MindWing Concepts Blog

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins has been a popular book used to teach sharing and fractions in elementary school. If you are not familiar with the story, Ma bakes a batch of a dozen cookies to be shared by her two children. However, as they sit down to enjoy the treat, the doorbell begins to ring with friends dropping by. Each time, the cookies must be divided up to share! The ending is quite a surprise! We have found this book to be an excellent way to reinforce the Initiating Event or “Kick-Off” icon of a story, especially in first grade. All you will need is the book and a “Kick-Off” icon taped to the end of a Popsicle stick, one for each participant...

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming has always been a favorite of mine to use with kindergarten students. It follows the perspective of a caterpillar on a journey in the tall, tall grass. I found it especially helpful to reinforce the Action Sequence, Stage 2, of narrative language development, shown below from Braidy the StoryBraid manual. The pictures below show a center activity that proved very popular with the students. The icon templates were obtained from pages 140-141 of the Braidy the StoryBraid manual. 1. I made a pocket folder for all the materials to be stored in out of green construction paper, folding it in half and cutting the “grass” along one end. 2. I cut out the star icon from page 140 of the manual...

A previous blog (“Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss Lesson,” 2/29/16) focused on the biography about Dr. Seuss. One of his selections mentioned was The Sneetches, published in 1961. Written during the 1960s during the civil rights struggle, this book demonstrates conflict between star-bellied Sneetches and those Sneetches who did not have stars. In a biography, it was stated that Ted Geisel showed through this story how he thought it was silly for people “to hate one another because they looked different” (p. 81, Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal). Below find The Sneetches outlined using five of the seven SGM Developmental Stages...

The Legend of The Indian Paintbrush (Legends Series) by Tomie dePaola

The following synopsis is taken from Goodreads

In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend. Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset...

I was delighted to receive this picture from friend and colleague Dr. Judy Montgomery at the Kick-Off of “SGM^® Week” at Chapman University in Orange, California. This picture was taken at the 2015 ASHA Convention in Denver and showcases our newest publication (at the time) The Essential SGM^®. Judy has been interested in the SGM^® and narrative development for many years and approached Maryellen three years ago about the need for a manual written especially for college professors of Communication Disorders and Special Education Programs. She volunteered to write the Foreword...

Cead Mile Failte 
(A Hundred Thousand Welcomes)!

I always enjoy trickster tales and have been amazed at the discussion and enthusiasm that these tales elicit from children. The tales from this folktale genre exists worldwide. So, with this in mind and St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, I thought it would be fun to look at books involving leprechauns, those mischievous fairies from Irish folklore. A brief trip to my local library in Springfield, Massachusetts, netted many books sure to put a smile on your student’s face! One such tale is Clever Tom and the Leprechaun. Here is a link to a YouTube video of a reading of the book. I would begin by reviewing two words in the title: clever and leprechaun...