I Am Still in the Middle of

several professional books. I do like to read them. I just don't read them NEARLY as quickly as fiction.



In Pictures and in Words: Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study by Katie Wood Ray

I've already started taking a little of what I've learned so far in this book into storytimes. The idea seems so strange at first and yet ... IT MAKES SENSE. Teach the kids to be careful and detailed in their illustrations and characters and settings ... and that same storytelling care will transfer over to their writing. Several well known teacher bloggers did a book study this summer. That's where I first learned about it. Didn't keep up with them and still have some reading to do but I like what I've seen.


I See What You Mean (Second Edition): Visual Literacy K-8 by Steve Moline

Goodreads doesn't have this bookcover. :/
But it's a really interesting book. For as NOT mathematically minded as I am infographics are kind of fascinating. Started as a "let's play with the tech tools" I was seeing online ... and that made me realize Just. How. Much. Thinking. has to be done before a compelling infographic can be created. Data has to be collected and interpreted. Still curious as to how the K-5 part will fit in ... but if I was in a middle school I would DEFINITELY start. And not saying I won't as a currently elementary educator ... just need to think it through some more myself before I could explain it to them. Is that pathetic that I'm not sure I could complete a kindergarden level one quite yet? So I need to finish reading the book. ;]


Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling by Emily K. Neuburger

This one just got delivered today (technically Friday that I'm writing this ;]). I really like the projects I see so far. The question will just be how I implement them. Loads of fun with the nieces and nephews. Definite possibilites for school. Here are a few.
1) The list of story sparks.
2) The story disk idea. I see a visit to Michaels in my future. Story Disk Chains are later in the book. They're fun, too.
3) Cut and Tell. Upcycle falling apart magazines and comics! We have a lot of those. :/
4) These Are the Stories in my Neighborhood. Stamp houses onto paper and then once the paint dries? The kids add characters or seasonal elements or whatever! Or Story City? Our first grade does something like this with decorating boxes to create a community.
5) Story Mat. Oh, these look cute. Painted onto cardboard or canvas or wood. Different settings. Actually and the little Storytelling Jar is fun.
6) The Reference Desk storytelling game.