Teaching Science and Social Studies - Great Read Alouds

Read this awesome book by this awesome artist-writer!
Anyone who knows me knows that I love collage and Giles LaRoche is king when it comes to collage.  I was lucky enough to see him in person and I am happy to see he continues to make his art and books for children.  This book would be perfect for social studies and learning about the different homes around the world.
Imagine living inside a mountain, or in a home where you could catch fish from your bedroom window.  This book takes you all over the world, showing you the coolest of houses! Which house would you choose to be your favorite?  LaRoche's book is full of intricately designed collage work showing houses around the world.  This book would be a springboard to learning about architecture, people and why and how they design their homes.  It is a must read!  and so beautiful to look at...more than once.

Click HERE for a pdf from Reading Is Fundamental to use with If You Lived Here... by Giles LaRoche.  This pdf presents ideas and lessons you might do after reading this book. 

And, yet, another great book by Giles LaRoche is 

Inside pages:

Most would agree that books have always taken us places.  These books by Giles LaRoche take you to places in the world in a most beautiful way.  Don't take my word for it, get your hands on these books and share them with your students...young or old!

Rufus M.

Rufus M.

Have you read Rufus M?  ... Where is he going?  Why is there a book on his head? What kind of bike is that?   Some great questions to ask before starting this book adventure.....  And then, when you get to meet Rufus Moffat...well, you haven't quite met anyone like him.  He gets things done, but he does them in his own way. When he wants to check out a library book, he teaches himself to write even though he doesn't yet know how to read.  

He plants some very special "Rufus beans" that actually grow...despite his digging them up every day to check on them.  

And Rufus has friends that other people don't even know exist! He discovers the only invisible piano player in town, has his own personal flying horse for a day, and tours the town with the Cardboard Boy, his dearest friend-and enemy.
Rufus isn't just the youngest Moffat, he's also the cleverest, the funniest, and the most unforgettable book character.  Below are 2 pages you might use while reading this book; I found them at totallyterrificintexas.blogspot.com  One page lists the many traits characters might have and a graphic organizer to complete for the incredible Rufus M.  

Character Traits Reader Response Pages

Do Not Open This Book!

What is Your Prediction?

If you can find this book, it is a great one to teach 'making a prediction'....and a great cover.  Who wouldn't want to open the book?  

The author is Joy Cowley. It's titled, Do Not Open This Book!  Now that's a different message.  But you can predict what will happen, can't you?  Yes, the kids will want you to open the book, but I wouldn't open it right away until they really want you to... happy reading!

And the poor rat keeps trying to keep you from turning each page, warning you that something dreadful will happen if you do. Each page has further clues. So, the children keep making more predictions based on the visual clues. Perfect for first graders!

Children read it over and over again. 

I say it's especially loved. And just look at that mouse character. You know, children's literature is magical.  Find good books and read to your children and class often. It is simply joyful seeing children so excited about reading!

I predict that you will start searching for this book; especially if you love to read to children. Remember, Meg Ryan in the movie, "You've Got Mail" and she has that adorable Children's Book Shop...Around the Corner...she knew the magic!

What literature is on your shelves? What books make your kids come closer and closer?  Comment below and let's make a list of favorite read-alouds...

For the Love of Autumn: Reading Response Journals

This book is a tender and sweet story.  When Miss Parks' cat disappears on a stormy night, your students' eyes will be wide with anticipation. There has been talk about a mountain lion and Miss Parks' and her students fear the worst.   This book captures their attention and it is an excellent springboard for predictions.  Read it aloud to your class.  They will love it!

Miss Parks just loves her new home, her new teaching job, and all her new students. But most of all, she loves Autumn, her perfect little kitten. Then one night, during a terrible storm, Autumn runs away. Miss Parks' students band together to search for Autumn with no luck. Hope is lost until Autumn turns up.  Autumn jumps off the trellis into Mrs. Parks' arms!  Yet,  with a brand new collar and a bandage on her tail. Someone has been taking care of Autumn!

With the help of her students, Miss Parks unravels the mystery of Autumn's disappearance and finds true love along the way, Polacco style. 

READING RESPONSE JOURNALS

Reading Response journals are a place where students can record 

their thoughts, reactions, feelings, and questions about a book. 

