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
If you want your students to switch their mindset from one of entitlement to one of gratitude, you need to model and instill a community in your classroom that values that trait. Here are three 3 ways to foster gratitude in the classroom. Read Books about Gratitude and Thankfulness This is probably the easiest way to spread this message in… 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 ready to try goal setting with your students this year, but not sure how to start? Grab an inspiring picture book to help set the tone! Here are some picture books for goal setting that might just inspire your students to dream big! You can click on any of the covers below to learn more about these Picture… Read More
My family loves playing games. Now that my kids are getting older, the variety of games we can play has quickly expanded to include games that build thinking skills. Here are some of our favorite logic, strategy, and critical thinking games. A few of these games could easily be adapted for classroom use, too! We have purchased most of these… Read More
Are you looking for new ways to practice spelling and sight words? Here are several activities you can try in the classroom or at home with your kids. Your kids will have so much fun practicing their words! IDEAS FOR SPELLING and SIGHT WORD PRACTICE Lacing Letters Kids can get a little fine motor practice in while working… 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
