Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?
Groundhog Day is always February 2nd, so why does it feel like the holiday sneaks up on me each and every year? Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, one book you should share with your students is Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub and Kristin Sorra. This book takes a closer look at Groundhog Day and weather through… Read More
In January, we will all take a day to honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, is a day really enough time to honor his work and legacy? I don’t think so! I know how challenging it can be to fit everything in, but it is important to make time. Here are some books and resources you… Read More
What would it be like to live in a snow globe? Would the days be filled with sledding, snowball fights, and ice skating? Jane O’Connor has imagined a world with two families: one inside and one outside the snow globe. This story is a perfect read aloud to share in winter when students long for days to play in the… Read More
Night Tree by Eve Bunting tells a beautiful story about one family’s yearly tradition to decorate a tree for the animals in the woods. This is a great book to add to your December read aloud collection. Here are some activities you can pair with this story. About the Book By moonlight in the quiet forest, a young boy… Read More
Have you read the book Pigeon Math by Asia Citro and Richard Watson? It’s a humorous story about trying to determine the number of pigeons on the line when outside influences keep that number changing until the end. I have a few freebies I want to share that can be paired with this story. I received a copy of this… Read More
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ is a delightful book that reminds readers about the true meaning of Thanksgiving. I want to share a few activities and a writing craft you can pair with this story. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ Thanksgiving is always a special day at the Tappletons’. But this Thanksgiving nothing seems to go right. First, the turkey… Read More
After weeks of falling snow, Cami Lou gathers her family to build a gigantic snowman they call Snowzilla. This impressive snowman draws the attention of thousands of admirers, but it isn’t long before the neighbors start to complain. One neighbor files a lawsuit and a judge orders that Snowzilla must come down. That’s when Cami Lou reaches out to friends, family, and other people in her community to save Snowzilla. Can they find a way to safely move the snow giant?
This rhyming book lends itself to so many writing extensions that I couldn’t help but create a writing craft to pair with it. It’s just one part of my Snowzilla book companion. I have also included comprehension and vocabulary activities. Swipe to take a peek at what’s included.
You can find these activities here:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Snowzilla-3530407
You can find the book on Amazon (affiliate link): amzn.to/2O4XiZR
Sometimes the little things bring the most joy!
One of the questions I am asked most often is where I find all of the books that I share. While I do purchase a large number of books, I also visit our local library. Here’s a little glimpse into where I spend most of my time during each visit. I thought this would be a great time to share a bit more about our library visits.
💜 I take my children to the library every 3 weeks, since that is how long we can keep our books.
💙 We are allowed to check out 100 books per library card. However, my rule is we can only check out what we can carry. My bags usually hold 40-50 books. My kids bring their own backpacks to carry the books they check out.
💚 Most of the books I check out are shared as bedtime stories on my stories each night.
💛 When we get to the library, we all head to different areas. I go to the picture books, my daughter to the chapter books, and my son goes to the easy reader section. They choose their own books.
🧡 My kids often finish browsing before I do. Obviously they can read their books, but our library also has puzzles and Legos for the kids. On this visit, there was also an invitation to make paper snowflakes for the library’s window display.
❤️ One thing I love about our library is we can choose to print a receipt of the books we check out. We use this as a checklist when getting ready for a library visit to make sure we don’t leave any books behind.
Please let me know if you have any other questions about our library visits!
Boxitects has a great message about creativity, teamwork, and friendship. I love that it features a wide variety of ways that kids can express their creativity and imaginations. As a bonus, the author has included some boxitect challenges in the back of the book along with information about why cardboard is a great material to work with. This would be a fantastic addition to your classroom library and a great mentor text for a STEM classroom!
Meg is a brilliant and creative boxitect, so her mom sends her to Maker School. As the only boxitect, she feels special and begins impressing her classmates with her creative structures and designs....until Simone shows up. Suddenly, Meg isn’t the only boxitect and a rivalry quickly forms. When the Maker Match competition is announced, Meg and Simone are forced to work together. Can Meg and Simone set aside their differences and combine their creative forces? Let’s just say that like many STEM challenges, things don’t go exactly as planned!
This is a new book and you can find it on Amazon (affiliate link):
amzn.to/36j2jo3
Did you know that Netflix has turned some of the Who Was? books into 30-minute episodes? I didn't!
Biographies for Children Come to Life on Netflix
creatingreadersandwriters.blogspot.com
I've been collecting titles from the Who Was biography series for years. The text is too complex for most of the primary children I wor...Groundhog Day always sneaks up on me each and every year. Does that happen to you? Thought I would share this mini book pack that will help guide your students through the text. These pages can be printed on white or on colored paper to add a little extra POP.
➡️ You can grab this freebie here:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Weather-School-5177723
