Books, Dreams, & Literacy | Teachable Moments

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Media Gallery

Grades: Infants and Toddlers, PreK-K, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grown-Ups and Educators

Favorite

Best Books for Babies

Because learning begins at birth, it’s never too early to start sharing books with your baby. The Best Books for Babies booklist helps parents, teachers, and caregivers find great books to share with babies aged birth to 18 months.

Putting Your Dreams into Motion

What ideas do you have? What do you dream about starting? Vida Kuhns, the owner of Saving Grace Country Store and Consignment in Bakerstown, PA, shares her tips on what you can do right now to achieve your goals.

Books & The Pursuit of Dreams

Children’s Literacy expert Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-El finds power in books, especially in helping youngsters explore their dreams for the future. This simple game of asking questions helps students hone in on their interests—with help from their local librarian.

Support Materials

Books & The Pursuit of Dreams – Extension Resources
Best Books for Babies – Extension Resource
Dreams into Motion – Extension Resource

About

This media gallery of Teachable Moments videos focuses on literacy activities that students can do and to think about the future and their dreams. Try out these activities on your own and check out the resources for more ways to extend the learning.

iQ: smartparent Teachable Moments are short vignettes that “extend the learning” at home or in the classroom with additional information, resources, and ideas in the form of PDFs

iQ: smartparent is an Emmy Award-winning program about parenting in the digital age. WQED-TV created a television series and social network for parents to empower them with new knowledge, tools, and abilities to successfully guide their children in the use of digital media and technology. Our show is developed in partnership with WQED’s award-winning education, production, and interactive teams.

Credits: WQED

Standards

Reading Literature (CC.1.3)

CC.1.3.K–5.A — Determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed.
CC.1.3.K–5.B — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CC.1.3.K–5.C — Describe characters, settings, and major events using key details.
CC.1.3.K–5.D — Identify words and phrases that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CC.1.3.K–5.E — Explain how illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the text.
CC.1.3.K–5.F — Identify the narrator and point of view.

Reading Informational Text (CC.1.2)

CC.1.2.K–5.A — Identify the main idea and key details.
CC.1.2.K–5.B — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding.
CC.1.2.K–5.C — Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information.
CC.1.2.K–5.D — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as used in a text.
CC.1.2.K–5.E — Use text features to locate key information.
CC.1.2.K–5.I — Identify and evaluate the author’s point of view.

Writing (CC.1.4)

CC.1.4.K–5.A — Write informative/explanatory texts to convey ideas and information clearly.
CC.1.4.K–5.B — Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to express ideas.
CC.1.4.K–5.M — Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
CC.1.4.K–5.T — With guidance, use digital tools to produce and publish writing.

Speaking & Listening (CC.1.5)

CC.1.5.K–5.A — Participate in collaborative conversations about grade‑level topics and texts.
CC.1.5.K–5.B — Ask and answer questions to clarify understanding.
CC.1.5.K–5.C — Describe familiar people, places, things, and events with relevant details.
CC.1.5.K–5.D — Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience.
CC.1.5.K–5.F — Add drawings or visual displays to presentations.
CC.1.5.K–5.G — Demonstrate command of conventions when speaking.

Foundational Skills (CC.1.1)

CC.1.1.K–2.A — Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds.
CC.1.1.K–2.B — Know and apply grade‑level phonics and word‑analysis skills.
CC.1.1.K–2.D — Read emergent‑reader texts with purpose and understanding.