Literature Ladders

 

Literature Ladders: Linking Books and Internet Resources

This page was designed to accompany a workshop presentation titled Literature Ladders: Linking Books and Internet Resources.

Use the navigation bar on the left to go directly to specific pages in the Literature Ladders project.

Use the links below to focus on the materials presented in the workshop.

Literature and Technology

In order to address the diverse needs of today's students, we need to think of literature as more than simply words in a book. How can we reach all young people by providing a variety of ways to experience a work of literature as well as a variety of instructional materials to differentiate instruction?

Explore issues and ideas related to literacy in today's world at Literacy Across the Curriculum for Today and Tomorrow.

Books & Technology. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo is a book for young readers. Although some children will excel by simply reading the book. Other children will benefit from listening to the The Mercy Collection on CD Audio.

Book Information. At the Candlewick Publisher website, teachers can download great materials (PDF) from the Candlewick Press website. Go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble for reviews, background information, and interviews. Check out Oh Mercy Me for classroom activities.

Author Information. Check out Kate DiCamillo's page. Read about the author, explore FAQs, check out her journal, learn about writing, and read her favorite links such as Wordsmith.org.

Activities. Use the Interactives: Elements of a Story project from Learner.org to help learners identify the elements of stories. Then, use the Story Map from ReadWriteThink to help students create a Storymap and Plot Diagram for one of the Mercy books. Students use the Animal Inquiry organize information about an animal. Students use a PowerPoint starter (PPT) to create a class ABC book for their animals. Student use a PowerPoint starter (PPT) to practice writing directions. Children get the chance to take Mercy home. The Mercy bag contains the book, digital camera, journal, and other materials. The project is shared on the class blog such as Mercy and Me.

 

Ladders of Your Own

Let's explore ways that you can connect books and literature. Learn to find your own book-Internet connections. This Ladders of Your Own section provides links to book awards, authors and illustrators, book pages, lesson plans, search tools, and other useful websites.Use the following process.

Go to Get Started: Explore Themes and Projects. Try Children's Literature Network.

Go to Step 1: Select a Book.

Go to Step 2: Search for Author and Illustrator Information . Check out the websites of Jan Brett's, Will Hobbs, Nancy Calson, Deborah Hopkinson, Eric Carle, Patricia Polacco, Peggy Rathman, Jean Craighead George, and Todd Parr (Todd Parr Blog).

Go to Step 3: Search for Book Information and Lessons. Explore Literature-based WebQuests. Explore an inquiry based approach to literature-technology connections. Also check, Dive into WebQuests: Reading, Writing and Web 2.0. Also go to Newberys & the Net and learn to integrate web resources with award-winning children's books. Go to Caldecott Connections and explore Internet connections for visually rich children's literature.

Go to Step 4: Identify Topics and Resources.

Go to Step 5: Develop Meaningful Activities and Learning Experiences. Go to Collaborative and Interactive Projects and explore ways to bring reading alive through sharing and communicating with others. Find many examples of using Google Earth in reading at Let's Go! and GoogleLitTrips.

Go to Step 6: Implement and Evaluate. Go to Themes and Literature Circles to learn about how to add excitement to your classroom through interdisciplinary themes and literature circles.

Eight Ways to Bring Back the Joy

Learn more

Read my column in each issue of Teacher Librarian.


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