"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness." - Ward

Pharell’s Happy. Can you hear it?  Can you feel it?  You can’t help but want to dance a little.  It just makes you happy, right?

It might seem crazy what I’m about to say

Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break

I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space

With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way

Because I’m happy

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I’m happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I’m happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I’m happy

Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do….

Come on you know you want to clap along…

Giving props to Pharell, I can’t help but also reflect on the powerful, Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess.  In this energizing professional resource, a quote by Carlos Santana resonated with me:

“There is nothing more contagious on this planet than enthusiasm.  The songs become incidental, what people receive is your joy.”

In keeping with the tradition of Pharell and Burgess, I wanted to share some books that leave readers with that feeling of joy.  I hope the feeling is contagious. Like Scott Campbell's Hug Machine, I could hug each of these books and mentor authors. 
Happy Reading!

 

 

365 Days of Wonder RJ Palacio gifts us again with a “wonder”ful book of precepts.  These daily quotes from songs, famous characters and the original work of students are a celebration of kindness, hope and joy.

Spreading kindness with @WillixReads' glitter board to highlight quotes from RJ Palacio's 365 Days of Wonder
 

       

A is for Awesome- by Dallas Clayton

This is an ABC book with a special twist.  All of the “awesomeness” can be described through affirming words in this alliterative alphabet that is a MUST HAVE for all ages. 

 

 Because Amelia Smiled – by David Stein

David Stein’s book is the perfect illustration of what it means to pay it forward.  One act of kindness can change the world. 

Someday – Eileen Spinelli

Believe in the possibilities.  Expect the unexpected.  Dream- then make it a reality.

 

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match- by Monica Brown

This is a feel good book that happens to also be a bilingual picture book.  Marisol celebrates her unique qualities and doesn’t care about what others think.   She is proud to be herself and everyone will fall in love with the mismatched Marisol. 

 

Plant a Kiss- Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

Amy Krouse Rosenthal never disappoints. Her books always put a smile on my face. In this book she pairs up with another “heartprint” author/illustrator, Peter Reynolds to show how an act of kindness can grow and grow.

Be Happy- by Monica Sheehan – This is a little text with a big heart.  Simple illustrations and inspirational text that will leave its reader happy.  Fabulous video paired with the uplifting song, New Soul by Yael Naim.* 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbpbYE_hV0s*

As my grandmother used say and sing to me, 
“When you’re smilin’ the whole world smiles with you…” Teach from the heart, spread a little joy, touch some hearts and minds…..Smile. 

What titles make you smile? #smileTweet with the hashtag #smile or share your faves in comments below. Would love to hear from you. 
Keep smiling,
@JoEllenMcCarthy

 

Thought Grenades

Thought grenades? Word wars? The power of an idea! Reflecting on Andrew Clements' Frindle got me wondering…

In our schools today, students and teachers are wrestling with the new Common Core State Standards.  The purpose of these new standards is to have children be career and college ready.  Ironically, career ready for those careers that do not yet exist. In the fictional book by Andrew Clements, “frindles” didn’t exist either.  That didn’t stop the main character, student Nick Allen, from wondering.

Andrew Clements wrote, “Wondering and thinking are not the same things.”  Of course we want our students “to think like detectives, and read like investigative reporters” as per NY commissioner John King.  However, we want them “wondering” too.  There is a beauty that is intangible in thinking about students’ ability to wonder, to question, and to act on that inquiry.  Isn’t that the premise behind all really great ideas?  A curiosity or a passion exists that is so powerful, that it causes our students to act – to want to act: to read the next book by an author, explore a theme or to further investigate an idea, to read more, to write and in turn to think more deeply.

When we provide text sets (a string of texts around a theme, concept or idea of different genres, levels, media and resources) we provide a wider lens to spark deeper thinking.  Layering texts  encourage investigations and thought grenades happen that enable us to reach our students’ diverse interests and learning styles. We can ignite their passions and allow for personalization and differentiation to meet the needs of all learners.  As facilitators of our students’ learning we need to encourage their conversations and collaborations around ideas.   Likewise, as teachers, when we talk with one another, attend conferences, book swap, connect as part of a Professional Learning Network like Twitter  (thanks Nerdy Book Club), our thinking grows and impacts our work with students.

In terms of the power of “thought grenades,” I will leave you with a “wonder-ful”  example.  There has been a gigantic explosion around the book Wonder, by R.J. Palaccio.  Teachers and students all over have reading the book Wonder.  It is also a great opportunity to create a text set around empathy:  Trudy Ludwig’s picture books My Secret Bully,Confessions of a Former Bully, Just Kidding; poetry from Baseball Snakes and Summer Squash, by Donald Graves; nonfiction short stories from Bullying & Me: School Yard Stories; videos from www.stopbullying.gov; or Bully, Patricia Polacco’s newest picture book that explores cyber bullying – to name a few.

We were given the gift of Wonder from R.J. Palacio.  Her idea was triggered as a result of an experience, followed by the encounter of the song Wonder by Natalie Merchant. A thought grenade happened.  Now, all over our country, thanks to R.J. Palacio, she has given us the “choose kind” mantra to wonder about…and hopefully act upon!  

Deep connections across texts and around ideas increase understandings. Text sets and thought grenades both speak to the power of collaboration and connected ideas.  Be connected. Stay curious. Believe. Keep wondering. 

