Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Cheer Up, Crankenstein

I'm sure you know a Crankenstein. Maybe even two or three or ten. 😂 They're the kids who think Valentine's Day is a gross icky waste of time. They hate it all ... the hearts, the flowers, the syrupy sentimentality of dumb valentines ... it's torture. They hate when the day starts and they can't wait for it to end. Or can they?? Meet your I-Hate-Valentine's-Day-Kids head on with Samantha … [Read more...]

Seasonal Scissor Bins

 A lot of the stuff we throw away during the holidays are things kids can cut to develop their fine motor skills. I mean does anyone actually use ALL of the wrapping paper that comes on the roll? (If you do, please don't tell me. That'll make me feel bad.) Save the paper plates and napkins you didn't end up using. Gather up some leaves and pine needles. Yarn, feathers, straws, … [Read more...]

Women’s History Month

I love Women's History Month. It's a time of year when we collectively seek out stories of determined, courageous women ... women who looked obstacles right in the face and said, "Pardon me while I go around you." It's so common for curriculum calendars to suggest, or mandate, certain topics for certain times of the year. I remember when I was a new teacher and my mentor said something like, … [Read more...]

Sweet on Scarecrows

  I don't know what it is about scarecrows, but I sort of have a fondness for them. Maybe it's because they're supposed to be scary, but they just aren't. And a scarecrow that's surprisingly not scary is a nice kind of irony.    These are some of my favorite picture books about scarecrows. All three are great examples of how authors are intentional with word choice and how the detailed … [Read more...]

Go on a Leaf Hunt! An Autumn Teambuilding Activity

I taught in Florida for 20 years, a place where books about seasons can leave you with a little feeling of FOMO. The leaves in Florida only come in two colors. Light green. And dark green.Oh, and dead brown ... so three. Unless they've been on some grand vacation, kids from the tropics don't really have a mental framework for things like red and orange leaves. I once had an ambitious … [Read more...]