Don’t Be Afraid to Drop Activities

Throughout our lives we are faced with many changes. Change can be good, but it isn’t always easy. It involves taking risks and being open to new possibilities. Don’t Be Afraid to Drop by Julia Cook shows kids how keeping an open mind and taking on a positive perspective can help us step outside of our comfort zone. I want to share some activities you can pair with this book.

My Fantabulous Brain Activities

Kids do not learn at the same pace or in the same way. So when learning doesn’t comes easily, some kids internalize their struggles and question their abilities. So how can we help? We can teach kids the tools and strategies needed to help make their brains stronger. My Fantabulous Brain by Julia Cook shows kids how this works. I even have some activities you can pair with this book.

I Have Ants in My Pants Activities

Julia Cook writes some of the best books for school-aged children! I Have Ants in My Pants! has some great tips for helping kids who get the wiggles and can’t sit still. I want to share more about this book as well as a few activities you can pair with it.

I’m Stretched by Julia Cook

Children and adults today are busier than ever. That’s why it is so important to recognize the signs of stress and have multiple strategies for managing time as well as stress. I’m Stretched by Julia Cook does a fantastic job of sharing realistic ways kids can work through the stress in their lives. I want to share more about this book along with a few activities you can try.

Bully B.E.A.N.S. by Julia Cook

Bullying is happening in schools more often than we’d like to admit. Not only do we need to teach our students what bullying is (and isn’t), but we need to ensure our students have the skills and strategies to stand up to bullies. Julia Cook has recently updated her book Bully B.E.A.N.S. Not only does this book help children identify bullying, but it offers strategies for those who are targets and bystanders. I have a few activities you can pair with this story, too.

A Flicker of Hope by Julia Cook

As a fan of books written by Julia Cook, I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest book, A Flicker of Hope. This story shows children that it is okay to ask for help while also encouraging them to be a hope builder for others. I want to share a few activities you can use with this story.

Picture Books for Kids Who Interrupt

Picture books are a great tool for teaching and reinforcing classroom expectations. These are the books I turn to when students struggle with interrupting.

Spring in the classroom is an interesting time. Not only are students blooming and growing with their learning, but they are also becoming more like a family. And like any family, there are bound to be a few things that start to get on your nerves. One thing that always seems to pop up every spring is students who interrupt. Since it’s never too late to stop and review the rules and expectations in the classroom, I love to use picture books to help teach (and re-teach) these lessons. Here are a few of my favorite books that you can read to your class when interrupting is a problem.

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue

When students do not know the difference between tattling and reporting, it can eat up instructional time and frustrate even the most experienced teacher. I like to spend a good chunk of time at the beginning of the year teaching and using examples to illustrate the difference.  Today I want to share some ideas for using the book, A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue in the classroom to address tattling and reporting.