Book Review: The Jelly Donut Difference

I don't know if it is the Michigander in me that automatically fell in love with this book or the amazing lesson it teaches, but this is a must for every family and classroom library.

Award-winning author, Maria Dismondy inspires

lives through her poignant stories about topics

challenging today’s modern child. Maria’s

background in early education and commitment

to teach the importance of character building

enables her to touch lives the world over while

touring as a public speaker in schools, community

forums, and at national conferences. Maria’s eighth

book, The Jelly Donut Difference, drives home the

important message of generosity and kindness.

She included the polish donuts as a nod to her

heritage. When Maria isn’t writing, she can be found

embarking on adventures throughout southeast

Michigan and beyond, where she lives with her

husband and three book-loving children.

Hooray For Hat! and a STEAM Extension

Trying to find that glimmer of happiness can be tricky on days when you are just feeling grumpy.  In Hooray For Hat!, by Brian Won, Elephant and his friends teach us that a simple gift can turn that frown upside down.

This picture book shows readers that the act of generosity can brighten a person's spirits.  

I wanted to build an extension to this fabulous story, because, well I just LOVE it!  Why not build multi-layer hats like the book?!?!

Click on the picture of little man wearing his Hooray For Hat! or follow this link.  I have a template as well as a STEAM extension for you.

This activity can be done by individual kiddos or in a small group.
What is your favorite picture book for teaching kiddos the importance of being kind to our friends?

June Book Club

I am beyond excited to be hosting this month's Ramona Recommends' eBook Club.  I don't know about you, but finding time to read during the school year can be crazy.  I try my best to find the time to relax with a good book, but my pile seems to grown until the summer when I can really dive into them.  However, I have made the time to read both of Courtney's eBook Club recommendations and have LOVED them both. 

This month we will be discussing two books; one geared toward primary students and one for intermediate.  You are more than welcome to read both or just one, but either way be sure to leave your thoughts along the way.

 The primary pick is Ribbit!, by Rodrigo Folgueira. 

The intermediate read is A Snicker of Magic, by Natalie Llyod.

June's book club will run from Tuesday, June 3rd until Wednesday, July 2nd.

This month's discussion:
1. If you are new this month--Introduce yourself to the group: Share your name, blog/instagram name, what grade you teach, and a little bit about yourself.  *Remember, you do not need a blog to be a part of this discussion. You can just leave a comment below this post. :)
2. What were your thoughts of the book?
3. How could you use this book with your students?
4. Did you have any connections to other texts while reading this book?

Feel free to share the book club button on your instagram and blog pages.

Happy Reading!

Ramona Recommends Book Club - The Year of Billy Miller

I love a great book recommendation and Courtney from Ramona Recommends totally nailed it with this month's book club pick.

Kevin Henkes is one of my favorite picture book authors and I was so excited to crack open this chapter book.  I love how he divided the books into specific character interactions for Billy.  This format allowed for the reader to truly see how Billy Miller evolved over the year.
I plan on using this book as an end of the year read aloud with my firsties next year, since Billy is a second grader.  It would obviously be a great beginning of the year read aloud of second grade.
On a random note...just as exciting as reading the book is my new bookmark obsession.  How great is this one?!?

More to come on this new book accessory love...

Happy Reading!

PYP Part 3 - More on Animal Adaptations

The plethora of rich text available to students is wonderful!  One of the books we used during our How the World Works unit was What If You Had Animal Hair?, by Sandra Markle.

This is an marvelous book that uses facts about animal hair in relation to kids being able to have the same adaptations as the animals in the book.  It was the perfect follow up to our discussion on animal habitats and why specific animals live where they do.
Each student got to choose which animal's hair they would want to have and create an artistic representation, with a reason why.  I was blown away by the creativity of my class.

How incredible are those?

Have you used this book in your classroom?  I would love to read about your thoughts!

Don't forget to head over to Instagram for a chance to win my favorite things giveaway!

Must Read Monday - Mooseriffic

If you don't already know it...I LOVE moose!  There is something majestic about the animal that I cannot get over.  You can only image how I reacted when I heard about this book...

This is a Moose is about...well...a...moose.  He is no ordinary moose, he wants to be an astronaut.  

There is no one better to teach him to follow his dreams than his lacrosse playing grandmother.  Throughout the story, the moose does not give up on his dream even though the director (narrator) keeps insisting that he needs an animal to "act like it is supposed to."  I love that no matter how upset the director gets the moose follows his dreams, with the help of his friends and family.
We can all learn something from this moose!  Follow your dreams no matter who tries to hold you back.
My kiddos loved this book, but I think that I will use it at the beginning of next school year while we build a classroom community.

Happy Reading!

Don't forget to head over to Instagram for a chance to win my favorite things giveaway!

It's Okay to be Different

Before I even start this post, I need to say, "Thank You," to Sarah, from A Sunny Day in First Grade.  Sarah created this incredible pack to accompany the book Elmer.  

I am very grateful to work at a school that is bursting at the seems with diversity.  We have over 30 languages spoken at our elementary school alone!  This year, I wanted to be purposeful with my teaching on embracing difference, and this unit was the perfect follow up to our lessons from Chrysanthemum (check out my previous post).  

During the week, we read Elmer, by David McKee and completed our first story elements.  It was a learning curve for my new group, but they persevered and completed the task.  We also complete a tree map about Elmer.  My kiddos are getting really good at their tree maps!

We learned how to order words, colors in particular, and read crayons. 

 

We even retold Chrysanthemum and read The Hueys in the New Sweater, by Oliver Jeffers.  Both of these books allowed for a deeper discussion on the greatness of being different.

As a wrap up, we completed our first writing prompt.  Yikes!  Check out the range of writing within my classroom.

I learned a ton about my kiddos from this.  I can't wait to start Writers' Workshop! 

How do you teach about diversity?

The Day the Crayons Quit

Last week, I read The Day the Crayons Quit to my kiddos and boy, oh, boy did they love it.  It was the perfect follow up to our Elmer study, and who doesn't love a book that Oliver Jeffers worked on?!

I wanted to do something fun to tie everything together and found Cara Carroll's Color Pals to be the perfect activity.

My kiddos had an absolute blast choosing their crayon color, creating the accordion arms and legs, and assembling them!

Can you find the "short, stubby" crayon (like Blue Crayon, from The Day the Crayons Quit)?

If you haven't check this book out, do so!  You won't be sorry!

I made it through preservice week

I have officially made it through preservice week and am ready for my first week with my new firsties.  Before, I let you in on my first week plans, my giveaway winners are in.....
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations ladies!  Please check your emails for the details.

Back to reality!  My first week is planned and ready to ROCK!

I am so excited to teach my students expectations for their year in first grade through the following read alouds and craftivities:

What do you have planned for the first week?  For those of you that have been back with your kiddos already, how have the first few weeks been?