Class reading logs are a great way to continue the classroom community you have established in the early weeks of school. Reading books to the class is a lovely shared experience, upon which you can reflect for learning in the curriculum areas of your program and also the social goals of your classroom. Keep a list of the books you have read so that students can reflect back when the need arises. This is especially helpful to encourage students to make text-text connections in comprehension. If you have made anchor charts after shared and modelled reading, keep these also, so that you cab refer back to detail you found in the story. We have added a cute crocodile themed class book log to our store. Use the pages in this file to create a growing book reading list display for your class. Print the header and crocodile and multiple 'book stacks'. Create a display in your classroom by gluing the stacks to the crocodile's back. Upon each book spine you can write the titles of the books you read as a class. We have included both a color and blackline version Hop over to our TpT store to find this new printable! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today, we hope you have a lovely week.

Print out the covers of the books you have read as a class this year, and place them around this title cloud!

So, I've been busy getting my beginning of the year science units together. I start the year off in science the same way I start everything else off--by teaching routines and expectations! We start science on the very first day of school! Day 1: What is Science? I ask the kids what they think "science" is and I record their answers on a chart paper. Be prepared for some pretty funny answers! Then I read What is Science by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. I love this book--it is colorful and fun and really gets kids thinking about science and the world in general! Then, with their minds buzzing with possiblities, we add more ideas to our list. Then I introduce our science notebooks. I tell the kids that these are very special notebooks that will help us ask questions about science; make predictions; record observations and data about investigations; and explain their thinking about what they have learned. I hand out the Science Notebook Expectations and we go over them one by one. Then I show the kids how to glue the expectations in their notebooks--focusing on how to turn one page at a time and how to use glue appropriately...

I've stressed this from the very beginning of my blog writing days and I will continue to do so! It's so important that readers feel like they are part of a reading community in your classroom. This not only builds confidence and excitement, but it also creates lifelong readers. I've come up with a new list of books that I recommend adding to your classroom library. Reading these books at the beginning of the year and then coming back to them throughout the year will help establish a community of readers! The main purpose behind reading these is to share a love of reading with your readers. These books all show a character interacting with books in a positive way, even if some struggle with the idea at first.

I was one of those odd ones who liked school...especially college. Receiving a syllabus the first day of class was always exciting to me. So much promise!

Looking for some awesome books to enjoy this year? Check out our list of 30 books you should read in 2024 to find your next book!

After implementing Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) in my class this year, I’ve been looking for ways to add comprehensible readings for my novice level students. I originally started by adding o…

Hi friends! I wanted to share a fun little activity we did this week to go along with one of everyone's favorite Back to School read alouds! I've mentioned before how much I LOVE directed drawings.

The Literary Maven is a blog about teaching, books, & teaching books. Find tips and resources for English Language Arts instruction.

If you're looking for free printables for teaching at home, at school, or online, you've hit the TREASURE TROVE of freebies from This Reading Mama!

If you love playing Wordle, your kids will love Wordle Wiz! Click here to request your free copy of this word game! Character Read N Roll Paper Chain Connections Hot Spots for Reading Literary Mood Ring Literary Mood List Home Reading Log More Literacy Printables Paper Chain Connections Paper Chain Reading Responses Hot Spots for

Activities to go with all 5 picture books by Shannon Olsen! Use these books for building class community & student relationships.

Today I introduced the Listening Center as part of our Daily Five, I have two areas the children can listen to stories. The Listening...

Here's an adaptation of The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown.This is the newest book added to my classroom library and will be the first book I read in August to my newest group of First Graders. Click the picture to grab your own copy of my adaptation of The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. At this busy time of the year, remember to take some time to enjoy your children before they leave your little home away from home. I know I will be!! I wish everyone a GREAT ending to a GREAT year!

Want to keep your students engaged until the very end of the year!? Make sure you've got these amazing end of year mentor texts and free activities!

