Written by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim
In mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic hit home, and teaching went from classrooms to living rooms and kitchen tables in the blink of an eye. To keep kids learning and feeling safe, cultural and literary heroes opened up their digital doors. There are museum tours, celebrity read alouds, Mo Willems sketching and penguins at the Shedd Aquarium. The cast of Hamilton sang on Youtube to a young girl who was sad her trip to see the show was cancelled. All of these experiences and assets were—and are— amazing. Teachers can continue to share these riches with their students.
Now it’s mid-April, though, and teachers are tasked with planning and delivering curriculum. The question now is, How do I create engaging lessons for the children who usually sit in front of me but are now learning from home? As an elementary reading teacher (Elizabeth) and a literacy coach (Julie) we are grappling with the same steep learning curves as teachers as we try to find our way fast with online instruction. Our jobs, however, as those trained to support teachers with resources and best literacy practices, have propelled us to realize that the learning kids do now has to be different because we are living and instructing in different times. As educator Pernille Ripp declared, “Whatever your plans are, cut them in half. Then cut them in half again.”
With this less is more mantra in mind, we offer you Short Texts at Your Fingertips. Twice each week, we provide teaching ideas around a different type of short text that is easily found in the home, so that no family feels under-resourced. These ideas can integrate into virtually any curriculum and pedagogy, from Workshop to basal. If you are a caregiver, teacher, or curriculum director, these brief but mighty texts and lessons are our way of saying thanks. And our way of giving children authentic and enjoyable reading and writing engagements each day. We may not sing like Lin Manuel Miranda or read aloud like Kwame Alexander or Kate Messner, but we know these lessons will brighten kids' days.
SHORT TEXTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: CEREAL BOXES
When you were young, or maybe even today as an adult, was reading the back of a cereal box part of your morning eating routine? Did you ever have repeat readings across several days and see things you didn’t see the day before? Did reading something on the back of the box ever pique your curiosity and make you want to know more? Today, many short texts, such as food packages, give us reasons to read and write because they entertain, inform, and often inspire us. Here’s what we mean.
Entertain -- brings us joy
Inform -- teaches us new information and/or renews our thinking about ideas and topics
Inspire -- motivates us to read, write and share more
VIDEO
Check out these two short videos focused on how to use a cereal box to entertain, inform, and inspire.
TRY THIS!
Step 1
Grab any cereal box in your home. Take a look at the front, back, and side panels.
What do you notice?
What do you wonder?
Note: If you don’t have a cereal box, choose another type of food package.
Step 2
Share a cereal box that you find exciting. Think aloud about ways this short text entertained, informed and/or inspired you.
Examples: Back of cereal boxes
Take a look at the first example which is the back of a Cap’n Crunch cereal box. This text is filled with reading, writing and talking opportunities. For example, you could:
Play the matching berry game on the back panel. [back panel]
Make new words by creating 12 new words using the letters in “Crunch Berry” [back panel]
Play the dot game. [back panel]
Read and investigate the ingredients and Nutritional Facts [side panel]
Use a measuring cup or scale and rice to visualize the amount of sugar
Read and think about the recycling information [top panel]
Share what you’ve learned and created with others
Step 3
Look in your pantry and find other cereal boxes. Compare cereal boxes and think about how they are similar and how they are different.
Step 4
Look for other reading, writing and talking opportunities using this short text type.
Reading Ideas
Go to the cereal company’s website and poke around to see what interesting facts and images you can find.
Grab 2 or more cereal boxes and compare the nutritional information.
Read other breakfast food boxes. What do you see? What are you wondering?
If you are watching any television or videos, listen and watch closely for breakfast food ads. What do you see? What are you wondering?
Writing Ideas
Make a list of all the cereal brands and types you know.
Design your own cereal. What is it called? What will the box look like?
Write a letter to the cereal company telling them what you think about their cereal and/or ask them questions about their cereal.
Create a survey asking people to share their favorite cereal choices and why they are a favorite.
Talking Ideas
Why is the cereal called… (Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, etc.)?
Which part of the box do you look at in the grocery store? Which part do you read at home?
Recall the cereal aisle in a supermarket, or find a photo online. What colors do you see? Why? Where is the aisle located?
Why does the company want you to know what they believe (i.e. philosophy)?
FOR MORE RESOURCES, CHECK THESE OUT!
Pick any cereal manufacturer. Go to their website. Explore all of the information they share on their site.
Read about cereal using an online dictionary such as https://www.britannica.com/topic/cereal
Read about National Cereal Day and 15 Interesting Facts about Cereal https://www.ibtimes.com/national-cereal-day-15-interesting-facts-about-cereal-1560030
COMING SOON!
Short Texts: Mighty Mentors That Move Readers and Writers Forward by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim (2022)
MEET ELIZABETH
Meet my friend, colleague, co-author and co-blogger, Elizabeth Keim. She is a New York City based educator with more than 25 years of experience. She is currently an AIS Reading Teacher/Reading Recovery teacher for a school in Mamaroneck, New York. Previously she taught in District 2 in Manhattan, serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and library teacher. In each of these roles, she knows that, "it is all about finding a text that truly captures a particular reader." She has taught Undergraduate and Graduate level courses at New York University and Bank Street College of Education, as well as workshops for teachers and parents. An avid birder, Elizabeth enjoys her time in Central Park every spring and fall. Her most thrilling sightings to date are: A rare Kirtland's warbler and the tutti frutti colored Summer Tanager.
