Gratitude

Thankful for faith, family, friends, colleagues, good health, writing opportunities, teaching kids, authors, film making, and more!

Anything is possible if you try.  As an adviser to the after school literacy Author’s, Illustrators, and Journalists (AIJ) Academy at Walker Elementary School, that’s what happened to our students!  What a humbling and memorable moment to win in the documentary film category at the 2018 iVIE (Innovative Video in Education) Film Festival from more than 350 entries!

The students showed enthusiasm and were motivated about working on the film.

Here’s the link to our award-winning short film, “Celebrating Reading and Diversity in a Title I Public School”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h5H-fC6ecw

Please read the credits and information for all the people and organizations who contributed to making the short film possible.  We are grateful for their time and support.  We are also grateful to the judges of the iVIE Film Festival.

In addition, we were nominated in the “How To” category with our film, “How to cook SPAM Fried Rice.”

Another highlight of the year was having Children’s Book Author Bruce Hale visit Walker Elementary School. 

His presentations were amazing and he engaged students from beginning to end!  As author to more than 50 books across literary genres, he continues to inspire kids to write, illustrate, and create stories!  Visit his website at  http://brucehale.com/

Also, thanks to Illustrator Lori Mitchell for teaching the AIJ Academy students how to draw facial features.

Visit her website at https://www.differentjustlikeme.com/

TACKLE READING book
I’m excited to share information about ‪#‎TackleReading‬, a national movement that promotes quality reading instruction for all children. The TACKLE READING book is a reading resource written by over 45 NFL players, celebrities, literacy leaders, reading organizations, and fellow educators. This title has stories, tips, lessons, and activities to motivate children, support parents, and inspire teachers to love literacy!  It’s exciting to take part in the initiative!

AUTHOR SALINA YOON’S PENGUIN BOOK FEATURED IN KOHL’S CARE SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION

by Grace Nall

Are you looking for a summer reading book for your child?  Children’s book author Salina Yoon’s PENGUIN ON VACATION book, PENGUIN’S BIG ADVENTURE book, and PENGUIN soft toy are featured in Kohl’s Cares collection.  The books are specially priced at $5.   The Kohl’s Cares collection benefits nationwide children’s healthcare initiatives.  Other books are featured along with the PENGUIN books.   The book collections are available at the Kohl’s website and Kohl’s stores nationwide through the end of June 2016.

If you are a teacher or parent, make sure to click here to download the free EDUCATOR’S GUIDE I created for Salina Yoon’s PENGUIN AND PINECONE book.

You may also want to click here to visit Salina Yoon’s website

and click here to visit Kohls.com

and click here to visit Business Wire

Greek and Latin Roots in the Common Core Standards

     Explore 300 Greek and Latin roots!  Wonderful resource for teachers, kids, and parents!  Author Edith Hope Fine’s GREEK AND LATIN FOR CRYPTOMANIACS! Workbook is now available.  Thanks, Edith, for including my “blurb” in the back cover.

     “Such a creative approach to supporting the Common Core State Standards!  Edith Hope Fine captures the essence of Greek and Latin roots in her workbook, engaging students to explore beyond her CRYPTOMANIA! book.”

Visit Children’s Book Author Edith Hope Fine:

http://www.edithfine.com/

http://www.cryptokids.com/

Greek and Latin for Cryptomaniacs! Workbook:

http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Latin-Cryptomaniacs-Edith-Hope/dp/0985759712

Common Core Standards 

English Language Arts Standards:     Language, Grade 4

4b “Use common grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).

Common Core Standards

English Language Arts Standards:  Language, Grade 8

8b “Use common grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

For more information, visit http://www.corestandards.org/

TEACHING SEASONS THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

As we celebrate the holidays, we can research creative ways to include history.   Thomas Nast, Political Cartoonist, created two influential cartoons that depicted our nation’s challenging times.

“Uncle Sam’s Thanksgiving Dinner” (1869):  Portrait of former President Abraham Lincoln in the background.  “Uncle Sam carving turkey at large table surrounded by men, women, and children of different races . . . ”

Source: Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002714704/

and Author Lynda Pflueger’s E-book, Thomas Nast:  Political Cartoonist

Thomas Nast “Christmas Eve” (1889):  “Women kneeling, praying, and looking at moon, at foot of bed of her children; and soldier sitting under tree looking at photographs of his family.”

Source: Library of Congress  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/00652033/

and Author Lynda Pflueger E-book, Thomas Nast:  Politcal Cartoonist

Author Lynda Pflueger’s E-book, Thomas Nast:  Political Cartoonist, describes how Nast “impacted American life through several presidential elections.  Nast’s legacy to future generations includes the symbols he made popular that are still recognized today:  Uncle Sam, the Democratic donkey, the Republican elephant, and Santa Claus.  He wrote for several publications, such as Harper’s Weekly.”

