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
While I love my name now, growing up it was not always my favorite. I did not like being teased about it. “Tell me a story, Storie!” or “Is your middle name Book?” or “Is that your REAL name?” A name is a huge part of our identity. Each student in the classroom has a special name. It is our responsibility to learn AND respect each and every name. This includes how to spell and pronounce them. There are a handful of books written that celebrate the beauty, history, and magic behind names, but Your Name is a Song is a new book by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe that needs to be shared.
After spending a day at school hearing her name being mispronounced, a little girl tells her mom that she doesn’t want to return. In response, the mother teaches her the musicality and magic behind a wide variety of names. Empowered with this new knowledge, the girl returns to school the next day ready to share what she has learned with her classmates and teacher.
This book not only has a beautiful message, but the illustrations are gorgeous. I appreciate that the author has selected a large variety of names to celebrate, but has also taken the time to include a pronunciation guide and meaning behind each name. This would be a wonderful addition to your classroom, school, or home library.
Be sure to check out Your Name is a Song by @authorjamilah and @lupencita . Thank you to @theinnovationpress for sharing this book with my family in exchange for an honest review.
➡️ Head to my blog to grab a few FREE activities to pair with this book: storiesbystorie.com/your-name-is-a-song-activities/
Seatbelts, everyone!
bit.ly
Universal, Elizabeth Banks’ Brownstone Productions and Marc Platt are developing a feature live-action hybrid movie about Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus. Joanna Cole wrote the books with ...Eva dreams of dancing. She also has cerebral palsy, and doesn’t know what dancing would look like for someone in a wheelchair. She’s doesn’t want to imagine or pretend, she just wants to dance.
When Mom finds an audition for dancers of all ages and abilities, Eva isn’t so sure. She wonders if the other kids will stare and whisper. When she arrives, she hesitates, but with the encouragement of her teacher and classmates, Eva’s dancing dream becomes a reality.
I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood and Julianna Swaney is an absolutely beautiful story and the illustrations are just as amazing. I love how this book portrays that there are many different types of dancers.
Have you read this book yet?
On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you that it’s summer? ☀️
It’s our first official day of summer break and I’m already dreaming of reading outside while my kids play. I thought it would be fun to kickoff the season with a fun craft. This one can be used to describe a favorite summer memory, a great book, and more! The best news is, it’s F R E E!
You can find this craft here: bit.ly/SummerSunCraft
