SSPP Reads

Wordle Makes Vocabulary Fun

SSPP Reads — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:55:05 +0000

Bridget Dalton and Dana L. Grisham wrote a fantastic article in the February 2011 issue of The Reading Teacher, a journal of research-based classroom practice, published by the International Reading Association. The article, eVoc Strategies: 10 Ways to Use Technology to Build Vocabulary, “highlights ten strategies that hold promise for improving vocabulary learning in intermediate grades.”Here they are:

Learn from visual displays of word relationships as pictured above (check out Wordle)
Take a digital vocabulary field trip (check out TrackStar)
Connect fun and learning with online vocabulary games (see Vocabulary.co.il and Vocabulary.com)
Have students use media to express vocabulary knowledge (haul out PowerPoint and use it for creative expression)
Take advantage of online word reference tools (Visual Thesaurus and Dictionary.com)
Support reading and word learning with just-in-time vocabulary reference support (see Word Central and Yahoo! Kids and specialized picture glossaries like NASA’s Picture Dictionary)
Use language translators to provide just-in-time help for English Learners (see Babelfish, Google Translator, and Bing Translator)
Increase reading volume by reading digital text (Time For Kids, Weekly Reader, National Geographic Kids are a few)
Increase reading volume by listening to digital text with a text-to-speech tool and audio books (free TTS tools are CLiCk, Speak , NaturalReader, Balabolka, and Microsoft Reader)
Combine vocabulary learning and social service such as the free online vocabulary game Free Rice. The United Nations World Food Programme donates 10 grains of rice to countries in need for each correct answer.

Lots of possibilities! This post first appeared on SSPP Reads on 02/23/2011.

Catholic Schools Week: Faith. Academics. Service.

SSPP Reads — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:47:02 +0000

I teach at Sts. Peter and Paul Salesian School, a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The mission of the Department of Catholic Schools is a commitment to

the mission of the Church by providing quality learning communities rooted in academic excellence and the Catholic tradition for the children entrusted to our care.
The development of the whole child, regardless of race, culture or economic background, is achieved through the collaboration of our school staff, parents, clergy, religious and the parish community.
Our faith-centered, child-focused, family sensitive education fosters within our children a strong personal relationship with God, prepares them for leadership within the Church and the world and empowers them to live the Gospel values of love, peace, justice, respect and service in their everyday lives.

Come visit us at our Open House on Thursday, January 26, 2012, 6:00 pm.

MLK Day of Service 2012

SSPP Reads — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:02:35 +0000

The MLK Day of Service, designated by Congress in 1994, challenges us to respond to Dr. King’s observation: ”Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

The MLK Day of Service is part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.

Sts. Peter & Paul School has volunteers heading to the San Francisco Food Bank under the leadership of our Salesian Service-Learning club. Check out some of the projects organized in the San Francisco area. You can find these and more at the MLK Day of Service website.

Here are links about Dr. King including the recently dedicated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D. C., videos, visual and performance art, and books to read.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Amazon.com
Readings on Slavery SFPL
Biography Nobel Prize
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, Washington D. C.
Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipients
Teach with Coretta Scott King Award Winners Scholastic.com
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
King Papers Project Stanford University
PBS Video: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
PBS Video: MLK: A Call to Conscience, Part 1, Part 2
Freedom Riders WGBH American Experience
Museum of the African Diaspora San Francisco
Mavis Staples at the 10th Annual MLK Tribute Oakland

Graphic from Flickr Creative Commons License SPakhrin.

Winter Solstice 2011

SSPP Reads — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:02:55 +0000

Winter is here, long nights and short days. Here in San Francisco Winter begins on December 21 at 9:30 pm. We bundle up and finish wrapping presents, wish family and friends a Merry Christmas, and dream of the warm, long days ahead. Frederick, by Leo Lionni, shared his poetic visions with his mouse friends holed up for the winter:

While the other field mice work to gather grain and nuts for winter, Frederick sits on a sunny rock by himself. “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days,” he tells them. Another day he gathers “colors,” and then “words.” And when the food runs out, it is Frederick, the dreamer and poet, whose endless store of supplies warms the hearts of his fellow mice, and feeds their spirits during the darkest winter days.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. SSPP Reads returns January 11, 2012, to share some thoughts during the dark days of winter.

Graphic from Flickr Creative Commons License D.H. Parks.

Christmas Crèche Under the Tree

SSPP Reads — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:10:27 +0000

As a young girl I loved to set up and play with our family Christmas Crèche. Back in the day it was quite modern with an electric Christmas light bulb attached to look like a star. We could change the mood by replacing the bulb–green, blue, red, golden, white or clear! It seemed much like playing with dolls, another favorite pastime. Today, my family has a small crèche grandma gave my oldest daughter. It came from Italy by way of St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. I got to thinking, what is the history of the crèche or nativity scene, the manger?

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with the first nativity scene, a living nativity, in 1223, as a response to the materialism of the time. He wanted to cultivate the worship of Christ. A Gift From Saint Francis: The First Crèche by Joanna Cole tells the story. This and other manger stories and songs can be found at the San Francisco Public Library (keyword searches Christmas manger or crèche). Today you can even get directions on how to set up a nativity online!

