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A child’s imagination is unlimited and should be encouraged and celebrated. Reading to children and asking questions like, “I wonder what will happen next,” allows them to construct their own scenarios. Children learn through repetition and exposure to a variety of experiences.

Books that become familiar are like the foundation of a house. Once a child finds a book that sparks their imagination, they see wonderful possibilities that didn’t exist before. A trip to the library can open a world of possibilities to a growing mind. Reading aloud is especially important in that it helps children equate reading with caring and enjoyment.

Fairy Tales offer an opportunity to go outside reality and explore a creative world where animals talk, a lesson is bestowed and magical things happen. My granddaughter in the photo above is looking for fairies or leprechauns. That beautiful gift of imagination grows through books. Here are some books that are fantasy and fairy tales. Check with your local library to see if they are available.

Elliot is in third grade and he has magical powers.

Celia’s grandmother tell her stories about fairies and Celia tries to save the woods from demolition.

It is exhausting being a unicorn. Read this just before bed.

Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Random Thoughts

The day I became a grandmother I began evaluating my life, or I should say reevaluating it. I realized that this beautiful child is not mine and I am a part of a much bigger picture, yet only a part. What part do I play? As a retired elementary teacher I know the joy of teaching young children. I have learned things I never knew about when raising my own three. Will I have any credibility when I suggest ideas for my grandchild to learn to read or learn to navigate technology when I left it up to teachers to provide literacy instruction for my own children? Is it my place to offer any suggestions? I know best practices and I have learned to lean on researched methods with proven results, yet this little one is not mine and I have to realize that I am an eager grandmother, one with hopes and dreams, but this child is the child of my child. “Take a deep breath and slow down,” I tell myself, “Enjoy the moment, and let the parents have their shot at raising their own child.” I am going to listen to that not so quiet voice. I will read aloud when I get opportunities and rejoice in my child’s journey with his child. Now if I am asked for advice, well, that’s another story.

The Hike

My son called to ask if we could celebrate my husband’s birthday by hiking near the coast. He has two small children; a two year old daughter and a 3 1/2 month old son. The hike is 4 miles total, and seemed at first to be a bad idea. We met at our favorite cafe for breakfast and then drove to the headlands to begin our hike. I marveled at how much gear my son had for the children. My daughter-in-law wrapped the 3 month old around her stomach as my son put the largest kid seat I’d ever seen on his back. This contraption even had stirrups and a cup holder. My granddaughter had other ideas. She insisted on walking. Her parents went ahead as my husband, the birthday boy, and I walked with Kaia. She walked along dodging dog poop and refused to hold my hand. Other hikers smiled as they passed my independent granddaughter so determined to make the hike on her own. All I wanted was to hold her hand until I realized that this tiny human is giving us all a glimpse of the future. She will make her own way someday. She walked a mile before getting tired and reluctantly got into her 21st century backpack seat to let her daddy carry her. It was so much more than a beautiful long hike.

Exercise

The numbers on my bathroom scale made me dizzy. How can it be that
I weigh that much? When and where did I lose control of my weight? How can I get back to my old self? How soon? Being at home during a pandemic is a recipe for weight gain.

One of the side effects of the medication I take is weight gain, but geez, this much? Being the clothes horse that I am this is unacceptable.

I decided to enlist the help of a trainer at a local fitness center. My trainer came highly recommended and her smile put me at ease immediately. She asked the standard questions and I shared about my personal illness and my goals to gain strength and lose weight. We went to work setting up a routine. My end of the deal is work out on my own 2-3 days a week and meet with her on Friday afternoons. She showed me how to set up and properly use the machines.

I was self-conscious at first, but kept telling myself that there isn’t a soul in the gym that cares if I am a newbie. They are there for their own health and well being. There were lots of smiles and people around me were more focused on their own goals.

I am either committed or not. My trainer could sense that I have a lazy streak, so she told me to think of it as my job to show up for work. Tomorrow I will travel 4 hours to Stanford Hospital for a medical procedure and allow myself a day or two to rest, then I plan to show up and get to work.

Update1 : The pandemic has put a halt to any gym activity. I purchased an eliptical and some stretch bands. I live at the beach where taking a walk is not a chore. I also bought a membership to Body Groove and dance myself silly in the living room. I am going to stick with my commitment.

Update 2: Down 6 pounds in one week. Woohoo!

Update 3: I joined an online group that gathers on Zoom to discuss healthy lifestyle choices. They are a great group of local women and I am happy to be on the same journey.

Update 4: Down 10 pounds. Woohoo!!

Update 5: I make my own granola and morning muffins– healthy and delicious

Update 6: Going back to my gym! Yahoo! What a nightmare these last two plus years have been. Like Maya Angelou said, “Still I rise.”

Below are some archives.

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Children's Books, Journal

Saying Goodbye to Future Teachers

I have been an online instructor for a university for almost seven years. Each term I change my course based on what I feel would enhance the learning for my students. I learn so much from them. I love sharing my experiences and insights. This last term I decided to try a new course. I sent out an email to my course developer who put me in touch with a colleague who set me up with a course I have long wanted to teach, Children’s Literature. Whenever I try something new I get a bit anxious, and once I get into it (believe me, I research), I feel like Wonder Woman. On top of it all, I was given autonomy to make any changes I feel are necessary. Being brand new, I hardly changed a thing. To have that level of trust and responsibility given to me is life affirming. I went well above and beyond and made more work for myself than necessary. But oh, what a good class!

I now need to say goodbye to my students as they have completed the term. I received feedback from them stating how much they learned from the course. I wish the course was longer. We could have covered so much more in depth. Goodbyes are hard, but I know the students will make a difference in the lives of their own students. That’s the best outcome ever.

I could use a coffee

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The Power of Books

**So good she just couldn’t put it down….**

Last night I fell asleep reading a thriller (my new favorite genre). Mind you, it was 1 a.m. and I was hopeful I would finish the last third of the book. There is something hypnotic about eyes moving across a page, even if it is a thriller. When a parent reads to a child the child learns to equate books with pleasure and comfort. Changing your voice to match the personality of a character captivates a child. They learn to imitate the reader. So much of what children learn is through imitation. Parents who read books leave an imprint that promotes a love of reading.

It is important that children select their own books to allow them to explore their interests. Books are the passageways to other cultures, places, experiences. The books they choose must be at their reading level. It’s good to use the “Five Finger Rule.” If a child makes 5 mistakes when reading a page, that book is too difficult. Direct the child to a book that is appropriate for their reading level yet honors their choice. If they insist on a book that is too hard, offer to read it to them. It’s always best when they find a book they can read themself.

These days children are doing much of their reading on devices (iPads, phones, laptops). You may think, “at least they’re reading,” but a Harvard study showed that,

“...the use of digital devices before bedtime prolongs the time it takes to fall asleep, interferes with the circadian clock, the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, REM sleep, and reduces alertness the following morning. Use of light-emitting devices at bedtime also makes one more alert, so it’s hard to fall asleep.” (https://www.thetechedvocate.org/4-reasons-printed-textbooks-are-better-than-digital/)

Put your Ipad or phone in another room before bedtime. Resist the urge to allow children to use a device prior to bedtime.

