Denver Institute

There is still time to register for my Denver Institute! Learn how to teach “deep, not wide” to improve student achievement!

Thursday, June 28: “Math Work Stations: Independent Learning You Can Count On in PreK-Grade 6″

Friday, June 29: “Strengthening Vocabulary through Whole Group, Small Group, and Literacy Work Stations in PreK-Grade 6″

The registration fee is $189 per person, per day—you can attend one or both days. For details, including location, schedules, and a registration form, download this flyer.

You can also register online with a credit card or purchase order, for one or more attendees.

Poetry Friday: Ocean poems

Since I am visiting my daughter in the Caymans, an ocean poem seemed fitting. This one is from just-published Kate Coombs’ Water Sings Blue. The accompanying watercolor illustrations make you feel like you’re on the island! When I arrived, the first thing that caught my eye on the ground was a small hermit crab crawling over the sand. Love this poem!

Ocean Realty

My name’s Frank Hermit.
Here—take my card.
So you want a house
with a porch and yard?

I have listings for periwinkles,
whelks, and wentletraps;
turbans, tops, and moon shells;
a palatial conch, perhaps?

That one’s not available—
I’m waiting for the snail
to vacate his townhouse
and put it up for sale.

But this place has a deck
and a nice view of the land—
beachfront property
is always in demand!

Science books from IRA in Chicago to the Cayman Islands

One of my favorite things to do at the annual IRA convention (which was in Chicago this year) is to look at all the wonderful children’s books for sale in the exhibit hall. This year I shopped with my daughter, Jessica, in mind. She is living and working in Little Cayman for 6 months. Lucky girl! It is for an internship she’s doing as a grad student at University of Florida where she is working on a Master’s in Ecology.

Part of the time Jessica works with students from ages 10-13 who come to LC on an overnight class field trip from the other islands. She introduces them to marine biology and conservation (and shows them the lionfish she’s studying). She is documenting her work here and just got a grant funded for an underwater video camera. I suggested she think about creating a science-related book with photos to use in her training with the kids here.

I could only choose a few books (because my suitcase in Chicago was already packed to the max), so I picked three:

·     The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson, Ph.D.

·     Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs

·     Manfish, A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne

Fortunately, I was flying to Little Cayman to visit my daughter the day after IRA! So when I arrived, I shared these titles with Jessica. She can’t wait to use the ocean ones with her kids. The snow book will be used as a mentor text for her. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be the next award-winning science writer for kids!

Fun at IRA

The past two weeks have been filled with travel and conferences. First NCTM in Philadelphia, then IRA in Chicago. It is always so nice to get out and meet with so many talented and passionate teachers and her so many inspiring presentations. Here is a picture of me signing books at the Stenhouse booth at IRA. See you again soon at a conference!

Behind the scenes — Math Work Stations video

Even with all of the great technology around us, sometimes you just have to get back to the basics. That’s what I did last week with my Stenhouse editor Toby Gordon when we locked ourselves in a hotel room in Philadelphia to figure out the final structure of my new Math Work Stations video. Post-Its did the trick! That’s me in the picture, taking notes. Stay tuned for more!

Poetry Friday: A poem by Aileen Fisher

Aileen Fisher

This poet received the NCTE Award for Poetry in 1978. To read more about her, check out this link.

Her words are timeless and will be loved by children in your 21st century classroom!

My Cat and I

When I flop down
to take a rest
my cat jumps up
upon my chest.

She kneads my sweater
with her paws…
and sometimes even
uses claws.

She rubs my chin
and purrs away,
as if I am
a game to play!

Poetry Friday: A doublet

Several years ago, a friend shared the most interesting poetry book with me called Fly with Poetry: An ABC of Poetry written and illustrated by Avis Harley (Boyds Mills Press, 2000). It includes samples of 26 different kinds of poetry! Here’s one called a doublet. In a doublet, a word is changed, one letter at a time, into another word and arranged vertically in the poem.

How Can You Change Sleep into Dream?

Instead of falling into sleep

by counting sheep I listen for rhythms

inside my head: the cheep of a chickadee,

rain on my cheek,

a murmuring creek,

the creak of new shoes,

or cats lapping cream. These are the rhythms

that flow through my dream.