More About Picture Books to Teach Writing with the Traits

Word Choice
Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.
Books: My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray, Once There Was a Bull...Frog; Pig, Pigger, Piggest; Why the Banana Split; and Bullfrog Pops! All by Rick Walton

Sentence Fluency
Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear—not just to the eye.
Books: The Web Files by Marggi Palatini, Dream Weaver by Jonathan London, and Bat Love the Night by Nicola Davies

Conventions
Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece—spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals, and punctuation.
Books: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss, Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Robin Pulver, Grammar Tales Series (Scholastic)

+1 Presentation
Presentation zeros in on the form and layout of the text and its readability; the piece should be pleasing to the eye.
Book: Rose’s Journal by Marissa Moss

Using Picture Books to Teach Writing with the Traits

1. Ideas
The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with the details that enrich and develop that theme.
Books: The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Faustino, A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting, and Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter

2. Organization
Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the logical and sometimes intriguing pattern of the ideas.
Books: Diamond Life and Rimshots by Charles R. Smith Jr. and Courage by Bernard Waber

3. Voice
The voice is the heart and soul, the magic, the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writer coming out through the words.
Books: Voices in the Park by Anthony Brown, We the Kids by David Catrow, and Exploding Ants by Janne Settel

Stop Bullying Me!

How can educators control the bullying issue in the schools. Bullies come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. It is sometimes hard to identify them just by looking at them. Bullies exhibit aggressive behavior toward their peers and often toward adults. They tend to have positive attitudes toward violence, are impulsive, like to dominate others, have little empathy with their victims, and unusually low levels of anxiety or insecurity. The consequences of bullying are far reaching, ranging from lower attendance and student achievement to increased incidence of violence and juvenile crime.
The legislation in Georgia mandates that each school system adopt a conduct code which prohibits bullying. These schools would have to establish guidelines for reporting, investigating, and dealing with students who engage in bullying. So how do we protect out children who are being bullied?

Middle School Reading Crisis

The teaching of reading must be ongoing throughout a child’s education. Continuous efforts are needed for middle school students that will help them acquire the necessary reading skills that will allow them to accomplish the task of proficient reading and meeting state standards requirements. This includes all areas of reading, but primarily comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.

As students enter middle school they are expected to already know the basics and should be reading on grade level; however this is rarely the case. Those who are reading below grade level, are increasingly at a disadvantage as they progress through school when the ability to comprehend text becomes more vital for academic success. How can we help these students through this crisis?

Please share your thoughts.

Angelia