Shows
Using My Lessons Learned the Hard Way to Inform Teaching in the 21st CenturyCreating Videos As Culminating Performance TasksThere was a time when every time a student had to communicate new learning, it had to be using pens, papers, and written language. A research paper had to be written up. Project work meant a written report. End of a unit meant a written test. That is no longer the case thanks to among other reasons, the work of Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences. We now know there are many ways to demonstrate new learning. In order to enable those many different ways - speeches, drawings, diagrams, videos, interviews, dialogues, plays, music, poetry - we do our best...
2021-11-0911 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumLearning Strategies Meets Multiple IntelligencesIn an earlier podcast, I addressed the theories advanced by Howard Gardner about multiple intelligences and how each of our students possesses a different combination of these intelligences. If we are going to help each student learn in ways that are best for him, then we have to help him or her find books that address those intelligences. A child that learns through music will be interested in books that tap into those intelligences and can be. used to help advance reading literacy goals. We need to learn how to individualize our programs so that each child has equal...
2021-08-2911 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter 14 - Dr. DorianFern tells her mother she is going to the barn to visit with her friends. It's a Saturday and Mrs. Arable is more than a bit annoyed by the things Fern says about animals talking. So Mrs. Arable lets Fern go to Zuckerman's and she visits Dr. Dorian to talk about Fern. Dr. Dorian suggests that it sounds like Fern is perfectly okay!
2021-05-1809 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Thirteen - Good ProgressCharlotte spends the night weaving the word TERRIFIC into her web, which of course attracts a lot of attention. But she is not happy with that word; She sends Templeton back to the dump looking for a new word and for a while they settle on RADIANT.
2021-05-1815 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Twelve - The MeetingCharlotte calls a meeting of all the barn animals because she wants suggestions for a new word about Wilbur in her web. The only word that comes up is TERRIFIC and Charlotte will use that. However she also charges Templeton to bring back some articles from magazines from the dump so they can look for new words.
2021-05-1807 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumHoward Gardner & Multiple Intelligences - Predisposing the Child To LearningIn the last episode, I spelled out the idea of the Zone of Proximal Development and how each child has his or her own Zone and this will vary from subject to subject, skill to skill. That there is this variance is attributed today to the idea of Multiple Intelligences, that every child has his or her own unique combination of abilities based on broad intelligence areas that determine the actual zone of proximal development. A child who is gifted verbalizing has fewer challenges when asked to prepare a speech for instance or report to the class on research...
2021-05-1813 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumFrom See Spot Run to the Zone of Proximal DevelopmentWhen we were first taught to read in the '50s, nobody worried about whether it was easy or hard for the individual; learner. It was assumed that either they got it or they didn't and if they didn't, it was assumed they were problem learners of one kind of another. They were branded as PROBLEMS. Today, it is assumed that each of us has our own zone of proximal development, or an area where new learning is neither challenging or boring. This podcast explains what this means and how it should play out in the classroom.
2021-05-1810 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumLiteracy Development is Conceptual DevelopmentI have tried to set before ou the idea that by reading and talking and discussing and thinking about we are developing concepts of what we have read and putting the ideas together with concepts that we already have. So we are developing and deepening concepts that already are partially formed in our heads.
2021-05-1814 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Difference Between Literacy & The Language ArtsThere was a time when we held classes in Language Arts. As a teacher, my daybook had Language Arts and each day I would have some other aspect of that subject. But today, in order to cultivate literacy in a group of individuals, we have to understand that our daily approach has to change. I explore the difference between Language Arts and Literacy in this podcast episode.
2021-05-1507 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumBack to IndividualizationSince we have already determined that the goal of literacy education in the 21st century has to be to be able read and apply new ideas, concepts, information into already existing hierarchies of knowledge, then the only way we can do that is to individualize classroom instruction. No longer can we do reading the way it used to be done. It cannot be whole class or levelled groups but it must be individualized as much as possible.
