Looking to add giggles to your literacy time? Try spotlighting phonological awareness and alliteration with tongue twisters! Tongue twisters are fascinating. Check out these totally terrific twister tidbits: Almost every language has tongue twisters. People read tongue twisters slowly whether they are reading aloud or silently. Thus, tongue twisters aren’t so much about twisting the…
Has being kind to others become unfashionable, unhip, or uncool? Sometimes it feels that way, doesn’t it? It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the pressures of daily life that being kind to others slips through the cracks. However, when kindness becomes a habit, it doesn’t slip. It becomes something you do without even…
Reading this sweet story could be a new Thanksgiving tradition in your classroom! How can you win the book? Submit a comment to this blog to share one thing you love about Thanksgiving. Send your comment by Sunday, November 18, and we’ll rush the book out to you. One lucky teacher will be randomly selected…
I’m not sure how this happened, but it’s November already. In no time at all, it will be Thanksgiving. So that means we had best start talking turkey right now. I suspect in the next couple of weeks, you might find yourself in need of a turkey pattern. You might want to use one for…
Happy November all! Did you know that November is Picture Book Month? I love this celebration for many reasons. I love me some picture books. I love holding picture books. I love reading picture books. I love the artistry of picture books. I love sharing picture books. (Yes, I could go on and on…) More…
No tricks, all literacy-related treats for you today. Take a look at what you can win this week: A Werewolf Named Oliver James (Arthur Levine Books) follows Oliver on his first night as a werewolf. It’s just the right mix of fun and scary for elementary grades! Halloween (Cantata Learning) (book and CD) features cool…
When the sugar high of Halloween has receded, you might discover that you have an abundance of candy wrappers. I know I will. So I sat down at my computer and did some searching for ideas that reuse candy wrappers. Apparently, people have reused wrappers to make everything from bowls to dresses! Personally, I discovered that…
It’s Frankenstein Friday–a rather obscure holiday created to celebrate the accomplishments of Mary Shelley and her literary creation, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Mary Shelley led an interesting–sometimes tragic–life. Here are some Mary Shelley stats: Mary became involved with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was 16. Unfortunately, he was already married. When his…
Can you imagine an octopus at school? What fun! Who or what would you bring to school if you could? It could be a person, animal, imaginary creature, object, anything! Submit a comment to this blog by Tuesday, November 6, and let us know. One lucky teacher will be randomly selected to win this…
You’ve heard of Puxatawny Phil, the groundhog that supposedly forecasts the coming of spring. But have you heard of the woolly worm, or woolly bear, as it is sometimes called? Last week two colleagues of mine discovered some woolly worms hanging around outside our office. Just so you know, woolly worms aren’t actually worms at…