Beowulf is a challenging text: it's long, dense, and old. With these strategies, you can make this text relevant for all students!

It’s National Storytelling week soon, and I’ve been looking at ways to engage the children interactively in the art of storytelling. We did story sticks last year, which was a big hit, but I want to try something else this year. Here are some exciting ideas to look at and try for National Story Telling …

Do you ever have LIFE coming at you from every direction, and you can’t help but feel overwhelmed?? Okay, that really sounds like I trying to sell you self-help books or something. I promise I am not. But I want to explore a little concept with you. EMBRACE THE CHAOS.

Burrata taste on a string cheese budget

Hey friends! I have been trying to think of ways to be more environmentally friendly when I am quilting. I am really thoughtful about the beautiful fabrics I select and I want to use every scrap so that nothing goes to waste. Today I am sharing a scrap buster tutorial to make a quilted bookmark! How to make a quilted bookmark: Materials: Fusible Midweight Interfacing Quilter's Cotton Scraps Sewing Machine Iron & Pressing Mat Other Helpful materials: 6 1/2

***Great news! I'm turning my coloring pages into a beautiful coloring book and journal, which will be published and ready to ship just in time for Christmas! If you're interested, you can pre-order now on Kickstarter!*** Happy Sunday! This week's coloring page comes from Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Sometimes I think we like to make long lists for ourselves of all the things we think the Lord requires of us - all the things we're supposed to be and do - when really it all boils down to the basics. If we can do these, everything else grows naturally from that. I think it's when we get it backwards, when we try to force all the to-do stuff without grounding ourselves in these basic principles and the 'why' of discipleship that we start to feel overwhelmed and even inauthentic. I'll be putting this one away in my mental file of things to remember when I get feeling that way, so I can take a deep breath and begin again. To download this free coloring page, just right click on the image below and save it to your computer. Feel free to share, and have a wonderful week!

Beowulf is a challenging text: it's long, dense, and old. With these strategies, you can make this text relevant for all students!

Free writing pushes your brain to think longer, deeper, and more unconventionally than it normally would.

Looking for ways to make your dishes look more delicious and real? Well, there is no better way to make your meals look tasty than by playing with food

The days of dioramas and book reports may be long gone. (Is it wrong that I’m a little sad about that?) Yet the expectation that students read and express their understanding of what they’ve read remains as strong as ever. So what’s a teacher to do? More specifically, what’s a creative teacher to do, when she doesn’t want to rely on worksheets? Get creative, of course! I’ve compiled 9 Fun Book Projects for you. They’re quick and easy to prepare, and best of all, they’re engaging – for both your students and you. No more slogging through piles of “Why I Liked This Book!” Take a look: Write a different ending -- What if the main character didn’t make it in the end? Or the dogs had lived? Or the culprit was the best friend? Your students’ imaginations can really wander with this assignment. Maybe their alternate ending will be even better than the original! Offer to let students draw their new ending as a bonus. Give a book talk --- Book talks are a wonderful way for students to demonstrate their understanding of books that they have read while practicing their writing and speaking skills. They're a great book project because they combine so many skills...and students love listening to one another. Oh, and the added bonus is that students can learn about books that they're interested in reading as they listen to the book talks. If you'd like to give them a try, then check out this FREE BOOK TALK GUIDE. It includes an overview of book talks, pre-write, final copy, and tips and tricks for presenting a book talk. Find it HERE. Write a sequel -- If you have the time, your students may want to extend their alternative endings into a whole second book (or at least a few pages or a chapter). After all, who hasn’t reached the end of a great read and wished for more? This will be a challenge, as students will have to build on the original plot lines and character outlines. Refer them to some famous book series for inspiration. Write a letter to the author -- Take a page from Beverly Cleary’s classic Dear Mr. Henshaw and have students write a thoughtful letter, with questions for the author of their current reading selection (or a favorite book). Most authors love to write (of course!) and appreciate opportunities to interact directly with their readers. Address letters (or e-mails) to the publisher, or see if the author has contact information on his or her website. It never hurts for students to practice their letter-writing and envelope-addressing skills, either – at least as long as snail mail is still around. Your students will be thrilled to get a response, too. Great news! I've put together three stationary templates that students can use when drafting their letters. They're a special FREEBIE just for you! Click here to check them out...and download them for free! Choose a response --- Here's an idea that students love...give them choices! It's amazing how giving students the ability to select the response or project that they would like to complete instantly increases their engagement. With that in mind, I created a series of "This or That" reading responses. Each This or That Reading Prompt includes instruction at the top of the worksheet and then 2 reading response choices for students to showcase their learning. After reviewing the choices, students can choose to do the "This" prompt or the "That" prompt. You can easily turn this into a book project by having students complete 5 (or so) different prompts while reading the book and submit them all as a final project when they finish reading the book. Learn more HERE. Set it to music -- Have your students capture a pivotal scene from the book in a song set to familiar music. It can be a ballad, a pop song, a rap – whatever speaks to them or best works with the scene. Encourage students who select this option to put on a concert. For students who are shy to perform, give them the option of recording their song privately, so you can play it without them having to get up in front of the class. Doodle it --- This is my FAVORITE type of book project! That's because it combines reflection, thinking and DOODLING! You can instantly take book reports and book projects to a whole new level with a Doodle Book Review! First, students complete a planning guide. Then, they design a Doodle Book Review! Check it out HERE! There's even this cinema-themed version that your students are sure to love. Find it HERE. Create a File Folder --- I first developed this book project idea many years ago as a summer reading project. Then, I altered it slightly so that it could be completed during anytime of the school year with any book. With this project, students compile critical information from the book they read including the plot, characters, setting, and a reflection in a manila file folder. The file folder book report includes detailed instructions so that students can complete it all independently. The end result is a compact project that students love! Oh, and you can store the file folders by your classroom library for students to reference when picking out a book! Find more details HERE. Blog about it -- If you have a classroom webpage, it can be fairly simple to create a live (and private) blog that students can use to discuss and debate the merits of their favorite books. This option might work best for students who have read the same book. Make sure you establish expectations for a civil online conversation. You can get in on the convo, too! Focusing on nonfiction in your classroom? Try one of these book report alternatives: Ø Create a scrapbook with images and facts about the book topic. Ø Write interview questions for the main character (if reading a biography, for example). Extend this assignment by allowing students to dress up as the character and record their responses to the interview questions. Ø Write a diary that one of the story’s main characters might have kept before, during, or after the book’s events. Make sure students emphasize what the character is thinking and feeling to give it an authentic feel. Ø Write a news story about the main event in the book (for example, the sinking of the Titanic). This is a good opportunity to practice this very specific form of writing. You’ll want to review inverted pyramid style and how to use quotes if you go this route. BONUS: Wait! I have one more idea. Here's a new spin on the classic book report mobile! Why not have students report out on the plot, setting, characters, and theme on fun pieces of paper clothing? Then students can hang their work from a hanger that says, "Try this book on for size!" This project includes a set of first draft materials and final copy elements so that students can create a high quality project! Here's some links for some of the project ideas above: ➧ File Folder Book Project (any book!) ➧ Doodle and Do Book Review (doodle book project) ➧ This or That Reading Response Prompts ➧ Book Talk (freebie) ➧ Letter to the Author Stationary Templates (FREE!) ➧ Clothes Hanger Book Report I hope that you've found some fun book project ideas to try in your classroom! Happy reading! Mary Beth