Make sure a child has access to books. Local libraries, thrift stores, Little Libraries, garage sales, online read aloud websites, and book swaps are ways to accumulate your personal library. Check out these:

Storyline Online: https://storylineonline.net

https://www.getepic.com/options?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&campaignid=14637791945&adgroupid=135212517353&device=c&keyword=free%20childrens%20reading%20books&creative=583946411199&gclid=Cj0KCQiA64GRBhCZARIsAHOLriL4MPjzuE7aSHUMbqPS89XAnSKSkuQW3MlA_hUG00CQ4kRlRzbVRFcaAucJEALw_wcB

https://manybooks.net

https://openlibrary.org

https://www.gutenberg.org

Start early. Read aloud! Children will imitate you!
Introduce children to books and have a variety of rhyming books.

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Children’s Books That are Awesome

I have been looking for children’s books that have a good message during these difficult times. I think
I’ve found some winners.

All about feelings and emotions

This delightful story of persistence and self-acceptance highlights the value of practice, friendship, and a good attitude.

30 great breathing exercise to bring about calm and mindfulness.

The book is about empathy, compassion and gratitude.

It offers creative strategies for children to set goals and have a positive outlook.

Rafael López’s dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway

Learning Apps, Literacy Resources and Children's Books, Teacher Tips

Student Engagement

Student engagement is a vital component in any classroom. Over the past year, remote learning has become a reality for most students around the world. As many students return to in-person learning, or any number of hybrid learning environments, here are some ideas to keep engagement rates high and help maintain student learning in any environment.

Virtual, In Person, & Hybrid Learning Environments

Organizing Content

Nearpod: Software to create lessons with informative and interactive assessment activities.
Netboard.me: collect, organize and share any web content. Create Web pages with texts, links, documents, videos, photos, presentations, etc.
Prezi: with a basic subscription and a profile that states you’re in Education, you get PreziNext and PreziVideo for free. Access to designer templates, millions of reusable presentations, etc.
Slidesmania: Free PowerPoint templates or Google Slides themes for education. You can find simple, formal and even fun templates.
Sutori:organize, plan and center instruction. The collaborative nature and ease of use makes Sutori the perfect companion for student and teacher presentations.
Symbaloo: is a cloud-based application that allows users to organize and categorize web links in the form of buttons, offering its PRO version to all educators at no cost.

Creating Digital Lessons

EdPuzzle: Video lesson creation software with lots of usable content.

Kahoot: A game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to players at school, at work, and at home.

Pear Deck: Facilitates the design of engaging instructional content with various integration features.

Squigl : Content creation platform that transforms speech or text into animated videos.

Thinglink: Tools to create interactive images, videos and other multimedia resources.

Management and Brain Breaks

Go Noodle – GoNoodle is a fun website with a variety of brain breaks and indoor PE fun right in one place!

Whole Brain Teaching – The teacher breaks up information into short chunks, using large hand gestures, varying the intonation of her voice by speaking loudly and then softly, quickly then slowly. The greater the variance, the more likely students are to recall and use the information. It activates various parts of the brain, locking information into long-term storage.

Class Dojo – Encouraging and supportive behavior management device. Teachers can encourage and support students for any skill or value — whether it’s working hard, helping others, staying on task, etc.

Additional Resources

Virtual

Diversity in the Classroom, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

DEVELOPING RAPPORT

Why Build Rapport with Students?

To create an environment that is safe and engaging for all learners:

Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

To create an inclusive Classroom Community:

Mapping Your Heart – view this video to learn about Heart Mapping, invented by Georgia Heard, as one strategy to begin building an inclusive classroom community.

Strategies to Build Rapport with Students:

Building rapport with students from the beginning of a placement allows Teacher Candidates to make connections early and start forming relationships, even in the Virtual Teaching & Learning Environment.

Spend time getting to know your students –

Access students’ “Funds of Knowledge” via a Family Survey or Inventory, such as this one from the Teaching Tolerance website: Family Interview.
Ask students to share any extenuating circumstances you should be aware of regarding their learning. Students can submit their response in writing, or as a video or audio recording. Flipgrid is a user-friendly video-based platform to use with students.
Restorative Circles:

Create a Classroom Community: Be intentional when creating and nurturing your class community –

6 Ideas for Creating a Remote Community of Learners: Online article with actionable suggestions for creating connections in Virtual Teaching & Learning Environments.
What I Wonder About Heart Map: A video with the creator of Heart Maps, Georgia Heard, modeling how to create a “What I Wonder About” Heart Map.
Building Rapport Online: Blog Post highlighting tips to make the “online learning experience warm, friendly, and engaging for our young people”, such as SmallTalk or Small Conversations.
Strategies for Teaching Online: The Ultimate Guide for Educators: You may find the section, “Strategies for Teaching Online: How to Build Rapport and Community with Students”, such as incorporating “purposeful free time”, to be of particular interest.

Maintaining Rapport

Equally important as building rapport with students is maintaining that rapport. Here are some suggestions to maintain connections with students virtually:

Take adventures with your students
- Take students on virtual field trips. Visit this blog post, 8 Strategies for Building Belonging with Students and Families Virtually, for virtual field trip ideas.
- Create a virtual scavenger hunt. Watch this video for ideas: Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Students.
Remind students how special they are.
- Teachers Tell Students How Special They Are: Video of High School teachers telling their students how and why they are special.
- , 8 Strategies for Building Belonging with Students and Families Virtually, for additional ideas.

Linked Resources

Teachers Tell Students How Special They Are
Students’ Funds of Knowledge
- Luis Moll video: Funds of Knowledge
- Funds of Knowledge Theoretical Model
Heart Map Activity
Parent Interview/Family Survey from Teaching Tolerance

Emergent Bilingual Students

Effective Practices that Support Emergent Bilingual Students

Identify your students’ language backgrounds and Proficiency Levels (please see page 18 of the ELD Standards Framework)
Provide effective Integrated ELD and Designated ELD instruction
Use appropriate and planned scaffolds to support academic language development and content knowledge
View SOE Module #6: Supporting Emergent Bilingual Students for more effective practices and strategies.

Build Connections with Families

Access students’ “Funds of Knowledge” via a Family Survey or Inventory, such as this one from the Learning for Justice website: Family Interview.
- Connect learning to students’ lived experiences.
Ask students to share any extenuating circumstances you should be aware of regarding their learning.
Encourage families to have conversations in their home language to aid academic language development.

Provide Opportunities to Build Academic English

Restorative Circles: Use a version of Restorative Circles to give Emergent Bilinguals opportunities to hear and speak English daily.
40 Intriguing Photos to Make Students Think: You can use pictures to encourage and scaffold conversations in the classroom
QSSSA: More Thank Turn and Talk – Try QSSSA Method: Question, Signal, Stem, Share, and Assess

Literacy Resources and Children's Books, Teacher Tips

Check for Understanding!!

After you teach a lesson, even a mini-lesson, always make sure you scan your group to insure they have a clear understanding of what you have taught. Moving on without a check does a disservice to students. Form a small group to reteach the lesson. The hand method is a good visual that goes a step further than “thumbs up, thumbs down.”

