About This WEBPAGE of Literacy Topics

This webpage contains various literacy topics. These topics include a variety of genre poems, literacy programs, recommended children's books, literacy events, tips for reading and writing, literacy web links, and literacy assessment.

It is my goal to introduce the reader to a world of knowledge and tools that promote literacy for all ages.

GENRE OF POEMS

Poems come from different periods and cultures throughout time. Several examples of different Genres of poems are listed below.

Genre of Poems

Ballad

Ballads are songs that are preserved through oral communication. An example of a popular ballad is Imagine by John Lennon.

Sonnet

Ballads are usually recognized to be synonymous with William Shakespeare. Sonnets are fourteen-line lyric poems, traditionally written in iambic pentameter. An example of a sonnet is William Shakespeare’s, Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?

Villanelle

The Villanelle is a formal poem of 19 lines with alternating repeated refrain lines and a strict rhyme scheme. A popular Villanelle is by W.H. Auden, If I could tell you.

The Elegy

The Elegy was adopted by Renaissance writers, which used its form as pastoral poetry. However, most classical elegies were love poems.

Want to discover more about poetic genres? Take a look at the links below.
http://www.starve.org/teaching/intro-poetry/genre.html

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nap/dialogue_elegy.htm

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/poetic_glossary.html

Guam IRA Events and Programs

Literacy Events and Programs

The International Reading Association (IRA) is an active organization in Guam that promotes Literacy events and programs. One of the more popular events is the Read-A-Thon, which is held annually in order to raise funds for the organization simultaneously promoting reading through monetary donations.

The IRA also promotes and sponsors various Literacy events. They also have IRA grants that schools can apply for. Although the IRA sponsors many literacy events on Guam, their main mission is to promote diverse reading programs and activities throughout Guam and Micronesia.

http://iraguam.blogspot.com/

Recommended Children's Books

Below are recommended Childeren's Books ranging from Ages 3-12.

Recommended Children’s Reading Books

Ages 3-5

All the World

By Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee

Boo Hoo Bird

by Jeremy Tankard

Bubble Trouble

by Magaret Mahy

Ages 6-9

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters

By Lenore Look; illustrations by LeUyen Pham

Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes

By Alice Schertle; illustrations by Petra Mathers

I Am Going! (An Elephant & Piggie Book)

Compiled by Mo Willems

Ages 10-12

The Magician's Elephant

By Kate DiCamillo; illustrated by Yoko Tanaka

One Crazy Summer

By Rita Williams-Garcia

Tofu Quilt

By Ching Yeung Russell

When You Reach Me

By Rebecca Stead

For more children's books take a look at the websites below.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm

http://www.parents.com/fun/book-gallery/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-ever

LITERACY EVENT

A literacy event is usually described as an encounter with writing. The encounter usually fosters strong emotions that deal with conflicts, resoloutions, and allinces in which the writer stimulates and facilitates discussions.

The International Reading Association co-sponsors the Annual Regional Language Arts Conference, in order to offer the experience of Literacy Events. The most recent literacy event was held in May 2012. If you are interested in attending a literacy event check out the link below.

http://iraguam.blogspot.com/

Tips for Reading and Writing

TIPS FOR READING AND WRITING

http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/modlang/talarico/tips.htm

This website provides six steps for reading and writing.

1. Begin at the beginning

2. Choose a key episode

3. Choose spot quotations to focus your reading and understanding

4. Read the text before coming to class and Read ahead

5. Jot down special difficulties and Increase your reading speed

6. Writing Assignments: Reading and writing go together

LITERACY LINKS

Below you will find web links that support and encourage literacy.

http://litlink.ket.org/begin.aspl

Provides Online lessons for ESL Learners

Pre-GED and GED tutorials

What teachers and students can do to promote and facilitate literacy in the classroom

http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/literacy_links.htm

This website offers the following services:

Reading Workshops

Writing Workshops

Classroom Library

Spelling and Word Study                   

Online Videos for each Workshop

http://www.teachers.cr.k12.de.us/~galgano/klinkslit.htm

This website contains tools to facilitate literacy to new readers targeting Kindergartners.

It contains: Nursery Rhymes, Internet Picture Dictionary, Word World, etc…

http://literacylinks.civiced.org/

The Center for Civic Education the site where literacy and civics instruction meet to help teachers provide engaging, interdisciplinary learning experiences for their students. This site is filled with hundreds of teacher-created materials that meet both Social Studies and English Language Arts Standards.

http://pointviewroom31.wikispaces.com/Literacy+Links

This website provides additional links for reading, writing, spelling, and grammar.