Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin is one of my favorite stories for winter! He's just so loveable! I love how he is true to himself and doesn't care what others think of him.

I found this awesome professionally done video read-aloud. The sound effects add a lot to the story.

I also created a book study for Tacky the Penguin. You can find it it my TPT store HERE. It is full of fun literature-based activities! A FREEBIE from the unit is included below. :)

I also included it in my Helen Lester Bundle. If you already own this bundle, you can redownload it and get the Tacky unit for free. It now contains 3 book studies and 3 scoot activities. You can check it out HERE. 

I am a huge fan of integrating literary texts with informational texts. My unit for Tacky would blend beautifully with this non-fiction study on Penguins. It has text in 3 formats: real-world photos, colorful clipart, and a line art student booklet. You can see it HERE. 

I hope this freebie from Tacky the Penguin will be useful to you! You can download or print it through Dropbox by clicking HERE or on the picture below. 

Enjoy! Be true to yourself! 

The Snowy Nap

I received a copy of The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett for Christmas. I couldn't wait to read it! It did not disappoint! Jan Brett has done an amazing job bringing Hedgie and his friends back for another adventure. This talented author created a new folktale full of charm, exquisite illustrations, and rich vocabulary.

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet either, here's a link to a sweet read-aloud on YouTube.

I made a book study for The Snowy Nap. It is now available in my TPT store. It is full of activities that involve reading strategy practice. You can check it out by clicking HERE or on the picture below. There are FREEBIES from the unit included in this post. 

I love integrating literary texts with science and social studies content. If you do too, you may be interested in my Hibernation Bundle. It combines The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett and Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson with my non-fiction unit, Animals in Winter. It covers the hibernation, migration, and adaptation skills of many animals. You can check it out HERE or on the picture below. 

I hope you will enjoy these freebies for The Snowy Nap! Just click HERE or on the pics to download them through Dropbox. 

The Animals' Santa by Jan Brett

Did you know that Jan Brett has a new book out for Christmas? It is called The Animals' Santa. It is the sweetest book! It is all about a hare named Little Snow. He wants to know if the animals have their own Santa. His brother and friends all talk about gifts they have received. They all have their own theories about who their Santa could be. Little Snow thinks they are all fooling him. The animals don't have a Santa, but around midnight they all find out who their Santa really is!

I love anything Jan Brett writes, and this one is sure to be a classic just like her other works! I created a book study to go along with this new book. You can check it out {HERE} or on the pic below. It is packed with meaningful activities that are directly related to the text.

Here is a quick, little Animals' Santa freebie for you, too! Click {HERE} or on the pic to download your copy. :)

I found this awesome video on Jan Brett's YouTube channel. She gives you a little tour inside of her studio. You get to meet the rabbit she used as the inspiration for her illustrations. Then, she does a step by step guide on how to draw Little Snow. I am sure you will enjoy it! 

Now, go grab your own copy of the book! You will LOVE it!

Bear Says Thanks! Free Mini-Unit

I should probably have titled this post, "Bear and Jenn Say Thanks!". This time of year focuses on gratitude and thankfulness, and I am so very thankful for all of you! Your business, feedback, comments, pins, and reads mean so much to me. I wanted to find a way to give something back to you to show my appreciation. As I was going through my Thanksgiving books, I saw Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. This sweet poem is full of great concepts for the season: friendship, gratitude, sharing, and thankfulness. I whipped up a little mini-unit to share with you all. I hope you will enjoy it! The unit includes a close read on brown bears, a thankful list activity, a personal response activity, a sequencing/retelling activity, and a rhyming center using words from the text. Click {HERE} or on the picture below to download your copy.

Listen Buddy: Book Chat and a Freebie

Listen Buddy by Helen Lester is my other favorite book for teaching listening expectations during the first few days of school. Buddy may have beautiful big ears, but he doesn't listen! When his parents ask him for a slice of bread, he shows up with a slice of bed! His funny antics aren't so funny though when he runs into the Scruffy Varmint who doesn't like little bunnies who don't listen. Here is a little book trailer so that you can get a better view of the hilarious illustrations that Lynn Munsinger created.