Check For  Understanding  Strategy 

Description 

3‐2‐1/ Fist  to  Five/ Thumbs  Up, Thumbs Down 

4‐3‐2‐1   Scoring  Scale 

Students  communicate  their  level  of  understanding  to  teacher  using  their  fingers 

ABCD Whisper	Students  should  get  in  groups  of  four  where  one  student  is  A, the n next  is  B, etc.  Each  student  will  be  asked  to  reflect  on  a  concept  and  draw  a  visual  of  his/her  interpretation. Then  they  will  share  their  answer  with  each  other  in  a  zigzag  pattern  within  their  group.
Capacity Matrix	The  capacity  matrix  is  a  charting  technique  used  to  break  down  topic  areas  into  steps  for achieving  a  specific  result.   It  identifies  tasks,  knowledge  levels,  and  understanding  of  the  topic  area.
Circle, Triangle, Square	(Circle)  Something  that  is  still  going  around  in  your  head,  (Triangle)  Something  pointed  that stood  out  in  your  mind,  (Square)  Something  that “Squared” or  agreed  with  your  thinking.

Clickers 

Electronic  surveying  devices  that  give  instant  feedback  and  data 

Decisions, Decisions  (Philosophical Chairs)	Given  a  prompt,  class  goes  to  the  side  that  corresponds  to  their  opinion  on  the  topic, sides  share  out  reasoning,  and  students  are  allowed  to  change  sides  after  discussion
Entrance/Exit ticket	Each  student  will  be  given  a  ticket  to  complete  before  leaving  the  room  answering: What  is  the  most  important  thing  I  learned  today?  What  questions  do I  still  have? These  tickets  can  be  given  to  the  teacher  when  exiting  the  room  or  upon  entering  the  next  day.  The  teacher  uses  this  information  to  guide  the  instruction.
Every Pupil Response	Each  student  receives  a  pink  and  yellow  card.  Each  color  represents  a  specific  response.  Students  raise  the  card  to  provide  the  correct  response  to  a  teacher  directed  question.
Example/Non‐Example	Given  a  concept,  students  sort  or  write  various  examples/non‐examples
Example/Non‐Example	Given  examples/non‐examples,  students  determine  concept

Fill  In  Your  Thoughts 

Written  check  for  understanding  strategy  where  students  fill  the  blank. 

Description 

Students  use  this  strategy  to  help  them  remember  information  that  is  important  to  them.  They  will “flag” their  ideas  on  a  sticky  note  or  flag  die  cut… 

Students  demonstrate  their  knowledge  of  transformations  of  functions  by  physically  moving  their arms  and  body 

Draw  your  handprint.   In  each  finger, write  one  thing  you  learned  today. 

A  kinesthetic  activity  where  students  in  the  class  physically  move  to  create  a  histogram, where  each  student  represents  a  data point  rating  their  view .

Give  One, Get  One 

Cooperative  activity  where  the  students  write  response  to  a  prompt, meet up  with  another student  and  share  ideas  so  that  each  leaves  with  something  to  add  to  their  list 

Onion Ring	Students  form  an  inner  and  outer  circle facing  a  partner. The  teacher  asks  a  question  and  the students  are  given  time  to  respond  to  their  partner.  Next, the  inner  circle  rotates  one  person  to  the  left. The  teacher  asks  another  question  and  the  cycle  repeats  itself.
Pop It (Bubble Wrap)	Students  write  what  they  want  to  know  about  a  topic  on  a  dot  sticker.   Place  each  sticker  on  the  bubble wrap.   When  a  topic  is  covered,  the  student  pops  the  bubble.
Project Study Group	Analyzing  incorrect  responses  in   multiple  choice  questions

Student  Data  Notebooks 

A  timed  writing  in  response  to  a  question  or  prompt (can  be  used  before, during,  or  after  instruction) 

A  scoring  guide  using  subjective  assessments  that  is  generally  composed  of  dimensions  for  judging  student performance. 

Students  take  turns  leading  discussions  in  a  cooperative  group  on  sections  of  a  reading  or  video 

Slap It 

Students  are  divided  into  two  teams  to  identify  correct  answers  to  questions  given  by  the  teacher. Students use  a  fly swatter  to  slap  the  correct  response  posted  on  the  wall. 

Check  For  Understanding  Strategy 

Timed  Pair  Share 

Triangular  Prism (Red,  Yellow, Green) 

Word  Sort 

Description 

Given  a  prompt, students  pair  up  and  share  their  perspective  for  a  given  amount  of  time, taking  turns (A  talks, B  listens, then  B  talks, A  listens) 

Students  give  feedback  to  teacher  by  displaying  the  color  that  corresponds  to  their  level  of  understanding 

Given  a  set  of  vocabulary  terms,  students  sort  in to  given  categories  or  create  their  own  categories  for  sorting 

Take and Pass 

Cooperative group  activity  used  to  share  or  collect  information  from  each  member  of  the  group;  students  write  a  response,  then  pass  to  the  right, add  their  response  to  next  paper,  continue  until they  get  their  paper  back,  then  group  debriefs. 

Whip Around 

Teacher  poses  a  question  and  students   list  three  items.  All  students  stand.  Teacher  randomly  calls  students  to  share ,  if  their  topic  is  called  they  sit. Teacher  continues  til  all  students  are  sitting. 

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Journal, Teacher Tips

What If?

I teach an online course for future teachers in a master’s degree program. I was grading journal post last night when I read a student’s journal entry detailing her fears about interacting (or failure to interact) with parents. She was candid in describing possible scenarios. “What if a parent had a horrible school experience and hates teachers?” “What if the family doesn’t value education?” “What if I don’t make a good impression?” “What if I cannot connect with them at all?”

I asked myself, “What if I give her the wrong advice?” I found myself falling into the trap of fear and doubt that she carried. I’m a veteran teacher with 20 years experience dealing with parents. I know better. I know that being my authentic self is all I can be, and it’s good enough. I love teaching, and this student is obviously worrying herself sick over ‘what ifs.’ Her anxiety was reaching toxic levels. I thought about the most honest and heartfelt (hopefully helpful) advice I could give her. I told her to highlight the student’s strengths. I encouraged her to send notes home with the child

to report effort, acts of kindness, and any improvement. They send a clear message that you are noticing their child’s growth, and you care about their child. It will help build a bridge that may undo preconceived notions about the teacher or the school. This is crucial if they’ve lived their life with negative memories of a bad experience. A student that goes home happy and feeling supported is bound to share that with their parents. A teacher’s job is to make sure they get to know their students, let them know you value them for who they are.

Too often parents are not part of a student’s support team. That is a signal that the teacher needs to give even more of their heart and time to that student.

It’s good to give a glance at the what ifs, but more important is to be proactive in how you will connect with your students. What if you make a real difference? What if the parents want to decide to become involved? What if that student remembers you all their life?

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Relatable Books For Children

**A good book can spark imagination, teach us, and take us on a journey.**

I love to share resources for children by topic. Kindly share with me if you have collections of special interest and I will add them. 😉 Teaching children to read and to Love reading is my passion.

We have all had a lousy day. Relatable text is important for children to make text-to-life connections.

Lucy is teased for being different. She finds courage to be herself.

This book helps children learn our fears are greatly exaggerated.

“No more carrots, fruit or peas, I’m going to live with dog family!” says a little girl who’s had enough of her parents forcing her to eat her dinner. But what if life with the dogs isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? “Dog Family” is a loveable story about one little girl’s adventure as she discovers the importance of family love.

