Teacher Resources for Halloween | Elementary Grades

Halloween Fun!  
Boo! tiful! Resources

Children's Literature and Writing Prompts

My Teacher On Halloween is more fun for the teacher! than her students!




Read on to find more teacher-created resources  that will engage your students in reading, writing and learning. 

Authentic writing prompts and celebrating a holiday that is child-centered and fun for everyone.  

writing prompts, spookley, the square pumpkin, book companion
Spookley, the Square Pumpkin
Book Companion

Read Spookley, The Square Pumpkin and create your very own Spookley.  He is a square pumpkin and teaches a life lesson! 
Children's literature in the classroom always brings about high interest in your students. 
In this story, Spookley is feeling a bit sad, lonely and square; and those other pumpkins are teasing him! But not for long, as you will read to find out what makes being square a unique feature and also helps to solve a big problem. This book entertains the reader and the listeners with rhyme and rhythm. The perfect book to teach and review the different shapes... and also teach awareness of differences; and how we might not want to judge a pumpkin by it's shape. Get this book companion here. 



halloween writing activities
Halloween Writing and Activities




Grab this teaching resource for Halloween reading and writing activities:
writing prompts, Halloween poetry, label the picture and word study.  Create an interactive reading booklet that will have your children reading for fluency in minutes.  Download these halloween vocabulary cards for your pocket chart.  It's easy... print and go! for the teacher.


Read. Think. Draw. Write. Listen. Learn.
Smile!  It's all here!








Learning color names and writing about reading! For beginning readers and writers. Read this wonderful book, Frankencrayon , by Michael Hall and then write about the book. Even make a scribble monster! It's motivating! It's educational and it's fun! Literacy lesson #1 read good books; read, think, write, listen, share!
This teaching resource is to use with Michael Hall's wonderful book, Frankencrayon. There are 10 reader response pages included:
book companion, frankencrayon, halloween books
Frankencrayon, Book Companion
  • Who is your favorite character?
  • Color Frankencrayon
  • Make a 'Scribble Monster'
  • Read crayon colors - match
  • Read crayon colors - color and match
  • Color in the color words
  • Handwriting practice for color words
  • Eight color word flash cards for display




Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Understand the life cycle of a pumpkin. Easy foldable booklet that students see each stage of growth. Stages include:
1. seeds
2. sprout
3. growing sprout
4. vines and flowers
5. green pumpkin
6. big, fat pumpkin in the pumpkin patch
Also included are 3 pages for reference on the 'life cycle of a pumpkin' . One black and white for students to color, one in color, if you wish to display and the third one is a graphic organizer that the students can fill in to show that they remember the stages of a pumpkin's life cycle.
The booklet is a fun foldable that students love and after completing it guides them through retelling the stages.

teaching resources for halloween, first grade, kindergarten
Book Companion for
Creepy Carrots

Writing Prompts and craftivity for
 Creepy Carrots, by Aaron Reynolds. 
34 Pages to respond in writing to this fun book at Halloween time! This book entertains the reader and the listeners with Jasper's adventures at Crackenhopper Field. Read about creepy carrots and learn how Jasper solves his problem.
It's fun fiction! And leads to an ending that makes the reader think! Read this book aloud and choose these reader response pages to write about the book. Also included is a Creepy Carrot craftivity. Make these creepy carrots and create a colorful bulletin board.

learn about pumpkins, reading, math, science for primary grades
All About Pumpkins
Resource HERE
All About Pumpkins 
Read. Write. Think. Do. Learn. These pages about pumpkins will engage primary readers in literacy skills, thinking and learning about pumpkins. Improve literacy skills and reading achievement with reading passages and writing prompts within a unit of studying pumpkins. Add these pages to a science corner or literacy station with books and literature about pumpkins. These reading passages and writing prompts can be used for independent practice, small group instruction and whole class unit study about pumpkins.
There are 50 pages:
  • reading passages
  • comprehension checks
  • writing prompts
  • drawing and illustrating
  • facts about pumpkins
  • KWL chart
  • Poetry Booklet about Pumpkins
  • word study
  • label the jack-o’-lantern
  • writing sentences
  • learning new words
  • vocabulary for display
  • ABC order
  • rhyming words
  • word sorts
  • math – skip counting- puzzles
  • count by 10’s
  • count by 5’s
  • count by 2’s
  • combinations of 10
  • tally marks
  • Life Cycle of A Pumpkin [anchor chart, cut and paste]
  • collecting data about the class pumpkin
  • Float or Sink?
book companions, children's literature,
See My TPT Store

Halloween Pages for Writing & Math

Halloween Handouts!   