I have whipped up a little book study to go along with this funny tale. It includes lots of standards based skills practice and even a few fun listening activities, too! You can check it out {HERE} or by clicking on the picture.

What's a book recommendation without a freebie? I love sharing ideas with you all! This little flip book is super easy. Just fold the organizer in half down the solid line. Then, cut on the dotted lines to make four flaps. It is up to you what you want to require the students to write or draw inside for each story element. I hope this story helps your students become good little listeners!

I am also working hard on getting my classroom ready! I hope to have my room reveal ready to post in a day or two! 

Giraffes Can't Dance Book Chat Fun

I love to start out the school year by reading Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees! Kids come in to a new year with fears and presuppositions about what they can and can't do. This book is the perfect chance to get them to think of a new year as a fresh start full of possibilities! Gerald Giraffe is a terrible dancer (or so he thinks) until a wise cricket shows him that anyone can dance when they find the right music! 

I taught 2nd grade inclusion for a few years. I also used the different types of music and dancers in the book to discuss how everyone in our class was different and may need different things. We could all learn in our own way just as the animals danced in their own way!

I found a fantastic channel on YouTube. This artist has turned the poetry in the book into a song. LOVE IT! My sweeties love to watch video versions of books on our SMARTboard and this one is no exception! You can check out more awesome books set to music on the Fun Songs Guy's YouTube channel. {HERE}. I also have a Pinterest board full of video versions of books. You can check it out {HERE}.

I have no idea whose original idea this craft was. (Please let me know if you do so I can give proper credit.) I have made a few modifications to it over the years. I generally avoid painting due to the mess factor and time. Sadly, I never took any photos of all of the different versions that my students created, but my son loved hearing the story and volunteered to make his own version today. I gave him the book, crayons, scissors, glue, white paper, and a pack of construction paper, and let him go. This is his interpretation of Gerald's dancing under the moon and stars.

Again, what's a book chat without a freebie?!?  Here is a quick little story element organizer to go with your craft. Put it all together and you've got a couple of great centers! 1. Read the book. 2. Watch the video. 3. Make your craft. 4. Complete the organizer. Easy-peasy-mac-n-cheesy!  

Click HERE or on the picture to grab your freebie. 

You can read more book recommendations HERE at Deanna Jump's Book Talk Tuesday Linky Party!

Have a great day and remember the wise words of Gerald Giraffe, "We all can dance when we find music that we love." :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Comparing and Contrasting

Have you seen stares as blank as the copy of a Venn diagram on the table in front of them? I know that I have. Some students can generate similarities and differences like nobody's business. Others don't even know where to even begin. So, what's a teacher to do? Well, in this post, I have a few differentiation tips, a new product, a literature suggestion, and a freebie to share with you.  

Here are a few quick tips that I have stumbled upon during my years in inclusion and RtI instruction.