Use the following prompts to encourage your students to think 

critically about the  book, For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco. 

• What does the story make you think about?

• What feelings do you experience?

• Does this book remind you of anything else?

• What did you really like about this book?

• How do you feel about the characters in this book?

• In what ways can you identify with the main character?

• Were there any real life issues that made you think?

You can find a reading response page HERE to use with this book or any other book. 

Back to School

To visit my TPT store, click HERE

Life Lessons My Students Taught Me : CRASH COURSE

Crash Course
The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me

by Kim Bearden

  I learned about this book by Kim Bearden during my last blog hop; just clicked it to my ipad...and it's a great story.  I haven't finished reading it but I can already recommend this book...a good read.  We all have students like the ones Kim describes.   I love true stories that can help my teaching.  We learn so much from each other. and sometimes it's so helpful to realize that our classrooms and students are similar no matter what part of the country we teach in.  This book unfolds the real reasons why we chose to teach and what matters most in your everyday routines in the classroom.  a great read!

What book are you reading this summer?  Leave a comment with your recommendation.

The inspiring true story of a teacher’s experiences with her students and the life lessons she learned that can help others find joy and success.

Crash Course chronicles the life lessons that Kim Bearden has learned during an award-winning career in education that has spanned three decades. Kim has taught more than 2,000 students, and each has shown her something about the world and the abundant capacity for love, resilience, and appreciation that we all possess. By sharing her students’ stories, she teaches their inspiring lessons to us all.

Throughout the ups and downs of her professional and personal life, Kim found that her students were the light that illuminated her path; they were her sanctuary in the storm. From her challenges as a first year teacher, to her triumphs as the cofounder of the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy, Kim shares how children can teach each of us the importance of building relationships, abandoning fear, embracing one’s unique gifts, and living with passion.

Full of honesty, humor, heartbreak, and humanity, Kim’s experiences show how children can help any one of us, despite life’s obstacles, find the joy and significance in both our personal and professional lives.

You may grab a copy right HERE.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes

My Garden

by Kevin Henkes

The girl in this book grows chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells in her garden.

How does your garden grow?

This book is another wonderful book by Kevin Henkes and it is a great book to read aloud at this time of year.  Use it as a springboard for all those wonderful flower displays and activities in your classroom.

Also, a great book to illustrate imagination…think about what might pop up in your garden.

Click below to find some writing response pages to go with this book.  If you like Kevin Henkes, look for my post on Birds also written by him.

Click HERE to find a reader's response page for writing for

MY GARDEN by Kevin Henkes.

Click HERE to find another reader's response page for following directions for MY GARDEN by Kevin Henkes.

You can find more pages to respond to this fabulous book HERE.

Happy Reading!

To Make for Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

Here is an adorable and easy activity for Mother's Day.  Just color and fold.  This would be so easy and fun to do.

You can download your template here.  Copy, print and the kids will love coloring the fun bouquet for their Moms.
Happy Mother's Day!

and always, Happy Happy Books!

Snowflake Bentley Read Aloud

Find Reader Response Pages
for Snowflake Bentley HERE

Favorite Books for January Weather

Happy January!

It's time for snow!  and here are 5 of my favorite books for read aloud.  Enjoy the reading! and I know those teachable moments will appear as you turn the pages.

It is time to read!

The Snowy Day        by Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats captures the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall.  This is a favorite as it unfolds a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of keeping that wonder forever.  I made a winter bulletin board of the cover of this book.  I'll snap a pix tomorrow and post.

Snowballs       by Lois Ehlert

Pull on your mittens and head outside for a snowball day. Grab some snow and start rolling. With a few found objects--like buttons and fabric and seeds--and a little imagination, you can create a whole family out of snow.   Lois Ehlert is a master at getting the reader's attention.  Children will love poring over Lois Ehlert’s bold, funny illustrations and identifying the common (and not so common) objects she uses to decorate her snowy family.