CAUTION: FOR OLDER STUDENTS

The powerful, unforgettable graphic memoir from Jarrett Krosoczka, about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents.In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka’s teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett’s family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett’s life. His father is a mystery — Jarrett doesn’t know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents — two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what’s going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.

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Spelling

Rote memorization is not an effective way to learn and remember. How many kids forget their spelling words as soon as they finish the test?

BORING!!!

We need to give kids an active role.

Just a handful of kids’ needs are met when the entire class has the same word list!

NOT FAIR NOT GOOD TEACHING

There is another way– Use WORDS THEIR WAY

●Use of multi-sensory learning
●Students are actively engaged
●Students learn word patterns
●It’s fun

The Primary Spelling Inventory, or PSI, can be used in kindergarten through third grade. The Upper-Level Spelling Inventory, or USI, can be used in upper elementary, middle school, high school, and postsecondary classrooms. If a school system wants to use the same inventory across all elementary grades, they can use the Elementary Spelling Inventory, or ESI.

ASSESS First, then FORM GROUPS based on needs, TEACH needed skills, ASSESS

Stages of Spelling Development

_Pre-Phonet_ic (Before a child learns letter/sound combination they will try to write letters they have seen)

Phonetic (child is learning letter/sound and will try to sound out words).

Making Learning new spelling words FUN and MULTI-SENSORY

Remember that the fun activities are NOT in place of direct instruction of a skill. They are meant to make the learning enjoyable so it is stored in longterm memory.

**We learn through experiences

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ARCHIVES:

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Teacher Tips

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

A 2019 report confirmed that experiencing traumatic things as a child puts you at risk for lifelong health effects.

What do we mean by Adverse Childhood Experience?

Sexual abuse

Abuse (physical or mental)

Exposure to domestic abuse

Exposure to substance abuse

Mental illness, parental discord, crime

Death of parent

Imprisoned parent

Impact:

Neurobiologic Effects of Trauma : Disrupted neuro-development, Difficulty controlling anger-rage, Hallucinations, Depression, Panic reactions, Anxiety, Multiple (6+) somatic problems, Sleep problems, Impaired memory, Flashbacks, Dissociation

Health Risk Behaviors : Smoking, Severe obesity, Physical inactivity, Suicide attempts, Alcoholism. Drug abuse, Repetition of original trauma, Self Injury ,Eating disorders

What Can a Teacher Do?

•Create a caring classroom

•Greet them when they enter

•Class Meetings- Compliments

•Morning Message on the board

•Friendship Board- Messages of Encouragement

• Sprinkle Praise- Highlight Accomplishments

Convey that you care-get to know your students

If you suspect child abuse:

Tell your principal immediately

You are a mandated reporter- Call Child Protective Services

Keep confidential notes in a safe place-date and time

Reading Buddies

Children need to practice reading skills by reading aloud. This helps them develop fluency. A child can read to a sibling, a pet, their toys, and even plants. Their reading becomes enjoyable when they have someone or something to share in the experience.

When I taught second grade I set up an experiment. My hypothesis was that plants that are read to do better than those that aren’t. I had the same type of plant (pathos) in opposite sides of the classroom. One plant was read to daily and one was not. Students clamored to be the reader. They kept a notebook of their discoveries. It may have been happenstance, but the plant that was read to flourished in contrast to the plant that did not have a child read to it. I’m not a scientist, but I am a reading teacher with a creative mind. My experiment was a success! It got students reading and writing.

I imagine that a sibling or a pet would love the attention. Anything that encourages reading is a good thing.

————————

Journal, Teacher Tips

Don’t Be Afraid to be Silly

It’s good medicine to laugh. It’s even better to have a belly laugh. This is a great way to begin the day, a meeting, the school year. According to Psychology Today, “A hearty chuckle releases endorphins, feel-good neurotransmitters and endorphins are part of the reason laughing is so contagious. Laughing also has many health benefits such as increasing blood flow and improving mental and physical resilience. In fact, it’s not unlike a vigorous workout session.”

Interesting facts:

“The eminent psychologist on laughter, Robert Provine, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland, agrees that laughter isn’t really about humor. He contends that it’s more about relationships. Cutting-edge humor straight out of Comedy Central is great, but people actually laugh more in conversation and through interaction. Provine has unearthed a few facts on laughter including:

Laughter bonds people through prosocial behavior
It’s a contagion
Women laugh 126 percent more than men
Mating would be nowhere without it
Men want to generate laughter and they need women who will laugh
Women are commonly laughter appreciators”

Here are some research-supported tips for using humor to increase retention:

Do

Use humor to enhance classroom joy
Use humor to develop a sense of community
Use content-related humor
Use age-appropriate humor
“Sandwich” humor between instruction and repetition

Avoid

Sarcasm
Cruel or inappropriate humor
Forced humor
Off-topic humor
Too much humor

The Rabbit Hole

I began searching the internet for resources to give my online students who are in a Masters level course to earn their teaching credential. I have weekly resources for them that coincide with the week’s topic. I took a look at a topic that generally has them confused, the difference between phonemic awareness and phonics. I wanted the clearest information that would be easy to understand. Boy, did I go down a rabbit hole!

I could tell students a thousand times how important it is to know the sounds that make up words, and they always refer to phonics instruction. Most students are able to learn both the letter and the corresponding sound, but for some, the two skills do not stick. That is why it is important to teach sounds first. A child who can recite the alphabet but doesn’t have knowledge of the sounds, will not be able to read. There are important distinctions between phonemic awareness and phonics.

Phonemic awareness refers to the sounds in words. Not the letters, the sounds. The word cat has three phonemes: /c/a/t/. You can practice phonemic awareness in the dark because it does not include sight, just sound.

Phonics is awareness of both the letters and their sounds.

If child cannot read, you must go back and teach sounds. It is the only way they will be able to decode.

So, here’s what I found:

Think Aloud Stems

These are sentence stems for various strategies good readers use.

Use these to model for students during lessons.

Using think alouds is a powerful way to give students strategies they can use when they read independently.

———————————

Connect With Students

We all know when someone cares about us. Students come to school hoping they will be liked and accepted. A teacher that takes the time to know each student creates a solid foundation of trust. Learning is often connected to experiences and emotions. When a child feels secure, learning can move into long term memory.

From the start of the school year find out what your students are interested in. What do they want to know more about? Use an interest inventory. Share your hobbies, favorite sports, songs, movies. Take time to establish an atmosphere of security and respect.

Class meetings are a good way to teach social skills, establish community and foster open communication. Regularly check the status of the class. Encourage problem-solving with teacher guidance.

Give sincere compliments. Model how to show appreciation.

Teachers, I hope you have a safe, productive, positive school year!

———————-

Scaffolding

Always tap into a student’s prior knowledge, building on what they know. Help them make connections by using visuals, engaging in partner share, review previous lesson. Moving forward to new subject matter requires assessment to determine if there is a need to reteach.

Know your students! Some can take leaps while others require review and rehearsal. There is much to be gained by assessing exactly where your students are.

Diversity in the Classroom, Literacy Resources and Children's Books, Teacher Tips

Toot Their Horn

Students flourish when they are recognized and appreciated. There are so many ways to help a student feel great about their success. I like to honor each improvement with a visual representation of their accomplishment. When done selectively, this is a way to boost self-esteem in students, particularly those who don’t generally get recognized.