1. Accept that some tasks are too difficult for some children without providing some scaffolding for their thought processes. There are children whose intellectual capabilities limit them from being able to complete higher level or critical thinking tasks without some kind of accommodations or assistance. Thinking ahead about their needs is vital for their success. Many of these same students can compare and contrast if given only minimal help. 
2. Guiding questions can make a huge difference! I have often been surprised at the thoughtful responses my struggling students have given when they are answering only one question at a time. The size of the task was manageable for them.  When working in a small group, I ask guiding questions. Sometimes I pass out a list of questions on a strip of paper. I have also posted them on a pocket chart or the SMARTboard. Some examples would be: How does each animal move? Who was the main character? Where did each story take place? When was this person born? Students refer back to the text or texts in search of the answers. They aren't being expected to pull these ideas out of thin air. 
3. Cut and Sort:  Providing students with cut and sort information is a great starting point for training them to recognize similarities and differences and organize their information. Many students who cannot generate the information on their own can correctly identify if the statement is true for only one subject or for both subjects of the task. 
4.  This and That Rule: I try to model organizing thoughts by using a this and that rule. When students have found an answer for this person, event, text, etc. I show them that often they are looking for antonyms for that other person, event, text, etc. For example, if this text says that ants  are insects then they are trying to find a word in that text that shows that spiders are __________. (arachnids) This information is then matched up on the graphic organizer. This helps aid comprehension by organizing the information for quick recall. 
5. Use a variety of graphic organizers.  Some students struggle with Venn diagrams, but the connectivity of a double bubble makes better visual sense to them. You may need to experiment with various formats: T-charts, double bubbles, check off sheets, highlight or color code. Students need to understand that Venns are not the only way to express alike and different. 
6. Use visuals and pictures.  Many students can come up with similarities and differences when they have a visual example to look at. For example, a student could tell you that a horse and a cow both have long tails and walk on four legs just by viewing the picture. 
7. Require meaty answers.  Don't let struggling students off the hook with easy answers. If you are comparing alligators and crocodiles, do not accept that one of their names starts with an A and the other starts with a C. They will try to get by on that level of thought! Ask them if that information is about the actual animal or just its name. Refocus their attention on the task. They will generally come through with a better response.

Here is a little peek at what is included in my newest TPT product. There are anchor cards, original texts (color and b/w), and various comparing and contrasting exercises based on the text. I am really excited about implementing this next year! I hope it will be useful to you, too. You can check it out {HERE}.

My favorite part of this pack is the culminating activity/center/assessment part! Students are given blank double bubble maps and a set of picture choices. They choose the pairs that they want to compare and contrast based on their prior knowledge of the subjects. My sweet son helped me out with this one again. He LOVES animals so those are the images that he picked. I love how this one is basically differentiated by the students themselves! 

My nature lovin' son brought home an A.R. book to read that was amazing! I may have said, "Good gravy, boy, you know how to pick a great book!" There is a series of books called "What's the Difference Between?" They compare and contrast two animals that people often confuse such as alligator/crocodile, frog/toad, butterfly/moth, leopard/cheetah, and many more. They are written by different authors, but are all illustrated by Bandelin Dacey Studios. The one my son checked out from the library compared turtles and tortoises. 

I love the layout of the pages. For instance, the left side had a full page illustration and text about the habitat of the turtle. The right side had a full page illustration and text about the habitat of the tortoise. It is just made for modeling comparing and contrasting with a graphic organizer. You may want to ask your media specialist to purchase this series for your school. 

If you happen to have access to this amazing book or if you want your students to do a little research, I have a double bubble freebie for you. It comes with a blank venn and cut/paste clues for differentiation. This is how the completed venn will look if you use the differentiated method.  Click {HERE} or on the image to download your copy. 

You can see more great book recommendations at Deanna Jump's Book Talk Tuesday linky here.

What have you found to be helpful when teaching comparing and contrasting? Please share any advice you have. I love to hear from you!

Our Favorite Authors: Implementing Author Studies in the Classroom

Did you ever run through the library to see if your favorite book was on the shelf? Have you ever said, "Preorder? Yes, please!" to your computer screen? Then, chances are you have had a favorite author. Your students are no exception to this rule. Which books do they rush to grab from the book baskets or bookshelf during Read to Self time? You know which ones! That is why you stock up on those books when they are the $1 book in the Scholastic flyer or in a collection pack at Sam's Club. 

Would your students like to be introduced to more books by their favorite authors or even learn more about the life of the author? Maybe an author spotlight is a feature that you want to add to your classroom next year. It can be very easy to set up and maintain. Here is a quick example I created about Kevin Henkes with labeled instructions for implementing this idea in your room, too. 

Sorry this picture isn't cheerier. It is summer and this was taken in my home office. I refuse to step foot into the school building until August! :)

1. The chart paper I had at home isn't lined. So, I improvised by adding some printed words and clip art (Thanks, Melonheadz!)

