South Carolina! Arts Magnet Elementary School!!
We're on the road again. Following all the fun of my presentations at GAYC just north of Atlanta, we've hit the road and are continuing north. What a joy to make a stop in Columbia, SC. After years of talking about possibilities, I've finally had the opportunity to visit my friend, Della Johnson's ARTS MAGNET Elementary school for their very own Author-Illustrator school visit. We had 2 assemblies together: one where I sang, danced and spoke with the kinder-kiddos and a second with all the Firsties in her building.
There's notable 'change-in-the-air' as I make my school visits across the country. The Common Core standards are making their way more visibly into the school hallways -- near and far. While zipping about their building I had the opportunity to capture this incredible bulletin board, dealing with the genre of nonfiction... so I could share it here with my dedicated readers.
{{{I LUV the student written descriptors emphasized through out!}}}
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| Early Elementary Bulletin Board: "Learning Non-Fiction Text Features" |
Here's a TERRIFIC article "Common Core: The Fuss over Non-Fiction."
It has an incredible Q&A section that details, "The Common Core State Standards recommend that elementary teachers now give EQUAL emphasis to both literature and informational texts."
EQUAL emphasis means entire LIBRARIES need to change.
Here's another article that delves into the significance of nonfiction:
"Research Says/Nonfiction Reading Promotes Student Success."
This is my favorite snippet from the ASCD article. "Researchers have noted one other benefit of nonfiction reading: the potential to motivate young children by tapping into their interests."
Sharks. Dinosaurs. White Tigers. What could be more fascinating?
Of my three traditional picture books, the one that comes closest to nonfiction is,
"Tall Giraffe."
{I'm always something of a label straddler.}
The incredible photographs taken in Africa by my niece Kelly and her friends, are certainly engaging and feature this amazing creature in astounding natural habitat!
Since my book is self-published, chances are real good you've never heard of it, let alone considered it for adding to your collection of informational text. I'm here to tell you it would make a great addition to your library!
As the publisher I made certain to include all the pieces and parts that you've come to expect from me in my book end-matter. First of all there's a CD insert included that has both the sung version of the book's text, plus an instrumental-only track as well. There's a chart for sign language to support the text and also the music notation chart with chords is included.
In addition to these 'standard' pieces of end matter I also have a chart of 'giraffe facts' included for easy reference and as a springboard to further research and deeper inquiry. That's the benefit of being your own publisher! You can include the very pieces that you know teachers and parents are searching for. Make everyone's life easier -- whenever possible.
"Tall Giraffe" is available directly from my website, at our Early Education Emporium and at Teachers Pay Teachers, too.
