Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy • American Reading Company

Words of inspiration for teachers

Smiles & Butterflies

Volume 1, Issue 8 • Page 1

A Magical EncounterPromoting Written ExpressionEffective written expression is an enriching ability for all life activities. After reading or sharing a book, encourage students to:

• Write a letter to the author or to a character

• Write a letter as if written by the protagonist

• Write a journal entry of one of the characters or entries by various characters about the same event

• Rewrite the story at a different setting and/or time

• Write a different story with the same characters

• Write an original story where the book read or shared is mentioned

• Retell in another genre (turn into a play, a poem)

For the theory that informs this practice, and multiple examples, see Alma Flor Ada’s A Magical Encounter: Latino Children’s Literature in the Classroom. (Allyn & Bacon)

“The R

efrigerator Door” by F. Isabel C

ampoy from

the book Flying D

ragon, p. 8.Smiles & Butterflies

Inspiring Words To know the courage in the life of others… is contagious.

Share a moment of courage with others.

Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy

Cultural EnrichmentHow were the impressive walls of the magnificent fortress of Sacsahuamán in Cuzco, Perú, built? Who were the engineers behind the construction of the city of Machu Picchu? How did the Nazcas created the gigantic figures in the Peruvian coast? The most advanced minds in the fields of astronomy, architecture, and engineering have profound admiration and respect for the achievements of the indigenous cultures in the Americas, while continuously seeking to learn more about them.

Smiles & Butterflies • Volume 1, Issue 6 • Page 2

Explore With UsBooks and CDs by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy can be obtained from www.delsolbooks.com.

Visit www.almaflorada.com and www.isabelcampoy.com and send Alma Flor and Isabel your comments on their books, CDs, and DVDs.

Learn more about enriching the lives of your students through a wealth of books by visiting www.americanreading.com.

Books, CDs, & VideosCD: Gathering the Sun [In Spanish]Suni Paz has created the music for these poems in celebration of working farm families and their contributions that support our lives. Students of all ages can reflect about the major issues in the poems: family, honor, work, solidarity. They can memorize the poems and sing them with the CD.Some poems, like Orgullo/Pride, lend themselves to being expanded by the students who can add their own lines. Others can serve as starting points for the students’ own creations.

Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasure [Bilingual]This 222-page book, with lively illustrations by Maribel Suárez, provides an ample array of lullabies, finger plays, lap games, sayings, rhymes, jump-rope songs, song games, proverbs, riddles, tall tales and never-ending stories, ballads, songs, birthday songs, and Christmas carols. The original Spanish versions and the new versions in English offer excellent opportunities for language and concept development in either language—and for fun!

The Three Golden Oranges [In Spanish]A recreation of a popular folktale of three brothers in pursuit of wives. The bright and powerful illustrations of Greg Cartwright capture the beauty of the Andalusian landscape and the magic of the story.Follow the Creative Reading dialogue phases to analyze the story with students:Personal Interpretive: Have you ever wanted something very much? Were you able to get it? How? Did someone help you? Critical: Is it important to listen to advice? When? Why? What are some moments

when one must work with others to reach one’s goals? When is it important to follow one’s heart, even if others laugh at us or criticize us? Creative/Transformative: Are there ways in which you can be more supportive of your siblings and/or friends? What can you do to show your solidarity?

Home/School InteractionA Meaningful MomentThere are moments that mark profound changes in one’s life. Parents are asked to share with their children a moment that changed their lives. It can be one of multiple things: The day they got married. The birthday of a child. The moment they decided to emigrate. Finishing a career. Getting a first job. The death of a loved person.