Teachers! I welcome you back to school with a wave from the Minnesota State Fair...I confess: I went eight times! It is the largest state fair in the country, though Texas sometimes tries to claim that honor. Come see it someday--It’s always twelve days long, ending on Labor Day.
News! Miss Alaineus, A Vocabulary Disaster, is now out in paperback! Here are helpful tips and tools for hosting your own Vocabulary Parade this fall.

Scholastic’s INSTRUCTOR magazine (Sept/Oct issue) offers a peek at new Vocabulary Costume Parades that are replacing Halloween themes in schools around the country.

In celebration of the Instructor article Harcourt is offering a free book drawing contest.
See the new virtual Vocabulary Parade slide show! Inspire your students and faculty!
Download the FREE PDF Vocabulary Parade Costume Design Sheet to help your students get started planning their parade word.

Order the 30 page Vocabulary Parade Direction & Reproducibles Kit from Children’s Literature Network. ($25, shipping included) Or try the special autographed classroom sets with the kit included. Or download the three FREE instruction pages at my website. While you are there, print the newly expanded WORD PLAY BIBLIOGRAPHY that annotates 28 books that introduce words in innovative ways. Use these books throughout the school year.
WORDS! GLORIOUS WORDS! LET LOOSE A CALVACADE OF PARADING WORDS AT YOUR SCHOOL!
Remember to document the parade so the words will be enthusiastically reviewed by the parade participants.

Make a scrapbook, a display board, video tape or PowerPoint. Photograph EVERY costume effort so that all the words count.
Remember to document
your parade for long-lasting
word retention.