•  A student can create a personalized, interactive online bookshelf.
•  Each student can create and share books with friends online.  
• Students will learn how to navigate social media features.
•  Each student can choose to read several online interactive books on their personal independent and guided reading level.  
• Students can accumulate AR points from reading the online books.
• Students will enjoy reading engaging, age- appropriate content.
•  Students will be exposed to a variety of online books.  The books have been written by various authors from several different publishing companies.
• A student’s online bookshelf is carried over from grade to grade 
• Students can be the author of a personalized book through choosing from several design features

Recently, Big Universe Learning reached out to educators who currently use their product, to ask for useful information related to features the site currently has or should have in the future.  Through this conversation, many ideas were shared and the opinions of those using the site were thoughtfully valued.  I’m excited and encouraged by the relationship Big Universe Learning has developed with its customers, and appreciate their willingness to listen to educators when developing new aspects of their product.  The future of Big Universe is exciting considering all of the input they are seeking from educators regarding best practices!

In the past couple weeks, I have been looking at increasing rates for extended response questions which require my students to provide a written response to the passage.  This skill (and I say skill, because it does take a careful eye to examine exactly what the question is asking) should be developed along with encouraging students to answer literal comprehension questions in the form of multiple choice.  In most standardized testing situations however, those questions which require a written response are worth a greater value, compared to multiple choice type questions.

When searching the internet, I was continually disappointed with the type of questions that I found in terms of rigor and the ability to differentiate.  I was looking for questions that used verbs from Bloom’s Taxonomy beyond the “knowledge”  or “remembering” level.  I wanted my students to experience questions which required them to extend, apply, defend, support and compare (just to name a few verbs that can be used past the lowest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy).

After discussing this idea with the “Master Minds” behind Big Universe Learning, it was clear that they were willing to support this educational feature.  Please stay tuned to a new feature soon to be added to the site which allows students to answer extended response questions to increase their written comprehension skills!  (Consideration is even being given to grade level expectations, and differentiation will be included).  Teachers will soon have a new way to examine student written comprehension by using the books on Big Universe!  Thanks Big Universe for listening and supporting teachers and students in the classroom!

Communication plays a major role in life.

When someone has the option of speaking or writing, why does he or she choose one over the other?

Which would you rather do … speak or write? Why?

One difference between written and spoken communication is that writing must be quite clear; when you read something, there is not body language to help you interpret the message, and no person in front of you to ask for clarification

Writing is a form of communication that can be explored using the Writing Area of Big Universe Learning.

One can write picture books, book responses, reports, and so much more on Big Universe Learning.

There are helpful videos sharing tips and tricks as well as a quick demo. You can even find a link that includes story ideas.

Here are a few examples of books created using the Writing section of Big Universe Learning:

Lee’s Leaders ABC Book of Fourth Grade Science

The Learning Bee

My First Dictionary on Farm Animals

Funny Rhymes

Did you know that right now Big Universe Learning has …..

145,690 members from 154 countries?

3,389 books read 1,350,725 times?

273,558 books in bookshelves?

80,104 bookshelves followed by members?

30,429 books created by members?

Ever thought about writing your own book to demonstrate a skill, teach a concept or provide additional information in a content area?  Teachers can use their Big Universe accounts to write their own books, publish them to the site, and then assign the title to their class to enhance any lesson or unit.

• Writing Books to Meet Reading Levels

Many times, I have often looked for multiple books written about similar topics that could be used to address the variety of reading levels in my classroom.  Too often, I find books that are “just right” for the majority of my students, but fail to find a good fit book for perhaps struggling readers or more advanced readers.  Finding appropriate leveled books that have an adequate level of challenge is critical when differentiating instruction.  Then it hit me: Why not create my own book to meet those specific learning needs of my students?

• Highlighting Vocabulary, Key Concepts

When a teacher creates their own texts, they have the control to include the key concepts and vocabulary that are critical for students to learn during the unit.  Additionally, teachers can upload pictures that were taken during class, which will illustrate the learning process.  These photos will help students draw connections to their learning, and make learning more personal.

• Unlimited Home Access

The days of worrying if students will return curriculum books to school are over, thanks to Big Universe.  When creating an online curriculum text resource, teachers have provided students with access to the text at home as well.  Purchasing multiple copies of books are no longer needed since all students in the class have access to Big Universe at home or the local library.

• Calamity Days

Without fail, it seems just when my students are getting to the heart of their understanding, snow begins to fall and we are either delayed or canceled!  This year, I plan to create text on Big Universe so that my students have access to the material even during the unexpected time off.  I can assign the book to the student accounts, and assign critical thinking tasks to be completed even on those days off!

• Absent Students

Every year, it seems as though I have at least one student who misses a considerable amount of school due to illness.  I always try to replicate the lessons and material that they missed once they return, or try to send home paper copies whenever possible.  This is another way publishing books related to my current curriculum would be beneficial.  Those students could continue to further their understanding of the content while they are recovering at home, thus making their return to school that much easier!

