Teacher Book Talk Tuesday #1– Whoot!

Whoot! Whoot! It is the first Teacher Book Talk Tuesday!!

Teacher Book Talk Tuesday is a weekly post starting today and going through August 22. That's right, twelve posts on favorite kid books, teacher books, and books for pure reading pleasure taking place in the summer when teachers can actually READ. And to make it better, this is a blogger linky party, so any teacher blogger can join up and share the good news about one of our FAV things in life– BOOKS! So let's GO!

I'll start with a couple kids' books first. 

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo.

I don't know how this one escaped me for a whole year but I'm so glad to have found it. A little boy has a tiny elephant as a pet... what kid wouldn't like that! They are great friends and that little boy knows how to be kind. 

But there is a problem.

My kids were oh so engaged when we read this to see how the little boy was going to solve his problem. It gently lead to a wonderful discussion of what it feels like to be left out and how one can push back against exclusion. This book allows teachers to  broach the age old issue of "you can't play" in a time when the lessons are needed more than ever. I think you'll really like this one.  

This next one is just for fun.

Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera.

Each year I save a couple special, silly books for the last weeks of school. Oftentimes they feature five year olds' taboo subjects, like farts, butts or underwear (stop by next week for the fart and butt books...). The kids are so off the wall by the end of the year, I say you might as well go for it. This one was an instant hit, as you can imagine. 

In the photo above I show that the book comes wearing underwear... the kids were delighted as I slid the book's underwear off. And that underwear sets the kids up to look for red underwear... which hides the punchline of the book. There are some rather silly animals with even sillier underwear hanging out in this book which features strategic cutouts. 

Super silly and super fun! Your kiddos will love it. 

This week my "teacher" book selections are for teachers to share with parents. 

Reading Magic by Mem Fox. 

Some of you may know Mem Fox as the children's writer of such hits as Koala Lou, Possum Magic, and Time for Bed, to name a few. Some of you may know Mem Fox as the reading guru from Australia. In this book, she is a parent educator, sharing her experience and expertise with children learning to read on their parents' laps. She doesn't just give the oh-so-valuable advice that parents should read to their children, but she describes the whys and hows so parents can help their kids love books and learn to read. I recommend this book at start of year parent-teacher conference time. It is not a Jim Trelease-esque list book of children's books (though Mem did indeed dedicate it to Jim Trelease), but it gives ideas that any teacher would pay to have parents follow. 

I love to loan Reading Matic to parents who think that reading to kids has become a bit cliched. I have copies to loan out– there is a newer version than the one I show which includes a chapter dedicated to boys and phonics. I love flipping through the pages of my worn copy as I talk about it because parents see all the highlighting and checks in margins that show it is a favorite of my own.  I highly recommend it to teachers to share with their school parents and I also recommend it to teachers who have young children of their own. Such a strong testimony to the power of parent-child bonding over a book.  

Here's the other book I recommend to my classroom parents. 

Raising Lifelong Learners by Lucy Calkins.

 

Yes, this is the same Lucy Calkins who heads up Teachers' College Reading and Writing Project and who authored Units of Study in Writing that so many districts use. 

This is also not a new book, but it is as pertinent today as ever, and unfortunately I find not near enough teachers and parents know about it. It is Lucy's only book written for parents. I found it years ago when I was a parent educator. I thought I had read every book on parenting and then I found this one. Lucy articulates what all parents want for their children, and she gives much food for thought AND very practical tips for raising kids to BE lifelong learners. I found it when my own kids were still pretty young and I LOVED it. I copy one chapter of to give to parents– the chapter on beginning reading– and the parents who actually read it rush out for their own copies. Just terrific. Teacher parents out there– grab this one for yourself, too. 

And since this is the kick-off post of the new Book Talk series, I'll share just one more... or eight.  

Yes, that is the whooooole Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It is one of my favorite book collections of all time. My aunt read the books as they came out, and then she started watching the Outlander series on Starz. I watched a few episode of the first season with her and I. was. hooked. I had a bunch of bookstore gift cards and I used them to buy the whole series in one fell swoop. A customer behind me, seeing my tower of books said, "Oh, I envy you. I wish I was just now reading them for the first time. You are in for a HUGE treat." And she was SO right.

Quite frankly, these books helped me make it through school last year. It took me about almost the entire school year to finish them– there is always SO much other stuff competing for a teacher's time September thru June, isn't there? I could only read them ten minutes each night before the book fell on my face as I read at bedtime. They provided the perfect distraction, letting me drift off to the 18th century to escape my everyday problems. WonDerFul. It is a complete bonus that the TV series is so well done. The casting is spot on... and yes, I too, am among the throngs in love with Jamie Fraser. To show you how rabid a fan I am, this was my Christmas gift this year.

