Reading Rockets News

Highlights in this issue:

• In Focus: Writing
• Books & Authors: Judy Blume | Inspiring Women | Green Eggs and Ham literacy bag
• Ideas for Educators: Census in the classroom | Teaching a child with TBI | Exquisite Prompt writing challenge
• Ideas for Parents: Music lab | Toys for special needs kids
• Research & News: Newspapers in education | Assessment | Brain Awareness Month

Find links to past issues here.

In Focus: Writing

Writing: A Reading Rockets Webcast

This all-star panel of experts (Steve Graham, Louisa Moats, and Susan Neuman) talk about why writing is important, what the latest research tells us, and what educators and parents can do to help kids become better writers. Dr. Graham also discusses effective ways to motivate and support children with learning disabilities.
See Webcast >

Teaching Plot Structure with Children's Books

Picture books are quick reads, lots of fun, and often gems of characterization, mood, and dialogue. They are also perfect for teaching the young writer how to organize plot logically. Discover some basic plot structures along with picture books that use those structures. Sharing these picture books will help students better understand how to shape their own story making.
Go to article >

Classroom Strategy: Paragraph Hamburger

The "paragraph hamburger" is a writing organizer that visually outlines the key components of a paragraph. Topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence are the main elements of a good paragraph, and each one forms a different "piece" of the hamburger.
Go to strategy >

Assessment: The 6+1 Trait Writing

The 6+1 Trait® Writing model is a powerful way to learn and use a common language for the characteristics of writing as well as create a common vision of what 'good' writing looks like.
Go to website >

For Parents: Developing Writing and Spelling at Home

Writing is a terrific way for children to express their thoughts, creativity, and uniqueness. It is also a fundamental way in which children learn to organize ideas. When engaging in writing, young children often mirror what they see around them; adults and older children writing lists, notes, text messaging — they are observing the way writing is used in our everyday lives. Learn some easy ways to model and support writing at home.
Go to article (in English and Spanish) >

Find many more writing resources in our Writing section.

Books & Authors

Judy Blume aka The Great One: Our Exclusive Video Interview

Blume is one of our national treasures. Her stories about real kids and real families, written with fresh insight, humor, and sensitivity, have been read and re-read by generations of kids. Find out where she got her deep love for storytelling and books, who inspired the character Fudge, and how the writing process, for her, is like making a beautifully painted, polished jigsaw puzzle.
Watch Judy Blume interview >

New Booklist: A Shelf Full of Inspiring Women

Celebrate Women's History Month! Meet independent First Lady Abigail Adams, flying ace Maggie Magee, Australia's Mermaid Queen, and other amazing women — young and old — in these stories full of true grit, creative spirit, strong families, and enduring friendships.
Browse booklist >

Cook Up a 'Seussian' Reading Adventure

Pink bananas? Pineapples with polka dots? Why not? Dig into our Green Eggs and Ham-inspired family literacy bag for a delightful menu of hands-on activities and learning centered around Seuss and nonfiction books about our five senses.
Go to literacy bag >

Ideas for Educators

300 Million and Counting: The 2010 Census

Use the Census to incorporate concepts of history, collecting, data analysis, and graphing into your classroom. The U.S. Census Bureau has gathered up a nice collection of lesson plans, activities, and fact sheets. The "Census for Kids" section features interactive counting and memory games, quizzes, state facts, and more, for kids K-5.
Go to website >

Teaching a Child with Traumatic Brain Injury

A child who has sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often returns to his regular classroom following a period of intense rehabilitation. Recovery is still in process. Find out what interventions and accommodations you and your school's support staff can use to help your student thrive academically and socially.
Go to article >

The Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge

Original riddles, pet poetry, personal letter writing, word fun, and the hero's journey… Nikki Grimes (Danitra Brown, Class Clown) and Natalie Babbitt (Tuck Everlasting) provide the inspiration for this month's writing prompts. Give your students a chance to flex their writing muscles — and win fabulous prizes!
Go to writing contest page >

The Ambassador Skypes! On February 9, our first grand prize winners in the Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge — Kindra DeGregorio's 5th grade class at Edy Ridge Elementary School in Sherwood, Oregon — enjoyed a visit via Skype with Katherine Paterson. More virtual visits still to come! And check out our January winners (including the inventive Fairy Tale Catalog) online.
Go to winners circle >

Ideas for Parents

Music Lab

Explore all the instruments of the orchestra, create your own tune with the Composerizer, 'meet' the notes, and learn the basics of tempo, rhythm, pitch, and harmony. Or tune in to one of the online radio playlists featuring Bach, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, and other composers (you might ask your child to talk about mood, visual imagery, and words that come to mind as you listen). The San Francisco Symphony website is jam-packed with activities that make music fun.
Go to website >

Let's Play: A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs

All kids learn through creative play. Finding good toys for a special needs child can be challenging. This illustrated guide can help you identify the best toys to fit your child's interests and skill level. All the toys in the guide have been tested and approved by more than 100 toy "experts" — the kids themselves.
Learn more >

Research & News

A Model 'Newspapers in Education' Program

Can in-home delivery of the newspaper tied to classroom activities improve the reading comprehension of students in at-risk communities? Read how The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania developed their successful program, and find suggestions for newspapers and schools interested in launching similar efforts.
Read case study >

Performance Counts: Assessment Systems that Support High-Quality Learning

A new white paper written by Stanford researcher Linda Darling-Hammond describes what a student assessment system could look like if built from the principles and best practices found in current research and effective programs in the U.S. and high-achieving countries around the world.
Download full report >

The Brain and Learning

March is Brain Awareness Month, a yearly effort to raise awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. To discover more about the brain-reading connection, watch our PBS program Reading and the Brain and browse our resource library.
Watch our PBS program Reading and the Brain >
Go to Brain and Learning resources >

Newsletter editor: Tina Chovanec