About Whisper Words®

Whisper Words® / Reading Buddies    Whisper Words® is a powerful unique vocabulary teaching / learning strategy for children. It was developed in 1990 by an elementary school teacher and is still being used today. Whisper Words® and Reading Buddies aid children with their vocabulary development, while improving listening and thinking skills. Children love Whisper Words® and Reading Buddies because as stories are read aloud at home or in the classroom, figurative language is used throughout literature to make stories come alive. Often times, children have not been introduced to figurative language and have not yet mastered the “hidden meaning” of figurative language words or phrases. Whisper Words® Reading Buddies combine active participation by the children. The children use hand signals to participate and acknowledge the hidden meaning of literary elements and figures of speech. In a short time, critical listening skills are dramatically enhanced.       Michael Anella - Whisper Words® Creator.

The word and concept is quickly understood, and mastery of figurative language is attained by the child. Every learning child deserves Whisper Words® and Reading Buddies. The Whisper Words® strategy is highly interactive, and for many children, their first experience with thinking practice. And even parents will learn a great deal about figurative language that makes the printed word come to life. Michael Anella is the creator of Whisper Words®, a teaching / learning technique, receiving a registered trademark in 2002.  He has been an educator for over twenty years working with children in grades three through seven and developed Whisper Words® in 1990.  Mr. Anella has taught in Europe, Michigan, and several districts in California as well as being an assistant principal at the middle school level.  He currently teaches a 4th – 5th grade multi-age classroom at Midland Elementary School in the Poway Unified School District in San Diego County.  Mr. Anella received his Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University and has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction and an Administrative Credential from San Diego State University. In 2003, Mr. Anella was recognized for teaching excellence as a recipient of the Hat’s Off To Teachers Award sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education. The seven Reading Buddies were created and developed to enhance a child’s knowledge of figurative language.  Children love to cuddle up and read.  Reading Buddies’ learning labels encourage children to identify examples of figurative language in stories they read, while sharing the “hidden meaning” of these literary elements and figures of speech on the back of the learning labels.  Mr. Anella quotes, “All elementary teachers and parents read stories aloud to their children.  With simple hand signals, children quickly learn to identify important literary elements and figures of speech greatly adding to their comprehension.”