2021-05-1512 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumWhat Should the Long-Range Goal of Education Be Going Forward?If our understanding of what Literacy implies in the 21st century and we know how and why classrooms have changed, then we need to put this all together and understand our long-range goal has to be educating individuals who are able to understand the barrage of information coming at them and use new learning to further enhance concepts going forward. Only when new learning contributes to a better understanding of the world will we be members of a society that can succeed going forward.
2021-05-1514 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Eleven - The MiracleWe learn that Charlotte had spent the whole night creating a message in her web and when the family learned about the message, they believed that they had a special pig not a special spider. The minister spoke about the miracle in church but before that, everyone in the community was coming to watch Wilbur in his pigpen. Nothing else mattered.
2021-05-1510 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Ten - An ExplosionFern and Avery are visiting their uncle and aunt and Avery brings a frog which causes havoc in the kitchen. Then they go to the barn and are swinging and cause an egg Templeton, the rat, had been saving. That caused a huge commotion with Lurvy who hated rats and he filled in Temptelon's hole. After an active day, everyone but Charlotte went to sleep. She stayed up and was busy with her web.
2021-05-1514 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Nine - Wilbur's BoastIn this chapter, Wilbur watches as Charlotte builds a web and then he insists he can do the same thing and tries several times, without success, and then gives up. His thoughts turn to why he is being fattened up and he tells Charlotte that he does not want to die and they talk about how Charlotte hopes to save him. She insists he look after himself and not worry at all.
2021-05-1514 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the Curriculum21st Century Classrooms Reflect The Diversity In Our SocietyAt one time, the classrooms in most schools were very homogeneous as were their schools. But over the last quarter century especially, school communities have drastically changed. Most classrooms reflect the diversity in society - ethnically, religiously, sexually, sociologically, and so forth. This podcast addresses how this affects what we do in the classroom.
2021-05-0810 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter 8 - A Talk At HomeFern tells her parents all about the events in the barn at her uncle's and about all the things the animals said. This worried Mrs. Arable although she didn't tell Fern this. She couldn't believe her daughter was talking about animals and insects speaking and being understood.
2021-05-0804 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter 7 - Bad NewsIn which Wilbur and Fern visit with an old sheep that points out to Wilbur the the farmer is fattening him up so that they can slaughter him at Christmas time. Wilbur gets very upset and Charlotte promises to save him, somehow.
2021-05-0704 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumWhat Are The Physical Hallmarks of Classrooms TodayAs we have moved from whole class instruction to individualized learning, there have been a multitude of changes required. This podcast episode will focus on what the physical classroom changes have been and why they are meant to contribute to individualized learning.
2021-05-0712 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumWhat Do We Mean By Literacy In The 21st CenturyOur understanding of the the concept of Literacy has evolved from several centuries ago. At one time, it only referred to the ability to be able to read and write. Once an individual could do that, the goal had been achieved. Now we understand that is only the beginning of the process. Literacy today implies being able to read anything and understand what one is reading so that the individual can apply the new knowledge or insights gained to other circumstances or situations. The literate person is able to take what he or she reads and use it to...
2021-05-0710 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter 6 - Summer DaysSummer has arrived and with it a new set of hatched eggs by the goose and the gander. Everyone in the barn is abuzz with the new arrivals but we are left hanging at the end of the chapter because there is the threat of danger to the little goslings.
2021-05-0709 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRead Alouds, Cancel Culture, and Learning the Difference Between What is Acceptable and What Is UnacceptableIn this episode I talk about the recent flurry of press about Dr. Seuss and its link to cancel culture and then explain how I view what is acceptable and what is not acceptable depending upon the age doing the listening and the reading. I delve into why some books become unacceptable and question why this is actually valid or not valid.
