World Read Aloud Day

Read It Forward on World Read Aloud Day: March 6

Imagine a world where everyone can read...
March 6, 2013, is World Read Aloud Day, an awareness day advocating for literacy as a human right. Celebrate by reading aloud, giving away a book, or taking action in any way you can to "Read It Forward" on behalf of the 793 million people who cannot yet read or write.World Read Aloud Day creates a community of people who are advocating for every child’s right to learn to read and technology that will make them lifelong readers. Everyone can change the world and Read It Forward call to action and reading aloud with loved ones or new friends. Read It Forward, creating a ripple effect that resonates around the world with the power of story and shared words.

Visit http://litworld.org/wrad to join the Read It Forward movement. Register your participation, and spread the word to friends, family, and networks for March 6! LitWorld, the organization that founded World Read Aloud Day, offers free downloadable activity kits full of ideas for children, teens, families, educators, and professionals at http://litworld.org.

Follow LitWorld:
http://www.facebook.com/litworldhttp://twitter.com/litworldsays

LitWorld Read Aloud Day Goodbye Song

A day to remember...

a day to replay...

a day that will stay.

World Read Aloud Day on 3/7 - "Change the World, Story by Story"

 Celebrate World Read Aloud Day on 3/7 -- "Change the World, Story by Story"

793 million adults worldwide lack basic reading and writing skills. This World Read Aloud Day, the globe will connect like never before. Let us together read and share to advocate for the power of words and stories.

Change the World, Story by Story

This amazing day is sponsored by LitWorld, whose mission is, "to use the power of story to cultivate literacy skills in the world's most vulnerable children through Education, Advocacy and Innovation."

  

* Books of Wonder in New York City!: We are excited to announce that Books of Wonder will host LitWorld’s signature World Read Aloud Day event. Stay tuned for the official schedule with details about our special guest authors and exciting workshops all day long.

* Join a LitWorld Video Chat: If you would like to take part in a video chat on World Read Aloud Day as a LitWorld classroom or special guest reader, please sign up at litworld.org.

Let’s rally for Global Literacy, together.
Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - Tumblr 
[Twitter Hashtag: #readaloud]

Join the WRAD Facebook event.

Dream Big Little Pig by Kristy Yamaguchi

Anyone even remotely connected to my classroom knows that dreaming and having choices is important to me. Dream Big Little Pig by K. Yamaguchi says simply what I try to teach daily.

Poopy, a pig that dreams big, finds the support and ambition to see her dream come a reality. This of course is not without many roadblocks and start-overs. Poppy not only needs to find the place she fits the best, but also to trust in her heart. The positive pigs in her life were also a big help helping Poppy swirl into her dream come true life.

"Follow Your Dreams!"

"You Go Girl!"

"Dream Big, Pig!"

Picture Book Potpourri

Beautiful Blue Eyes by Marianne Richmond is a warm smile in verse. Celebrating a child's uniqueness through the sense of sight brings many memorable moments come alive. The water color image create the perfect backdrop sharing the simple curiosities of childhood. One page shows a young child holding a spraying water hose-

"Your beautiful blue eyes tell of your silliness within, 

with their teasing twinkle and mischievous grin."

A read aloud book for any reading moment.

You Are a Gift To the World/The World Is a Gift to You by Laura Duska and illustrated by Dona Turner is a fun flip-sided book that shows just how one fits into this wide world. A perfect read aloud for Earth Day or any day that a little caring reminder is needed. 

"I remember when you asked, What's the best gift in the whole wide world?" 

An amazing starting sentence that allows dreaming and caring for all who hear it.

My Name is Not Alexander

My Name Is Not Alexander is a picture book for boys of all ages. Jennifer Foseberry shares "Just how big can a little boy dream?" through a normal day with extraordinarily men in history. The day starts with Alexander claiming to be  Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Jackie Robinson and others.
The vivid illustrations by Mike Litwin creates a eye catching journey. 

This book opens the door of discovery and creates a community for boys to achieve. So if your name isn't Alexander who would you like to be known as? How will you make your name a name that anyone would like to claim? What is your name? Read this book to be inspired to make a difference in your own life.
(My Name is not  Isabella reviewed earlier and also shared as a Reader's Theater on World Read Aloud Day) 

Read Aloud Day 2011 Memories

World Read Aloud Day 2011 started with a 2 hour late start in Oelwein. Like the US Post Office, snow, ice and fog could not keep us away from our reading and sharing! We even had to put out a reading SOS when our scheduled time was empty
because of our changed schedule. We did miss sharing with Kate Messner and Van Meter students- we will just have to have another read aloud day to make this up! Our goal: read or listen to books all day in Mrs. Duff's room- MISSION COMPLETED!

Read Aloud Day was a
day of unexpected adventures and
stories from around the globe!

