Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?
If you’ve been around for awhile, you know how much I love to share picture books and chapter books with kids. There’s something so exciting about getting caught up in the characters and storyline. But I also know how important it is to share nonfiction texts with students. Here are several reasons why children need nonfiction in the primary classroom…. Read More
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 independently. If that sounds familiar, here are some read aloud tips to make this time work in the classroom or at home. Read Aloud Tips Here… Read More
Are you struggling to get your reluctant readers excited about the books available to them? Are your students losing interest in reading in favor of daydreaming about warmer weather? Here are some of my favorite ways to get my students excited about books throughout the school year! USE YOUR READ ALOUD Use this time to make some powerful book… Read More
Have you thought about using novels with small groups, but aren’t sure where to start? It is definitely possible to do so in the primary grades! Here’s how I got started using chapter books with my second graders during my small group time. WHY USE NOVELS WITH SMALL GROUPS? My very first year of teaching, I was in… Read More
Choosing the right book for your reading group can be overwhelming – especially when it can be a determining factor in the engagement and success of your group. Here are 10 things I take into consideration when choosing books for reading groups. Reading Level A student’s instructional reading level is a place to start when choosing books for your… Read More
Summarizing can be an extremely difficult skill for students. I find that when students are asked to summarize, many try to tell every event and detail from the story because they do not understand the difference between summarizing and giving a retell. When we ask students to retell, we want them to give a play-by-play of everything that happened in… Read More
Are you a fan of fractured fairy tales? I am!
Josh Funk has taken this concept to a whole new level with his It’s Not a Fairy Tale series. In these stories, the fairy tale characters refuse to listen to the storyteller and will not go along with the original story. As you might expect, hilarity ensues!
So far, this series includes the following tales:
• It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood
• It’s Not Hansel and Gretel
• It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk
My kids love hearing the back-and-forth banter between the narrator and the fairy tale characters. These books always get some big belly laughs, which is a win in my book! Have you read any of these books yet? If so, which fairy tale would you love to see @joshfunkbooks write about next?
#fracturedfairytales
❤️❤️❤️Reading is not only a meaning-making transaction between the author and the reader, it’s a magic-making experience and sharing this magic with students is one of the greatest gifts teachers can give their students, virtually or in person.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Balloons Over Broadway is not your average Thanksgiving book. This one tells the story of Tony Sarg, a master puppeteer who helped create the first helium-filled balloons that are now a staple of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
Many classrooms now use this book as inspiration for their own school-wide balloon parades. Whether your kids watch these parades as spectators on the sidelines or through videos online, let them describe their favorite balloons with a fun kid craft. Swipe to take a peek. You can find this craft along with more activities for Balloons Over Broadway in my TpT store. This resource has printable and digital options.
#balloonsoverbroadway
#storiesbystorie
With the holidays quickly approaching, there are many important lessons students can learn from books to help encourage gratitude and thankfulness. Here are some books about gratitude and thankfulness that you can read together. I encourage you to share these books not just at the holidays, but throughout the whole year. bit.ly/36QxMQz
The turkey fell into the pond?
The pies were sold out?
The class bunny ate the salad?
Mashed potatoes on the wall?
Sounds like a 2020 Thanksgiving, right? But this is what happens in Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’. Fortunately, this family comes to realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than a turkey and the trimmings.
After reading this story, kids can make their own Thanksgiving placemat craft that opens to reveal a piece of writing. Since this will be a Thanksgiving like no other, students can share a memory, things they are thankful for, their favorite Thanksgiving foods, a holiday gone wrong, or something else. You can find this activity in my TpT store. Tap the photos for more info.
#thanksgivingatthetappletons
