12 Days Countdown… Day 7: CARE
JOYcabulary is counting down the days to the holiday break with our 12 Days Countdown. This series of 12 posts are like a vocabulary advent calendar to keep word learning going during the hectic holiday season.
Day 7 is all about CARE. What does it mean to care? Here at JOYcabulary we are going to break down the many meanings of care along with sharing an extraordinary event with author Ellen Kalish!
According to kids.wordsmyth.com there are three definitions. The first states serious attention. Did you know that care can also mean worry or concern? Both of these definitions can connect to the current holiday hustle and bustle. The final definition refers to the act of protecting or watching over. Ellen Kalish embodies all three definitions and I'm excited to share this amazing event with you.
The Christmas Owl is a must read written by Ellen Kalish and Gideon Sterer. It is based on the true story of the little owl found in the Rockefeller Christmas tree in 2020. Rocky goes on an unexpecting adventure and discovers the true meaning of Christmas. After the read aloud she brought out Linus, one of her owls from Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.
Our family adores the autographed book and Rocky ornament. Ellen's passion was contagious and because of her goodness, I left determined to build an owl box.
I hope that JOYcabulary and word learning brings you the same joy I felt that afternoon. There are numerous ways to incorporate this book into the classroom. We paired it with Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares. Check out our Lesson Plan here.
Along with Gideon Sterer, Ellen Kalish wrote The Christmas Owl: Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller. The read aloud event was pure magic for all ages. Talk about quaint, as we were welcomed to sit on cozy rugs in a charming space. Ellen was kind, caring, and passionate about protecting owls. She was also an authentic author who captivated her audience and paused to let students wonder.
Does it get better than this? A memorable moment with a real life author is priceless. Both boys left with an enormous lift in background knowledge regarding owls. They also couldn't stop talking about how a "real life" author autographed their book. My first grader has already started drafting his own holiday book, called "The Christmas Robot."
