Someday by Eileen Spinelli

Someday  by Eileen Spinelli    

A wonderful book to read aloud.  Best for 1st and 2nd graders.  I read it to my first graders and they loved the story. Before reading the story, I introduced key vocabulary words.  Remember that teaching reading always includes learning new words and children can grasp the big words, too.   Next, I talked about the writer's style ---writing in a see-saw pattern.  The children then had a chance to add to the story pattern...writing what they might do someday and what they are doing right now.  This book opens the door for a discussion about jobs and occupations.  Vocabulary words (flashcards) for $1.00 and a writing response for FREE for this book are at  my TPT store.  They are ready to print and use.  Enjoy!

Bread and Jam for Frances

One of my favorite characters, and there are many, is Frances.  Frances is a delightful badger.  The series by Lillian Hoban make great read alouds for 1st and 2nd grade.  Bread and Jam for Frances is one of the Frances books.  Frances always learns something in the story.  In this story, Frances LOVES bread and jam and she wants to have bread and jam for breakfast, for lunch AND for dinner!  Mom decides to go along with her and starts serving only bread and jam.  After some time passes, Frances grows tired of the same thing for every meal time and finally tries some spaghetti and meatballs. 

This is a read aloud children will listen too.  After reading the story, you might teach the children to retell and summarize the story.  I used the graphic organizer 'someone wanted but so then'.  Using an anchor chart and modeling how you think about the story elements will help your students retell and write a summary.

Check my TPT store for the graphic organizer for this book.

  Follow Me  by Tricia Tusa

 A girl soars into a swirl of colors, pink, blue, purple and gray.  She finds her way out, over, up and down ...and she's calling for a friend to follow.  This book would be a great read aloud for preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade. See below to grab writing activities to teach concepts of over-under, up-down and around... and colors!

Follow Me  - You will be happy that you did!
click on the 'followers' box above

Look for my TPT store .... good finds coming soon.

Thanks for visiting.  Check back for good books and Literature to teach children the love of reading.

Welcome To My Blog!

Welcome!  If you are one of my first readers, then start following.  Just click on my 'follower' button as we are going on an adventure using real Literature, good stories and authentic writing experiences.  This requires thinking!  for you AND your students.

Frog and Toad 
The many stories of Frog and Toad are fun and so enjoyable and each story has a memorable
message for the reader,

Reading is magic! How else can you go so many places without leaving your classroom or home?  Teach the magic and wonder of reading.   Children love real books by real authors....take an adventure with your young readers into the pages of one of your favorite books.  Here are two of mine!  Follow my blog and find some innovative and creative ways to teach reading and writing which involves thinking.  It's the best way to hook kids into reading.  I will post genuine reading experiences for children which will create a love of books and reading.  Frank Smith wrote "children who are engaged in the activity of reading will improve their reading abilities and gain knowledge."    Allow children to make their own book choices guided by your teaching expertise.
                      First 10 followers on my site will receive free downloads.
I am up and running and there is no stopping me now.  Check back for future posts.  You will find many resources and motivational posts for Grades Preschool to Grade 5.  I am a Reading Teacher, Grades 1-5, whole class and Reading Specialist, K-12.  I have been teaching for 18 years and my story is exciting and ongoing. I have taught grades K-5, College Freshmen and also autistic children.   I want to offer my readers useful and authentic practices that will help you get books into your students' hands,  Read my complete profile and happy reading!   

Remember my first 10 followers will be receiving many free downloads that will later be at my TPT store...follow me now...you won't be sorry.  

Christina Katerina & The Box
This is a great story to start your students thinking....book responses are fun as the children brainstorm the many things you can make from a single cardboard box!

Get 'writing response' for this Christina Katerina here

So let's get started on our journey!

What to expect?  Coming soon?

• Literacy Units
• Math Units
• Word Study
• Downloads
• PDFs
• Powerpoints ready to use
• Lessons ready to use
• Book Lists
• Literature and Famous Authors
• Integrating Art and Reading
• Integrating Math and Reading
• Integrating Science and Reading
• Setting Up a Community of Readers and Writers
• Classroom Organization
• Activities for Parents
• Motivation and Inspiration
• and much, much more!