What are some of the best stories to read aloud? I can’t imagine not having great books and stories to share with my class. My 2nd graders LOVE when I read to them each day. They have come to cherish stories that touch their heart, make them laugh, or inspire them. What books are your class favorites? Here are a couple of mine: The Royal Bee by Frances and Ginger Park is a touching story…
This time of year I love to find new ideas to make my classroom functional, yet cute. The way I figure it, I spend more awake hours in my classroom than any other room in my house. So, why not make it visually appealing! Here are some ideas that are functional, yet adorable at the same time. Create a Cohesive Look Can’t you just feel the soothing appeal of this chalkboard and burlap room created by…
Over the summer I write new resources for teachers. Often they are based upon needs I see with my own students. Here are 2 new items I added in July: These passages start off with an intriguing question. Perhaps something you have been wondering yourself ❉ Can I Make My Parents’ Hair Turn Gray? ❉ Where Do Marshmallows Come From? ❉ Can I Sneeze In My Sleep? ❉ Did Castle Moats Have Alligators? ❉ What’s a…
Do you do book studies with your students? The Candy Corn Contest by Patricia Reilly Giff is an enjoyable early chapter book to use for a children’s book club. This book is part of The Kids of the Polk Street School series. Elementary students can easily relate to these 2nd graders and the challenges school life can bring. In order to extend this story and meet curriculum objectives, I created Candy Corn Contest comprehension questions and…
The Wampanoag tribe lived, hunted, and farmed the area we call Plymouth long before the Pilgrims arrived. Often teachers will touch upon these native people when discussing the First Thanksgiving. I wanted to provide my students with a much deeper background about the Wampanoag nation that went beyond the stereotypical “they helped the Pilgrims survive”. It is important to honor the heritage of the indigenous people that inhabited North America for thousands of years. Wampanoag Houses…
Wolves ~ does the word conjure up fear, awe, or curiosity? Well known stories such as Little Red Riding Hood portray the wolf character as scheming, deceitful, and blood thirsty. Then there is the story of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. The huffing and puffing character is determined to have his ham dinner. Hollywood has scared audiences with the murderous werewolf whose haunting howls in the night are intended to bring fear…
I’m thrilled to share with you one of my favorite children’s author / illustrator: Gail Gibbons. Today we are going to examine nonfiction text features through her book titled The Pumpkin Book. Identifying Nonfiction Text Features Gail Gibbons is a prolific author of informational texts for elementary readers. She is a master at weaving text and nonfiction elements with detailed illustrations and diagrams. That is why Gail Gibbons’ books are perfect to use as…