2. I found a picture of Kevin Henkes through Google images and printed it out.

3. I added his biography from my new Authors in the Spotlight pack.

4. I scanned some of my book covers and printed them out.

5. I placed all of the books by Kevin Henkes that I had here at home in a basket. 

6. I added a touch of whimsy with a stuffed character. I ordered this Penny doll this week because my RtI students are starting out the year reading Penny and Her Song.

7. Kids love choices! So, each red folder contains a different activity from my new pack. Students can choose how they want to respond to what they read. Find out more below! 

I just added this set of biographies and activities to my TPT store. The activities included are completely generic and can be used for any author study. Right now, the pack features biographies (color and b/w) for Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Doreen Cronin, Roald Dahl, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Kevin Henkes, Ezra Jack Keats, Ruth Krauss, Beatrix Potter, David Shannon, Mo Willems, and Margaret Wise-Brown. If you are interested in this pack, you may want to purchase it soon. I will be adding more biographies to the set when the artist is finished creating more images and the price will increase. If you buy it now, you can download any updated versions for free!

Here is a sneak peek at one of the activities in this set! Many thanks to my sweet soon to be second grader for his help on this one! It is summer after all, but he was a good sport about it! I did let him dictate his sentences though. ;)

Which author's books are a must have in your classroom library? I know that my room couldn't function without the works of so many talented authors! It is hard to choose a favorite!

America the Beautiful Book Chat and a Freebie

In 1893, an English professor named Katharine Lee Bates was traveling westward by train. She visited various sights on her journey. From the pinnacle of Pike's Peak, the words to a poem began to take shape in her mind. When she returned to her hotel room, she penned the text for "America the Beautiful". Now, more than 100 years later, her great-great-grandnephew has illustrated her lyrics in a wondrous book.

While I adore the lyrics and have sung this song since childhood, the illustrations absolutely steal the show. Chris Gall has woven American history into the book in a beautiful manner. Each page features an important event in history or a trait of America. He included an "About the Artwork" page in the back of the book that explains the historical significance of each page. These are two of my favorite pages from the book. 

The last page's illustration shows the events of May 10, 1869 when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Summit, Utah.

The line, "Who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life" includes an illustration of the NY firefighters on September 11, 2001. 

This YouTube video is also another great way to incorporate "America the Beautiful". The lyrics are read to a montage of some spectacular American images.

Again, what's a book chat without a freebie? This little opinion writing organizer has the main idea in the middle and four supporting details. Click {HERE} or on the image to grab your copy. Make sure to stop by Deanna Jump's book chat linky party for more great recommendations. Have a blessed fourth of July, y'all!

Hello Ocean: Book Chat with a Freebie

    You can't think of summer without thinking of the beach! Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Mark Astrella is my all time favorite summer book. I have bought this book three times now! Every time I get it, some sweet one or co-teacher falls in love with it, and I never see it again.  It really is that amazing!

The story begins with the line, "Hello, ocean, my old best friend. I'm here, with the five of me, again!" The rest of the poem explores the ocean through the girl's five senses. The text and illustrations complement each other so well that you will start to think that you are there, too!

The illustrations look more like photographs than acrylics and airbrushing!

The poetic text is masterfully written!

I have used this book for teaching poetry, word choice, sensory/descriptive writing, and as a part of a unit on the five senses. It can be easily integrated into lessons for K-5. 

Here's a little critical thinking freebie for you to use with this book. Students will change the setting from the ocean to another location of their choosing: desert, rain forest, city, or mountains. Then, they will describe what the girl will experience with her five senses in that particular place. Click {HERE} or on the picture to download your own copy. 

What books do you own that people want to borrow and never return?

Check out more recommendations over at Deanna Jump's "Let's Talk About Books" linky party HERE. 

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas: Book Chat with a FREEBIE

     I am linking up with the fabulous Deanna Jump for her Tuesday Book Chat. You can check out all of the book recommendations {HERE}. Today, I would like to introduce you to one of my new favorite books: Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim and Grace Zong. I love this book for a few simple reasons.

