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An Author and Teacher’s Tips on Motivating Autistic Learners

October 10, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

{Guest post from Author Joan Ramirez }

Jamie is the story of a young girl’s struggles as an Autistic learner. Through support from parents, teachers, and a school counselor, she is able to learn and make friends.

This book was inspired by the desire to share exercises that could help Autistic learners while also creating a story of a young girl who is struggling with that part of her life. While this story was written for Autistic students, it will also show all children the importance of acceptance of others and learning in different ways. In addition to being a great motivator for Autistic students, Jamie is also a help with English as a Second language Autistic students.

Tips on Motivating Autistic Learners

From a teacher’s perspective, motivated students should be able to do the following: Participate in class. Express interest in the subject matter. Spend time studying for a test.

From a learner’s perspective, they are entitled to the following content instruction: Interesting content that is meaningful and age-appropriate to the reader. A supportive atmosphere in which the teacher takes the learners’ needs and not just his/her own agenda into consideration when making lesson plans.

Teachers should assess the comprehension levels of content that has been presented before moving on to more challenging material. In all lessons, students should be encouraged to participate in their level of understanding in an anxiety-free environment that fosters learning. Students who have a positive mindset will elicit more positive feedback than those with a negative orientation.

Encourage the following learning concepts:

  • Take your time and think about your response.
  • This information will be of use to you in the higher grades so we’re here to learn and we can help each other.
  • Good, you tried. You’ll do even better next time.
  • Once you’ve mastered these thoughts, you’ll be able to read and learn even more.

You can motivate elementary Autism/ESL students to learn. A teacher can memorize every pedagogical technique in the library and the class still might not learn.

The only way to ensure comprehension is to give a lesson followed by an assessment, but the beginning should include a visual narrative. It plants a picture in the students’ minds and it is true that one picture is worth a thousand words. After the handouts are put away and the students leave the class, what they will remember the next morning are the posters on the walls and the visuals that leave images in their minds.

Joan  Ramirez, the author, lives in the New Jersey/New York Metropolitan area and has an M.S. in Journalism, an M.S. in English as a Second Language, and an M.S. in Elementary/Special Education (Autism). She has given creative writing and photojournalism workshops to students in South Africa, in Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Seoul, Korea.

BUY Links:  Amazon.com, B&N.com, Kindle, and Apple sites.

For Jamie in Spanish or English, just go to Amazon.com and B&N.com and type in the title author Joan Ramirez

For Jamie in Chinese go to https://books2read.com/u/bPKBgJ
For Joan’s writing handbook (for college students) go to https://Books2read.com/Thewriterules

Filed Under: Book review, Diverse Book Review, Guest Posts, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: Books for Autistic learners

A Downloadable Classroom Kit just for Homeschoolers!

September 15, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

WE HAVE SOMETHING NEW!

INTRODUCING MCBD’S World Travel from your Homeschool Table: A Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit for Homeschoolers and Distance Learners. This is a Bonus Kit that we created as a resource for homeschoolers.

As you may already know, we create free, info-packed kits that are packed with diverse booklist suggestions and companion activities to keep kids reading during the school year.

These free kits are usually created for traditional classrooms, but with the uptick of families switching to homeschooling, we wanted something that would benefit this specific group of learners. Here’s a sample of what’s inside:

Diverse Picture Book Recommendations and Activities for Explorers ages 4-12

A Bonus Booklist from our 2020 Activists and Activism Classroom Kit!

Special Homeschool Activities for Young Explorers Courtesy of:

    • Barefoot Books!
    • Language Lizard!
    • The Pack-n-Go Girls!
    • KidLitTV!

See What Else You Can Expect from this FREE Homeschool-themed Downloadable Kit HERE

DID YOU KNOW…

Did you know that MCBD has many other Free Resources and Classroom Kits! It’s true! Our Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents page is the motherlode of downloadable/clickable “List of Lists” that are designed to help parents, teachers, and caregivers find the multicultural and diverse book titles for kids that they need.