DH Jonathan managed to get his hands on the oh-so-rare Funco Pop Vinyl figures of Jamie and Claire... and in the typical Jonathan style, he managed to craft a standing stone as well. 

 I can hardly wait for the next season that starts in September... quick! You have time to get far enough into the books, and to binge watch the two seasons thus far, so you can jump into the new season in September. I am not a TV binger and we only buy Starz for the months that the show is on, but it is TOTALLY worth it. Ahhh. Can hardly wait.

There are no affiliate links in my posts and that is because I know what it is like to be so addicted to books that I can't waste a dime. There is always the library, but sometimes I hate to wait. Luckily Jonathan and I see books as so essential we have a books line item in our family budget... so to speak... we don't really have a family budget... but we do buy lots of books. So when I shop, I shop for the best prices. That takes me into stores, on line, and always checking online at Abe Books for used copies. I love used book as much as new, and most books there are less than four dollars with fast free shipping. I also own a Little Free Library and frequent other LFLs in town. I have found some of my best treasures there.

Abe books and LFLs are greener ways to feed my reading addiction, as well, which makes me feel a little better about it. The books I don't LOVE, I pass on.   

Check below to see other bloggers who are sharing books today. And bloggers, to link up with Teacher Book Talk Tuesday, click on the inlinkz link, then be sure to grab this button below for your post and link it back here so everyone can find all. the. books!!!

Thanks for stopping by. I have 8.5 days left of school *sigh* and after that I hope to be blogging more... this summer's topic will be classroom design with tips I bet you haven't seen, so stick around. See you next time! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Start of School FREEBIES You Want

I don't know about you but I love cute and useful Freebies! Since today is Show and Tell Tuesday I'm going to show and tell you about three Start of School items that I made and that you might very well want, too, especially as they're FREE! Thanks to Stephanie at Forever in 5th Grade for the linky party!

1.  I posted about this one a few weeks back, as it is new this year.

This is a present for teachers to give their incoming students BEFORE school starts. You include it in a mailed home packet or give it out at Meet the Teacher Night, which most schools have now.

The freebie comes six to a page, in color or B&W, which you print and cut apart.

Then you add a glow in the dark star, easily found at most toy stores. A packet of stars is usually less than five dollars and that gives you enough for a whole class, and probably enough for next year's class, too. Put the star on the card with a little poster putty, which the kids use to put their star up in their room.

 I include a sample letter in the freebie that tells kids and parents what to do.  I'm going to put the card, star, and instruction letter into an envelope like this, and let the anticipation build.

After kids put their star up, they and their parents read the poem and make the wish, hopefully dispelling any nervous jitters in a fun, happy way. And by just changing the word "first" to "school" the wish and star can be used every night for the school year. Easy, peasy, and FUN! Click on the image below to grab it for free on TPT!

2.  My second show and tell is one for the first AND last week in class and is a fun way to see how much kids grow in the school year. It makes for a great end-of-year gift to parents that is sure to go in the "keeper box" at home.

Print this Freebie out on cardstock. It includes two poems– one about the string you use to measure the student's height at the beginning of the year, and one for the string that you use to measure at the end of the year.

The Freebie packet includes easy directions so just one teacher can measure each student. The poem comes in three versions– preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. In the coming weeks there will also be a Young 5s and Transitional Kindergarten versions- follow me to see notice of that TPT packet update. Click on the image below to grab it for free on TPT.

3.  And last, but not least, I share the ULTIMATE parent info card. (I didn't name it that... honest... my district kindergarten colleagues did when I shared it!) I include this in the packet that goes home before school starts (along with the Wishing Star) and ask parents to return it to me on or before the fist day of school.

This card asks for all the usual information and MORE– sibling names, who can and can't pick up kids from school (if parents put a "can't" that prompts me to ask about custody papers), expectations for the school year, preschool experience, and anything "unique" to their child or family– eating guidelines (vegetarian, kosher), two household living schedules, toileting issues, fears... info that teachers want and need, but that sometimes doesn't come to us for weeks into the school year.

It all fits on one half piece of paper, front and back. I copy them on bright green cardstock and carry them in my school bag... they have proven invaluable to me over the years. To make things easy, it is COMPLETELY editable in the basic font of Chalkboard, so you can tweak it as you like. Click on the image below to download this freebie.

ULTIMATE Parent Info Card Freebie from Kidpeople Classroom

If you would like more Start of School Tips click on the image in the right sidebar of my blog. You'll find out about Work and Mingle Night, the First Minutes and Day of School, and more.  (That photo is of my two daughters on their first day at our new school alooooong time ago... the years fly when you're having fun. They were carrying flowers to me, their teacher-mama.)

