Resources for "Wilma Unlimited"

Wilma Unlimited is one my favorite children's books.  Her story weaves in a wide variety of critical themes to discuss in the classroom setting including: resilience, courage, optimism, and character.  The text is also contextualized with the undertones of racial segregation which is an important topic to explore with young people.  I am hosting a writing contest at our school that asks the children to write about their "Shero".  This word is not in the dictionary, but I wanted use a term that kids would catch onto easily.  I used the Wilma Unlimited book to model writing about my own personal "Shero".

There is an attachment included from one of my favorite sites, called The Best Children's Books.  I will be using those printables at the conclusion of the year.  I love the magazine cover idea... Check it out.
http://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/Wilma-Unlimited-ideas.html

Teachers, students, and blog visitors:  Post a comment about your Shero.

Sylvia Elder's Creative Literacy Share

Mrs. Jasper's class received a visit from their Cultural Community Ambassador, Mrs. Elder.  The students wrote alternate endings to the True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  Part of "Culturally Responsive Teaching" is allowing students to develop and explain their own perceptions about text.

Check out their viewpoints in the comments section.
Attention Mrs. Jasper's Students:  Tell me about Mrs. Elder's visit.

Edible Multicultural Poetry

Pat Mora is a dynamic poet and author who explores different types of foods from places such as South America.  Yum! MMMM! Que'rico! affirms Hispanic culture in such a positive way and prompts ALL students to think about the origin of foods that we enjoy regularly.  Check out the printable I created for "Food Poetry."Poetry on My Plate (LWills)
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The lesson plan is also featured on Pat Mora's official website.:  Thank you to the Bookjoy company for adding my resource to your site.
Featured lesson plan link

Is there a Multicultural Poem in your Pocket?

Nikki Grimes is one of my all time favorite poets.  She wrote a book called, Pocketful of Poems.  The abstract illustrations leap off of the page.  Her masterfully laced poetic devices illuminate African American culture with both balance and brilliance.  A "Pocketful of Poems" is a viable mentor text for the National "Poem in Your Pocket Day" on April 26.  My class will have the choice of choosing their favorite poem to hide in their pocket or creating an original piece of work.  I've created one option to print and attached a link to another kid-friendly printable poetry pocket.  Students will trade pockets and write comments about the poem.  We are working on drawing conclusions and making inferences with text.  So, I created a printable where the student would draw their poem on one side of the pocket.  Other students would make an inference on the topic of the poem based on the illustration.  Then the pocket flips over, and the poem is revealed.  Check it out.Picture and Poem in your Pocket (LWills)
Here's another option on a fantastic blog called "Primary Practice".  Go the site.
Poetry Pocket Printable