2021-05-0512 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the Curriculum Why Reading Aloud is So ImportantIn which I try to set out just why it is so important to read aloud to our students, whatever their age, and the skills that are developed and enhanced through reading aloud to them. How do students grow as learners and in literacy by reading good books to them?
2021-05-0511 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumLet Me Introduce MyselfI dedicate this introductory podcast to tell you a little bit about myself and why I am creating this podcast series. I talk about how I fell in love with reading and how I can still see the books in the Boys and Girls Room in the St. Catharines Public Library from over 65 years ago. I talk about my early experiences in reading aloud and then how I became an advocate for reading aloud. I talk about my years teaching literacy to prospective Elementary School teachers and what I hope this podcast will lead to.
2021-05-0510 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Five - CharlotteWilbur wakes up in the morning and after breakfast he meets Charlotte who is a spider. He can see her in her web and she shows him how she catches flies to eat. But Charlotte can't really see him.
2021-05-0514 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Four - LonelinessWilbur woke up knowing precisely what he wanted to do but it was a rainy day. So he had to change his plans. He tried to find someone to play with him but no-one was interested in joining him. He spent most of the day listless and uninterested in everything. Lurvey, the hired man, thought he might be sick. Wilbur lay in his spot in the bar and heard a strange new voice who said they would meet in the morning.
2021-05-0510 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Three - EscapeWilbur is egged on by the other animals in the barnyard, especially the goose. He gets out of his pen and then the Zukermans and their helper chase Wilbur around until he goes back to the pen on his own. So much for escape and excitement.
2021-05-0114 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter Two - WilburIn Chapter Two, Charlotte nurtures Wilbur and he begins to thrive and to bond with her. But he has to be sold. Her father refuses to keep her but he suggests that Fern ask her uncle and aunt to buy Wilbur and then foster him. They agree and Wilbur moves to their farm nearby.
2021-05-0106 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumCharlotte's Web - Chapter One - Before BreakfastIn Chapter 1, we meet the Arable family. Mr. Arable has just helped deliver a litter of piglets and one of them is a runt. He's going to kill the runt because they usually don't thrive. But his daughter Fern interferes with this and insists she be allowed to help the runt grow. Her father agrees and brings the runt to the house and Fern begins to nurture Wilbur, the name she gives the piglet.
2021-04-3006 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumIntroducing E. B. White & His Book Charlotte's Web & What You Can Do After Reading ItIn this podcast, I first expound on the link between reading aloud and literacy and then briefly explore how completing activities after reading a book helps the student deepen learning and expand their knowledge and skills to a greater level of literacy. Then I tell you a bit about E. B. White, briefly expound on the plot a bit and finally give you some ideas about how to take the reading of the book and extend and deepen learning with a variety of different activities.
2021-04-3015 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 17 - The Hunting of the White StagIn which, the children go to the Castle at Cair Paravel, sit on the thrones and reign happily for many years and become adults. They forget about where they came from. Then someone brings them word of a White Stag and they go hunting and follow him to where they first entered Narnia, except they don't remember that. They follow until they are back in the wardrobe and return just as they had left without any time having passed. The professor tells them that they will some day return to Narnia, but from a different route.
2021-04-1317 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 16 - What Happened About the StatuesIn which Aslan and the girls go through the caste and Aslan's breathe on the statues breaks the spell and so everyone is revived. Then Aslan gathers his troops and they race to find where the battle is going on. But first, they need the giant to break down the doors of the castle which he does. Then they race to the battle where Peter is fighting the White Witch. Aslan saves the day and the battle is won.
2021-04-1315 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 15 - Deeper Magic From Before the Dawn of TimeThe girls spend the night mourning the death of Aslan and take his muzzle off and then try to remove the bindings tying him down. They couldn't but little field mice came and nibbled them off so they could remove them. Then Aslan disappears for a short time and returns as good as ever. Deep magic had helped restore him and they take off for the castle of the White Witch.