If any of these freebies are valuable to you I'd love to hear below, and I'd love for you to PIN! Click on back to Forever in 5th Grade to see more Show and Tells!

Have a great day, whether at school or prepping for back to school. Thanks for stopping by and see you next time!

Night Before School Wishing Star

Well, some of you are back at school, some of you are going back soon, and some of you have a month or so to go. No matter where you are in the going back process, most teachers' minds are on school as August begins. Mine sure is. I am really excited about a new Night Before School present I'm going to give to my incoming students. I happily share it for the first time through Monday Made It, because, well, it is Monday, and I did make it... well, actually I didn't make it, but my partner in crime life, otherwise known as my DH Jonathan did. The concept and poem came right out of my own little brain, though, and I think my new little kiddos are gonna love it!!! Whoot! I hope you do, too. This is what my students are going to get.

I will include a glow-in-the-dark star like this.

Glow-in-the-dark stars can be found inexpensively in most toy departments and they can also be found on Amazon, of course. I especially like this pack below because they really glow and they come with the poster putty to make them stick to ceilings and walls, so you can include a bit when you give a star to your students. Click on the picture to check them out.

I wrote a letter to my students that goes in the envelope with the star so parents can read about what to do. Here is my letter for you to use as an example if you choose.

I am going to seal it all up and write this little message on the envelope.

I'll send home the envelope in the packet of stuff that goes home to kindergarten parents before school starts. Won't the littles be surprised and happy when they get the envelope especially for them!

Now the best part– the poem and letter sample are freebies on my TPT store. I was so happy with Jonathan's star design on the little cards that I had to share it. The star poem comes in color and in black and white in case you want to save ink. You can download it by clicking on the picture.

Well, I am back to school today to work in my new classroom some more. I have been there all summer. I sure do have a lot of stuff! I am coming up with a few new storage ideas, though, which I'll share in later posts, so stop back, especially if you are interested in space saving ideas.

Scootch on over to Monday Made It now and see what teachers have been up to. I always find new ideas for both classroom and home when I peruse the blog posts. Thanks, Tara, for this great weekly linky.

Thanks for stopping by and do tell me what you think of the Wishing Star idea below in the comments. Also, please PIN!

HUE Tip Sheet, Giveaway, and Tidbits

Happy Friday, and for many of you, Happy Summer. Me, well, I still have three weeks to go. I am here today to link with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching and Five for Friday to share in an animated way five fun things, AND the Downloadable HUE Tip Sheet, AND a chance to win a HUE Animation Studio... read on!

1.  Don't you just love reading what your kiddos write? Hearing their voice come out in the writing makes me grin all over. Each year I have my students write a thank you note to our group of parent helpers. I take their letters and run them through the copier, then use comb binding to form a book for each parent. This year we were under a deadline because of a schoolwide appreciation assembly and I had to hurry them along, even giving them a form. I wasn't sure if I'd get as much good stuff as usual. I did though– this was my favorite because it sounds just like her:

"Thank you for helping us learn in the Let's Find Out books, and helping us at library, and reading books. I love working with you guys. I love you. Fondly, Erin  p.s. How are you doing?"

2.  I am a lead teacher in our building. That means whenever our principal is out of school, "issues" fall to me or the other lead teacher. You know the "issues" I'm talking about... those notorious, short, two legged ones who shall remain nameless but who we could call "little stinkers." Well, yesterday both the principal and the other lead teacher where out, so I was it.... and as I mentioned we are in the last. three. weeks. of school.

Let me suffice by saying the day started with a monkey flying out the bus window... honest, I'm not making it up... it wasn't a live monkey though... and ended with an email home to parents where I suggested some good old fashioned father-son bear cub wrestling after dinner so the needed rough and tumble play could happen at home instead of school. From beginning to end it was a very interesting day, including school tours... and short staffing at lunchtime...and... I marveled on the way home that I could still even toy with the idea of being a principal in some distant time and place. If that should ever happen, maybe the best plan would be to be out the last few weeks of the school year and dodge end-of-year madness all together....

3.  And now for a mid-blog relaxation smile break. I just love this. Book me a ticket, please.

4.  As regular readers know, I am a sometimes storyteller and I love puppets. I found this video on YouTube of the most cleverly made puppet. You need to follow this young man because he is going places... and when his puppets come on the market, which there are sure to do at some point, I will be first in line. He has quite a few animated vides, some of which are quite funny, so you might want to check out his channel.

5.  And speaking of videos and animation... note that clever segue... I have the Tip Sheet for doing HUE animations with students DONE! And it's FREE!  And you can download it right after you enter the GIVEAWAY for the HUE Animation Studio HERE!!!!  The Animation Studio comes with the camera, the software, the nifty instruction book, and everything you need.  Get one try by following me, and one try by following my friend Stephanie at Forever in Fifth Grade. Small print- due to HUE shipping restrictions, the Studio Animation can only be sent to addresses in the US. 

