Monday, September 8, 2008

"Verde dice adelante/Green Means Go"


Verde dice adelante/Green Means Go
Written by: Susan Ring
Adapted Translations by: Gloria Ramos
Photographs by: Various
Published by Red Brick Learning in Bloomington, Minnesota in 2006
ISBN: 0-7368-6021-5
Genres: Picture Book, Informational Text
Reading Level: Kindergarten
Activity Level: Grades K and 1

Summary: This book introduces English as well as Spanish-speaking children to some of the rules of our country and our culture. It talks about traffic lights, the importance of bicycle and bus rules, and why they are they (in order to keep us safe). It does not go in-depth into the rules, but makes a case for their importance and provides the opportunity for teachers to teach these rules. It is a level A social studies book for young readers.

Response: I really wish this book would have gone more in-depth with some of the rules they say are important for us to have. I think maybe the book is supposed to be an introduction into the rules that the teacher would then teach (which is actually the activity I suggest below).

The photographs in this book are of actual children riding their bikes and getting on the bus as well as of trains and traffic lights, so it helps children see exactly what these things look like in real life so they can easily identify the stop signs and lights, etc.

Teaching Connections: This book could be used in a Kindergarten classroom to help introduce all the children to the rules. The teacher could read the story once in English and once in Spanish to her students and then go back, page by page, and ask the students if they know what the rules are for the situation. (She could also then move into discussing the classroom rules as well.)

This book could also be used with an ELL who is on a Kindergarten or first grade reading level. The teacher could work one-on-one with this child and have him read the book in his primary language and then in English. Then, she could ask the student about those rules.

What Students Learn: From this book and the activities children have the opportunity to learn or review safety rules related to school and traffic, learn some English or Spanish, and possibly learn some the classroom rules as well.

Image Retrieved From: http://www.reviewscout.com/images/Q/02409a800d9bc61f0e0ceadb59363704/0736860215.jpg

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