2021-04-1116 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 14 - The Triumph of the WitchAlthough the children and everyone else thought Aslan had won, the mood in the camp was not happy. Aslan was very sad and he was seen by the girls to sneak off into the woods. They followed him and eventually he allowed them to accompany him on part of his journey. But then he made them hide and they could see as he proceeded to the camp of the Witch and her followers who proceeded to tie Aslan up, humiliate him and the Witch seemed to slay him but the girls covered their eyes.
2021-04-1015 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 13 - Deep Magic From the Dawn of TimeAfter Peter's triumph, the children went back to the camp and in the morning, Edmund was back. He'd be stolen from the Witch. She came to the camp and was allowed to enter and she claimed Edmund as a traitor. But Aslan and the Witch had a conference and hatched a way to save Edmund.
2021-04-1014 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 12 - Peter's First BattleAs the children advance on their way to Cair Paravel and the meeting with Aslan, they are overwhelmed by the signs of Spring. However, that does not mean there is danger ahead. They meet Aslan and he speaks to Peter while the girls go off with some of the animals and creatures assembled. Peter is given a sword and has to defend Lucy who has been chased up a tree by a wolf who is one of the White Witch's foot soldiers.
2021-03-3115 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 11 - Aslan is NearerThe story turns back to Edmund and follows him as he is taken without a coat into the cold snowy night in the sledge with the White Witch. However, as time passes, the night warms up considerably and the weather changes dramatically from Winter to Spring and all around are signs that the Queen Is losing her grip on Narnia.
2021-03-3117 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 10 - The Spell Begins to BreakThe children and the beavers seek refuge in a special hiding place known to the beavers, where they know that they won't be discovered. They sleep and then they are visited by Father Christmas, whose presence in Narnia means that the power of the White Witch is already diminishing. Each of the children gets special gifts that they will need in the coming battle.
2021-03-3017 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 9 - In the Witch's HouseEdmund, we learn, snuck gradually out of the beavers' little house, with thoughts of the Turkish Delight in his head. He leaves into a storm which slowly departs and the clearing night shows him where to go to the castle. He finds in the castle all the statues the beavers had spoken of and then climbs stairs to an open door to meet the Queen who immediately prepares to leave.
2021-03-2716 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Chapter 8 - What Happened After DinnerThe beavers explain to the children what it means to have the four children in Narnia and how it has been foretold that they will come and sit on the thrones with the help of Aslan. But they find out that Edmund has disappeared and that means that the White Witch will try and take them captive and prevent the future from happening.
2021-03-2516 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Chapter 7 - A Day With the BeaversIn which the children seem to have been deserted by the robin who was leading them, but then they come upon a beaver who tells them to be quiet and follow him to his den for some dinner and to tell them what is happening in Narnia.
2021-03-2218 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 6 - Into the WoodsIn which the children go deeper into the woods and find out that Edmund had already been there and discover that Tumnus has been taken capture and so they decide they have to try and save him and so the adventure begins and the plot thickens.
2021-03-2013 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 5 - Back On This Side of the DoorIn which the two older children talk over the fight between the two youngest children about whether or not Narnia could be real and the professor sides with Lucy. Then they run away from the housekeeper taking tourists on a tour of the big old house and go right into the wardrobe in hiding, so they think.
2021-03-1815 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 4 - Turkish delightEdmund meets the White Witch, who proceeds to lure him by offering him Turkish delight with a magic spell put on it. She sends him back to the other place and tells him he needs to return with his siblings and bring them all to the castle. He is escorted to the lamppost where he meets Lucy again and they return through the wardrobe.
2021-03-1715 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 3 - Edmund & the WardrobeAfter much teasing because the children don't believe Lucy, the next rainy day, first Lucy, then Edmund goes through the wardrobe. Edmund believes he is following Lucy but she is no where to be found. Instead he meets the White Witch being pulled in a. sleight,
2021-03-1513 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 2 - What Lucy Found ThereLucy meets the faun Mr. Tumnus in the woods beside the lamp post and goes with him to his home for tea. Afterwards Mr. Tumnus admits that he is supposed to turn any human in to the White Witch and Lucy says she wants to go home and will forgive Mr. Tumnus since he didn't do that anyways. So Lucy goes back through the wardrobe.
