Articles and Resources

The following articles are from seminar and resource books and soon to be published manuscripts by Nellie Edge and colleagues.

Celebrate Language and Accelerated Literacy

Joyful Accelerated Literacy Video Clips
Photo Essay: Accelerate Literacy Through Joyful Learning
Celebrate Language and Accelerate Literacy Manual: Information (PDF)
Celebrate Language and Accelerate Literacy Seminar Flier (PDF)
Give Children The Affirming Language of “Reading is Fun!”: Build a Culture for Kindergarten Reading
Unique Features of Shared Literacy Experiences with Read and Sing Big Books, Little Books and Song Language Charts
Sing, Sign and Read: Accelerate Spanish and English (PDF)
We Build Character and Emotional Intelligence Through the Community We Create: Choose Words Thoughtfully
We Sing See Me Beautiful—Look for the Best in Me
Make Optimal Use of Reading Buddies
Phonics Fun: The "Silent E" Man Song
We Can Write Nonssense Words
10 Tips to Make Dancing Fun for Everyone
Children and Their Families Learn About Stars (PDF)
Teach High-Frequency Words Through Meaningful, Multisensory Learning: I
Teach the High-Frequency Word “the” Through a Rhythmic Spelling Chant: Children Love Active Learning!
ABC Fluency (Quick Letter Writing) Research and Practice: Kindergarten Can Learn to Recall and Effeciently Print 40 Letters Per Minute
Provide ABC Fluency Practice for Less-Experienced Students
Kindergarten Friends Challenge: "I Can Say Every Name!"
The Absolute Hardest Part of Teaching is Classroom Discipline:
Thoughts on Why I Use Positive Discipline by Jacque Verrall
Photo Essay: Becky Leber's Literacy Centers
L-O-V-E Spells Love , M-O-M Spells Mom
Build Fluency and Accelerate Literacy: L-O-V-E Spells Love (PDF)
Sing, Sign and Spell to Accelerate Literacy: M-O-M Spells MOM (PDF)

Defining Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy (11/08)
Magical Memory Reading Precedes Guided Reading
How to Use the Neurological Impress Method for Reading Fluency
Take Advantage of How the Brain learns Best: Give All Children "Books that Sing and Rhyme "
Favorite Books that Sing and Rhyme
Developing Phonemic Awareness and Teaching Phonics Skills
The SMILE Approach to Accelerated Literacy
Excerpts from Teaching with Intention: Defining Beliefs, Aligning Practice, Taking Action (5/09)
Excerpts from The Daily FIve: Fostering Literacy Independence in The Elementary Grades
Excerpts from Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning
Excerpts from The Literate Kindergarten: Where Wonder and Discovery Thrive
Excerpts from Why We Teach: Learning Laughter, Love, and the Power to Transform Lives
Excerpts from Kindergarten Today
Resource Books for Kindergarten Literacy

Magic of Signing Songs: (ASL)

Favorite Sign Language Resource (3/08)
Dear Josh Signing Letter (pdf) (7/08)
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ASL Instructional Video and The Pledge of Allegiance ASL Instructional Video
Sign Language Resources and Order Form (pdf)
See Magic of Signing Songs Seminar Flyer 2008 (PDF)
Photo Essay: The Magic of Signing Songs
See The Magic of Signing Songs: Distance Learning Information (5-09)
Literacy Connections for The Pledge of Allegiance
Research Supports Teaching All Children to Fingerspell and Sign Songs
Children's Confidence and Fluency Using Language Are Enhanced by Performing Signed Songs
The Magic of Signing Songs: Distance Learning Information
Sing and Sign for Powerful ABC and Phonics Immersion
When parents ask, "Why are you signing songs?"
Signing Songs is a Powerful Language and Literacy Strategy
Accelerate English and Spanish Learning
Excerpts from Dancing with Words by Marilyn Daniels

Using Nellie Edge Read and Sing Books

Unique Features of Shared Literacy Experiences with Read and SIng Big Books
Easy Guide to Coloring and Laminating Big Books
Free Little Books
Tips on Storing Little Books
Folding Our Little Books
About Nellie Edge
Accelerate Literacy within a Love of Language

Awakening the Child's Love of Nature

Our Study of Rocks
Our Bird Study Culminates in a Family Research and Writing Project
Summer Learning Fun: Playing in Your Own Back Yard
National Kindergarten Alliance: Connecting Children to Nature
Photo Essay: The Poetry of Falling Leaves
Becky Leber's Fall Newsletter: Collecting Leaves
Children and Their Families Learn about Stars (pdf)

The Power of Poetry in the Lives of Young Children

Wondrous Words about the Weather: A Poetry Ritual
Parents as Partners: Learning the Language of Weather
Photo Essay: How to Develop Poetry ("I Can Read") Notebooks
Using Poetry and "I Can Read" Notebooks in the Classroom
Organizing "I Can Read" Anthologies in Kindergarten
Kindergarten Poetry Notebooks and "I Can Read" Notebooks — Sample Parent Letter
Download Over 200 Free Poems, Songs and Rhymes Organized Monthy by Themes.
Sample Parent Letter: The Gift of Poetry

All Kindergartners Love to Write:

Writing-to-Read in Kindergarten: Free Seminar Sampler (e-Book ) (pdf)
Talking to Kindergartners About Their Writing
Star Charts (pdf) 9/08)
Joyful Writing-to-Read Kindergartens: Free e-Book (pdf)
Most Effective Kid Writing Classrooms (pdf)
What do the Most Effective Kid Writing Classrooms Look Like?
Photo Essay: Julie Lay's "Writing to Read" in Kindergarten Part I
Photo Essay: "Writing to Read" in Kindergarten Part II
Brain-Friendly Kindergarten Handwriting Practice and Research
You've Got To Do the "O" Dance: Connecting Handwriting and Fluency Instruction
The Art and Handwriting Connection with Laura Flocker
It Takes the Whole Alphabet to Teach a Child Writing
Guidelines for Teaching Handwriting in Kindergarten
The Great Handwriting Debate
The Susie Haas Name Ticket Strategy
Teaching Your Child to Print Their Name Efficiently
Making Class Books in Kindergarten
See Isabell Cardonic's Awesome "Kid Writing" Classroom
See Latest Writing to Read Seminar Flier
Excerpts from Talking, Drawing, Writing: Lessons for Our Youngest Writers
Excerpts from About the Authors: Writing Workshop with Our Youngest Writers by Katie Ray
Excerpts from Breaking the Code: The New Science of Beginning Reading and Writing by J. Richard Gentry, Ph.D.

Parents as Partners: Multiplying our Teaching Effectiveness

Sample Poetry Gift Parent Letter
Literacy Gifts We Recommend
Parents: How to Make Blank Books for Writing (PDF)
The Kindergarten Giving Tree (PDF)
Good Websites for Young Children (1/09)
Summer Volunteers Needed
How to Help Your Child Develop the Small Mucles for Writing Control
Activities for Developing Fine Motor Coordination
Kindergarten "Parents as Partners" Volunteer Information Sheet (PDF)
Early Indicators for Successful Kindergartners
Parent Volunteer Guidelines Letter
Photo Release Form
Parents as Partners: Summer Homework? Summer Fun!
Closing the Achievement Gap Over the Summer: Parents Continue as Partners in Joyful Learning
Fun Family Activities That Build a Love of Learning: Joyful Family Learning is the Best Preparation for School Success
Tips For Spring Kindergarten Registration Time
Teacher Stories: "Student-Led Parent Conferences are the Best Thing I Do!" (2/09)
Student-Led Conferences: What Does the Child Share? (2/09)
Tips on Creating a Celebration of Learning: Student-Led Parent Conferences in Kindergarten (2/09)
Student-Led Parent Conference List (PDF) (2/09)
Student-Led Parent Conference Checklist
Help Parents Use Active Learning and Encouraging Language (2/09)
Student-Led Parent Conferences in Kindergarten: A Celebration of Learning (2/09)
What Do We Read? We Read the Walls (2/09)
I Can Read Independently in Kindergarten: I am Building my Reading Stamina (2/09)
Recommended Children's CDs for Language Learnning and Famliy Singing
Becky Leber's Fall Newsletter: Collecting Leaves
Seven Components of an Exemplary Parents as Partners Program
Helping Your Child Learn to Read and Write
Create an Art and Writing Center at Home
Fun Family Activities that Build a Love of Learning
Teaching Your Child to Print Their Name Efficiently
Predictable Books that Children Love to Read
Michigan State University ASL (American Sign Language) Browser
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.: Acts of Kindness
"Show and Teach"
Favorite Books for Book Talk
What Are Your Family Songs?
Voracious Vocabulary Learner
How to Use Language that Encourages Children

Make Friends with Mother Goose

Complimentary Nursery Rhyme e-Book with 16 Individual fully illustrated pages (Bind these into books for family reading and rhyming).
Research & Tips: Kindergartners Still Need Mother Goose Rhymes
Children Discover the Dramatic Power of Their Voices
Invite Parents to Share Well-loved Nursery Rhymes
"Parents as Partners" Letter: Make Friends with Mother Goose
Download free Mother Goose Little Books
"Celebrate Language in a Child's Garden" Seminar Flier
ASL Guide for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ASL Instructional Video

The Heart of Kindergarten: Memorable Rituals, Traditions, and Celebrations

Photo Essay: The Kinder Stars Year-End Celebration
The Heart of Kindergarten: Memorable Rituals, Traditions and Celebrations that Enhance Learning.
End-of-Year Family Ritual: Kindergarteners Paint Wings and Fly Away
End-of-the-Year Celebrations Bring Closure to the Learning Community and Add Dignity and Delight

Requests from keynotes, seminars, concerts, and Kindergarten Support Groups

Sponsoring a Nellie Edge Seminar
Nellie Edge SDE “I Teach Kindergarten” Conference Keynote and Workshop Descriptions for July 15, 2009
How to Start a “Kindergarten Cadre” (a.k.a. Professional Learning Community)
Where Do I Begin? Suggestions for Teacher's New to our Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy Philosophy and Website
Nellie Edge Seminars and Distance Learning — Practicum Suggestions
New Kindergarten Teacher Scholarships
Our "Thank You" to Mentor Kindergarten Chatboard Teachers (12/08)
Oregon New Kindergarten Teacher Cadre: Joyful Accelerated Literacy
Personal Philosophy and Photo Essay Practicum Project
Seven Practical Principles of the Brain (Northwest Early Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference)
Keep Laughter Alive!
Laughter, Bonding, Mascots and Kindergarten Responsibility (from OAEYC Keynote)
Quick Curried Chicken Delight
My Favorite Spinach Salad
Pea and Roasted Pecan Slaw

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