Tag Archives: literacy

Educator Resources, ELL/ESL and Bilingual Books, Writer Resources

NEW RESOURCE: Summer of the Mariposas Reading Journal

By: Michelle Fuentes, Literacy Specialist at Lee & Low Books

The Lee & Low Books literacy team is thrilled to share the Summer of the Mariposas Reading Journal, a new and exclusive tool for educators created in honor of the 10th anniversary of Summer of the Mariposas (also available in Spanish as El verano de las mariposas). This journal was made by educators for educators and in collaboration with bestselling and award-winning author, Guadalupe García McCall. The journal is designed to be flexible and adaptable for all teaching needs, with a special emphasis on student creativity.

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Diversity, Guest Blogger Post, Race

Word in Black Articles: Why Resources for Black Students and Black Books Matter

Senior Literacy Manager Katie Potter weighs in on how we can meet the needs of Black students and the importance of Black books in these two articles from Word in Black. Word in Black is a groundbreaking collaboration of the nation’s leading Black news publishers, and they strive to be the most trusted news and information source for, about, and by Black people. Discover excerpts of the articles below and click the links to read more!

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Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Educator Resources

NEW RESOURCE: A Toolkit for Building a Diverse SEL Library

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How do we select the right book to teach SEL skills, competencies, and values that will guide our students through academic, social, and emotional development and challenges? While no one text can or should do it all, how can we be strategic in building a collection of books and read-alouds that explore your school’s SEL framework?  

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Educator Resources, Writer Resources

3 Ways to Teach Writing with Bebop Books

Teaching writing to young students who have not yet mastered reading can feel challenging, if not downright overwhelming. However, lots of research recommends encouraging students to write as early as possible.

How can we inspire our youngest learners to write creatively without frustration and within the boundaries of their current abilities?

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Educator Resources

Bebop Leveled Readers for Older Students: A Diverse Booklist

All readers have different needs and deserve high-quality, engaging texts that are appropriate for their reading level and align with their interests. Pairing books with students, however, can be a challenging task, particularly if older students are reading at a lower level. Older students who are still in need of language support from lower-level titles often have limited selections that are outdated or babyish. The books in this list are high-quality, engaging nonfiction texts that are suitable for older readers who are working on building their fluency, vocabulary and background knowledge all while reading books that they can learn from and enjoy. To build your customized collection for your school, reach out to educators@leeandlow.com for more information.

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Educator Resources

Resources to Find Diverse Books for Reading Recovery®

In 2014, children of color became the new majority in America’s public schools, so now more than ever, it’s important that classroom books and materials reflect today’s students.

Particularly for beginning readers, literacy learning should include multicultural content that affirms identity for all students.

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Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Race

2022 Black History Month Book and Resource Roundup

For Black History Month, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite resources and books for readers and educators alike. Though this month is dedicated to uplifting Black history, culture, movements, and game changers, we must remember that Black history IS American history and should be celebrated all year round.

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Educator Resources, Guest Blogger Post, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators

The Reality of Babies and Literacy: A Guest Post by Author Jean Ciborowski Fahey

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In this guest post,I’ll Build You a Bookcase author Dr. Jean Ciborowski Fahey shares practical strategies for caregivers embarking on their literacy journey with their little one.

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Activities and Events, Educator Resources, ELL/ESL and Bilingual Books

Free Upcoming Webinar: AIR’s New Language and Literacy Program for Preschoolers (COLLTS)

Join the Center for English Learners at the American Institutes for Research® for a webinar on Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS), an evidence-based, research-backed, and classroom-tested language and literacy program for preschoolers. The event will be held on Thursday, September 16th at 4:00 PM ET.

Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS) is designed to help teachers support language and literacy development for young dual language learners. An intervention study found that children who participated in COLLTS showed significantly larger gains in oral language than children who did not participate in the program.

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Educator Resources, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators

Creating Diverse Books for Leveled Reading: An Interview with Gaylia Taylor

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In this blog post, we interviewed Reading Recovery® teacher and Bebop Books author, Gaylia Taylor, about creating diverse books for leveled reading.

Why is diversity important in books for students learning to read? How is diversity critical to your work as an author?

Gaylia Taylor: Diversity is essential for students learning to read because they are for the first time stepping out of their world into a world that exists outside of themselves. As authors, we can put readers in the proximity of others. When we are around others, we can begin to understand different cultures and appreciate others’ differences. We write to extend boundaries. Each group has a gift. If we collect all of the gifts and put them together, we know love. As an author, I write to celebrate this–the heritage of cultural diversities.

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