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Mo Willems.and if I ran the world.
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From: Cappiello, Maryann <mcappiel_at_lesley.edu>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:50:50 +0000
The summer before my daughter started kindergarten, she was sounding out wo rds left and right but still very much focused on reading one word at a tim e and developing her range of sight words. At school, her teacher used a va riety of texts and text types to help students begin to crack the code.
During this time, I realized that what the kindergarteners needed were sing le word-on-a-page books by Mo Willems. Few understand a child's world view and innate sense of humor the way Willems reveals through his pacing. More importantly, children would desperately want to read those books independen tly.
So if I ran the world, Mo Willems would write and illustrate a series of bo oks with just a single word on each page. Just as Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastma n transformed the world of beginner reader books over fifty years ago, I th ink Mo Willems could create pre-beginner readers that could replace some of the "decodables" used in the classroom. His illustrations alone can mainta in a story line that children can understand and want to read. If those ill ustrations were each matched with a single syllable sight word (see the Seu ssian alliterative influence in my own writing now?), I am sure the books w ould be a hit with children just beginning to decode (and their parents and teachers!). If I ever get a chance to meet him, like Rob did, this is what I would beg him to create!
The Cat the Cat books were perhaps geared towards this audience, but they d id not, in my opinion, have the hook that Pigeon, Gerald, and Piggie share.
Best, Mary Ann
Mary Ann Cappiello, Ed.D. Associate Professor Language & Literacy Division Coordinator, Collaborative Internship Partnership Graduate School of Education Lesley University
www.classroombookshelf.blogspot.com
Office Phone: (617) 349-8603 Office Location: 2-054 University Hall
Mailing Address: 29 Everett Street Cambridge, MA 02138
Received on Wed 22 Aug 2012 05:50:50 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:50:50 +0000
The summer before my daughter started kindergarten, she was sounding out wo rds left and right but still very much focused on reading one word at a tim e and developing her range of sight words. At school, her teacher used a va riety of texts and text types to help students begin to crack the code.
During this time, I realized that what the kindergarteners needed were sing le word-on-a-page books by Mo Willems. Few understand a child's world view and innate sense of humor the way Willems reveals through his pacing. More importantly, children would desperately want to read those books independen tly.
So if I ran the world, Mo Willems would write and illustrate a series of bo oks with just a single word on each page. Just as Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastma n transformed the world of beginner reader books over fifty years ago, I th ink Mo Willems could create pre-beginner readers that could replace some of the "decodables" used in the classroom. His illustrations alone can mainta in a story line that children can understand and want to read. If those ill ustrations were each matched with a single syllable sight word (see the Seu ssian alliterative influence in my own writing now?), I am sure the books w ould be a hit with children just beginning to decode (and their parents and teachers!). If I ever get a chance to meet him, like Rob did, this is what I would beg him to create!
The Cat the Cat books were perhaps geared towards this audience, but they d id not, in my opinion, have the hook that Pigeon, Gerald, and Piggie share.
Best, Mary Ann
Mary Ann Cappiello, Ed.D. Associate Professor Language & Literacy Division Coordinator, Collaborative Internship Partnership Graduate School of Education Lesley University
www.classroombookshelf.blogspot.com
Office Phone: (617) 349-8603 Office Location: 2-054 University Hall
Mailing Address: 29 Everett Street Cambridge, MA 02138
Received on Wed 22 Aug 2012 05:50:50 PM CDT
