This summer is the 30th Anniversary of The Magic Tree House! (It kind of blows my mind that 1992 was 30 years ago…but that’s neither here nor there.) The series, written by Mary Pope Osbourne, currently consists of 36 books. As a young adult, Mary traveled extensively and she was enthralled with the sights, sounds,…
Tomorrow, August 2nd, is National Coloring Book Day. Coloring can be relaxing for both children and adults—thus the popularity of adult coloring pages in recent years. (I printed this free adult coloring page here.) We also know, as teachers, that the occasional coloring page is a nice time filler and a quick assessment of a…
We all know that everyone goes back to school at different times. (If you’re in a year-round school district, you never really left.) But every summer I have a serious argument in my head concerning when to start posting back-to-school activities on social media. I was a Pre-K/K teacher and when someone would mention the…
It’s Felicia Bond’s birthday today. I know that you know who Felicia Bond is—even if you think you don’t. 🙂 She’s the illustrator that created the adorable critters for the “If You Give…” series of books. How many of the books can you name without googling? I tried this and I was way off. Hint:…
Today is one of those strange “non-holiday” holidays: Cheer Up the Lonely Day. I think “Befriend the Lonely,” might be a better name. Cheering up someone sounds way too fleeting—like you’re going to take a lonely person out for coffee and then not bother to see them again for a few months. Listening and befriending…
Happy Fourth of July! Chances are you will see the American flag at some point today during Independence Day festivities. Did you know that the story of the current flag’s design was the result of an assignment given by a history teacher? When Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states, the US needed…
It’s that time of the year, teacher friends—the time when fireflies put on a wonderful performance in yards and fields. Did you know that fireflies are present on every continent except Antarctica? They need a moist environment to thrive, which is why I have so many in my yard here in humid North Carolina. And…
When I was in the classroom, I taught a lot of concepts with songs and chants. Why? Because I can remember the songs I learned in third grade better than I can remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Songs and chants are valuable tools in the classroom. They engage students and increase retention…
Today is National Weed Your Garden Day. When I was young, my parents had an extensive garden, and we were always plucking weeds that had sprouted up between the rows. It was not my favorite chore. (Today as close as I get to having a garden is a pot with a tomato plant.) We know…
This Friday, June 10, is Maurice Sendak’s birthday. He’s of course known best for his picture book, Where the Wild Things Are, and other books for children. But his experiences were wide and varied, including designing sets and costumes for both ballets and operas, producing animated specials for children, and advising the Children’s Television Workshop…