Snow    by Uri Shulevitz

No one thinks one or two snowflakes will amount to anything. Not the man with the hat or the lady with the umbrella. Not even the television or the radio forecasters. But one boy and his dog have faith that the snow will amount to something spectacular, and when flakes start to swirl down on the city, they are also the only ones who know how to truly enjoy it. This playful depiction of a snowy day and the transformation of a city is perfectly captured in simple, poetic text and lively watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations.

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle

One small snowflake fluttering down--

That's all you need for a snowman.

How can you and your class build on that line?   Try it.  You will be surprised about what happens.

     Read some books about snow and watch your students' faces glow!  Ideal for preschool - 2nd grade.

Grab some writing response pages below or engage in a book talk, explore snowflakes in science, bring the magic into your classrooms!  click below for FREEBIES to use with your snow read alouds.  

Reading Response Pages for The Snowy Day   (from abcteach)

Make Creative Snowmen using Lois Ehlert's Book, Snowballs as a springboard

Build a 'SNOW' village - Art, Math Activity

and one more,  Snowflake Bentley

Listen to the story of Snowflake Bentley,  

a great read aloud!   You can watch and listen...just up one post.

Just enjoy the story....no response necessary....

click on the youtube below

and all the pretty snowflakes fall gently to the ground!

Happy Reading!

Must Reads for Reading Teachers

Every Reading Teacher 

Must Read this Book!

In the book, The Book Whisperer, Donalyn Miller reflects on her journey to become a reading teacher and describes how she inspires and motivates her middle school students to read 40 or more books a year. This book will inspire and motivate you to give time to your students to choose books and read the great stories written by talented writers.  Your students will begin to travel back and forth to school with a book in their backpack.  They will begin to talk about the stories they read and classmates will ask if they can read 'that book' after them.  Donalyn's teaching practices in reading are both courageous and contagious.  She understands the importance of reading real books and creating a reading-writing community in her classroom.  Read the book!

 Donalyn currently facilitates the community blog, The Nerdy Book Club and co-writes a monthly column for Scholastic’s Principal-to-Principal Newsletter. Her articles about teaching and reading have appeared in publications such as The Reading Teacher, Educational Leadership and The Washington Post.

I am presently reading her latest book, Reading in the Wild, where she has collected responses from 900 adult readers and uses this information to teach lifelong reading habits to her students.  Click on the YouTube below to learn more about this wonderful book by Donalyn Miller.  

Encourage Discovery!

Encourage students to discover!  The joy of discovery motivates students to learn. Remember your first successful attempt at riding a bicycle and the excitement you experienced? It is not that you were the first person in the world to ride a bicycle, but what mattered was that you discovered that you could do it. It is this process of discovery that we need to recreate for learning in classrooms. People learn through a discovery process. 

Here are some wonderful discoveries about plants in our classroom - 

look, see and discover!

Planting lima beans in a plastic baggie.  Will they really sprout in a bag?  Next, plant sprouts into seedling pots.  Discover the changes and make notes about your observations.  Do all of your seedlings grow?  Which grew best?   Wonder if there will be a  harvest of real lima beans?   Discovery and conversation happen every morning around this 'wonderful windowful'. 

starting out in plastic bag

transplant in cup

watching and observing growth and change

amazing plants

And another discovery…you can grow plants in a CD case!
the children love this!

 We are also growing paperwhite (narcissus) bulbs.  Students had a choice to plant them in water, rocks or soil.  Each student has 2 bulbs.  They are observing, taking notes and keeping a plant journal about their plants.  We are hoping to have flowers by Christmas and take these home as a family gift.  

forcing paperwhite bulbs

bulbs with shoots

buds appearing

and flowers!

2 easy experiments to do in your classroom:  

How will the celery change?  Why did it do that?

What is happening with this plant?

Children are keeping a plant journal of all the wonderful plant activity they discover.  They are making observations, jotting down notes, talking with each other and comparing the different plants and their growth or lack of it.  We are discovering and graphing paperwhite activity by placing a circle dot next to roots, shoots, buds and flowers.  Each student places a colored circle when each is observed.  Our 'wonderful windowful discoveries' provides us with many language opportunities for  reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as math and science! Be sure to check back -  plant journals will be posted soon for you to download and use in your classroom.

Make newspaper seedling pots.  

Very inexpensive and easy ….find the link HERE for directions.

 What will you discover today?