Using cross-curricular activities to enhance and enrich student learning
When I wrote my story, Tofu Ling, I felt that it was important to include a section in the back of the book that provided adults/parents and teachers with tools that can extend the literature experience into different disciplines. School districts across the nation are setting increasingly higher learning standards for their students. Through proficiency tests or exit exams school systems are measuring their students' progress toward these learning objectives to determine if the students have obtained the necessary knowledge and skills that they are now expected to have learned. The quality-learning activities provided in the back of my book are an opportunity for children to practice these growing expectations of knowledge and skill. It is important that adults/parents remain involved in the learning process and help their children by supplementing their education with these tools.
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About Rosanna
I am a published author of eight textbooks and conduct teacher and parent workshops across the country. I like to use children's literature as way to enhance and enrich cross-curricular activities. I have published five children's books in the Tofu Ling...
Causes Rosanna Porter Supports
Stand up 2 Cancer
Children's Literature
I went to your website and thought that your activities in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies were very good. I plan to use them in my classroom. I ordered your book and it was excellent. Do you have any recommendations for selecting good quality children's literature in the classroom.
Children's Literature
Thank you, I am glad that the children enjoyed the activities and the free pdf downloadable activities at my website worked out well for you.
Identifying quality children’s literature is made easier if you establish a set of criteria that you will use to judge the books. Reviewing a book requires an awareness of social and political stereotypes and biases that can enter into a story. Today, characters such as Sleeping Beauty may not be viewed in a positive light.
In picture books, you need to examine the illustrations and try to gain an understanding of what the images are trying to convey. The story should include positive conflict resolutions and demonstrate the connection and merit between hard work and success. You need to identify who the heroes are in the story and what is it that they did to warrant this status. While reading the story, keep in mind the author’s perspective, use of words to describe the characters, and how they portray the relationship between the characters.
In bookstores and libraries, there are many book lists that the staff have created as a must read book. Keep in mind that they are addressing a broad and diverse audience and that your values may not align with theirs. There are many great gems out there yet to be discovered by you.
Tofu Ling
I just purchased your book and my children really enjoyed the story. The illustrations are beautiful. I am looking forward to your next book. Can you give me any information about the next book and when it will be out?
Tofu Ling and the Carp Banner
Thank you. Lynda is feverishly working on the illustrations for our next book. I have seen the storyboard and I think our latest book will be fantastic. Lynda has done a lot of reserach on the rich symbolisms behind the Japanese culture and the Tango No Sekku, Boys Festival, and it will show through in her vibrant paintings. We are hoping to have the book available mid-winter 2009. Keep visiting our website as we will keep updating it. www.RaisykinderPublishing.com
FREE Interactive Parent,Teacher, and Child Workshop
On March 14th,2009 I will be at the Launching Success & Learning Store in Bellingham, WA. I will use my by Tofu Ling story as a springboard to do interactive stories and enriching activities with the children. Parents and teachers will learn how to extend children's literature into fun activities in art, litearture, science, math, and social studies. I have been invited to several schools and have had a lot of fun doing these activities with the children. I am finding the appeal is for pre-school children to 10 years old. I am inviting parents, children, teachers, adults to come to a FREE workshop on March 14th, 2009 at the Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham, WA from 11:00 to 1:00. You need to call the store (360-527-2647) and make a reservation -- this fills up fast and I hope to see you there.
Fourth Grade Washington State Program
I have received multiple private emails asking me whether or not I have written a Washington State Studies Program as I have for other states. I am being told that there really isn't anything concise or indepth enough for teachers and parents to use with their students/child. I am asking the Redroom members if they have found this to be true in their area. I would appreciate any responses.