What do you want to be when you grow up? This early reader shows children pretended to be what they want to be when they grow up. This book can be used on a smart board for whole group enjoyment or on hand held devices for individual reading. After reading the book you might also want to try some ...

Are you ready to hook students into reading with a book-tasting? To make it easy for you to try a book tasting out in your classroom, I've created a free resource for you and will walk you through the process of hosting a book tasting step-by-step. It's much easier than you might think.

I have homeschooled for a while now, and have tried multiple curriculums. Today, I want to focus on some of the most popular secular homeschool curriculums.

I want to try all of these.

I love how she has a free pdf pattern to make this teepee. I also love how this tepee DIY is for a large size tee pee. Looks so fun _ I want one to read books in! Definitely going to try this idea.

I posted my first "text evidence reading passage" back in early October of 2013. It was part of a little Pumpkin Freebie pack and I wanted to try it out

Our school year is growing to a close – our last day will be June 15th. Along with beginning to share the results of anonymous student surveys about my classes, it’s time for me …

Last year, I taught how to make inferences for quite some time. With such an emphasis on close reading, I wanted my students to read between the lines, to dig deeper, and to find out the answer to the question, “what is the author really trying to say?!” I spent a lot of time […]

This project has been on my “to try” list for a while. I scored a Rolodex a while back and want to make lots of mini collage art that can be viewed on a spinning wheel. Pop on over to M…

New tabs have been created from a higher quality paper, this will make tabs much more durable. Given the nature of the new tabs, they will no longer be easily removable. Carefully place each tab where you want. If you attempt to remove a tab after its already been placed on a page, you run the risk of tearing a page. Medical Coding Girl is not responsible for damaged books. ***BOOK NOT INCLUDED*** This listing contains bright multi color, pre printed tabs for the 2024 ICD-10-CM medical coding book. You will receive: •28 tabs for each chapter & main section of the book including tables and appendix sections. •A-Z Tabs for each letter in the alphabet for the index section of your book. I do not recommend trying to reposition these A-Z tabs. The adhesive is very strong. •Instructions on which page each tab should go. This will allow you to completely tab your book quick and easy! Please keep in mind that pg numbers are based on AAPC book. I try my best to adjust page numbers by different book publishers but cannot guarantee that they will always be correct. Instructions are my personal suggestion only, each tab should be placed where you see necessary for your personal needs. Tabbing your medical coding books is essential to help you quickly navigate through your book when taking your certification exam! It also enables you to become a quick and efficient coder in the work-field. My tabbing system will save your hours! ***THIS LISTING DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ACTUAL BOOK*** HAPPY CODING!

Do you want to learn how to code? Here are 3 books that got me started and are a great resource for coding books for beginners.

WOW your kids with this aqua sand activity! Learn how to make hydrophobic sand - a fascinating play material with an easy magic sand recipe!

Note: The class has started, but it’s never too late to join the fun! Please do!Hello!Please join me for my next online silly class:The Art of Silliness “5”(A Creative Workshop Fo…

I'm so excited to share my labor of love..My life skills adapted book for special education. I have also been a huge supporter of having a life skills focus in the classroom. If you've been following me for a while, you'll know all about how much I promote the importance of life skills. You can

Every so often I get an email from someone who wants to know how to make a zine. I try to respond to every message, but sometimes life gets in the way, not to mention the times when my carefully worded responses bounce back because my correspondent mis-spelled his or her email address in the contact

I may be a writer but I love using visual cues to organize my writing. I really like and have used index cards to arrange scenes and beats, but that usually requires physical items. I know you can have virtual index cars in Scrivener, but in Scrivener 1 on Windows we’re still limited to keeping

If you want to visit Warsaw on a budget here you will find all the needed information about transport, accommodation, places to visit and where to eat.

This past week we tried to cram five days of learning into four days! We didn't quite get everything I wanted to done, but between meeti...