Tom, Origami Yoda creator, was our warm-up reader.
Darth Paper origami puppets were created
a few days earlier so we could Skype with a
favorite author on his time.

The Familiars authors Andrew & Adam were
fun and entertaining.

Riley Caney has shared so much w/ our class!
Thank you again and again!

8th Grade Zero author O. R-Perkovich
jumped in when we needed an author-THANKS!

Ellen Potter: Writing and Reading
ideas were shared while we listened
to her read.

Mrs. Miller's students take turns
sharing books with us.

Dee Garretson Shared WildFire Run and
animal side-note stories.

Reader's Theater w/ Mr. Hehr- Speech Coach
My Name is Not Alexander.

Book Commercials w/Mrs. Miller's Class

My Name is Not Isabella Reader's Theater
 was shared with Brook Forest students.

World Read Aloud Author Visitors

http://www.deegarretson.com/  

http://www.katemessner.com/

http://www.ellenpotter.com








http://www.thefamiliars.com/ 

http://www.rileycarney.com/

World Read Aloud Day: Early Bird Video

Tom Angleberger, author of Origami Yoda, Skyped with our class on March 2nd (3/9 didn't work for him). After sharing his origami folding talents, he shared a short read aloud teaser from his new book:

Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, 

The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset 

He also shared some of his favorite books.

Origami Yoda Visits OMS

BOrigami Yoda Creations and Skype Visit 

Darth Paper directions were shared and then Tom answered questions and shared many laughs with the OMS 6th graders. 

                   


What inspires Tom? 

Directions to create your own Origami Yoda from Tom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA4VJbqFQuw

Origami Yoda Home Page:
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

 Watch Tom introduce his new book and share a few of his favorites...video will be posted soon.

World Read Aloud Day: March 9, 2011

 Introduction from World Read Aloud Website:

Celebrate the Power of Words and Stories and Take Action for Global Literacy

Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their name. What would you miss most if you could not read or write? Imagine your world without words.

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology. By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

Across the globe nearly 171 million children could be lifted out of poverty if they left school with basic reading and writing skills. Quality literacy education is the difference between life and death, prosperity and despair. This is literacy for survival.

Origami Yoda Creations

Join us as we create our own Origami Yoda finger puppets:

Directions from Tom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA4VJbqFQuw

Origami Yoda Home Page:
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

Not enough snow?

During our Skype with Kate Messner, she mentioned she wished they had more snow for their skiing area....

With more then enough to share, we sent her an envelope full of snowflakes covered with thank yous and best wishes on her new book.

Letters from the Principal (Student Style)

Reading The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z has given students a chance to walk in the principal's shoes. Gianna had a close encounter with her middle school principal, Mr. Randolph, while collecting leaves for a science project.
OMS 6th graders were asked to pretend they were Principal Randolph and write a letter to Gianna's parents commenting on her lack of respect during a Saturday morning outing. Below are portions from a few student letters that has the "principal voice" speaking right at you.


Dear Parents of Gianna Zales,
Last Saturday morning, I heard a loud noise. It sounded like it came from my back yard. I went outside to look. I saw Gianna with a big branch from my tree on her lap. She sneaked into my backyard, over my picket fence, to get leaves for her science project. I asked her if she had seen the fence, she said she had...I was very disappointed that she would do something like this! She broke the branch off my tree and then took the leaves with her! I hope you have consequences for her actions!
Sincerely, Principal Randolph


Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zales,
I am not pleased to inform you that your daughter, Gianna, jumped my fenced in backyard...I walked out my back door to find her on the ground with a big branch that she had torn off my very lovely Black Walnut tree. Now, Gianna claims she just wanted to get a leaf for her science project, but I think she was trying to vandalize my lawn!...I strongly suggest that you handle a punishment fitting to the crime, perhaps six months of community service. I do hope AND expect that this will not happen again!
Principal Mr. Randolph

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Zales,
Your daughter sneaked into my backyard by climbing over my fence! Clearly she could see the fence was to keep people OUT! She climbed up my Black Walnut tree to get leaves and snapped a branch completely off. I suggest you punish her...don't let her go outside without supervision.
Sincerely, Mr. Randolf



Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zales,
Today, your daughter invaded my property! She stole from my two trees that I really adore. The Ginkgo leaf wasn't such a big deal, but she broke a limb off my Black Walnut tree. You need to talk with her to make sure she doesn't invade my property again!
Mr. Randolf


We wondered how our principal would react to Gianna's adventure. He does have nice trees in his yard!

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z: Journal Photos

After reading Chapters 1-4 in The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, journal about one or more of the photos. The photos were taken by Kate Messner, the author. Use descriptive words to set the tone.

Must read for all middle school students!

I spent time this weekend reading a newly released book called The Brilliant Fall of Ginna Z. The author, Kate Messener, teaches at a middle school and has captured the heart of life as a middle school student.

This will be our next read aloud. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!