All of these diverse and multicultural book lists are also broken down into easy-to-find topics and themes. Every blue title linked to more book lists on that topic. Here are some examples of some of  our lists that are in high demand right now:

Anti-Racist Books and Resources

Imagination Soup: Anti-Racist Books for Kids Ages 8 – 12

The Conscious Kid: Critical Conversations

PragmaticMom: White Privilege Books for Kids

Feminist Books for Kids: 9 Children’s Books About Police Brutality

Imagination Soup: Picture Books That Teach Kids About Prejudice, Inclusion, and Kindness

PragmaticMom: How To Teach Kids About Microaggressions

InCulture Parent: 6 Children’s Books to Celebrate Juneteenth

Colours of Us: 37 Children’s Books to help talk about Racism & Discrimination

PragmaticMom: Children’s Books about Skin Color

PragmaticMom: Antiracist Books for Kids, Teens, and Adults

Colours of Us: 150 Children’s Books Celebrating Black Boys

GO HERE to view these resources plus the links to all of our FREE Classroom and Homeschool Kits.


BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU. for MCBD2021!

If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, we want to give you a FREE diversity book to review!

AND…you don’t have to be a blogger to review multicultural children’s books for our MCBD2020 (1/29/21) online event. Go here to learn more about how this process works. 

You just need to have a love of diversity in children’s literature, have one non-private social media account on Facebook (Pages only-no Facebook profiles), Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube, and be able to leave an honest Amazon review of your assigned book.

SIGN UP to be an MCBD2021 book reviewer HERE and learn more about what it takes to join the MCBD2021 celebration

(Signup deadline is 12/15/20)

Filed Under: Classroom Kit, Diverse Book Review, diversity in children’s books, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: classroom kit, Classroom Kit just for Homeschoolers, Diverse Kidlit Booklist, Free Resources for homeschoolers

Being Bilingual by Sonia Kermen

August 1, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

{by Sonia Kermen}

Before being an author of bilingual children’s books, I a mom.

I was born in France–like my two first children Bélinda, 24 years old and Emilian 20 years old. When we arrived in the United States in 2008, my two children and I had to face the joys and challenges of a bilingual and bicultural life. I was inspired in 2009 to write books that would break down bilingual language barriers and better understand others upon the birth of my third child, Enzo.

My children urged me to open a door that I did not know with the word “bilingual.”

My daughter was 10 when we arrived in the States, she could not speak a word of English. We had to make him repeat his sixth grade.

She had the courage to accept the challenge; to read an English book every week, underlining each misunderstood word. She was continuing to read French books, and as not to forget his mother tongue.

In eighth grade, she surprised us by finishing school with honors in English. After only three years in the country! I have always spoken French to my children, like any expatriate, we want to safeguard our roots and our culture. My children learned English with school, their teacher’s patience, sports-related activities, books, TV, radio, and friends.

My children are open to the world of others without prejudice. They easily understand the children of expatriates and seek to help them. Being bilingual is an opportunity for each of our children, children, in my opinion, are more open-minded, and they easily learn different languages.

 

My first books were written in 2009 and The Adventures of Enzo are a series of 12 bilingual French books translated into English or French and translated into Spanish by teachers. They have helped in learning new languages and teaching children life lessons with simplicity.

With The Adventures of Enzo series, children discovered the simple values – courtesy, respect, sharing, in my opinion, essential to actualize the authenticity that seems easily forgotten in our modern world, and the richness of learning a new language.

As a toddler’s teacher, I discovered the curiosity of parents of my bilingual world, of my language French, and they very quickly accepted my cultural difference and my teaching to their child my language with games of cards, images, and songs. Since the pandemic, I have found myself at home like many parents. I picked up my pen again after a few years.

My new book “Enzo The Little Adventurer” is a great way to access a language with children’s imaginations, education, and the world of animals. Young readers will recognize themselves in Enzo. They will enjoy her adventures because I think they reflect their feelings and their way of being.

Children will follow a whimsical and imaginative boy named Enzo, Irish baby as he discovers the world of the zoo, educative under the watchful eye of his lucky star. The simple pictures and vivid colors of Enzo’s world will naturally attract children and quickly capture their attention. They will help children to focus on the story and to understand it more easily.  Each story ends with a phrase that sums up the story.