A medal that a student can wear on the playground lets other children know of successes. It can be worn home so parents can also acknowledge improvement.

We all like to be recognized for our successes.

Independent vs Dependent Learner

This book should be on every teacher’s desk as a resource for promoting an inclusive classroom. It is important to remember that dependent does not mean deficit. We want all students to work to their full potential. Here is just one sampling of the valuable guidance from acclaimed author, Jaretta Hammond:

Dependent Learner

Relies on the teacher to carry the cognitive load most of the time

Unsure how to tackle a new task

Needs scaffolds to complete a task

Sits passively until teacher intervenes

Poor retention of information

“I don’t get it.”

Independent Learner:

Relies on the teacher to carry some of the load temporarily

Uses strategies and processes for tackling a new task

Will attempt new tasks without scaffolds

Has a way to get unstuck

Has learned how to retrieve information from long-term memory

“Oh, I see how is related to…..”

Continuum of Phonological Skills

Children learn phonological skills from infancy. Phonological awareness involves a continuum of skills that develop over time and are crucial for reading and spelling success, because they are central to learning to decode and spell printed words.

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words. Examples include being able to identify words that rhyme, recognizing alliteration, segmenting a sentence into words, identifying the syllables in a word, and blending and segmenting onset-rimes.

***Remember that Phonological Awareness is an umbrella term that covers sub skills. It deals with SOUNDS, not letters. When students know sounds, you can then introduce letters. PHONICS combines sounds and letters.

Book Recommendations, Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Quick Check for Understanding

Check For  Understanding  Strategy 

3‐2‐1/ Fist  to  Five/ Thumbs  Up, Thumbs Down 

4‐3‐2‐1   Scoring  Scale 

Students  communicate  their  level  of  understanding  to  teacher  using  their  fingers 

ABCD Whisper	Students  should  get  in  groups  of  four  where  one  student  is  A, the n next  is B, etc.  Each  student will  be  asked  to  reflect  on  a  concept  and  draw  a  visua l of  his/her  interpretation. Then  they  will share  their  answer  with  each  other  in  a  zigzag  pattern  within  their  group.
Capacity Matrix	The  capacity  matrix  is  a  charting  technique  used  to  break  down  topic  areas  into  steps  for achieving  a  specific  result.   It  identifies  tasks, knowledge  levels, and  understanding  of  the  topic area.
Circle, Triangle, Square	(Circle) Something  that  is  still  going  around  in  your  head,  (Triangle) Something  pointed  that stood  out  in  your  mind,  (Square) Something  that “Squared” or  agreed  with  your  thinking.

Clickers 

Electronic  surveying  devices  that  give  instant  feedback  and  data 

Decisions, Decisions  (Philosophical Chairs)	Given  a  prompt, class  goes  to  the  side  that  corresponds  to  their  opinion  on  the  topic, side share  out  reasoning, and  students  are  allowed  to  change  sides  after  discussion
Entrance/Exit ticket	Each  student  will  be  given  a  ticket  to  complete  before  leaving  the  room  answering: What  is the  most  important  thing  I  learned today?  What  questions  do I  still  have? These  tickets  can be  given  to  the  teacher  when  exiting  the  room  or  upon  entering  the  next  day. The  teacher uses  this  information  to  guide  the  instruction.
Every Pupil Response	Each  student  receives  a  pink  and  yellow  card. Each  color  represents  a  specific  response. Students  raise  the  card  to  provide  the  correct  response  to  a  teacher  directed  question.
Example/Non‐Example	Given  a  concept, students  sort  or  write  various  examples/non‐examples
Example/Non‐Example	Given  examples/non‐examples, students  determine  concept

Fill  In Your Thoughts 

Written  check  for  understanding  strategy  where  students  fill  the  blank. 

Check  For  Understanding  Strategy 

Flag  It  Function  Aerobics 

Handprint  Human  Graph  Interlocking  Paper  Plates 

Description 

Students  use  this  strategy  to  help  them  remember  information  that  is  important  to  them. They  will “flag” their ideas  on  a  sticky  note  or  flag  die  cut… 

Students  demonstrate  their  knowledge  of  transformations  of  functions  by  physically  moving  their arms  and body 

Draw  your  handprint.   In  each  finger, write  one  thing  you  learned  today. 

A  kinesthetic  activity  where  students  in  the  class  physically  move  to  create  a  histogram, where  each  student represents  a  data point  rating  their  view .

Give  One, Get  One 

Onion Ring	Students  form  an  inner  and  outer  circle facing  a  partner. The  teacher  asks  a  question  and  the students  are  given  time  to  respond  to  their  partner.  Next, the  inner  circle  rotates  one  person  to  the  left. The  teacher  asks  another  question  and  the  cycle  repeats  itself.
Pop It (Bubble Wrap)	Students  write  what  they  want  to  know  about  a  topic  on  a  dot  sticker.   Place  each  sticker  on  the bubble wrap.  When  a  topic  is  covered,  the  student  pops  the  bubble.
Project Study Group	Analyzing  incorrect  responses  in   multiple  choice  questions

Quick  Writes   Rubric  Say Something 

Student  Data  Notebooks 

A  timed  writing  in  response  to  a  question  or  prompt (can  be  used  before, during,  or  after  instruction) 

A  scoring  guide  using  subjective  assessments  that  is  generally  composed  of  dimensions  for  judging  student performance. 

Students  take  turns  leading  discussions  in  a  cooperative  group  on  sections  of  a  reading  or  video 

Slap It 

Check For  Understanding Strategy 

Timed  Pair  Share 

Triangular  Prism (Red,  Yellow, Green) 

Word  Sort 

Description 

Students  give  feedback  to  teacher  by  displaying  the  color  that  corresponds  to  their  level  of  understanding 

Given  a  set  of  vocabulary  terms,  students  sort  in to  given  categories  or  create  their  own  categories  for  sorting 

Take and Pass 

Cooperative group  activity  used  to  share  or  collect  information  from  each  member  of  the  group; students  write  a  response,  then  pass  to  the  right, add  their  response  to  next  paper,  continue  until they  get  their  paper  back,  then  group  debriefs. 

Whip Around 

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Books For The First Day of School

I have put together a list of books for your child’s first day back at school. These books are best for ages 3-8. It’s a good idea to read aloud and discuss with your child their hopes and fears about a new school year. Be proactive and do this before school begins. The books I have on this post are useful, and I have used many myself in various classrooms. They are always a big hit with students. Parents, this is a good opportunity for you to prepare your child for school in the fall.

Another delightful Pigeon adventure from the wonderful author Mo Willems.

. Great for ages 3-5.

Little Critter is a bit nervous about starting school today. There’s a lot to be done before he can even get on the bus—he has to pick out his clothes, find his backpack, pack the perfect lunch, and say good-bye to Mom. Join Little Critter as he gets ready for this exciting day. Lift the flaps and find out what surprises are in store for Little Critter on his first day of school! Ages 3-6

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen the class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher or parent, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family away from home. Great for Ages 4-7

Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael López’s dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.

