: For Students, Faculty, and Staff
Michelle and Barack Obama from Read Aloud Video
From Lisa:
For many of us distance-learning will continue into the fall.
On the Facebook page #OperationReadAloud, we are aggregating resources to support home and classroom learning.
Thank you to the creators for their hard work and generosity.
Thank you to the publishers for teachers guides, activities, and permissions.
We know that not everyone has access to social media platforms like Facebook.
Therefore, I will be posting the more accessible content with suggested writing response activities on the Blue Ox Review page. https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/
Stay Safe, Stay Well, Don’t Touch Your Face.
The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds
Word Collector by Peter Reynolds, Scholastic Kids
About the Book
From the creator of The Dot comes a celebration of finding your own words – and the impact you can have when you share them with the world.
Interior Cropped Spread from the Word Collector
“Some people collect stamps.
Some people collect coins.
Some people collect art.
And Jerome?
Jerome collected words . . .”
Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him — short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multi-syllable words that sound like little songs.
Interior Spread cropped from The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds, Scholastic.
Michelle and Barack Obama reading aloud
From the Library video of Obamas reading aloud The Word Collector
From the Obama Foundation with permissions from Scholastic Kids
President and Mrs. Obama joined Chicago Public Library’s “Live from the Library” read “The Word Collector” written and illustrated by Peter Reynolds.
Writing Response
Interior illustration from The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds, Scholastic Kids
For reading response suggestions Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection
Become a Word Collector
Note: Some of us are teaching remotely, some of us are in the classroom, some of us have asynchronous programs, some of us are in pods with mixed age groups, some of us are in libraries on-site or remotely, and some of us are parents providing guidance at home. Adapt as you wish, there is no right way to write.
-
- Read aloud the Word Collector or watch the video.
- Ask the writers what words jumped out at them or write the ones that sang to you.
Words found in the word collector
3. Collect juicy words
4. See what two random words look and sound like together. Perfectly Emerald. What does that mean. What do you see in your minds eye? Can you draw a picture of it?
Scholastic has created an activity booklet for three of Reynold’s books.
This frame is terrific for beginning word collectors.
What are some words that I see in the world? Stop. Go. Walk. Don’t Walk.
What are some words that I hear in the world? Mask. Love. Ice Cream. Terrific.
Big Words? Enthusiastic. Magnanimous. Abundant. Avarice.
Little Words? Vote. Strong. Hope. Smart.
Crop of Scholastic Word Collector Sorting Frame.
Also from the Scholastic website
Share The Word Collector as a read aloud in your classroom, then use these quick classroom ideas to inspire your students to engage more fully with the book. You can also encourage your students to find their own special words with this engaging vocabulary activity.
All you need are:
-
-
- Index cards
- Yarn
- Clothespins
- Books and magazines
- Colored pencils or markers
-
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, here’s how it works:
-
-
- Have your students browse through books and magazines for unfamiliar words that stand out to them.
- Let them look up the definitions of the unfamiliar words and then choose a favorite one.
- Each student should write their chosen word on the front of an index card and its definition on the back.
- Pin up the cards using yarn and clothespins and hang them along the wall of the classroom to create a chain of newly learned words.
- Throughout the week, have students take turns using their new word in a sentence.
-
Print out the full activity instructions here, and use it again throughout the year to encourage your students to share their words with their classmates and the world.
For more reader response activities from Scholastic Kids
About Peter Reynolds
Author/ Illustrator Peter Reynolds
Peter’s Website The Dot Central
Peter was born in Canada, but moved to Massachusetts at the age of three, where he still resides. He has a twin brother named Paul who is his best friend and business partner. He was interested in illustration from an early age. The brothers began publishing their own newspapers and comic books at the age of seven. Then in middle school, Peter had a wise and insightful teacher who challenged him to use his artistic talent to explain a math concept. This turned into a comic book, which his teacher recognized as a storyboard for a potential film as well. Thus began Peter’s career as an illustrator and animator.
Now, the brothers work together at Fablevision, an educational animation and media company. As part of that vision, Peter has created Fable Library, a site with free eBooks and an invitation to create your own online story.
Peter states, “If we want kids to learn, to read, to write, then we should invite them to play. Play with words. Fill an empty page. With words. Drawings and even just doodles and marks. Let them discover first-hand the joy of returning to the page a day later, a week later, and rediscover the page filled with their own thoughts and creations.”
More Word Mentor Texts
Interior of The Boy Who Loved Words
The Boy Who Loved Words written by Ronnie Shotter, Illustrated by Giselle Potter
Boy Who Loved Words Teacher’s Guide
The Right Word by Jennifer Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Eerdmanns
Interior spread The Right Word
The Right Word written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
The Right Word Discussion Guide
Interview with the author, Jen Bryant
Interview with the illustrator, Melissa Sweet
Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection
Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection by Lisa Von Drasek