2021-03-1515 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Chapter 1 - Lucy Looks Into a WardrobeIn which the four children are intr0duced, why they are in this big country home with the professor is explained, and we follow Lucy as she goes through a wardrobe she has stumbled upon.,
2021-03-1411 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumAll About The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe By C. S. Lewis & How To Extend the LearningI explain a bit about the series, C. S. Lewis the author and how you can deepen the learning of the students beyond the plain reading of the text. I give the listener six or seven ideas for meaningful projects that students can engage themselves with after reading the book so as to deepen learning and enhance the objectective of literacy development.
2021-03-1409 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Twelve - West WindIn which the children realize that Mary Poppins is leaving because of the signs that the wind had changed and how they come to deal with her leaving.
2021-03-0715 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the Curriculum Mary Poppins - Chapter Eleven - Christmas ShoppingIn which Mary Poppins and the two older children go shopping and meet one of the Seven Sisters who has come down to earth to do her Christmas shopping and needs some help..
2021-03-0621 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Ten - Full MoonIn which Mary Poppins and the two older children go to the zoo in the middle of the night and end up seeing people in the cages and the animals wandering around looking at the people.
2021-03-0644 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Nine - John & Barbara's StoryIn which the twins carry on a conversation with a speaking starling.
2021-03-0520 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Eight - Mrs. CorryIn which the two older children go shopping with Mary Poppins and meet Mrs. Corry, the Gingerbread baker, and her two daughters and are amazed at how they seem to make stars out of nothing.
2021-03-0433 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Seven - The Bird WomanIn which the two older children go with Mary Poppins to the Square to see the Bird Woman.
2021-03-0210 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Six - Bad TuesdayIn which Michael decided to be a very bad boy and dared Mary Poppins to do certain things which she took him up on and then learned a very important lesson at the end.
2021-02-2832 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter 5 - The Dancing CowIn which we learn about the dancing cow wandering in the lane and how the cow went to the king and became the cow that jumped over the moon.
2021-02-2624 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Four - Miss Lark's AndrewIn which we meet Miss Lark and her dog Andrew and we learn more about Mary Poppins and the impossible things she CAN do, like understanding and talking to animals.
2021-02-2320 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Three - Laughing GasIn which Mary takes the two oldest children to visit her uncle Mr. Wigg who has swallowed laughing gas and is enjoying the rarefied air near the ceiling. The children and then Mary Poppins joins him for crumpets and tea.
2021-02-2326 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter Two - The Day OutIn which Mary takes her day out, meets Bert, the Match Man, in the park and goes through the picture he has drawn for a visit and tea and cakes at a sidewalk cafe.
2021-02-2116 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins - Chapter 1 - East WindIn which we meet the Banks family and learn that they are desperately in need of a nanny for their four children. That nanny, of course, is Mary Poppins who mysteriously arrives with the West Wind. We meet her and learn of her earliest interactions with the children under her care.
2021-02-2119 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumMary Poppins, Then and Now, Literacy, and Projects For Older Children Based Upon the BookMary Poppins, of course, is an all-time favourite book because of the famous movie and the songs that go with it. But there is great pleasure to be derived from hearing the book before seeing the movie for one who has not seen the movie first. It is very imaginative and students can have endless fun learning the songs, imitating the characters in the book through drama and coming up with new ways to go on with the story. Some students might even have some fun pretending to interview P. L. Travers and ask her where she got the...
2021-02-2109 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumIntroduction to P. L. TraversMary Poppins was the first book written by this Australian-born Brit who also spent time in the United States. She was born in the outback and no doubt that stimulated her imagination. She was never married but gained tremendous fame and wealth as a result of her books about Mary Poppins.
