Issue 11 - Alma Flor Ada

Smiles & Butterflies
Words of inspiration for teachers
Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
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American Reading Company
Authors in the Classroom
A Childhood Memory
A soñar se ha dicho by F. Isabel Campoy, from the book Salta, saltarín.
Regardless of the age of your
students, they can recall
moments of their lives. The
best motivator is to share
with them your own book of
childhood memories.
Invite students to provide
sensorial details: What could
they hear, smell, see at the
moment they are describing?
What was the weather like?
Encourage them to share their feelings at the time.
Lead them to reflect on why they selected that
specific memory and what it means to them.
For the theory that informs this practice, and
multiple examples, see Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel
Campoy. Authors in the Classroom: Transformative
Education Experience. [Allyn & Bacon]
Cultural Enrichment
The total Spanish-speaking Latin American population is estimated to be around 500 million. Approximately 5%
self-identify, or are classified by census, as being primarily of African ancestry; about 16% have direct African
ancestry in their lineage. But the African influence is not limited to those who can trace it to their ancestors.
Latin America is a mixture of ethnicities and cultures. African rhythms are easily recognizable in many forms
of our music, and other African traits are equally familiar: a willingness to find joy in any possible expression
of life, a celebration of community, a value of friendship and human interaction, and a great resilience in face
of adversity. Some personalities of African ancestry include heroes in the struggle for independence—in Mexico,
José María Morelos; in Cuba, Antonio Maceo Grajales; writers like the extraordinary Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén;
musicians like Celia Cruz and Bola de Nieve; sports figures like Pelé and Roberto Clemente as well as a spiritual
figure: Saint Martín de Porres from Perú.
Home/School Interaction
Inspiring Words
Language frees us from the limits of reality.
Think creatively!
Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
Childhood Memories
Students ask their parents or other relatives to share
childhood memories. They ask questions in order to
learn all details of the experience and to understand
what it means to the person sharing it.
Volume 1, Issue 11
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Page 1
Smiles & Butterflies
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Volume 1, Issue 11
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Page 2
Books, CDs, & Videos
The Quetzal’s Journey / Vuelo del quetzal
This first book in the Hispanic Lands series of Gateways to the Sun/Puertas al Sol offers a
brief poetic description of the diversity of Latin America, in landscape, flora and fauna, as
well as in the richness of its indigenous cultures.
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Invite children to share whether they have ever visited a Latin American country or
whether they know anyone from Latin America.
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Encourage Latino children to ask their relatives to explain from which country and/or
region their ancestors came and to find information about those areas.
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Have children select their favorite part of this book and explain why they find it interesting.
Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead With
Cristina and Her Blue Bonnet
Celebra el Halloween y el día de los muertos con
Cristina y su conejito azul
Like all the 12 titles of the collection Stories to Celebrate/Cuentos para celebrar, this
book includes a realistic story and a nonfiction section.
Invite your students to share:
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Do they celebrate Halloween? What have been some of their favorite Halloween experiences?
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Do their families celebrate Día de los muertos? How do they do it?
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Have they ever seen pictures of Día de los muertos altars? Have they ever seen a real one? If they were to
have an altar, what would they put in it?
After talking about the feelings of Cristina when she lost the blue bonnet she loved so much, invite them to
share about any loss they have experienced and their feelings about it. Dialogue about how our memories of
the people, places, friends, or pets we may have lost help them to remain alive within us.
What are Ghosts Afraid Of? / El susto de los fantasmas
This book from the 12-title collection Stories the Year ‘Round/Cuentos para todo el año offers
a different take on Halloween. Late at night, two tired ghosts that would like to find a place
to escape from the rain and rest try to find shelter in a house, but... the ghosts are afraid to
be seen by the children in the house.
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Invite your students to consider that frequently there are two sides to any situation
and to share examples of their own lives where two people (parent/child, two siblings/
friends, teacher/students) may look at the same situation differently.
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Have them compare and contrast the story in this book with the story of Cristina y el conejito azul.
Is there anything similar about them? How are they different?
The Stories the Year ‘Round CD has all 12 stories of the collection as read by the author, Alma Flor Ada.
The first CD of the Cuentos para todo el año set has all 12 stories of the collection as read by the author. The
second CD of the set has a musical version of the stories, with lyrics written by Alma Flor Ada and music
composed and performed by Suni Paz.
Receive a Free Autographed Book
Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy would like to send you an autographed book as a gift. Please send them a
message describing how you have used in the classroom—or shared with a child—any of their books, poems,
or songs. Visit www.almaflorada.com to send your message.
Smiles & Butterflies
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Volume 1, Issue 11
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Page 3
American Reading Company Seeking Full-Time
Bilingual (Spanish/English) Executive Coach
We are seeking a bilingual (Spanish/English) educator with successful experience using 100 BOOK
CHALLENGE and/or Research Labs and/or ACTION 100 who is passionate about helping other teachers and
principals implement these programs across the country. The desired candidate should live somewhere within
the radius of Philadelphia that includes Baltimore; Washington, DC; and New York City. This is a position
with lots of growth potential in a triple-bottom line, socially responsible company.
Responsibilities:
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Act as an Executive Coach for principals to ensure effective program focus and implementation.
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Conduct workshops, demonstration lessons, and one-to-one coaching visits to support schools’
implementation of American Reading Company (ARC)’s programs in both Spanish and English.
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Collaborate with other ARC Coaches and Program team to ensure that materials, methods, and programs
in both English and Spanish are the best they can be.
Requirements:
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Language fluency for speaking, listening, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English
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Personal experience implementing 100 BOOK CHALLENGE and/or Research Labs and/or ACTION 100.
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Demonstrated leadership ability, e.g., experience as a teacher leader or coach
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Commitment to life-long learning and development
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Flexibility and ability to adjust priorities when necessary
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Excellent organizational skills
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Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with principals, teachers, and co-workers in both
English and Spanish
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Some travel
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Master’s degree or higher
Salary:
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Competitive compensation
Please email resume and cover letter to hr@americanreading.com
Explore With Us
Books and CDs by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy can be obtained from www.delsolbooks.com.
Visit www.almaflorada.com and www.isabelcampoy.com and send Alma Flor and Isabel your comments on
their books, CDs, and DVDs.
Learn more about enriching the lives of your students through a wealth of books by visiting
www.americanreading.com.