I know when I first started teaching, the Elephant and Piggie series didn't exist, but I've been reading the books for so long now, I can't remember my teaching life without them. When my own kids were little, they couldn't get enough of these two unlikely friends. And for well over a decade now, our students are just as in love with these quirky little characters as any kid I've ever … [Read more...]
Balloons Over Broadway – Activities for Kids
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet is one of our favorite picture books about the Thanksgiving season. It tells the true story of Tony Sarg, the original puppeteer behind the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. The book is beautifully illustrated and rich with information about the world-famous parade and how it has evolved over time. Easily a 5-star book in my … [Read more...]
Activities for Landforms
Planning children's activities for landforms is a fun and creative process. I don't recall learning about landforms when I was a kid though. I grew up in Florida near the beach, occasionally paddled a canoe down a nearby river, and spent quite a few fall holidays on a cattle ranch I guess some people might call a plain. I thought the hills in north Florida were pretty decent, but now I live in … [Read more...]
Teaching Kids How to Ask Good Questions
How do you teach kids to ask good questions? The standards are pretty clear. In K-1 classrooms, children need to be able to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. And in second grade, students should be able to ask and answer questions such as who, what, when, where, why, and how to demonstrate understanding. Many children naturally ask questions and LOTS of them. But some kids, for … [Read more...]
After the Fall: Learning to Persevere
I love this book. It picks up where the original tale ends ... after Humpty has been put back together again. But now he's scared. The fall broke not only his shell, but his courage and confidence too. His fears hold him back and they keep him from enjoying the things he used to ... until one day, one step at a time, he decides to conquer his greatest fear. INSTRUCTIONAL IDEAS This story is a … [Read more...]