OUR GIVEAWAY IS OVER :(  CAROL D. IS THE WINNER :)

In case you're curious about what you can do with the HUE Animation Studio, here are two animated videos that I made with my kindergarten students. They are just seconds long.

Is it difficult? Does it take a long time? Can MY students do it? You probably have these questions and more. To find some answers, check out last week's post HERE!

AND download the tip sheet I made up just to help you create your own animations... after you win the studio... or after you purchase your own... which are about $70. Well worth the price for the HD document camera and the animation kit.  Click on image to download the Tip Sheet.

Oh, I hope, hope, hope a person who is going to get as much fun out of the kit as my kiddos and I have done WINS!!

Scoot on back to Kacey for more FIVES!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Resources and Freebies Galore!

So excited to have new resources and freebies for you today. Thanks to Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching for throwing her weekly Five for Friday linky party to help me share them.

1.  I'm starting with what I am super excited about doing this year with my kiddos. I think it is wonderful when the early years of education are cherished by families– kids grow and learn so much! I help families collect memories in many ways throughout the year, and this activity adds to that collection.

One poem is for the beginning of the year and one for the end. Each poem is about how tall the child is at the moment, measured by the string, and reflects on how much they grow in a year. You do the measuring in the first and last weeks of school. I wrote the poems and include a copy for kindergarten, preschool, and first grade. You'll need yarn in two colors, one for the beginning of the year, one for the end. I am making them FREE to download, so all you have to do is print on cardstock. Directions for an easy way to measure your students' height is included, too. To get this freebie simply click on the photo above. I hope you enjoy it! PLEASE leave love in the comments and PIN!

2.  For the last month or so I've been posting on start-of-year topics– from the first minutes of the first day, to anchor charts, to info cards, to getting parents involved on many levels. And there are freebies to download, too. I've made a special page to connect to all the topics and will be adding to this page as time goes on so all back to school ideas and freebies are easy to find. You can go there by clicking on the photo below. I hope this is useful to you now and in the future. Pin so you can come back as I add on, too.

3.  In one of my last posts I talked about Think-Talk Sticks and I mention them here again so you don't miss out on a useful freebie.

These little babies are going help my kidpeople think and talk during various points in our day– guided reading, writing workshop, and general discussion. I got the original idea from Two Writing Teachers and include a link so you can get their freebie. Click on the photo above to see.

4.  The folks from SightWord.com contacted me to ask if I'd share the news of their resource site with you. I checked it out and, whoa, there are many, many FREE resources here to help teachers teach sight words, phonemic awareness, and counting. Resources include video lessons and lesson tips, games to make, and word cards, too– word cards that are completely editable. You can add any words that your unique class is working on. And did I mention it's all free! There's nothing to buy and you don't need to give your name or sign-up for anything. I suggest you check them out by clicking the icon below. They are not compensating me in any way, just think they are a goodie to know about.

5.  And last, a little bit of shopping fun. If you have a Meijer close by you might want to keep your eyes open for these little babies.

Are you kidding me! Watermelon seed sticky notes! Jonathan had to hold me back before I bought them all– they are on sale! Bonus! If you teach from Lucy Calkins you'll know that small moment stories are like seeds in the juicy watermelon of life, and this is a big idea that kids really latch on to. I can hardly wait until we get to those lessons- I'm going to give each student a watermelon sticky to keep in their notebook to collect watermelon seed ideas for small moment stories. I bet everyone comes up with a few ideas just to use the notes– mwah ha ha, the teacher laughs gleefully. I love when little inexpensive notions translate into good learning for kids. These are fun and novel and the brain grooves on novelty.

Well, that's all for this Friday. Hope you are happy with your finds!

Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Click back to the linky for more great ideas.

All the Links for Start-of-School

I love starting school each year! There is nothing like the excitement of a new class... and nothing like the effort teachers put into it! This is a page where I collect the start-of-school ideas I use in my classroom. Just click below to go to the various topics. Be sure to check back as this post will stay updated with new links as I post them. 

Find some new, fun ideas and FREEBIES to help you and your kiddos launch the year by clicking on the titles!

Night Before School Wishing Star–

a little freebie gift you send to students for the night before school starts

Drop Offs and Drive-bys

The Crucial First Minutes of the First Day

The Ultimate Student Info Card, Parent Work and Mingle Night, and Line-Up Routines

Parent Zip-In Jobs

Five Ways Parents Can Help from Home

Building a Name Chart with Students

Beginning-End of Year Activity

to Celebrate Growing Kids

Hope you found these helpful. PIN so you can check for updates!

Thanks for stopping by!