(This book is also available in Spanish, as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!) Ages 5-8

Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave? Ages 4-8

The first day of school is right around the corner! And everything is bigger for Bigfoot — especially back to school problems like getting a haircut, trying on new clothes, and finding new shoes that fit! Told from a giant (and very hairy) point of view, Back to School with Bigfoot deftly tackles the worries kids face as that first day of school draws closer, and ends on a colossal high note!

Ages 4-8

This is a humorous book that will calm the jitters of the first day. On the first day of school, new classmates are asked to share what they would most like to happen in the upcoming year. Some kids’ hopes are familiar while others are off-the-wall. Whether it’s looking good on picture day or skateboarding at school, everyone’s wishes are shown in humorously exaggerated illustrations. Ages 6-8

Miss Mingo, a flashy flamingo, starts off the year by inviting all creatures big and small to share something special about themselves. Did you know that Cricket hears with his legs, Snake smells with his tongue, and Frog enjoys eating his own skin? Visit this multi-species classroom for a nonfiction storybook filled with learning — and laughter.

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guided-reading-questions Download

Guided Reading

Guided reading is an instructional practice or approach where teachers support a small group of students to read a text independently.

You select books that students can read with about 90 to 94 percent accuracy. Students can understand and enjoy the story because it’s accessible to them through their own strategies, supported by your introduction.

They focus on meaning but also use problem-solving strategies to figure out words they don’t know, deal with difficult sentence structure, and understand concepts or ideas they have never before encountered in print.

You should choose Guided Reading Program books for students that:

Match their knowledge base
Help them take the next step in learning to read
Are interesting to them
Offer just enough challenge to support problem solving while still supporting fluency and meaning

You work with a small group of students with similar needs.
You provide introductions to the text that support students’ later attempts at problem solving.
Each student reads the whole text or a unified part of the text.
Readers figure out new words while reading for meaning.
You prompt, encourage, and confirm students’ attempts at problem solving.
You and your students engage in meaningful conversations about what they are reading.
You and your student revisit the text to demonstrate and use a range of comprehension strategies.

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Literacy Resources and Children's Books, Teen Brain

The Teen Brain

Teenage Brain Under Construction Workshop

Facts You May Not Know: Their Brains are under construction and not fully formed.

Your brain does not keep getting bigger as you get older
Your brain doesn’t finish developing and maturing until your mid- to late-20s. The front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last brain regions to mature. It is the area responsible for planning, prioritizing and controlling impulses.
Many mental disorders appear during adolescence
(schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders—emerge during this time)
Teens should get about 9-10 hours of sleep a night, but most teens don’t get enough sleep. A lack of sleep makes paying attention hard, increases impulsivity and may also increase irritability and depression.

Recognize that there is an emotional connection in learning. If students think you care and are invested, then they will care and be invested. Also, be aware that they can’t always control their emotions and don’t always know why they make the choices they do.

•Recognize there is a physical connection to learning. The brain essentially uses glucose and oxygen as food. Adding kinesthetic activities to instruction circulates oxygen and glucose in students’ brains, increasing the efficiency of student learning. Plus, moving around & talking are WAY more fun than taking notes.

•Teens need more sleep than children and adults

•Although it may seem like teens are lazy, science shows that melatonin levels (or the “sleep hormone” levels) in the blood naturally rise later at night and fall later in the morning than in most children and adults. This may explain why many teens stay up late and struggle with getting up in the morning. Teens should get about 9-10 hours of sleep a night, but most teens don’t get enough sleep. A lack of sleep makes paying attention hard, increases impulsivity and may also increase irritability and depression.

•There is another part of the brain that is fully active in adolescents, and that’s the limbic system. And that is the seat of risk, reward, impulsivity, sexual behavior and emotion.

•So they are built to be novelty-seeking at this point in their lives. Their frontal lobe isn’t able to say, “That’s a bad idea, don’t do that.” That’s not happening to the extent it will in adulthood.

References:

•“The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction.” National Institute of Mental Health. National Institute of Health. 2011. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.

•Bruer, John. Frontline Interview. Inside the Teenage Brain. 2002. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.

•Dearborn, Grace. “Rebels with Applause: Brain-Compatible Approaches for Motivating Reluctant Learners.” Conscious Teaching. 2013. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.

•Giedd, Jay. Frontline Interview. Inside the Teenage Brain. 2002. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.

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Children's Books, Diversity in the Classroom

Children’s Diverse Fairy Tales

No big changes from what you would expect from a telling of The Little Mermaid, but it is set in the Carribean with vibrant island colors and a notably dark-haired and darker-skinned Little Mermaid. I love the illustrations by Nivea Ortiz, they are vibrant and keep little ones who aren’t reading independently yet enthralled.

A funny re-telling of the classic fairy tale Princess and the Pea. Set in Peru and with a dash of Spanish words throughout the rhyming text tells the story of a prince who is being prepped for marriage and his mother who is making sure that only a real princess makes the cut. The queen is absolutely a monster-in-law, but the sweet prince makes up for her and then some. This book is a fantastic read-aloud, and I can’t give it away, but there might be a funny twist at the end too.

There are no twists or changes made to the classic tale and the text is short enough for a circle time read. Children adore the rich colors used in the illustrations and I love that there are no big changes to the story, simply a different lens and location.

A retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears that takes place during Chinese New Year. Goldy Luck is asked to take some food over to her neighbors but when they aren’t home curiosity gets the better of her and she gets into all kinds of trouble.

A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that has a sick Auntie with spots and it’s up to Little Red to get her what she needs. Instead of a wolf, there is a Hungry Lion who has no clue what he’s getting himself into! Kids love this book, the illustrations are hilarious and the story is fun. I don’t think it’s particularly African, in the way that Rachel Isadora’s books successfully incorporate cultural references in a much deeper way, but this is a fun read that has a brave little heroine and is definitely worth reading and finding a place for it on your bookshelf.

This is a story about respect and how there is a difference between being comfortable in other people’s houses and crossing lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Beautiful book that celebrates these lessons and the West African culture of Ghana.

In this version of Stone Soup a fisherman gets tricked into helping to make soup. This book is told from the point of view of the fisherman but the illustrations show a different point of view. (China)

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Children’s Books for End of the School Year

Each page offers a blessing, beginning with “I wish”. “I wish you more ups than downs.” “I wish you more give than take.” “I wish you more we than me.” It conveys a message of caring. I like the diversity of the children on each page, and the endless opportunities it offers for follow-up activities. It’s such an incredible way to provide one another with meaningful wishes as you say goodbye.

This book takes the standard fairy tale, and flips it in reverse! The story starts at the end, and works its way backwards to the beginning. While the book is amazing as a stand alone, It’s a great end of the year trip down memory lane!

This story focuses on James, who decides that he is going to be on his VERY BEST behavior on the last day of school. He lists all of the the things he WON’T do on the last day of school so he can get the final gold star of the year and impress his teacher.

It is a fun-filled story about the life of a second grader, Billy Miller. If you only have time to read part of it, the first section of the book is called “Teacher,” where Billy deals with the insecurities and anxieties of starting a new grade with a new teacher.

Four, three, two, ONE! The last day of school is finally here. For Ivy and her friends it’s time to take down pictures, clean shelves and say good-bye. But there is also time for one last surprise. Your students will enjoy this follow-up to First Day, Hooray!