Writing Halloween Sentences 

and Solving Riddles with Multiplication

Halloween pages focus on:

  • students learn about the 4 kinds of sentences
  • students show what they have learned by writing 'Halloween' sentences
  • students solve multiplication facts to solve a riddle about Halloween

Looking for some fun Halloween resources ...  find more HERE
kinds of sentences worksheet


Finding these resources is easy. Just click here
Learning to write the four kinds of sentences with a Halloween them.
  • declarative 
  • interogative
  • imperative
  • exclamatory                                                           What fun! Grab yours here
Solving riddles by math...everyone loves to solve a math problem or riddle.  These pages give practice with a Halloween theme.


Each page has a riddle and after completing the multiplication problems you place the correct letters to match the numbers and discover the answer. 



Classroom Posters that Teach Well Being


Grab Your Poster HERE

Classroom Posters that teach good behavior. These posters can brighten your classroom and show messages for good behavior and well being.

     

                         Eat Well
                         Exercise
                         Be Nice to People
                         Care for Nature

There are 2 poster designs posting the same message.

The posters measure 8.5" x 11". Easy download and print. Display these in your classroom and teach 4 key life skills. Discuss why each directive is important. Place them at eye level for all to see.  Classroom decor can easily teach and motivate .... important life skills and messages that make an environment that thrives with healthy living and happiness.  Everyone can make a difference everyday.  Hmmm, maybe another poster in the making.  .....


Grab your poster here FREE.  

The Hare and the Tortoise | Reading Aloud | Teach Literacy & Life Lessons with Children's Literature




Reading time should be enjoyable  with follow up activities that are easy for the beginning reader to show understanding of the story and the message 
the author conveys.

**Teacher Idea:** Leave this book companion and book for your Substitute teacher for an engaging and worthwhile reading experience for your students. And NO PREP for you!

by Brian Wildsmith
on my youtube channel. 



Favorite stories, such as The Hare and The Tortoise, invites you to be creative with your voice when reading aloud. 

Some suggestions that will enhance the read aloud are:

    •  Change your voice for the different characters speaking.  Hare might have a high, fast voice and tortoise might have a low, slow voice.  In this way, children will gain further understanding to each of the characters in this entertaining story. 
    • When the tortoise trudges up the hill, you may even read with slower, tired voice.  When hare is sleeping, you might do a small and faint snore. 
    • Vary your tone when reading, use a worrisome tone when hare realizes he, in fact, will lose the race.  Use an excited voice when tortoise crosses the finish line. Vary your tone, further.  For sad parts, talk in a lower tone. For happy parts, talk in an excited tone!

Be sure to share the beautiful illustrations when reading picture books.  

Gathering the audience around you is a great strategy to invite your listeners closer.

  • Read and share.  Hold the book, pictures toward the reader, read the page and then show the listeners the illustration.
  • Read and show.  Show an opened book to listeners inviting them to see the illustrations as you are reading. 
Both ways are good ways when reading aloud.  You may alternate these two ways and always be mindful of your audience.  During a read and show, small children see the illustrations when hearing the words to understand fully the text.  During a read and share, showing illustrations after, children are fine tuning their listening skills as they rely solely on the words to gain understanding.   Also try both methods with the same read aloud, alternating sharing illustrations while reading and sharing illustrations after the page has been read. 

After reading this classic, your students can talk, draw and write about the book,  

The Hare and the Tortoise, by Brian Wildsmith.    Students will answer comprehension questions about the book, complete word work, color and write and learn new vocabulary. This teaching resource makes it very easy to diversify instruction. There are pages to color and write, pages to practice phonics skills as well as pages to accommodate more writing to show understanding, comprehension and evaluation of the story. 