Each of Enzo’s adventures allows children to discover the French language while enriching the vocabulary of their mother tongue English. My daughter translated the French language into English and the illustrations are by my friend Kedsunee.

We hope you enjoy the Adventures of Enzo!

About The Author

Sonia Kermen

The author, Sonia Kermen,  wrote French and English/French and Spanish bilingual book 12 series “Les Aventures d´Enzo / The Adventures of Enzo” in 2012 under the name Sonia Colasse available on Amazon. After several years as a blog coordinator, creating slogans, presentation videos, a model of various marketing campaigns and teacher, Sonia Kermen (a writer since the age of nine years old) has devoted herself to her passion for the bilingual children’s book Enzo the Little Adventurer.

Sonia is also the author of the bilingual series Les aventures d’Enzo/The Adventures of Enzo with the name of Sonia Colasse.

Connect with Sonia:

https://authorandmodel.wixsite.com/soniakermen

https://www.instagram.com/authorandmodel/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorandModelSonia/


***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Admin@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Filed Under: Book review, Diverse Book Review, Guest Posts Tagged With: bilingual book, bilingual books for children, bilingual french picture book

Going Global with the “What’s That?” A Ghanaian bilingual book series

July 24, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

{guest post by Sandra Amoako}

My name is Sandra Amoako and I am a Ghanaian mother of two, author, and publisher dedicated to creating unique, fun, and educational multicultural children’s books. The inspiration behind writing a bilingual, children’s book in Twi and English started when I was pregnant with my first child. I always had the vision to teach my children Twi and I realized that there was a need to publish bilingual children’s books when the kind of books I was looking for was unavailable in bookstores or online.

Twi, pronounced ‘chwee’ is a dialect of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana mainly of the Akan people, the largest of the major ethnic groups in Ghana, West Africa.  It is the most widely spoken language in Ghana and is one of the three dialects of the Akan language, the others being Akuapem Twi and Fante Twi.

In addition to my Ghanaian cookbook, “Akwaaba:  A Taste of Ghana”, I have written and self-published two bilingual books for early learning in the “What’s That?” book series.

Books in Twi and English

All-encompassing and well rounded, I recommend these books to any family with young children.  They are a wonderful way to spark your child’s curiosity to learn the alphabets and numbers, understand that words convey meanings, and increase vocabulary while at the same time learning another language (Twi).

Wonderful Diverse Books in Twi and English

“My Numbers in Twi and English” is a colorful, illustrated, hardcover book that introduces the concept of numbers, counting, and vocabulary in English and Twi. The layout of the book showcases numbers 1 through 20.  Each page contains a number, unique illustrations in vibrant colors, and descriptions of the illustrations in both English and Twi.

Books in Twi and English

“My Alphabets in Twi and English” is a lively, illustrated, paperback book that introduces the concept of letters and vocabulary in English and Twi. This book features both the Twi and English alphabets and each page showcases each corresponding alphabet with colorful illustrations.

Books in Twi and English

For families with Ghanaian heritage, your children will connect with their heritage and culture and impress those around them! For non-Ghanaians alike, this will be a gateway to instill a love of the Twi language and hopefully travel to Ghana and experience the culture! The “What’s That?” bilingual book series is suitable for children of all ages and even adults! The great thing about these multifaceted books is that even if you cannot read or speak Twi, you will still be able to enjoy the English section with your children.

About Aliko Books

Alikobooks is a publishing company and was launched in 2009. Published works include the “What’s That” bilingual children’s book series which features “My First Numbers in Twi and English” and “My Alphabets in Twi and English”. Alikobooks is also the publisher of the Ghanaian cookbook “Akwaaba: A Taste of Ghana”.