Teachers never seem to have enough time, but in the end, this feature of Big Universe could save some valuable time.  Try it during your next unit… it might just bring out your inner author that you’ve been waiting to develop!

Remember as a child, searching for “that” cookie in the cookie jar?  You know…that feeling of excitement and anticipation in the pit of your stomach grew as you kept searching for that one cookie.  And once you found that cookie, you enjoyed every bite of it!

Big Universe is “that” cookie to me!

If you haven’t already been impressed by Big Universe, then now is the perfect time to dig into the “cookie jar” to see what you are missing.  Recently, I fell upon this online company through a Twitter contact.  I was attracted to the company’s mission, “An engaging online Reading and Writing Community”.  This sparked my curiosity to learn more.

I am not going to go into lengthy detail covering Big Universe’s innovative features, but instead invite you to take a look yourself.  There are so many websites out there offering literacy services.  However, the uniqueness of Big Universe made powerful first impressions on me as a literacy teacher and mother of young children.  These are just a few features that grabbed my attention immediately and made lasting impressions:

•  A student can create their own personal, interactive online bookshelf.  This is a great opportunity for a student to feel a sense of ownership and pride of their literate life.
• Each student can create and share books with friends online.  When students are given opportunities to collaborate with peers, they accomplish meaningful learning and solve problems better than alone.
• Students learn how to navigate social media features.  Social networking is an engaging, real-life scenario that provides new ways to connect and share information.
• Each student can choose to read several online interactive books at their unique independent and guided reading level.  Students that read at their unique reading levels build fluency, increase vocabulary, and expand background knowledge.
• Students can accumulate AR points from reading the online books.  A teacher’s AR classroom program is strengthened with numerous online books children can read at school or at home.
• The online books are full of engaging content and age-appropriate.  Children given meaningful, connected text improve their overall reading achievement.
• The online books are written by various adult authors from several different publishing companies. Students introduced to the wide range of genres, authors, and topics become more proficient readers.
• Students can be an author of their own book choosing from several illustration features.  When students are given choices their intrinsic motivation increases and they become engaged learners.
• A student’s online bookshelf is carried over from grade to grade.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen their self-concept as a reader and writer as their literate life grows over the years.

Andersen Press, founded in 1976, publishes some of the most well known and best loved names in the world of children’s books. These include David McKee, the creator of Elmer the patchwork elephant; Tony Ross, who has given us the Little Princess; Ruth Brown, whose books include classics such as A Dark Dark Tale and The Big Sneeze; Michael Foreman, creator of Jack’s Fantastic Voyage and One World; Max Velthuijs whose Frog series has sold in 25 languages; and Colin McNaughton, whose Preston Pig series are among Andersen’s bestselling titles worldwide.

Read these and other books by Andersen Press on BigUniverse.com:

Grandpa’s Boat

Baby Pie

The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog

The Grump

Why?

Did you know that ee publishing & productions (pronounced “double e”) is out to change the world?

From ee publishing & productions:
We create children’s books and toys with high play and imagination value because we believe that the world would be a happier place if kids got to be kids just a little bit longer and if grownups greeted each day with more of the wonder we love in our children. In our products, we tap into the tremendous capacity for goodness, generosity, and compassion that children possess (from http://www.biguniverse.com/readkidsbooks/publisher/eepp).

This publisher is deeply committed to inspiring children’s character for tomorrow. That sounds like some ideas that can be used for character development.

Here are books on Big Universe from this publisher:

• Chatterbox
• Nana Star
• Nana Star and the Moonman

Here is a bit of information about one of the stories: Chatterbox by Michael Uslan

A funny, spirited, and heart-felt bird’s tale about a lonely child who comes out of her shell when a very near-sighted, talking parakeet swoops into her life. Told in Dr. Suess-style rhyme, this story of a girl and her bird shows how very special the relationship between a pet and a child can be.

Zoobooks is the everything-you-wanted-to-know-but-didn’t-know-where-to-look children’s resource for animals. Each issue delves into topics such as anatomy, habitat, socialization, and reproduction-all on a single animal or animal group-in a vibrant, easy-to-understand way. The series is produced by Wildlife Education, Ltd., a company first established in 1980. Hardcover library editions of the series were first produced in 1983, and the first foreign language translation, in Japanese, appeared in 1985. Presently Zoobooks are available worldwide in any of nine different languages. Contact information: Wildlife Education, Ltd., 1123 Emerson, Suite 211, Evanston, IL 60201; (800) 992-5034, sales@zoobooks.com, www.zoobooks.com.

Here are some books on Big Universe from this publisher:

Zoobies – Animal Babies	Zoobies – Penguins	Critters Up Close! – Frogs
Critters Up Close! – Lions	Critters Up Close! – Elephants	Zoobies – Turtles