2021-02-2103 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 8 - The Kindergarten DropoutIn which Ramona stays away from school because she thinks her teacher doesn't like her anymore and everything is resolved by a letter.
2021-02-1127 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 7 - The Day Everything Went WrongIn which Ramona begins her day thinking she is so grown up but ends it after a day at school in which she is literally out in the cold because she has a lot of lessons about life to learn still.
2021-02-0818 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 6 - The Baddest Witch in the WorldIn which Ramona gets her costume for Halloween and is so excited to be marching with all the rest of the school but doesn't like it when no one knows it is her behind the mask. But she learns something about herself.
2021-02-0621 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 5 - The Engagement RingIn which Ramona deals with rain on the way to school, the need for new boots, getting stuck in the mud and using a worm to make an engagement ring.
2021-02-0626 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 4 - The SubstituteIn which Ramona arrives at school to learn that her teacher is away and so she hides and won't go into the classroom because she doesn't want any other teacher. She is eventually found though and is taken to the Principal's office.
2021-02-0221 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 3 - Seat WorkIn which Ramona tries to tell everyone how to do their work while the teacher tries to teach her how to sit and follow instructions properly.
2021-02-0218 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 2 - Show & TellIn which Ramona tries to be just like Beezus and bring something for Show & Tell but along the way, she gets her friend Howie Kemp to to bring something as well, as then Ramona finds Howie causing her problems when she wants to be the centre of attention.
2021-01-3124 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumRamona the Pest - Chapter 1 - Ramona's Great DayEver since her older sister Beezus started school, Ramona has waited impatiently to begin kindergarten. Today's her big day but it does't go exactly as she anticipated.
2021-01-3136 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumBeverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest and How to Use it the Classrooms of 2021Ramona the Pest is the second in a series of books written by Beverly Cleary. The series as a whole could be considered dated because this book was written in 1968. BUT, there is much that a teacher can do to help her students learn about the past and have fun at the same time. Ramona is beginning Kindergarten and her older sister Beezus is already in Grade 3, Listen to the trials and tribulations of a little girl starting school and trying to be just like her big sister. Ramona is a very active child, to be sure, but the...
2021-01-3109 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumIntroducing Beverly ClearyBeverly Cleary is still alive at this writing. She is over 100 years old and 91 million copies of her books are in circulation. Listen for more details.
2021-01-3102 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapters 10 & 11In which the family of frogs believes the Frog Pin was eaten by the Hag and then they realize that was not so but still can't find him. Then Jimmy is picked up by a princess and at the last minute, Pin pushes Jimmy off and takes his place in the palm of the princess who is just about to ........and you should know the rest of this story. Suffice it to say that the princess is confronted by a naked male prince.
2021-01-2021 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapters 8 & 9In which, first the male and female frog and their froglet start to relate as a family and explore what it means to be husband, wife, mother and father, and then have a son. Then in which Jimmy, the son froglet is captured by the Hag and then Prin and Jade try to save Jimmy and are helped by the other froglet brothers and sisters.
2021-01-2024 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapters 6 & 7In which, first Pin gets lessons on how to mate and make tadpoles and then he worries about keeping them safe from harm and shows the female where they will begin to grow and then they are crowded in the well and get moved to a pond. After those get eaten, Pin returns with the female frog to the well where 50 are safe and watched with amazement as they metamorphose. Eventually they all get back into the big pond.
2021-01-1721 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapters 4 & 5In which Pin the Fawg learns to eat and what he can and cannot eat and amazes his female friend with the things he says he can eat. Then the two pond frogs talk about tadpoles and how they come about. In the next chapter, they continue becoming closer and then Pin saves the female from a Water Snake proving that friendship is becoming something more.