Visit Author Lynda Pflueger’s website:  http://www.lyndapflueger.com/

Educator’s Guide by Grace Nall

Common Core Aligned Connections for the E-book, Thomas Nast:  Political Cartoonist

 Click here to view the Educator Guide by Grace Nall

for Author Lynda Pflueger’s E-book, Thomas Nast:  Political Cartoonist

     Teachers, parents, and students across the United States are preparing for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which is a “a set of high-quality academic standards in Math and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA).”  It provides a “clear and consistent framework for educators.”  CCSS is preparing students for College and Career Readiness.

     Children’s book authors and illustrators are interested in finding out how this impacts textbooks and reading materials in the classrooms and libraries.

     As co-presenter with Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) San Diego Chapter April meeting, we both had much to contribute in our fields of expertise about the Common Core State Standards.

      Forty-four states nationwide, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards Initiative.  Since 2009, “the state school chiefs and governors that comprise the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA) Center coordinated a state-led effort to develop the Common Core Standards.”

     School curriculum is being “designed through collaboration among teachers, school chiefs, administrators, and other experts” to support the Common Core State Standards.  As a member of my school district’s curriculum design team, I’ve had an “inside look” into the long process in working on Units of Study for both ELA and Math.  It’s not an easy task.  We are using what we have in the classroom and supplementing new materials to support the transition.  It’s a change and learning process for teachers, students, parents, and the children’s book industry.      

     How does this affect authors and illustrators?  During the SCBWI presentation, I included examples of exemplary texts across the curriculum.  In addition, I also focused on text selections for lesson plans as an integral component.  The use of mentor texts to teach students valuable skills in ELA are needed to support CCSS. 

Find out more information from my presentation handout entitled, “Author Tips,” here: http://www.teachingseasons.com/common-core-author-tips-april-2014-presentation/

Read my article on “The Common Core State Standards” published in the SCBWI Bulletin:  http://www.teachingseasons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Common-Core-Standards-Article-by-Grace-Nall-in-SCBWI-Publication-January-February-2013.pdf

For more information: Visit www.corestandards.org.

Myths vs. Facts:  Visit http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/myths-vs-facts/

Video:  Visit http://www.corestandards.org/video/

Visit Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan’s website:  http://virginialoh.com/

     The California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS) held its 53^rd Annual Conference from March 7 to 9, 2014!  The theme, “CCSS Wants You:  Dig in for the Challenge,”  commemorated the 100^th anniversary of the “Great War.”  Thanks to the conference planning committee for a successful and well-organized conference.

      Among the highlights included keynote speakers:  Lalo Alcarez, Cartoonist; Sylvia Mendez, Presidential Medal of Freedom; Major General Patrick Brady (Ret); Mary Beth Tinker, Free Speech Activist; and Mike McGalliard, Imagination Foundation’s Executive Director.  Other highlights included the Common Core 2.0 Boot Camp, which included topics such as “Historical Thinking and the Common Core State Standards,” “Close Reading of Historical Documents,” and “Common Core and English Language Learners.” 

    My presentation was entitled  “Technology Matters.”  It explored teaching strategies and digital resources in social studies and technology to support the Common Core Standards.  The session showed how to captivate student interest and enhance historical inquiry by analyzing primary and secondary sources.”  Thanks to Simmi Kher (The Tony Blair Faith Foundation) for the positive “tweet” and to the teacher colleagues for attending the session.  Twitter at gn_teach.   Would love to share and hear about how you use technology in your classrooms.

     How wonderful it was to see  Dr. Priscilla Porter (Senior Author of Reflections Social Studies textbook series for K-6 at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Textbook Publishers), Matt Hayes (San Diego County of Education), and Micheline Wagner (San Diego Unified School District),  who have influenced my passion for social studies and literacy.  Visit Dr. Priscilla Porter’s website, http://porterroom.csusb.edu/, at California State University, San Bernardino.

    Thanks to Children’s Book Author Alexis O’Neill who donated promotional posters and her historical-fiction book, THE KITE THAT BRIDGED TWO NATIONS:  HOMAN WALSH AND THE FIRST NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRIDGE, for my “Technology Matters” presentation.  View the book trailer for THE KITE THAT BRIDGED TWO NATIONS at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRsPLVlt6yU.  Visit Alexis O’Neill’s website at http://www.alexisoneill.com/. 

    Also, thanks to The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators ( http://www.scbwi.org/)and the following children’s book authors who contributed to the historical-fiction and non-fiction resources list handed out at the presentation:  Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan (http://virginialoh.com/); Edith Hope Fine (http://www.edithfine.com/); Carolyn Marsden (http://www.carolynmarsden.com/); Andrea Zimmerman (http://www.andreaanddavid.com/); Nancy Johnson (http://www.nancy-johnson.com/);  Susan Traugh (http://www.susantraugh.com/); Debbie Vilardi (http://www.debbievilardi.com/) and Selene Castrovilla’s (http://selenecastrovilla.com/) .

     Visit   http://www.teachingseasons.com/historical-fiction-page-1/.

     The Library of Congress  ( http://www.loc.gov/) bookmarks in the handouts were provided by Meg Steele.    I also handed them out at “The Teaching with Primary Sources Session” at the San Diego County of Education where I co-presented with Dr. Nicole Gilbertson and Matt Hayes.

    The California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS)  is an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies.  Visit http://ccss.org/.