Every January, I'm on the lookout for new MLK Day activities. This can be a challenge when you teach the littles. His work, and the events leading up to the civil rights movement, are really big ideas for first graders. One of the best ways to support kids with this topic is through rich, thoughtful discussions and I usually turn to picture books to help me get started. One of our favorites is My … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Joke Books Belong in a Classroom
There weren't a lot of joke books available to me when I was kid. However, I'll never forget a small roll of jokes I got from a cereal box when I was nine. After brushing off all the Crunch Berries, I unrolled the long piece of paper to find about a dozen jokes written just for kids. I practiced the jokes over and over until I could deliver them perfectly for any guest my parents would allow me to … [Read more...]
Vocabulary Activities and Games for Kids
Vocabulary activities are an important part of literacy planning. Because they play a fundamental role in reading comprehension, planning kid-friendly lessons is essential. Children learn the meanings of most words indirectly, usually through everyday experiences with spoken language. However, other words are learned through careful instruction. So what does that look like? WAYS TO DEVELOP WORD … [Read more...]
Comprehension Strategies in Reading
No matter which side of the literacy debate you're on, teaching comprehension strategies is obviously key. I think everyone can agree on that. If children don't understand the words they're reading, what's the point? I can't recall where I first read this, but I say it all the time: Reading is an action sport. I think, at the very least, we should help children fall in love with books. Once … [Read more...]
The Winter Olympics
Kids want to know, "What are the sports in the Winter Olympics?" Chances are, if you teach a primary grade, these will be the first Winter Olympic Games your students will remember. Having grown up on the west coast of Florida, I'm here to speak for all the kids who don't have a clue what snow, or even winter, is. I didn't see snow for the first time until I was in my mid twenties. Unless you … [Read more...]