Every October 20, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) celebrates the importance, joy, and evolution of writing through a tweetup, using the hashtag #WhyIWrite and events hosted by thousands of educators across the country. Find ideas and more on NCTE’s website.
In this special bilingual picture book for children, Pat creates an origin myth in which she imagines how the Mexican custom of remembering deceased loved ones–El día de los muertos or the Day of the Dead–came to be. With tender illustrations by Robert Casilla that depict Bella and Mamá Alma’s loving relationship, this book will encourage children to honor loved ones, whether by writing stories and poems or creating their own remembering place.
Curriculum extensions:
October 9-15, 2016 is Teen Read Week, sponsored by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). This year’s theme is “Read for the fun of it!”
We hope you’ll include some poetry in your Teen Read Week celebrations:
Both were written especially for teens, and you can find poetry resources and activities to use with the books.
October 4: The Feast of St. Francis
Inspired by Saint Francis’s own reverence and love for animals, Pat’s book The Song of Francis and the Animals celebrates the celebrates the tender relationship between the beloved saint and the animals whom he adored.
October 5th: World Teachers’ Day
World Teachers’ Day is a UNESCO initiative, devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world.
Pat shares some insights for teachers from her book ZING! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators & Students:
Pat’s parents, Estela and Raúl Mora, her sister Cissy and Pat
Sonia M. Sotomayor Early College High School, a special purpose program committed to teen mothers’ success, earned this year’s top honor for hosting a full week of family-oriented bilingual and multicultural activities. The week focused on preparing teen mothers for success in motherhood, literacy for children, culturally diverse learning resources, and the role of mothers in children’s early cognitive and literacy development. Activities provided students with research-based methods of introducing their children to reading and each student received a free children’s book.
This year there were two Mora Award honor winners that will receive $500 in credit to the First Book Marketplace. Broward County Public Schools in Hollywood, Fla., and Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) Library and Media Services in Brownsville, Texas were also recognized for innovative Día celebrations, which reached a combined 187 elementary schools and 200 early education providers.
Nearly 75 schools and educational programs submitted entries to this year’s award process. Read First Book’s press release.