This book companion includes:   comprehension questions, character traits, story elements, responding to events in the story, word work, rhyming words and phonics, roll and read and cut and paste, color and write, draw and write, lessons from the story, before, during and after questions for your read aloud and teacher notes for class discussions.

There are many pages to choose from; however, sometimes a good book talk is all that is needed to teach valuable reading strategies and listening skills.



 One good book leads to another!  
Happy Reading!

CIRCLE TIME TALK TASK CARDS - MORNING MEETING - IMPROVE SPEAKING & LISTENING SKILLS


 Improve students' speaking and listening skills with these task cards that start meaningful conversations for your students. There are 50 task cards that show a question to discuss, tell and listen, and then discuss some more.  These task cards work well in a morning circle setup or anytime that you want to teach speaking and listening skills in your classroom. Each card shows one question.

Some example questions are:

  • What traits do you look for in a best friend?
  • How do you show kindness at recess time?
  • Tell about a time when you helped someone. How did you feel?
  • Name 2 things that you really don't need, but you feel lucky to have them.
  • Name something that you do everyday that helps the world.
  • If you had a robot for one day, what would you program it to do?
  • What might happen if animals could drive cars and trucks?
  • Do you think classroom rules help you to learn? Please give examples to explain your answer.
  • If a cat could talk, what would he say?
  • If you had $1,000, how much would you spend? How much would you save? How much would you share? Elaborate on each.

There are 50 total questions. Some examples are stated above. Easy to prepare your task cards... just download and print. Also included are a half-sheet response page if your students need to prepare and write notes for their answers. Two classroom posters are included also. One on speaking and another on listening. Post these near your circle time space.  Get your Circle Time cards here and improve speaking and listening skills in your classroom. 




Teaching Good Homework Strategies

Homework Helper

Improve Homework Assignments!    Teach good habits and strategies. This one homework assignment at the beginning of the school year will improve all future homework assignments. Teach responsibility and good homework habits. Perfect for a first day of school activity.

Students will write about their homework assignments and their responsibility to complete all assignments well and on time.

1. Describe your Study Area

2. List the Supplies You Will Need

3. Choose a homework drop spot

4. Draw a picture of your homework drop spot

5. Schedule daily homework time

6. Write one paragraph about what good homework habits and completing assignments is important

There is also a place for parent/guardian signature so parents are informed about homework assignments for the school year. 

Fall Into Engaging Teaching Resources

FALL into 
Engaging Teaching Resources

Reading children's literature in the classroom and at home is powerful.   Children show a keen interest in the books you read and they become engaged and motivated readers themselves.  Reading to children is proven to improve cognitive development.  Cognitive development is the emergence of the ability to think and understand.  The simple and complex problems presented in children's literature creates a construction of thought processes.  These processes include remembering, decision-making and problem solving.  Children who have a rich and full background of stories and books have many opportunities to practice the skills of information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development, memory and attention span.  When you read aloud to children, you provide them with a background of knowledge which helps them make sense of the world.  Children see, hear, and read which leads to thinking and more reading.  Talking about books gives this reading process power.  Power to bridge stories to their own lives and make connections to people, places and situations.  Read good books. Talk about good books.  Write about good books.  and you will find that one good book leads to another.

Some books for you to read this fall....


There was an Old Lady who Swallowed Some Books
Book Companion for Old Lady

teaching resources, writing prompts
In November - Book Companion
Teaching literacy with There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books, by Lucille Colandro. Make an interactive reading booklet which provides the opportunity to retell the story, read for fluency and talk about books and reading at home. Over 30 pages to use with this fun book that children love. Talk about make-believe and fiction. Silly and absurd! 
Enjoy good books!
         In November by Cynthia Rylant...Read. Write. Do. Learn. These reader response pages will engage primary readers in literacy skills after reading this wonderful picture book about November. 16 pages for reader response and writing prompts that give the opportunity to write about this book and the author’s message. 



                                                                                                                            
   Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library
     Pete the Cat- Book Companion





















Engage your students with these reader response pages for this wonderful book, Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library by James Dean. Students will answer comprehension questions about the book, complete word work, color and write and learn how to do a book talk.