Wonder with us. 

Join the #WonderChat happening Monday night 12/1 at 8pm EST. 

An Invitation to Notice & Wonder

'If a child is to keep his sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of one who he can share it with, rediscovering with him the sense of joy,

excitement and mystery of the world.

- Carlson.

 

I am thrilled to be hosting an upcoming #WonderChat on Monday Dec 1st at 8:00 pm EST. 

Pairing engaging, short NF texts, poetry and picture books with with wonders via www.wonderopolis.org is an absolute joy.  When we layer texts we help students think more deeply. 

 

 "Complexity isn't about words...it's about ideas."- Stephanie Harvey

 

 

We invite you to notice and wonder with us. Join us Monday to reflect on favorite Wonders and share thoughts about text sets: pairing texts of all shapes and sizes. 
 

 

Below you will find an example of  "wonder"-ful pairings and text sets around inventions.  Can't wait to wonder and learn with you.  What are your students wondering about?

 Join us for the #WonderChat Monday at 8EST.  Hope to "see" you there.

 

 

"Big Thinking in Small Packages"

Want students to write about their thinking and learning?  Try poetry. 

Donald Graves called poetry, "Big thinking in small packages."  

"Poetry is a memorable way to provide information."

 

This book of poetry explores inventions like roller coasters, Velcro, Fig Newtons and more. It helps readers look at everyday objects in a new way.

Wonderopolis # 164- What is an acrostic poem?

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-an-acrostic-poem/

 

Lives of the Scientists Experiments, Explorers (and What the Neighbors Thought)

Another "wonder-ful" text in the series by Kathleen Krull.

Still wondering?   Curiosity is all it takes.  

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an inventor?  Can kids be inventors too?  Wonder #673

 Wonderopolis #673 Can Kids be inventors too?

 

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-kids-be-inventors-too/

 

10 Inventors who Changed the World 

 

Connecting ideas and reading across texts, students can think more deeply about a topic.  In 10 Inventors Who Changed the World, read to find the "life links" or chains of influence in this unique series of biographies. Great for older readers and fans of graphic novels.   

Take a look inside 10 Inventors

 http://us.macmillan.com/10inventorswhochangedtheworld/CliveGifford

 

 

 

  

Ever wonder about word origins? 

Hello? Does Thomas Edison get credit for our most popular greeting?   Check this out and explore the interesting connection of events great for link to word study lessons.  

Wonderoplis # 565 Did we always say "Hello"?

 

 http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/have-we-always-said-hello/

  

 

 An Illustrated Timeline of Inventions and Inventors

 

 Visual Literacy:

"Pictures help us see the story" 

 
Wonderopolis # 254 Wonders about picture books

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-dont-all-books-have-pictures/

 

 

 

"By Kids for Kids"  

 

Don Wulffson provides a variety of short engaging well crafted pieces students LOVE.  Discover lots of fun facts about the history behind Popsicles, Post its, and even perfume.

 

Did you ever wonder about the ice cream man? How about the first ice cream truck?

Want to learn more? Great collection of mentor texts for writing in this collection too.

 Wonderopolis #664- A sweet wonder about ice cream

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/who-was-the-first-ice-cream-man/

 

 How about the history of deodorant? How about how post its came to be?   Wulffson addresses these wonders and more in his collection of short texts.   

Have you ever wondered why  some people's feet stink?  Well Wonderopolis explains it all here:

 

A "stinky" wonder of the day.

 http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-your-feet-stink/

 

 

Imaginative Inventions

 

 

 

 Great text to connect to all above as many of the same inventions and inventors are found here in this fun text written in verse.

Wondering about how things work or how things came to be?  How about roller skates or chewing gum?  
Wondering about roller skates?

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-roller-skates-work/

What child doesn't wonder about bubble gum?

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/chewing-gum-101/
Great wonder to also pair with POP! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy
POP!

 

Mistakes That Worked

 

 

 

 How about another "mistake that worked"? Want to know more about who invented potato chips? 
Wondering about potato chips?
 

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/who-invented-potato-chips/

 

  Another great text to explore- but I wrote about this last #NF10for10.  Great piece on George Crum  found in What Color is My World.

 

 

Students LOVE the Gross Factor

  

Students also love learning about wacky, wild and gross foods? How about hairy, scary foods throughout history?  Fun hybrid text with poetry too:

 

 

Great examples of connected texts to read across and  synthesize information from multiple texts.

 

Wonderopolis # 1092- Taste buds

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-your-taste-buds-change/

 -----What's the Deal with the 5 Second Rule? -----

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/is-the-five-second-rule-really-true/

 

 

 

I have included this last mentor text because it is filled with examples for our students to explore the ways in which authors provide information and engage the reader.   

This new title from Loreen Leedy  has an interesting text structure.  Your students will find  fun facts, poetry, riddles and it has includes a question and answer format too.  Lots of great models for energizing nonfiction. 

I hope you enjoy finding those mentor authors and mentor texts that are your "co-teachers".

"Emulate those teachers that instilled the sense of wonder and curiosity that inspired you.”
Robert John Meehan

My original post of these text sets ran for the #NF10for10 hosted by Cathy Mere, Mandy Robek and Julie Balen.  I look forward to sharing new thoughts, new ideas and am excited to wonder with you.  Hope to see you Monday at 8!  #WonderChat.