Now that the crèche is up, you’ve just got to sing Away In A Manger, my favorite Christmas Carol. Our second graders sang it beautifully during our school Christmas pageant. This carol first appeared in the United States in 1883, celebrating Martin Luther’s 400th birthday among Lutherans in the US. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gives a traditional rendition. I like the sounds of children’s voices myself singing the lullaby to Baby Jesus.

The Oakland Diocese’s Second Annual Crèche Festival at The Cathedral of Christ the Light was held December 9-11, a three-day festival celebrating the family tradition of the nativity scene. I’ll try to update that event earlier next year so you can plan to attend.

This post originally appeared on 12-15-2010 in SSPP Reads. SSPP Reads file photo.

O tidings of comfort and joy

SSPP Reads — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:02:11 +0000

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen certainly proclaims the jubilation of Christ’s birth, and yet, so many of us struggle to “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1) during this emotional time of year. Perhaps it’s time to slow down and talk with our children about the importance they hold in our lives.

Here are a few links and books that might soothe the soul and bring comfort and calmness to the hectic buildup to Christmas.

Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude: Tips for Parents from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Divorce: A Parent’s Guide for Supporting Children (NASP)
A Peaceable Kingdom: the Shaker Abecedarius illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen
Amazing Peace, A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou
Shalom, salaam, peace by Howard Bogot
Talking Peace: A vision for the next generation by Jimmy Carter
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Graphic from Flickr Creative Commons License by Silver Tusk

Advent: A time of anticipation

SSPP Reads — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:02:54 +0000

The fourth Sunday before Christmas marks the first Sunday of Advent. This year it is November 27. Advent is from the Latin adventus meaning coming. It’s not just the shopping days until Santa’s arrival, but a time of preparation observed by Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, and awaiting the return of Christ. In anticipation of the Nativity, children prepare Advent Wreaths, mark the days using an Advent Calendar, sing Christmas Carols, and decorate their homes. The symbol of Light representing Jesus is of particular significance and is found on our Christmas trees, in the lighted candles of the Advent Wreath, and on public display on houses, department stores, high rises, and tree lined streets.

The carols that tell the Christmas Story have special meaning and are well worth teaching our children. Singing the songs gives children another way to learn the meaning of Advent and Christmas. Singing also generates mirth and good cheer.

The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Catholic Liturgical Year, and we find the long awaited New Roman Missal in place with the new year. Catholicmom.com has a list of Advent books and activities for kids; Amazon also carries a huge selection of Christmas and Advent themed children’s books. More Advent books can be found on line at The Catholic Company.

Originally posted 11/28/2010 and updated 11/30/2011 on SSPP Reads. Graphic courtesy of AHarden, Flickr Creative Commons License.

Thanksgiving 2011

SSPP Reads — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:02:09 +0000

Thanksgiving, while not strictly an American holiday, has a history that runs deep. In October 1782, the Continental Congress declared November 28, 1782, a day of Thanksgiving for the young country.President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving during the Civil War as he shared the news of General U.S. Grant’s success in battles. Thanksgiving was to be celebrated the last Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, through much maneuvering, formally declared the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving to begin in 1942. Curiously, the change in Thursdays had to do with boosting the economy for the Christmas shopping season, as it was considered at that time inappropriate to advertise for Christmas before Thanksgiving! My goodness how times have changed!

The Education and Social Science Library (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), created a Thanksgiving reading list for children. Available on line also is their catalog of Native American Children’s and Young Adult Literature.

A very happy Thanksgiving to you and your families from SSPP Reads.

Reposted from SSPP Reads 11/10/2010. Graphic from Mike Licht, Creative Commons License.

Auditory Processing

SSPP Reads — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:02:58 +0000

Awareness of auditory processing disorders (APD) has risen in recent years according to Teri James Bellis, PhD, CCC-A, in his article Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website. Broadly, APD is how the central nervous system uses auditory information.

To avoid confusing APD with other disorders that can affect a person’s ability to attend, understand, and remember, it is important to emphasize that APD is an auditory deficit that is not the result of other higher-order cognitive, language, or related disorder. (T. J. Bellis)

Treatment is highly individualized. Among school-age children, common difficulties according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) include:

Remembering and following spoken direction
Remembering people’s names
Sounding out new words
Seeming to ignore others when engrossed in a non-speaking activity
Understanding people who speak quickly
Finding the right words to use when talking

A good place to start your research is through ASHA and NCLD as well as LD Online which has a good overview, Auditory Processing Disorder in Children, reprinted from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD). You might want to check out Speech and Language on this blog too.

Graphic from Flickr Creative Commons License by Childrens Book Review

Veterans Day: 11-11-11

SSPP Reads — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:02:32 +0000

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Day National Committee have provided a Teacher Resource Guide for this year’s Veterans Day, 11-11-11. There are more than 24 million Veterans who have reintegrated back into our communities.

Following are a few key facts about Veterans’ Day; you can find more at VA Kids. or keyword search at the San Francisco Public Library.

WWI officially ended in the summer of 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Bullets stopped flying seven months earlier on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month–11-11-1918–when an armistice between Germany and the Allied Forces went into effect.
In 1938, the US Congress declared Armistice Day a federal legal holiday.
In 1968 Congress enacted legislation to change Veteran’s Day to the fourth Monday of October but under pressure from veterans groups, the holiday returned to the historically significant date of November 11.

Make your own medal to give your veteran, thanking him or her for their service to their country.

Parts of this post originally appeared here on 11-07-2010. Graphic from Department of Veterans Affairs.