"Sharing a book that helps a child to form a habit of reading and makes reading an enjoyable activity that one engages in often is a good beginning for teaching language arts." CQ




Hallway behavior, elementary grades, teacher resources
Hallway Behavior Sign for Classroom

Find this Hall Sign HERE

Post this sign at your doorway and your students will be ready for hallway behavior. It reads: H- hands at your side. A - all eyes forward. L - Lips zipped L - Low speed. Quick and Easy! Display it! and Refer to it often! There are 8 different designs so you have a choice of color and graphics.  This classroom sign is a great way to remind your class of your expectations while passing through the hallways at school. Located and displayed at your doorway, this sign will be a quick reminder each time your class lines up. Also easy for you to refer to on a daily basis. Bold and bright print - 8 designs! You will love this easy way to line up your students.

Spelling Practice, back to school

Find all the many spelling pages HERESpelling Practice with Smiling Faces and Good Results! These pages provide practice in reading, writing, spelling and learning new spelling words. These pages can be used with ANY word list. 37 pages! These pages can easily be used for small groups, independent work and homeschoolers. Assign for distance learning and school-at-home.Students will have a variety of ways to write, read and learn their spelling words. These work perfectly for independent seat work, small group instruction, review, reinforcement, school at home or distance learning and homework. These pages can be used with ANY word list and are perfect as an independent work packet for spelling.

Back-to-School Writing Prompts
Back to School Writing Prompts
Teaching Resources, following directions, primary grades
Learning to Follow Directions - Listen and Do


Everybody loves these Listen and Do Pages - You can get them HERE  Improve students' listening skills with these 'listen, draw, follow direction' pages. Students listen, then follow the directions by what they heard. Teacher direction pages are included.   These PRINTABLES are no prep for the teacher and provide practice for an important school skill...listening.

Spring is Here - Children's Literature in the Classroom


Reading Children's Literature Everyday is an important event in every elementary classroom.  There is a long list of reasons why reading aloud to children is beneficial to their reading achievement.  I cite 3 of the many just below:

1.   Reading aloud promotes a positive attitude toward reading and books.

 2.  Reading aloud helps to promote a longer attention span.  

 3.  Reading aloud exposes children to complex language, which will help the children in all areas of their development, especially their reading development.  


 And here are some book choices for your reading pleasure now that 
Spring is Here !





Mole wakes up after his long hibernation and can smell Spring in the air, however Bear is still asleep having his long winter nap.  Time to wake up, Bear!  Mole wants Bear to celebrate the wonderful event.  He has quite a bit of trouble getting Bear to wake up, so he decides to gather eggs, milk a cow, churn some butter and bake some muffins!  And this seems to be exactly what Bear needed to wake up from his hibernation !  This is an engaging and awesome story about Spring and friendship. 
It is perfect for beginning readers.

The Wind In the Willows, Children's Literature


The Wind In the Willows 

by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind In the Willows was published in 1908 in England and 1909 in America.  Meet the characters... Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad.  Characters show numerous examples of good virtues.  Forgiveness, compassion, generosity, humility and hospitality to name a few.  I always encourage my students to read books that "make them smarter or nicer".  This book creates a natural springboard to discover and discuss the many virtues that make the world a better place to live in.  Toad can be a bit arrogant but he is able to learn to become more humble by the end of the story. Of course, he finds friendship to help him to this end. 

Here are some great quotes from the book:

"Beyond the Wild Wood comes the Wide World."

"It takes all sorts to make a world."

"As he looked, he lived; and still, as he lived, he wondered."

"As one wakened suddenly from a beautiful dream."

"I have the gift of conversation."

"There is nothing--absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

"We chaff, we sparkle, we tell witty stories."

"Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow!"

"A horizon that's always changing!"

"Everything seems asleep, and yet going on all the time."



When Spring Comes - Kevin Henkes
When Spring Comes - Book Companion

 When Spring Comes , by Kevin Henkes, tells the story of all the magical happenings when Spring arrives. Your students will love writing about this book.  Grab your book companion for this book HERE.  



Teaching Literacy and Life Lessons
with Children's Literature
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