June 2013
With summer just around the corner, we are focusing this month on summer reading ideas — for you, your students and families, and your colleagues.
Dear Subscribers:
With summer just around the corner, we are focusing this month on summer reading ideas — for you, your students and families, and your colleagues. It is also a great time to visit our newsletter archive to look at any resources you may have missed during the year.
We wish you all the best for your summer. Thank you for your great ideas and feedback all year long!
Sincerely,
The Colorín Colorado Team
Don't Miss...
Interview Tips for ESL/Bilingual Teachers
If you are looking for a new ESL or bilingual teaching position, there are a number of things you can do to help prepare for the interview. This article by Susan Lafond on ESL/bilingual job interview tips outlines general information that will get you started, as well as areas of your own experience that may be helpful to highlight in the interview.
Father's Day: Reading with Dads
Our Reading with Dads booklist celebrates fathers and grandfathers and the many reasons they are so special. It includes a number of beloved books from different cultures that families are sure to enjoy together. The booklist is also available in Spanish.
Reading Tips for Dads
In addition, take a look at our bilingual reading tips for dads. PreK and K-3 versions of the article are available.
Common Core Corner
Common Core and ELLs Blog: Writing Series
Our Common Core and ELLs blogger, Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner, has just finished a three-part series about Common Core writing instruction for English language learners. Her posts include a number of strategies, activities, and recommended resources for the classroom.
Recommended Resources
Summer Reading Ideas: Professional Booklists by Topic
Colorín Colorado offers more than 15 professional booklists organized by topic for educators working with ELLs. These books include titles focused on getting to know immigrant, refugee, and internationally adopted students; ideas for ELL instruction and assessment in reading, writing, and the content areas; and titles focused on ELL policy and school leadership.
Edutopia: Summer Rejuvenation Guide
Whether your summer plans call for heading off on an adventure or reading a good book, you'll find resource-packed ideas in Edutopia's Summer Rejuvenation Guide: 10 Tips to Help You Relax, Reflect, and Recharge for the Coming School Year. The guide also offers a number of ways to connect with other educators throughout the summer through networking — in person and online, such as on our ELL Facebook Discussion Group! The guide is available as a free download; user e-mail address is requested.
Water Safety: Multilingual Tip Sheets
Swimming is a popular summer activity, but ELL families may not be able to understand safety signs or directions given by a lifeguard. Help keep families safe with these multilingual water safety tips from the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Australian government.
In the Classroom
Summer Learning Resources
These resources offer summer learning ideas for educators and parents:
- Tips for Teaching ELLs in Summer School
- Summer Reading and ELLs at the Library
- Summer Learning Resources for Parents
- Parent Tips: The Resources at Your Library
Start with a Book: Ideas for Kids' Summer Learning
This summer, explore dinosaurs, bugs, birds, planes, music, sports, superheroes, inventors, art, the night sky, the ocean, and more — 24 themes in all from Start with a Book! This companion website to Reading Rockets uses books as a launching pad for real world learning adventures, offering booklists, activity ideas, and recommended resources for parents and educators.
Reading Tips to Go
If you or your students' parents need help coming up with ideas to keep children's reading and writing skills improving over the summer, sign up for Start with a Book's Summer Reading Tips to Go, text messages with fun tips and activity ideas sent right to your phone. You'll receive 3-4 messages per week throughout the summer. These messages are also available in Spanish.
Books and Authors
Book of the Month
Freddie Ramos Makes a Splash By Jacqueline Jules
Freddie Ramos is back in his fourth adventure! Freddie's super running and jumping powers (and his confidence) disappear after the loss of his zapatos. When his special-soled shoes are found, however, Freddie is able to successfully confront a bully as well as his own swimming fears. Easy but lively language and line drawings present an engaging story for new readers.
Stories About Summer for Kids of All Ages
From unexpected family vacations to the surprising benefits of tedious summer jobs, these books for kids of all ages remind readers that anything can happen in the summer — and that books for kids and young adults can make great beach reading for grown-ups!
Summer Reading Ideas for Children
Our multicultural booklists for children and young adults feature great titles for summer booklists. They also can be shared with librarians or teachers managing summer reading programs. Topics include special holidays and traditions across a wide range of cultures, books about family and friends, historical fiction, stories about ELLs, and poetry.