1. Pandas rule! I have a lifelong love of pandas! They are so stinkin' cute!
2. It is a fractured fairy tale. Kids LOVE to read or hear books that are twist on a familiar tale.
3. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging.
4. Kids will be introduced to rich vocabulary relating to the Chinese culture and customs. 
5. Goldy Luck makes mistakes, but she also learns to take responsibility for her actions. 

Here is a quick peek inside this fantastic book! Keep scrolling for your freebie and other related recommendations!

What's a book recommendation without a FREEBIE to go with it, right?  Click {HERE} to snag your double bubble map with optional cut and paste clues. 

If you are looking for other books to carry on with a Goldilocks theme, I also highly recommend these two titles! They have always been a big hit in my classroom!

I did a Common Core aligned book study for The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. You can check it out in my store {HERE} or by clicking on the image below. 

Have fun perusing all of the awesome book recommendations on Deanna Jump's blog. I hope to be back next week with another favorite and freebie for you!  

Got the Last Day Blues?

I only have five more days of school! FIVE! I know that should make me super happy, but I always get a touch of the end of the year blues. Somebody please tell me that I am not the only one!  So, to cheer myself (and maybe you) up a little. I decided to do a quick post about my favorite end of the year book, The Last Day Blues, by Julie Danneburg. This book is perfect for those last few days of school! I particularly love the ending!  If you read The First Day Jitters with your class to kick off the year, you really should read The Last Day Blues to wrap it all up.

Last year, I made a little book study for surviving the last few days while still covering/reviewing standards. In honor of the last few days, I have put the book study on sale for $3.00 until the end of June. {Bless your heart if you don't get out of school until then!} You can check it out {HERE} or by clicking on the picture. I thought that a FREEBIE might be a nice end of the year gift for you, too. So, scroll down to grab your First Day Jitters/Last Day Blues venn diagram. 

Here's your freebie sample! Click {HERE} or on the pic to download your own copy.  Enjoy those precious last few days with your sweeties!

Cause and Effect: anchor chart, mentor texts, and a freebie!

Cause and effect can be such a difficult concept for young readers. I think this is true for a few reasons.
1. Kids can be egocentric. They often respond with what they think the effect would be for them.
2. Evaluating cause and effect takes some real thinking! You have to analyze text in some complex ways.
Therefore, kids who can often answer literal who, what, when, and where questions may struggle when comprehension requires more thinking like determining cause and effect.

So, what's a teacher to do? I think modeling and interactive activities can certainly help.

Here is an anchor chart that I made. Using characters from a series helps students really have a good feel for how the characters react in different situations. On the chart, the characters are sharing an experience or a cause, but due to their character traits the effects will different for each of  them. This one features Junie B. Jones, Crybaby William, and Lucille.

Mentor texts are another wonderful teaching tool. Here are a few of my all time faves!

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash is a wonderful example of  tracing the effects back to their causes.

The entire If You Give series is perfect for If/Then cause and effect statement modeling!

This book is an awesome example of multiple causes leading to one effect: a terrible, horrible, no good,
very bad day!

My kiddos always loved being surprised by the unexpected chain of causes and effects in this book!

In this sweet story, the animals find out that the farmer has bought a kangaroo. They spend the rest of the day pondering the possible effects of the farmer's new purchase.

This story does a wonderful job of demonstrating a circular chain of cause and effect. Murdley Gurdson gets an egg dropped on his head. How could it possibly be his fault? Kids love tracing the action back to him.


You may be interested in my latest product on Cause and Effect. It has anchor charts/presentation, a center, guiding activities, and reading comprehension activities. You can check it out by clicking here! Scroll down to grab a FREE copy of a sample page from this unit!

Here's your Freebie!  The clip art is by the talented Kari Bolt. Click here to download your copy! Enjoy!

What have you found helpful when teaching cause and effect? I would love to hear your ideas!

Tessa @ Tales from Outside the Classroom is having a fun anchor chart linky. Check it out {HERE}!