Bembo's Zoo

A good friend reminded me about a link I'd shared with her a few years ago and so we went to have another look. Here is the alphabet like you've never seen it before...
http://www.bemboszoo.com/Bembo.swf

The moon and Farmer McPhee

Margaret Mahy's new picture book is an absolute delight - exquisitely illustrated by David Elliot, it tells the story of a hardworking farmer who is oblivious to the marvellous moon that brings all the animals out to frolic and celebrate in the magical night-time, until one night...

Everything about this book is perfect - the story, the language, the art work, the book design (by Sarah Elworthy and David Elliot) with its cut-out window and open-the-flap barn door, and the whole experience leaves you with a smile on your face and the memory of all the times that you've been filled with wonder yourself at a world transformed by silvery moonlight.

Seen and unseen text for running records

Rachel from Whananaki asked a question about seen and unseen text:

One question I have for you is:

The Juls definition of "seen text" is a guided reading session and then put away to be used for testing the following day. This differs from definition in the standard where it says several readings. What is your opinion on that?

Heather replied :
In answer to your query- I have talked to some of my colleagues and they agree that the clearest statement around the use of seen and unseen text, is on page 13, Using Running Records: A Resource for classroom Teachers, (MOE, 2000)

"The text used for a Running Record will usually be a "seen" text - one that the student has previously read. It will not, however, be a text that the child has read so many times that they may have memorised the entire text."

Usually the "seen" text is one that the child has previously read once only. Emergent readers, however, may be given texts they have read several times before, because this can help them feel at ease as they get used to the process of having a record of their reading taken.