Remaking Literacy Book Study

Do you love books? Are you a librarian or an ELA teacher looking for new ideas for hands-on learning? Do you run your school's STEM Lab or Makerspace? Maybe you just need a new professional book to jumpstart your creativity for the next school year.  Remaking Literacy is definitely the book for you!

Consider this your formal invitation to participate in the Remaking Literacy Book Study! 

During our 4-week book study ,we will talk about ways to transform literacy teaching and learning by integrating maker-centered learning projects for K-5 classrooms. The book’s tools and strategies will help you construct innovative opportunities for students to boost comprehension, increase vocabulary knowledge, and improve writing skills.

We will apply the concepts of maker-centered learning and projects to your literacy classroom in creative, hands-on ways. We will:

• Examine the ways maker education and project-based learning (PBL) can enhance teaching and empower student engagement and learning.

• Learn how to reimagine instruction to ensure students build crucial literacy, collaboration, and thinking skills.

• Study various low-tech and low-cost strategies and how to utilize them in flexible learning spaces or makerspaces in the elementary classroom or school. We'll also explore some easy digital tools to incorporate into any learning space.

During each virtual meeting, we will tackle two chapters together, while engaging in some hands-on learning of our own. You will also get access to new Remake Resources! Check out the schedule below.

If you can't make a meeting, we'll send you the recording, along with any resources that you missed. 

If this sounds like great summer PD to you, then order your book and register today! 

https://forms.gle/ZkWoZsQ2Tyd1k6oZ8 

Use promo code: Blog25 for $10 off.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at jaciemaslyk@gmail.com 

Welcome to the Literacy and Language Trailblazer Route!

 If you are headed to ISTE/ASCD, then you may need some direction when you hit the Expo Hall. Here's come help as you blaze a trail through the Solutions Hub Expo at the co-located ISTELive 25 and ASCD Annual 25 conference in San Antonio. This guided journey will take you to selected innovative exhibitors that offer solutions you may be looking for.

This route was specifically curated for teachers, librarians, reading interventionists, special education teachers, looking for resources in reading, writing, and language. Whether you are a classroom teacher, a librarian, or a curriculum leader, this route will lead you to engaging vendors, innovative products, and literacy-focused learning. Check out new tech tools to add to classrooms and libraries to support literacy and language. 

Here's how to participate:

     1. Start at the Trailblazer Area (Booth #2254) where our team will welcome you.

     2. Visit the Trailhead counters to pick up a physical map of this route -- or a dozen others.

     3. Collect engaging questions at the Trailhead to guide your vendor conversations.

     4. Speak with at least two vendors on your route using at least 2 of the questions provided.

     5. Return to Booth #2254 to share what you learned.

     6. Spin the prize wheel to win a premium insulated tumbler or other exciting swag!

🚏 Stop 1

Pocketalk - Booth 2355

 

🚏 Stop 2

Be Glad - Booth 3150

 

🚏 Stop 3

Writable - Booth 3624

 

🚏 Stop 4

The Juice Learning - Booth 3027

 

🚏 Stop 5

Beanstack - Booth 2824

Speechace - Booth 2537

 

🚏 Stop 6

BookBreak - Booth 808

 

🚏 Stop 7

FACIL'iti MYdys - Booth 504

 

🚏 Stop 8

WeWillWrite - Booth 628

 

🚏 Stop 9

CyberHoot - Booth 1256

 

🏁 Stop 10

Edshed - Booth 1563

Kibeam - Booth 1960

Return to Booth #2254 for Swag and Snacks!

Don't miss these recommended literacy sessions:

Remake Literacy: Transforming ELA Through MakerEd
Sunday, June 29, 2 – 3 p.m.
Presenters: Jacie Maslyk
Interactive Session

Close Reading Culturally Relevant Music
Monday, June 30, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Presenters: Leticia Citizen | Toutoule Ntoya | Tory Wadlington
Creation Lab

Amplifying Multilingual Student Voice Through Supporting Oracy and Collaboration
Tuesday, July 1, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Presenters: Sarah Said
Poster

5 Fun Read Alouds with Quick Design Challenges

 If you are looking for ways to increase engagement in your reading classroom, research shows that incorporating some aspect of hands-on learning will help. Extension activities are great, but I like infusing hand-on learning within the story, as opposed to after reading. 

During a read aloud, I like to interrupt the story and give students an opportunity to activate their thinking. I might pose a question about character development or share a wondering about the problem in the story. Let's face it, every good story has some problem that needs solved. We can use design thinking strategies and student creativity to come up with solutions to those problems. I call those Quick Designs.

Each Quick Design Challenge is connected to a read aloud selection. Challenges require minimal materials (think cardboard, tape, plastic recyclables, etc.) and can be implemented with students in grades K-5. You may choose to include additional criteria or limitations for students based on their age and experience. 

Here are a few fun books to try:

Those Darn Squirrels 

• Design and build a bird feeder using craft sticks. Be sure to include a way for the feeder to hang in the tree. 
• Create a pulley system to get the birdseed from the ground up to the feeder. 
• Devise a trap to catch the squirrels using recyclable materials.

Betty Builds It 

• Invent a gadget to help Betty clean her room. Sketch a design and then create a prototype. 
• Build a contraption to fly Betty to Venus. 
• Create a robot companion for her using cardboard and other found materials. 

I Am Not A Chair 

• Design a small scale chair using only paper.. (Hint-rolling the paper will help to create strong pillars for constructing the legs of the chair.) 
• Can the chair hold a water bottle at least 6 inches off the ground? 
• Now try and build a life-size chair for you to sit on. Will it hold your weight? 

Inky’s Amazing Escape 

• Inky loses parts of his tentacles in the story. Design a prosthetic arm for Inky until his grows back. 
• Construct a lobster trap and include a mechanism that will close the trap. 
• What materials will you use to make it waterproof? 

Mousetronaut Goes to Mars 

• Design a tool that will help Mousestronaut on his mission. 
• Build a model of the solar system. Don’t forget to include Mars! 
• Create a mouse-sized rover to land on Mars.

If you are interested in more ideas like these, check out my book Remaking Literacy. You can find it at bit.ly/MaslykBooks or contact me at jaciemaslyk@gmail.com to bring a hands-on workshop to your school.