Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?
Sterilite Drawers have been a key organizational tool in my classroom for years and they work well in my home office, too! I love that I can keep all of the mess separated, contained, and still keep everything looking good just by adding labels to the front of the drawers. After sharing some pictures of my Sterilite drawers on Instagram,… Read More
I have been asked to share some of the ways I organize my weekly spelling practice. I prefer to incorporate spelling practice into our Word Work rotation during our Daily 5 block (you can read more about our weekly routine here). In order to do this, things need to be organized so the students can access and use the materials independently…. Read More
Primary students can make incredible reading growth each year and I am always looking for a quick and easy way to track that growth. This is a simple form that works for me, so I thought I’d share the idea with you. It’s just a table I created to match the levels our testing kits assess. Incoming reading level… Read More
I can’t believe it’s already Monday again. The summer seems to be flying by so quickly. Even more exciting is that I have a few more projects to share with you this week. This is my third Erin Condren planner. The first year I had a teacher planner and it was a lifesaver! Last year I was home with my… Read More
Okay, I feel like I’ve dipped my toes in the water today. We had our annual Meet the Teacher night. This gives us a chance to meet our students and families the day before school starts. This was probably the first year I’ve met 100% of my students. I don’t know who is more nervous – me or the students…. Read More
So I was planning to share this yesterday, but I got swept up in my classroom projects, a meeting that ran longer than planned, and my soccer game. I know Tara isn’t doing her Monday Made-It series weekly now that summer is almost finished. However, I thought I’d keep up in the spirit of things and share with you what I have… Read More
I absolutely love wordless books now, but that hasn’t always been the case. When I first started teaching, I didn’t know how valuable they could be for readers of all ages. Thank goodness that has changed!
The Girl and the Bicycle is one of my favorites. It’s about a young girl who sees a shiny green bike in the store window. She rushes home, but finds she doesn’t have enough money in her piggy bank. She checks the couch cushions, clothes pockets, and even tries to sell her toys and lemonade. When she still doesn’t have enough money, she offers to help her neighbors with yard work. Unfortunately, they all turn her away except for one kind woman. As the seasons change, these two work side by side and develop a friendship. When the weather warms and the little girl finally has enough money to buy the bike, it’s already gone! Can you guess what happens next? The ending gets me every single time!
What are some of your favorite #wordlessbooks ? Be sure to check out my stories for my favorite books along with tips for using wordless books in the classroom.
✏️“I don’t know what to write.”
If you teach writing workshop, you’ve probably heard this more times than you can count. When your mini lessons aren’t reaching every writer, it might be time to reach for a picture book. That’s why I’m so excited that @katemessner and @marksiegel2020 have teamed up again!
How to Write a Story takes readers on a young girl’s journey from choosing an idea to sharing her finished writing piece. Kids are sure to get inspired by the colorful illustrations and create their next story. Swipe to sneak a peek inside the book.
What are some of your favorite picture books about writing? I'll share some of my favorites down below.
#howtowriteastory #writingmentortext
Just because your kids can read to themselves doesn't mean they have outgrown the read aloud. Here are some tips for read aloud. Number 5 is my favorite!😀
storiesbystorie.com
Reading aloud to children of all ages is so important. Some teachers and families don't make time for read aloud because of busy schedules, lack of books, or because their kids can already read indepe...This morning I set my son up on the computer for his Google Meet and then slid back over to my computer to start work. After listening to his teacher cheerfully greet each and every student, she mentioned that she had a book to share. Suddenly I found myself caught up in her story. Why? Because she was reading Our Class is a Family written by my friend, Shannon.
This rhyming story wants to help each and every student feel loved, included, and safe in the classroom. It shows that a classroom family celebrates what makes each member unique, how the people love and respect one another, and that the classroom is a safe place where it’s okay to make mistakes and grow together. This book is perfect for the first few weeks of school, but can also be revisited throughout the year.
Sometimes a book comes along at the perfect time with an important message. No matter how you’re teaching right now, your class is like a family. Building relationships and community is more important than ever. Have you shared this book with your students yet?
P.S. I hope you’ll autograph my copy of #ourclassisafamily the next time I see you @lifebetweensummers 😉!