2021-01-1625 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapters 2 & 3In which Pin and the narrator of the story, a female pond frog, learn a bit more about each other and the female is finding all the nice things about the male frog, Pin, but he's very unhappy with himself. The female begins to teach him how to really be a. frog. Then they meet a sow bug and the male frog talks about eating lobster and the female frog finds it very funny and doesn't believe him. He calls himself the Fawg Pin and then they meet a snapping turtle that thinks he can eat Pin but Pin...
2021-01-1417 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Prince of the Pond - Chapter 1In which we listen to the voice of a female frog talk about her encounter with a very strange male frog and what happens when they are threatened by a hag.
2021-01-1309 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumIntroducing The Prince of the Pond By Donna Jo NapoliReading The Prince in the Pond: Otherwise Known as the Fawg Prin is a very clever and funny story that children in the Primary Grades will enjoy especially since it introduces to them the world of chapter books. There is so much you can do with a class around this book with your class or your children. Listen to this podcast to hear what exactly and how,
2021-01-1305 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumIntroducing Donna Jo NapoliIntroducing Donna Jo Napoli, the author of The Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as the Fawg Prin
2021-01-1301 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 12 & 13In which Mr. Alden comes to stay with the Moores so they can get to know him before he declares he is their grandfather. But Henry figures it out on his own and so the children realize their grandfather is kind and generous and they are invited to stay and live with him. But they miss their boxcar home so Mr. Alden moves the boxcar to his property. And everyone lives happily ever after again.
2021-01-1120 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 10 & 11In which James is taken to a free Field Day sponsored by his grandfather, but he doesn't know that is who it is. He is invited to run in the Open Race and ends up winning it and the grand prize of $25 dollars. Then he and his siblings feast on potatoes but Violet gets sick and so Henry runs to get the doctor and they all go to the Moore home for the night while the doctor tends to Violet. In the morning, their grandfather shows up but they don't know that is who he is yet.
2021-01-0919 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 8 & 9In which the children use their new cart to haul stones and build a dam so they can have a pool for swimming and washing in and then they find a wild hen and her nest which has eggs for dinner. Then Henry returns to the Moore home and brings his siblings because they can help pick cherries and the Moore family falls in love with these mysterious children and feed them a wonderful lunch. Dr. Moore reads an advertisement in the paper indicating someone is looking for these same four children,
2021-01-0813 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapter 7In which Henry goes to work for Dr. Moore again and is rewarded not only with money but treasures he and his siblings can use to build things with and vegetables that he picked in the garden and were extras. After a wonderful dinner of stew, they made a cart to use to stones for making a pool with.
2021-01-0811 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 5 & 6In which the children gather items to make their lives in the boxcar easier and more normal and then Henry goes into the town and gets a job working for a doctor doing odd jobs and he earns money to buy real food to eat. Then they pass an almost normal day until during the night they are awakened by the dog barking and are sure someone or something is out there but they still feel safe.
2021-01-0816 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 3 & 4In which, first the children stumble upon the perfect home and hiding place - a deserted boxcar seemingly right in the middle of. the woods. It is close to fresh water, and as they discover also a blueberry patch that they harvest for the supper. Then they meet up with a stray wounded dog that Jessie nurses and they adopt. Henry goes off into the town to buy milk and cheese and bread for supper and then the children, satisfied, they go to sleep safe and sound.
2021-01-0614 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumUsing Gertrude Chandler Warner's The Boxcar Children As A Teaching & Learning ToolAn introduction to Gertrude Chandler Warner, the author of The Boxcar Children series of books begins this podcast.The style of writing was purposefully simple and easy to read because she wanted her readers to love reading books as much as her and she was very successful at this. The book is one of the all-time favourite read aloud books for young children. A brief summary of the book and then six ideas of how to use the book as a teaching and learning tool.