I’ve been writing here at SCM for 15 years. 748 articles. 12 books and e-guides. Above all else, this takes focus. Which, in this day and age, I have to protect like a rare orchid. Otherwise, I’ll lose the ability to shut out distraction ... Read more

I am so excited to be ‘back in the saddle’ and teaching third grade again this year! I’ve been busily working on learning the new standards and crafting a plan that works for my new students in the fall. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that my favorite two grades...Read More »

It seems that I've gotten into the habit of posting about once a month. It's definitely not my intention, but as soon as I blink the month has gone and I have not posted more than once! *Ugh* This needs to change. I have so much going on in my classroom that I want to share. I just need to find the time! For today, I'm linking up with some amazing blogs to share some freebies. The first blog I'm linking up with is Freebielicious. Have you checked out this blog? If you are a K-2 teacher and have not been there just stop reading right now and head on over. It is amazing! My freebie for this link up is my Responding to Nonfiction - Informational Text Graphic Organizer. The other incredible blog I'm linking up with is Farley's Oh Boy Fourth Grade! Check her out, she has so many resources and not just for 4th grade! Here is my December Currently (please excuse the overlapping words): I don't know why the words are overlapping, they aren't in my picture but then they overlap when I upload it. *Technology* Go link up with Farley! Don't forget the rule of 3! Head on over to 2 before your link and comment and then go back to Farley's site and leave a comment at the 1 behind yours :) Here is another freebie for you, for sticking with me! This is a Venn Diagram for Comparing the Key Ideas in two texts. My class compared the Three Little Pigs with The Three Fish and the Big Bad Shark (they LOVE that version!) And, my friends, I leave you with this, because who doesn't need a little "Elf" in their lives:

The world of third grade is a fascinating one. It's a phase where readers are blossoming, ready to delve deeper into literature's treasures. Their appetites for compelling narratives are growing, and they're on the brink of exploring more intricate plots and character dynamics. However, any educator,

Description Assessment and Report writing at the end of term is one of the most stressful things about being a teacher (especially in your early years of teaching). So I have created these resources for Australian teachers to use throughout the school year to keep you on track, organised and informed when it comes to assessing your students and writing their reports! This Bundle of teacher assessment tools is going to allow you to have the most stress-free assessment and report writing term you’ve ever known!! There are five key resources that I have created and bundled for you that form the Acing Assessments curriculum: Guided Reading Folder (Reading Assessment Forms) Maths Assessment Checklists (Foundation to Year 5 included) Goals Mega Bundle Non-Fiction and Narrative Writing Units Growth Mindset Display

How is it possible that we have a third grader? Wow. I’ve definitely felt a push to kick things up a notch educationally this year. And you know what? Emma is excited about it. We’ve spent some time over the past few weeks researching and reviewing books and materials. We even let her choose from a few...

There are many ideas to choose from when planning the first day of school. Here's the one activity I added to my first day plans.

Wanted to hear a book 4?Tris comes back from the dead thanks to Caleb making a revival serum. See what happends as she is faced with new challenges with action, love, and emotions. ~~ As memory serum was released into Chicago, did it really stop everyone from becoming mindless? Did someone find a way to manipulate the anti-memory serum and use it to regain some of the blank minded peoples memory back again. Will another war between everyone take place again or will peace be the answer? Well, what are you waiting for! Read my book and find out what happens to Tris and Tobias:) Spoiler....It's nothing bad- Promise;) This is what I call a book that should have been the book four of the trilogy. Please vote for my book. It took me a while to complete this book for you all to enjoy. Thank you all for being awesome:) Stay Brave.

I knew my first year teaching would be difficult. I read books about classroom management in anticipation. I had nightmares that my students wouldn’t listen to me. I worried that I would run out of things for them to do in class and everything would devolve into fiery chaos. There was one thing, however, that […]

Getting students to read for reading workshop or even for independent reading can be quite a challenge. Sometimes, we need to add-in novelty to our lessons in order to engage reluctant readers or struggling readers. Here are four ways to get your students hooked on reading and get them involved wi

Whether you want to read the whole Bible or dive deep into a few books, a Bible reading plan will keep you on track. Here are 6 Bible reading plans.

EEEK! We started opinion writing last week…only my favorite writing genre to teach! I’ve got my favorite mentor texts ready to go, and even found a few new books I can’t wait to use! Throughout this post, you’ll find Amazon Affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission if you purchase something through that ... Read more

These Time Capsule Activities for kids are perfect for New Year's, the end of the year, or an All About Me Unit for 1st-4th grade.