Kids struggle with things all the time, but one way we can help them learn to not give up is to use mentor texts with themes of determination and perseverance. Literature that models these skills can make a huge difference. In this post, I'll share two books that I love that help model and ...
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10 Easy to Use Gingerbread Activities for the Primary Classroom
One of the nicest ways to include every child in your classroom is with thematic teaching. I love the warm smell of gingerbread and making gingerbread houses has been a tradition for many years. Each year when I taught in the regular classroom, we enjoyed decorating candy houses and taking them to ...
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How to Teach Characterization in Less Time!
I love a good book with a great character. Don't you? Characters can grab kids' attention, help them connect to the story, and even make kids laugh. Some of my favorite books are my favorites because of the memorable characters. Have you read the Jamie O'Rourke or Strega Nona books by Tomie dePaola? ...
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Engaging Students in Mitten Themed Literacy Activities
Celebrate winter with a fun mitten theme. Imagine how excited your students will be with great mitten literature, craft activities, and more. Surprisingly, there are many mitten themed options to choose from. Mitten Themed Books Besides The Mitten, I also love The Missing Mitten ...
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Teaching Context Clues with Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Vocabulary knowledge is one of the biggest indicators to reading success. How do we as educators support vocabulary growth? One of the best ways to build vocabulary is through literature that provides exemplars and carefully constructed writing that includes context clues. Crown: An Ode to the ...
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Teaching with Reindeer Themed Literacy Activities
December is here, and this is the perfect time to explore reindeer. Believe it or not, there are TONS of learning options that can make a reindeer theme deep and meaningful. This round up post offers great free resources and teaching ideas for the elementary classroom. Reindeer Themed ...
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