPad or iPhone https:// standout.adobe.com/support/#voice • Quick creation and editing • Selection of free images and sound • Embeds citation for images and sound at end of project • Example presentation/Sandbox time