Back to School...Book Companion...Daddy's Back to School Shopping Adventure!

Every student young and old love shopping for NEW school supplies just like the family in this story.

Sometimes our WANTS go beyond our NEEDS and there are adorable examples of that in the story.

This is a new look at a new piece of literature for the beginning of the school year.

Following the story there are activities to promote building comprehension strategies.

Compare/Contrast, Sequence, Story Elements, and Sensory Recall

Use one, use them all, or provide students with a choice.

And we can't forget vocabulary as it is key to building understanding and reading fluency.

There are vocabulary cards for posting with pictures, a word search, ABC order, Word match and for the whole group growing our vocabulary with the word "nostalgia".

Students can make their own supply list and there is a sort for a school supply and an item that should be left at home.

Then at math time what could be more fun than buying supplies and finding the price.

Students can do this with partners in case some may need support with adding money at the beginning of the year.

Find it here.

Marvelous May Activities!

Yes the month of May is just about here!

You know, that month when school is almost out but NOPE not really.

The kiddos are "checking out" and you still have curriculum to teach.

Well let's take a look at some packets that just might help you..MAKE MAY MEANINGFUL!

Let's start with Cinco de Mayo on May 5th.

What a perfect time to compare and contrast another country with ours and learn about an event celebrated here and there.

Find it here.

Soon after comes Mother's Day.

An ideal time to celebrate our family.

This packet is filled with reading, writing, word work, and even some math.

There is a craft and even a gift for mom.

Find it here.

The end of the month brings Memorial Day!

For many the start of summer but this day means so much more.

Help your class understand the reason for the holiday.

Find it here.

Need an extra minute...how about these word searches with May themed word finds.

Find it here.

And I love these little mini books...print, fold, read...even color.

Read as a partner...read as a group.

See suggestions for using them here.

I love the poems for May dedicated to Mom's Day, Fireflies, Baseball and Summer.

Read, write, and sequence.

See more here.

These are ideal for assessing comprehension skills.

They come with lesson plans, I can cards, activities, and literature suggestions.

May covers...Waiting for Wings, Planting a Rainbow, Fancy Nancy's Marvelous Mother's Day Brunch, From Tadpole to Frog.

These are ideal for review or assessment.

Take the comprehension a step up and add writing to it with the May "Let's Write" packet filled with differentiated writing activities to build writing strategies using the same 4 stories.

Find it here.

And oh my!

Using Rainbow Fish and The Hungry Caterpillar your class will practice writing strategies and the final products will be perfect for decorating a bulletin board or locker.

Find it here.

And what fun you will have with this book companion from the Old Lady Series.

See complete details here.

An I can't think a better way to start your morning or afternoon than using this interactive May calendar journal.

It ends with a journal page for each day and a math review.

Take a peek.

May instruction can be meaningful!

Michele

Amazing Apple Activities!!

September speaks of apples, apple orchards, apple treats, and Johnny Appleseed!

So as you can guess my Pinterest Apple Board is filled with some of my favorite activities like these Sink or Float Apple Boats from Play, Learn, Love.  You can also use toothpicks and paper to hold the sails.

Each year our class visits the apple orchard and prepares apple print shirts to wear as "name tags".

They are adorable and it is easy to spot each child in their special design.

 They are so cute!!

 Each child needs a CLEAN sweatshirt or t-shirt.

They DO NOT have to be new.

Be sure to put cardboard or paper inside the shirt before painting so the print does not go through to the back.

Cut your apples in half from top to bottom.  Do a practice print on a piece of paper. If the print does not come out clear rub the apple on a piece of sand paper to smooth it out.  Next you need paint for cloth in red, yellow, and green.  I stick a craft stick in each apple so that it prevents paint getting all over your hands.  It also makes it easier for the kiddos to handle the apples.  I cut leaves from a sponge and use a darker green than the green I am using for the apple.

There are also so many wonderful "read aloud" for apples.

Check out some of these.

One of my favorites is using the book Ten Apples Up On Top for all of these activities. 

First...

Grab it here.

I take a picture of each student and put it at the bottom of a piece of paper.  Then using the apples they write the numbers or the number words 1 to 10 on them. Students cut the apples out and pile them on top of each other.  YEP...10 Apples Up On Top!

Next

These activities for STEM are amazing and fit perfectly with the story.

Check them out here.

Grab them here.

And who wouldn't love a healthy apple treat.  Perfect with The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Wouldn't your kiddos love a "wormy" apple?

The one above from There's a worm in my apple! is perfect.

It uses a stiff straw to poke a hole and then insert the worm.

I like this one from The Family Kitchen.  It is cut in half and the seeds removed BUT it has peanut butter to hold it together and I am fearful of peanut allergies.

MMMMM appleicious!!

These activités can be embedded in your curriculum by adding an apple theme.

Remember Johnny Appleseed's Birthday is September 26th.

This packet includes...

 Activities all about Johnny Appleseed.

Mini book, graphic organizer, poster, true/false, student mini poster.

 There is also a great deal of informational text about the apple.

A mini book shares the life cycle of the apple and even some investigations with the apple.

 I love the colorful vocabulary cards for posting and the pre write and final write activities for the class.

 The Johnny Appleseed craft can be used for a page topper or a character.  These are perfect for the bulletin board, hanging, or decorating the hall.

Word work is plentiful and perfect for building vocabulary and an understanding of the apple.

 The math activities are perfect for your math center and focus on counting, odd/even, and addition.

Find it here for $5.00

And for YOU these mini apple books!

Find your FREEBIE here!

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My Family and I!

 This packet leads the class to discover a definition for family on their own by observing the different families in the classroom and in suggested literature. It is ideal in helping them to understand the complexity of the family unit.

The packet begins with text about "what is a family".

I helps to open the discussion with students about what they think a family is.

Word work is included to develop vocabulary.

Writing will include a class book where the kiddos will write about their family.

Students will have an opportunity to compare and contrast families in the classroom.

Finally they will explore the family name.

The suggested literature is delightful and easy to find.

Find it here.

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