Neat stuff from my Inbox

My Inbox and RSS reader are always loaded with ideas, book suggestions, resources, and more. I leave them there thinking I’d like to write about each one, or go back to flesh out an idea, or share an idea with a friend. I thought I’d share things I’ve saved over the past few days.

Coloring pages from digital photos: From one of the blogs I love, Here in the Bonny Glen (opens in a new window), a link to Crayola’s Play Zone Coloring Page Maker (opens in a new window). After registering, you can turn your digital photos into coloring pages. How fun is that?! Imagine what great writing prompts those pictures/coloring pages would make!

Comprehension Constructor guide: From Choice Literacy (opens in a new window), a helpful article (opens in a new window) and free PDF of “comprehension constructors,” (opens in a new window) developed by teachers to support thoughtful reading. It’s recommended for adolescent readers, but I think elementary teachers could use them with slight modifications.

Catalogs in the classroom: From the Book Chook (opens in a new window), ideas for using catalogs as teaching tools (opens in a new window) in the classroom. My daughter’s 3rd grade teacher is doing just that as part of her economics unit on needs and wants. Some of the Book Chook’s recommendations include questions that, when asked, seem as though might also develop kids’ media literacy, an important thing these days. For example, what is the overall layout of the catalog? How is it organized? Is it easy to find the price of items? Are the pictures of some items bigger than others? Why might that be?

New and Improved ReadWriteThink: A consistent resource for lesson plans and teaching ideas, ReadWriteThink (opens in a new window) has been expanded to include new resources and communities. A partnership of the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Verizon Foundation, this site is one to bookmark.

What’s in your Inbox or RSS reader? Share with us!