April Newletter Teaching Tips-Activities-Ideas

Welcome: April is Poetry Month

1. The Earth is Wet: Celebrate the Seasons with Poetry

The Earth is Wet The earth is wet. The sky is gray. It looks like it Will rain all day. –Karla Kuskin Whether the Weather Whether the weather be fine Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not. –Traditional See Songs and Rhymes for a Rainy Day, A Nellie Edge Read and Sing Big Book™ in our Online Bookstore. Yes, it rains in Oregon, and once again, we are hoping our inevitable April showers will bring May flowers! Consider greeting your children at the door with a small poem reflecting the weather or the changing seasons. See article: Wondrous Words About the Weather: A Poetry Ritual Parents as Partners: Learning the Language of Weather April is Poetry Month! Weave poetry into your ongoing science adventures. Here is our expanding collection for your Poetry "I Can Read" Notebook: April Showers Bring May Flowers: Weather in Poetry and Song The Science of Spring in Songs and Rhymes When children memorize, recite, and perform the words of carefully selected poetry, they develop English language fluency with the most exquisite language we speak; they practice high-frequency words and phonics in an authentic context; and, most importantly, they develop a love for the sounds of language. Community is served when children learn things “by heart.” Owning wonderful words enlivens the art of speaking and writing. What words do you carry in the corners of your mind from your own childhood? Let's help our children paint words in their own memories that will last a lifetime! See Sample Child-Illustrated Pages: Small Poems of Some Delight Collection See Online Bookstore for Poetry Anthologies

2. Oviparous and Metamorphosis: Voracious Vocabulary

I am continually delighted when master kindergarten teachers integrate powerful vocabulary into the life of their classroom. Wise teachers build voracious vocabulary learning habits systematically, mindfully, and playfully throughout the curriculum. Their classrooms are talking classrooms. In those classrooms, rich vocabulary is introduced through authentic learning experiences and often reinforced with poetry and song—and the children in those classrooms become natural collectors of wonderful new words. SAT Vocabulary in kindergarten? Why not! Common Core Standards validates the need for rigorous vocabulary instruction. See article: Children are Voracious Vocabulary Learners Parent as Partners Letter: Voracious Vocabulary Learners "The Metamorphosis" Song by Diane Bonica Tune: Alouette (Used with permission.) Metamorphosis, meta, meta, morphosis. Metamorphosis, it’s a word for change. If you are a caterpillar, you’ll become a butterfly. Caterpillar, butterfly! Caterpillar, butterfly! Metamorphosis, meta, meta, morphosis. Metamorphosis, it’s a word for change. (See entire song) "Oviparous Song" by Diane Bonica Tune: Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song (Used with permission.) There's a word that we have heard and YOU should learn it too! Oviparous! Oviparous! They lay eggs for you! Oviparous…egg layers! Oviparous…egg layers! It is a word and we have heard it’s true, true, true! So come along and join this song for all egg layers too. Oviparous! Oviparous! They lay eggs for YOU! See our beginning collection of Spring Science Explorations in Poetry and Song: Bugs, Butterflies and the Earth See Diane Bonica’s Science Gallery! See Laura Flocker’s Ongoing Science Explorations: Rocks and Crystals

3. Earth Day and April Science Connections

April 22 is date of the annual Earth Day. To celebrate Earth Day, Sharon Mattioli wrote this song, which became an illustrated class Big Book for shared learning around this important theme. "I Love the Earth" Tune: Eency Weency Spider I love the Earth and everything that lives. I love the flowers and beauty each one gives. I love the animals and the fish at sea. For I am a part of Mother Earth, And it's a part of me. I love the Earth: “I Can Read” anthology page Explore the Earth Day Unit: Thank you, Terry Tunkel at Calico Cookie This is the monthly newsletter from the Nellie Edge Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy site. For more information and resources visit www.nellieedge.com. For questions email to info@nellieedge.com . To see it online, go to: http://nellieedgeexcellenceinkindergartenandearlyliteracy.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/C08D1ECA20B41D34/500F30242D59A957025DA65DC0D0F53A