Are you singing a certain song right now? It’s the last day of school! Gilbert is excited about summer vacation. First there’s a class party, and Mrs. Byrd will give out the end-of-the-year awards. But will Gilbert even get one? Patty’s the best speller. Philip’s the best reader.

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Diversity in the Classroom, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Diversity in the Classroom

A school culture that promotes diversity in the classroom teaches students something that’s important: how to live and work in a society where every individual is unique. Diversity in the classroom teaches students to appreciate different perspectives and draw stronger conclusions. Challenging students to consider different perspectives can also teach them how to interact with their peers on a social level, and equip them with skills they’ll use for the rest of their life.

*********If it’s difficult to change your existing curriculum, use the opportunity to ask students why different perspectives aren’t included and challenge them to apply critical thinking skills.

Shut down discrimination whenever you hear it. Speak out against slurs and derogatory comments.
Use language that promotes positivity and doesn’t reinforce existing stereotypes (for example, the phrase “boys will be boys” shouldn’t be used to justify sexism or aggression) .
Respond effectively to inappropriate comments or actions. Take infractions seriously and inform parents when necessary.
Encourage students to include all of their peers if you see division forming along racial or economic lines.
Remove existing markers of inequality in your school. (For example, make sure students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs aren’t singled out and made to feel different.)

Resources:

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Children's Books, Diversity in the Classroom

Children’s Books on Diversity

Our world is a tapestry and each of us contribute to the whole. These are books that celebrate our unique identities that are more alike than different.

Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Leslie Staub. This book takes the reader around the world, showing how we may all be different in so many ways, but we have so much in common as well. The sweet message is accompanied by vividly colorful illustrations showing diverse people, families and homes

Written by Maria Dismondy and illustrated by Donna Farrell. This book, inspired by a true story, follows a young boy who moves to a new school where everyone speaks a different language. One of the other boys in school doesn’t want to accept him, but he soon learns an important lesson of friendship and kindness from his peers reminding the reader how beautiful cultural diversity can be.

Written by P.K. Hallinan. This sweet story shows why we should strive to gather a rainbow of friends. Diversity is beautiful. The adorable illustrations and simple rhyming text introduce the idea that we have lots of different kinds of friends, and they are all special.

Written by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly. This book uses simple text and colorful photographs to introduce young readers to the many different shades of color that skin can be. This is a great toddler children’s book about diversity.

Written and illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka. This story celebrates the wide range of skin colors in the world, as well as all the beautiful colors found in nature. The lyrical text is combined with beautiful illustrations highlighting all the beautiful colors.

Written and illustrated by Calida Garcia Rawles. Lida and Lisa are first cousins who do everything together. When they play dress up one day, they start to see the differences in their appearances. Their wise grandmother helps them see that they can be different and still the same.

Written by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Lauren Tobia. This rhyming book shows a diverse group of babies who are all happy in their skin. The sweet illustrations and rhyming text show readers all the ways that our skin is similar.

Written by Carmen Parets Luque. All families are different, but all families are special in their own way. The author introduces readers to the many different types of families in the world through simple text and creative illustrations of stick figures and buttons.

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Children’s Books for The First Day of School

Another delightful Pigeon adventure from the wonderful author Mo Willems.

. Great for ages 3-5.

(This book is also available in Spanish, as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!) Ages 5-8

Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave? Ages 4-8

Ages 4-8

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books, Diversity in the Classroom, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Childrens’ Books That are Relatable

We have all had a lousy day. Relatable text is important for children to make text-to-life connections.

Lucy is teased for being different. She finds courage to be herself.

This book helps children learn our fears are greatly exaggerated.

Kids will learn to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, lend a helping hand, and inspire others to do the same.

A book to teach about emotions and anger management.

Nurturing your child’s creativity might be one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child and to the world.

This is a story about loving yourself and respecting others.

This book introduces children to the practice of using mindful affirmations for support and encouragement when they need it.

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Childrens books on character building

In My Friend is Sad, elephant Gerald is down in the dumps. Piggie is determined to cheer him up by dressing as a cowboy, a clown, and even a robot! But what does it take to make a sad elephant happy? The answer will make even pessimistic elephants smile.

Edward has loads of toys but doesn’t share any of them with his little sister, Claire.

“They’re mine!”he says. That is, until one day when Edward finds himself in a predicament. With a little help from an unlikely ally, he learns that if he can share with others, they’ll share right back with him

Mike Reiss’s wickedly funny verse and David Catrow’s remarkable gift for comic illustration make this one book you’ll want to share—again and again!

Ruthie loves little things-the smaller the better. So when she finds a teeny tiny camera on the school playground one afternoon, she can hardly believe her luck. She wants to keep the camera in the worst way, but there’s one little problem: It isn’t hers.

Listening with my heart reminds us of the importance of being friends to ourselves. It also touches on the universal themes of friendship, empathy and kindness. Includes mindfulness and self-compassion activities.

Help kids develop coping strategies to manage frustration and anger.

8 stories help kids see why telling the truth is so important in developing their integrity, and earning respect.

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Comprehension Strategies

**The following are strategies for understanding what you read.**

Visualization is Powerful ●Tell students to form a movie in their head as they read.

●You can lead them into this by having them draw as you read aloud.

●Use think alouds.

However, NONE of these comprehension strategies is taught in a single mini-lesson. It’s impossible to teach visualization in 15 minutes. Rather, plan and deliver numerous mini-lessons across the year that target the array of sub-skills that will prepare students to visualize independently.

LEARN TO MAKE CONNECTIONS

•text to self – This reminds me of my own life…

When picking text to self books, it is important to look for books that have a theme that kids can relate to. Family, sibling rivalry, pets, school, or feelings are a great place to start. The characters also need to be realistic, especially for older kids.

•text to text– This reminds me of another book I’ve read/movie I’ve watched…

•text to world– This reminds me this time in history/what’s going on in the world right now…

Excellent Resources:

●Harvey, S. & Goudvis, A. (2000). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension to enhance understanding. Portland, ME: Stenhouse. ●Keene, E. & Zimmerman, S. (1997). Mosaic of Thought. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

●Tovani, C. (2000). I read it, but I don’t get it: Comprehension strategies for adolescent readers. Portland, ME: Steinhouse.

MY FAVORITE:

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books

Books That Teach Kindness

Monique is all about being different and transforms herself in this book wearing clothes from her mother’s old trunk. It’s a great one to teach about being an individual and finding that thing that makes you unique.

This classroom classic is a great one to read when you are dealing with bullying.

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Children’s Books About Animals

This animal encyclopedia includes 500 amazing animal facts that offer hours of engaging learning. Alongside full-color pictures on every page, you’ll find weird and wonderful details about Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Amazing Amphibians, Feathered Friends, and more. This standout among animal books for kids is ideal for any boy or girl who is wild about animals!

Enter the ring to witness an epic battle of brawn between an ant and an elephant! A chimp vs. a crow in a showdown of wits! An emporer penguin vs. a pygmy mamoset in a contest for cutest creature! Some of the victors might surprise you and all of these animals will amaze you! Stats, fun facts, photos, and in-depth profiles about each contender will help you pick winners for more than a dozen mighty matchups. A March Madness-style bracket at the end of the book allows readers to choose the ultimate champion! Perfect for sports fans and animal crazy kids ready to go to the mat for their favorite species. Animal Smackdown is the next best thing to actually seeing these animals go head-to-head!

