When we go back to school in the fall, there will no doubt be changes. I’m guessing that one of the changes we encounter will be an emphasis on social distancing. I can’t even wrap my brain around how that’s going to be accomplished. But let’s say that the six foot social distance rule is…
Across the street from my home lives a family with two young children. Normally, I don’t see them outside that much. But in quarantine they’re out in their yard pretty much all day, weather permitting. I see them running and playing and generally having a great time. I’ve seen evidence from my Facebook friends that…
Tuesday, May 12 is International Nurses Day! Nurses truly save lives. And in our current pandemic situation they deserve more thanks than we can give them. Tomorrow, have young students draw pictures and compose thank you cards to nurses. Have older students complete this Florence Nightingale passage and questions. It’s not a coincidence that May…
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo! And although many of us in the United States think the holiday celebrates tacos and margaritas, that’s actually not the case. (Although it is a good excuse to have tacos and margaritas!) Cinco de Mayo commemorates the defeat of French troops at the Battle of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City. …
Scissors aren’t just scissors. Westcott Jellies™ have super-comfortable, super-squishy gel-grip handles and come in lots of fun colors. One lucky teacher will win 10 pairs of the 5-inch scissors and another lucky teacher will win 10 pairs of the 7-inch scissors. How can you enter our random drawing? Submit a comment to this blog by…
Reading is an obvious way that students can learn at home—and being quarantined at home certainly gives them lots of opportunities! (Personally, I’m working my way through The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin.) That’s why I thought you might like these printables that encourage students to respond to literature. Click here for this book report…
This Tuesday, April 28th, is Great Poetry Reading Day! I personally got hooked on poetry in second grade. A classmate’s father visited our class to read poetry to us and several of the poems were by Shel Silverstein. It was delightful and hilarious and obviously very memorable. I even remember going home and telling my…
Did you know that there’s a wasp that looks like a panda? A snake that can run over the water? A fish that seems to be wearing lipstick? Discover these unique animals and many more in Weird and Wonderful Animals (Sterling). In fact, you can win my copy! To enter this week’s random drawing, submit…
We’ve certainly been having typical spring weather here in North Carolina—days alternating between sunshine and rain with lots of wind! It was so windy last week, my cats hid under the bed. As long as my electricity stays on, I love rainy and windy spring days! Check out these windy-weather ideas that are timely and…
Gazing at my pile of potential blog prizes for this week, two disparate ones jumped out at me: I Do Not Like Books Any More! (Candlewick) and Look! I Wrote a Book! (And You Can Too!) (Schwartz & Wade). Mixed up prizes for mixed up times, right? To enter this week’s random giveaway, let us…