Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: April 14: Book Deserts, Judy Blume, Harry Potter, and #STEM

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics inclue #BookLists, #DiverseBooks, #Makerspace, #Math, #PictureBooks, #STEM, children's literacy, creativity, Harry Potter, Judy Blume, Kidlitosphere, poetry, raising readers, schools, science fiction, summer reading, and teaching. 

Awards and Book Lists

Judy Blume to receive lifetime achievement award from American Academy of Arts + Letters ow.ly/s6wS30aJVOq  #Writing #kidlit @USATODAY

Passover #PictureBooks, a #BookList @HornBook ow.ly/6nGX30aKckP   

Diversity

The Power of Representation: finding yourself in @diversebooks by @ElloEllenOh @nerdybookclub ow.ly/OTXR30aOp3R  #kidlit

Growing Bookworms

Yes! Reasons not to assign required #SummerReading titles + what to do instead to encourage #reading @pernilleripp

A highlight from Pernille Ripp's post: "Why not create reading experiences that actually entices further reading, rather than further dictation of what kids are expected to read?  Perhaps now would be a good time to examine our summer reading practices before the damage is potentially done."

The best way to improve kids' reading test scores? Provide access to books, encourage free choice... ow.ly/lLV330aKcOe  @donalynbooks

A bit more from the Donalyn Miller's post: "Even in middle-income communities, we create book deserts for too many children through misguided efforts that level, limit, control, and define when and where and what children will read. We test and test kids while providing few opportunities to improve their reading skills in the only way that works—lots of successful, engaging reading experiences. This man-made desertification ensures that fewer children will read well or become engaged readers each year." (There's lots more: do go and read the whole post!) 

Bedtime #Poetry: The One Thing Your Child Will Remember Forever by @momandkiddo #ReadAloud #Parenting https://t.co/Z8ML9RrRg3

My recent post on Drawing inferences: Why it's a key #literacy skill is up as a guest article @JGCanada's blog https://t.co/qU2JRbPzoV

Donating Character-Developing, Idea-Generating, World-Building Books: The Beginning by @rmackwrites @nerdybookclub https://t.co/n6KHeHRRXi

Kidlitosphere

Extra-good week for @charlotteslib round-up of middle grade fantasy + science fiction from around the blogs ow.ly/fjgD30aKboP  #kidlit 

The 2017 #Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem -- Line #8 from @MaryLeeHahn ow.ly/cRBM30aKbce  #poetry

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

This makes me feel so old: Babymouse is heading to ... MIDDLE SCHOOL!?!?!?! @jenniholm @mattholm @randomhousekids ow.ly/iC1g30aQ9TW 

Inspiring story of writer Bob Greene who tracked down + thanked the first grade teacher who taught him to read ow.ly/iz8T30aQafS  @WSJ

New DNA Study Finds Genes May Significantly Impact #Reading Ability | Traci Pedersen @PsychCentral ow.ly/bzob30aFHNL  via @tashrow 

Schools and Libraries

Homework: Helpful, Harmful, or Otherwise? asks @ReadByExample| Is it more important than #play, #reading, family? https://t.co/LMi2w6xuSb

I love this: 10 Teachable Moments From #HarryPotter and the Sorcerer's Stone - @mssackstein @educationweek https://t.co/tUGmLNSuPs  (Good for parents, too!)

How #School Kills #Creativity And How To Fix It - @focus2achieve @BAMRadioNetwork ow.ly/6ewY30aFHlI  #GeniusHour #PBL #IdeaMachines

STEM

3 #Math Games Kids Love | @mathgeekmama guest post @thisreadingmama ow.ly/wxaF30aLUPM  #STEM 

Inspiring #Creativity With A Simple Home #Makerspace, Plus Airplane Activities for Kids @mamasmiles https://t.co/NUqtAhD4HU

© 2017 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.