This beautiful picture book follows the journey of a young gray wolf who garnered nationwide attention when he became the first wild wolf in California in almost a century.

Children are given a well-rounded understanding of these beautiful creatures: their anatomy, feeding habits, and behavior. The following sea turtles are featured: * The herbivorous Green Sea Turtle * The beautiful Hawksbill Sea Turtle * The petite Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle * The king-sized Leatherback Sea Turtle * The unusual Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Get this book at this special price. *** Your child will love it –

If you love kittens and cats, you won’t want to miss this fun cat facts book! It tells you all about some of the strange, odd and weird things wild cats and pet kittens and cats can do. If you’re longing to get a kitten or a cat, or you already have a cat, and even if you’re an experienced pet owner, you’ll get some surprises when you read this book.

The latest exciting title in DK’s popular Where on Earth? series maps out the habitats of the world’s mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and more. Whether it’s plotting the range of a lion, following the flight paths of birds, tracking great white sharks in the oceans, or exploring the migration of the monarch butterfly, you will see exactly where and how more than 100 extraordinary animal species live.

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Learning Apps, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Great Ipad Apps For guided Reading

**http://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2015/08/reading-comprehension-passages-and-ipad.html?m=1**

******Use the above link to access a great resource for early readers. The best part is that it will highlight words as they are read.

Here are GREAT RESOURCES, some have a free trial period.

Bookshare: https://www.bookshare.org/cms/

Lexia: https://www.lexialearning.com/core5

Razkids: https://www.raz-kids.com

Skybrary: https://www.skybrary.org/school

Headsprout: https://www.headsprout.com

Lightsail:https://www.headsprout.com

Newsela: https://newsela.com

Rewordify: https://rewordify.com

Thinkcerca: https://rewordify.com

Activelylearn: https://www.activelylearn.com

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Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Easy Kids Chapter Books

When a child is ready for chapter books it is the beginning of a journey of the imagination.The following are some I have read aloud to students and seen students choose them for independent reading.

16-book collection brings together all the classic children’s novels from the one and only Roald Dahl. Matilda, Going Solo, The Giraffe And The Pelly And Me, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot, Boy Tales Of Childhood, Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator, The BFG, The Witches, The Twits, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, James And The Giant Peach, Danny The Champion Of The World, Billy And The Minpins

Boxed set includes books 1-3 in the series:

The Last Kids on Earth
The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade
The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King

Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. Pax is destined to become a classic, beloved for generations to come.

In this fun fantasy, a young dragon gets tricked into drinking enchanted hot chocolate that turns her into a human.

Bad Kitty really needs a bath, and she is forced to take one in this hysterical new illustrated how-to for young readers.

Unusual characters attend this school where their wacky science teacher has built an interactive, robotic dinosaur exhibit that accidentally come to life.

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Book Reviews, Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Summer Reading For KIds

Keep up your child’s reading skills by encouraging them to engage in summer reading. I have collected some books that are fun and good for a read aloud or independent reading. Keep a record of the books they’ve read to share with their teacher in the fall.

This is part of a series. The books are about two kids who are an apprentice to a vet who treats imaginary creatures. You can imagine all the crazy adventures that follow as they help unicorns, lake monsters, and sasquatch. So much imagination packed into each book.

In this collection, witness unforgettable kids who, against all odds, survived sinking ships, shark attacks, the most destructive hurricane to hit North America, and the bombing that launched the United States into World War II.

When Kyle Keeley learns that the world’s world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, Kyle is determined to be there! But the tricky part isn’t getting into the library—it’s getting out.

Ranger is the kind of dog you want, especially if you are on The Oregon Trail.

In this heartfelt story about change, Kelly Jordan’s lilting text and Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s lush art captures the essence of cherishing a favorite place. This is a story about change.

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Children's Books, Journal, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Free Little Library

I’ve wanted a free library ever since I saw one a few years ago. It was conveniently placed in a yard near the entrance to the beach parking lot near my home. It inspired me to investigate the cost of making one. Inside that little library there were a variety of paperbacks and several children’s books. I even spotted one that I donated a year ago to the elementary school. I have made a few trips in my golf cart to stock that mini-library with books I have read and exchange them for one that caught my eye. This weekend I will be stocking our own! My husband found a kit online and I ordered it. He is following the directions and waiting for the stain to dry. I hope that children of all ages will stop and take a book with them to enjoy at the beach or the dog park.

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books

Childrens Silly Books

With vibrant language, artwork and a wild, silly plot, Too Much Glue is sure to appeal to all children who love to get messy.

When you babysit a grandma, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a sleepover at her house! And with the useful tips found in this book, you’re guaranteed to become an expert grandma-sitter in no time.

It’s time for the little red chicken’s bedtime story — and a reminder from Papa to try not to interrupt. But the chicken can’t help herself! Whether the tale is Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood or even Chicken Little, she jumps into the story to save its hapless characters.

From the creators of Dragons Love Tacos comes the story of what happens when a grumpy old man and some mischievous squirrels match wits—with hilarious results.

If you think Superman vs. Batman would be an exciting matchup, wait until you see Shark vs. Train. In this hilarious and wacky picture book, Shark and Train egg each other on for one competition after another, including burping, bowling, Ping Pong, piano playing, pie eating, and many more! Who do YOU think will win, Shark or Train?

Really. I mean, how could a book eat people?
So if you’re just dying to know the history of this literary monster, all you have to do is turn the page…

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Childrens Books on Nature

The bird named Joy promised to come back every year. This brought happiness to the barren, lonely mountain, and over time, many wonderful changes took place.

The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions.

A gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind’s close relationship to the natural world.

Readers follow a beautiful story of life’s journey―a journey that brings change and growth. A journey of a tiny dandelion seed who was afraid to let go.

Butterflies for Kids answers all your questions with fascinating facts, photos, and illustrations. Learn about the butterfly life cycle, their unusual behaviors, and impressive migrations.

A Nature Book for Kids About Forest Habitats (A Rhyming Counting Book with STEAM Activities)

A sweet adventure story about three intrepid young female explorers who set out to conquer the outdoors in their local forest.

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Book Recommendations, Children's Books, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Childrens books on bravery

These books are great for teaching bravery and courage in adversity. As part of an affiliate program I may receive a small commission. Thank you for looking.

I Will Be Fierce is a powerful picture book about courage, confidence, kindness, and finding the extraordinary in everyday moments.

“Right Now, I Am Brave” is a mindfully written self-help guide to aid children with facing their fears and living bravely during uncertain times.

This is a book to inspire young readers to embrace their inner light–no matter what they’re facing–and to be brave.

You might think of super hero when you hear COURAGE, but all of us can do small and big acts of COURAGE everyday!

The best book for teaching kindness and confronting bullying.

What Makes Me Brave? will teach your child about the need to feel brave, even when they feel frightened and alone.

The perfect tool to teach children how to respond to bullies. I Can Stand Up to Bullies provides parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers the opportunity to speak with children about this important topic.

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Children's Books, Diversity in the Classroom, Literacy Resources and Children's Books

Book Videos

Outstanding story about overcoming fear.

The Emperor’s Egg video

Learn about Emperor penguins in this delightful, informative book.

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