2021-01-0408 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumThe Boxcar Children - Chapters 1 & 2In which the four children, who are orphans, come upon a bakery where they buy bread and then are offered a place to sleep overnight and then work the next morning. Then, they run off because the baker and his wife are going to take the youngest to the orphanage and his siblings won't allow that. So they walk during the night and sleep in haystack close to fresh water.
2021-01-0414 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 37, 38 & 39In which James introduces all his friends to the citizens of New York after they realized all those "monsters" included a little boy. Then the book ends with a ticker tape parade and a telling of how all the Peach Passengers made out in their new lives.
2021-01-0114 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 34, 35, 36 and 37In which first the centipede bites the silk strings attached to the seagulls and the peach starts to fall and THEN the peach started to fall right to the city of New York and finally came to rest on the top of the Empire State Building and then caused a riot of fear in the citizenry and so the Chiefs of the Police and the Fire Departments were called to do something and everyone only became more afraid.
2021-01-0108 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 31, 32, & 33In which, now that the centipede was freed by the rain storm, the travellers admire all the sites as they float above the ocean until, as the sun came up in the west, they realized they were floating over New York City BUT now the residents of the city below begin to prepare themselves for the dropping of a giant bomb, since that is what they think the peach is.
2020-12-2906 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 28, 29 & 30In which they interrupted Cloud-Men as they were painting a giant rainbow and then in which, next, the Cloud-Men fought back by throwing cans of paint at the peach, hitting the centipede who ended up stuck solidly to the peach, and then, next they went through a terrible rain storm, which sounds like it might have even been a hurricane.
2020-12-2922 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 25, 26, & 27In which, having saved themselves from the sharks in the ocean below, they tell James in turn why they are valuable to men and what makes them special and THEN the Centipede falls off the top of the Peach and James has to rescue him from the ocean using string that the silkworm spun and THEN they meet little cloud-men making hailstones and the cloud-men start aiming at them at the peach,.
2020-12-2722 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 22, 23, & 24In which they harness enough birds to achieve lift-off and then they start sailing under the clouds and are sighted by an ocean liner and then they have a party and are entertained by the grasshopper who makes beautiful music.
2020-12-2520 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 19, 20, & 21In which James and his friends see sharks circling the giant peach in search of food and in which the alarm is sounded that they have to do something to save themselves and then in which James devises a brilliant scheme involved spiders and silkworms and harnessing sea gulls to the stem of the peach.
2020-12-2412 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 16, 17, & 18In which the peach falls from the stem holding it to the tree and rolls down the hill until it flies off the cliffs of Dover into the sea and then James and friends recover from their trip and go outside by climbing using ladders the spider has spun for them and then they decide that they can eat the peach because they are hungry and talk about all the foods that they love.
2020-12-2223 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 13, 14, & 15In which Spider spins hammocks for each of James's new friends and then James meets one more friend, the Glowworm who has to turn out her light so everyone can sleep. In the morning, the Giant Peach begins to move down the hill and then the aunts have to run away but don't quite make it and go SPLAT!
2020-12-2015 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 10, 11, & 12In which James explores a cave opening into the peach and goes through a door opening and then he meets creatures that are. just as large proportionately as the peach (including an earthworm, a grasshopper, a spider, a centipede, and a ladybug ) and then they get to know each other.
2020-12-2012 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 7, 8, & 9In which the peach on the tree grows and grows and next the oddity attracts so much attention that they sell tickets to the spectators and next James is pushed out after dark to clean up the mess left behind.
2020-12-2011 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 4, 5, & 6In which James is given specific instructions on what to do to invoke the magic, then in which he has an accident and fate takes over, then the peach tree in the yard begins to grow miraculously and the aunts plan to eat the whole thing themselves, THEN
2020-12-1710 min
Cultivating & Integrating Literacy Across the CurriculumJames & the Giant Peach - Chapters 1, 2, & 3In which we meet James, then he becomes and orphan, then he is adopted by his horrid aunts, and then he meets up with something that will change his life, THEN
2020-12-1715 min