Visit Alikobooks to learn more about ‘My First Numbers in Twi and English” and “ My Alphabets in Twi and English” .

https://www.instagram.com/alikobooks/

https://www.facebook.com/My-First-Numbers-and-Alphabets-in-Twi-and-English-218926474932553/

 

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

**If you have questions about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, how to get involved, or how to get free books for your school or classroom, email Kristi at Admin (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) com **

Filed Under: Diverse Book Review, diversity in children’s books, Guest Posts, Language Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, bilingual book, book review, Books about Ghana, Books in Twi and English, Children's Book Author, diverse books, diverse picture books, picture books in Twi and English, Twi language

A sweet diverse book about the ways parents show affection

April 19, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

As parents, we adore showing our children how much we love them through hugs, kisses, tickles, and snuggles. But we also know there comes a day when parents’ hearts sink a little because their offspring decide they have “outgrown” the need for these signs of affection.

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs by Lisa Tawn Bergren (WaterBrook & Multnomah) is a gorgeous, diverse picture book about a little boy who tells his mom he’s too old for “mama kisses” and his dad’s “papa hugs.”

In response, each of them goes through examples of how other mothers and fathers hug and kiss their children…and ultimately, how God hugs and kisses us, too. This fun, light, and super-cozy read for families emphasizes love and encourages children to rest in the knowledge that they are never too old for mama kisses or papa hugs.

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

About Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

From the creator of the bestselling God Gave Us You comes a warm exploration of the ways parents show affection–and how familial love mirrors God’s affection for his followers.

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

Parents are always looking out for the perfect bedtime book to create a sense of well-being before a night of rest. Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs explores a child’s curiosity about how love is shown between parent and child, with the reassurance that Mama and Papa will always love their little one. And like Lisa Tawn Bergren’s young protagonist asks his mother, this question is pressing on the minds of many children:

“Mama, how does God kiss us?”

Mama smiled. “He kisses us a hundred times a day; although if you don’t pay attention, you might miss it.”

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

“At night, he kisses us with a shooting star. In the morning, he kisses us with sunlight, crawling across the fields and into our windows. On a hot summer afternoon, he kisses us with a gentle breeze. But most of all, he kisses us through our family. That’s how God made us. That’s why I give you Mama kisses and Daddy gives you Papa Hugs.”

“I wrote Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs for our youngest, Jack,” Bergren shared. “I wrote it when he was about the age of the boy pictured in the book and feeling a bit ‘too grown-up’ for kisses and hugs. My son is now 17-years-old and, of course, we’re going to give him a big hug and smooch to celebrate the release of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah this month!”

Bergren went on to share that her book will resonate with parents, grandparents, educators, and librarians because it reinforces the fact that children need to know that they are loved and cared for, no matter how big they get. Showing love and reassurance is especially crucial in light of the world’s recent changes and fears.

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

“This picture book can help kids understand that affection is an act of love, not a means to embarrass! I hope that families all over the world will go to bed with big smiles on their faces after reading it.”

As a veteran author of over 50 books, Bergren is always happy to lend her wisdom to the next generation of budding authors. When asked what specific advice she would give, she writes, “Read like crazy in the genre you wish to write. Outline a couple of your favorite books to see what the author accomplished in that book that made you take notice—define their hallmarks! Then set out to do the same in your style. There are tons of writing resources, one of which is WritersDigest.com. This site is an awesome resource, regardless of what you want to write. I spent years reading their magazine, and it gave me a solid foundation on which to start writing and marketing my books.”

Grab your copy of this wonderful book HERE.

About Lisa Tawn Bergren

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over fifty books, with more than 4 million copies sold. Her work includes children’s books, historical and contemporary fiction, women’s nonfiction, and gift books. A freelance writer and editor, Lisa lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She and her husband, Tim, are the parents of three children.

Connect with Lisa

LisaTawnBergren.com

https://www.facebook.com/lisatawnbergren

https://twitter.com/lisatbergren

https://www.instagram.com/lisatbergren/

 

Connect with WaterBrook & Multnomah:

https://www.facebook.com/WaterBrookMultnomah

https://twitter.com/WaterBrookPress

https://www.youtube.com/user/WaterBrookMultnomah

https://www.instagram.com/waterbrookmultnomah

Filed Under: 2020 MCBD, Author Visits, Diverse Book Review, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, book review, Children's Book Author, diverse books, diverse picture books, Lisa Tawn Bergren, Mama Kisses, Multicultural Author, Multicultural Books for kids, Papa Hugs, WaterBrook & Multnomah

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