Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Turkey Trouble Up Ahead

November will be here before you know it, which means we have a whole lot of turkey trouble coming up! I have a bunch of turkeys that traipse through my front yard each morning. They don't really give me any trouble, except for the irritation they cause my dog. Daisy's barking is the only turkey trouble we have around here. But in our classroom? That's a different story. And there's plenty … [Read more...]

Apple Day Activities for Kids

Fall is right around the corner which means Apple Day isn't far behind! It's the perfect time to make applesauce from scratch, learn who Johnny Appleseed was, and explore all the parts of an apple. If you're ready, let's get these Apple Day activities prepped! Remember to save time for the library, too. Our media center is packed with books about apples, both fiction and nonfiction. The hard … [Read more...]

A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School

There are certain picture books teachers grab year after year because they're perfect for the first week of school. For us, A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School is becoming one of those books. When you're working on setting the tone for your classroom and beginning to establish a healthy culture, this one's a great choice. There are so many directions you can take after reading … [Read more...]

Our Class Is a Family

Shannon Olsen's picture book, Our Class Is a Family, is quickly becoming a back-to-school favorite. We're not surprised. It's short. Sweet. And speaks to the idea that a group of people who care about each other is another type of family. And that makes it just right for the first week of school. ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CLASS IS A FAMILY Lesson plans for the first few days of school are pretty … [Read more...]

Summer Picture Books – Our Top Ten (Or So)

It's time to gather all your favorite summer picture books! We love summer. These are long, lazy-ish days for lots of adventures before the sun goes down... and even then, who can resist sitting outside watching fireflies blink on and off? It's just a special time of year. My own kids are now young adults, but when they were little, a perfect summer day meant sleeping in, making chocolate chip … [Read more...]