Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Procedural Writing Templates That Grow with Your Students

I love to write, so I love to teach writing. But not every kid is as enamored with it as I am. "I don't know what to write," is a phrase I've come to expect from at least one child each year. For many children, our how-to writing unit is a favorite. The self-confidence of a six-year-old is enviable and it's not hard to convince them they are experts at something. Some, however, are sure they … [Read more...]

Activities for Wemberly Worried

We love these fun activities for Wemberly Worried. Actually, we just straight-up love Kevin Henkes and all his relatable characters... Lilly, Owen, Julius, Chrysanthemum, Sheila Rae, Chester, and, of course, Wemberly. Most kids can find themselves in at least one of his stories, if not more. This is one of those books teachers typically reach for at the beginning of the year. However, the … [Read more...]

Summer Pen Pals for Kids

Let's bring back summer pen pals! Remember Tom Hanks' and Meg Ryan's romantic comedy You've Got Mail? Long before that movie, seven-year-old me would get excited every time my mom come back from the mailbox waving an envelope saying those same words to me. "Andrea... you've got mail!" Yes, I'm old enough to remember snail mail. And I loved getting it. Now that summer break is here, we often … [Read more...]

End of the Year Memory Book

As a teacher, I think an end of the year memory book is a great project to do with students before they leave for the summer. As a parent, I also think this. My kids are grown now, but I still love to look back at what they wrote when they were just six. Actually, they do too. We still have a good laugh at my daughter's kindergarten narrative about her first experience at a hibachi grill. That … [Read more...]

Jokes about Turkeys – Just for Kids

Who doesn't love a few fun jokes about turkeys this time of year? Ok... you and I maybe, but kids don't really get tired of silly jokes. As far as they're concerned, the cornier the better. I figure if I'm going to hear them anyway, I might as well print them so they can read them. Jokes require a definite sense of timing, expression, and smoothness for the perfect delivery, so they're just … [Read more...]