Growth Mindset: The Power of Yet Recently my 1st grade classroom has morphed into a K/1 combination classroom and then resulted in HUGE gaps (academically, socially, & emotionally) between my s…
Oh, the first day of school! It's such a fun, but chaotic day. Most of my first days are a little bit of a blur. This is why I have to write very detailed lesson plans or I'll forget everything from that day. I always try to have the same activities for that first day
Whether you're a homeschool mom looking for a great book for your 5th grader or a classroom teacher trying to build a great library, finding texts that are engaging and a great fit for your readers can be tough. I've compiled this list of the best books for 5th graders to help save you time and give you a
These FREE Printables and Unit Studies for Eric Carle's Books will help you expand on what your kids are learning through these beloved books.
Bursting with loads of delicious flavor, this easy Edamame Recipe will be your new favorite side dish, snack, or appetizer. Sautéed with garlic and seasoned with soy sauce, it tastes just like what you'd get at your favorite Japanese restaurant and takes just 15 minutes to make.
These 15 picture book activities go great with your preschooler's favorite stories. Great hands-on activities that help to further explore the books!
Dear Zoo is such a fun book! Check out these Dear Zoo activities for preschool & kindergarten. Includes a FREE printable game, snack, & craft.
Includes 24 prints featuring many of our children's favorite book characters. If you are in need of some instant, no-prep artwork for your classroom, look no further! Simply print, laminate (if you wish), and hang! What characters are included?Fly GuyMs. Frizzle (Magic School Bus)CliffordPete the Ca...
Are you looking for some cute and fun printable bookmarks to color with your student or kids? Well, look no further!
These FREE Printables and Unit Studies for Eric Carle's Books will help you expand on what your kids are learning through these beloved books.
“Everyone in my book club was devastated that this story had to come to an end.”
Fabric book covers are a quick, easy sewing project that can be completed in about an hour. Learn how to make one in this step-by-step tutorial.
We've rounded up 19 creative wedding guest book alternatives like a fingerprint tree, maps, a Polaroid guest book, and even a giant wine bottle!
Giada's simple bolognese is a longtime favorite among readers, and it's no question why.
The beginning of the school year is often a combination of excitement, nerves, and possibilities. One of my favorite books to start the year is All Are Welcome. This book lets young children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school. Here are a few activities you can pair with this book.
Fotos y gifs (en más de una ocasión alguna otra cosa) de The Beatles, los biruls, the fab four, como quieran decirles ♡ Disfruten ♡♡
I’m bringing back the Ghibli fanart! I’ve been wanting to make something Howl’s Moving Castle themed for a while, and I finally decided to take action after reading the original book and rewatching…
This is the Bookish Tote Bag pdf sewing pattern from the designer Craft Owl Handmade.
Last summer I added Mo Willems' The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to my classroom library. Of course, this addition was a no-brainer. Willems' books are always super popular, especially Pigeon books. Just as predicted, my students loved this book. It is the perfect length for the beginning of the year, when attention spans are extra short and students need a little break from all the procedural training they are receiving. Since I knew this book would be a hit, I decided to make it the centerpiece of back to school. I created some basic "Pigeon themed" math and literacy activities, as well as a simple craft. I used these activities intermittently during the first week and was able to glean some great info about my new students' basic math and literacy skills, as well as their fine motor skills and listening skills. One of the Pigeon themed activities was a number/number word/counting mini book. Students traced and wrote the numbers 1-10, as well as the number words 1-10. Then students illustrated a picture to go with each number. We broke this activity up over a couple of days. Students took part in a listening activity. Students had to complete a picture according to a series of questions/statements that I read aloud. (If you've every made a glyph with your students, this activity feels really similar.) Students also put together their first puzzler for the year. This puzzler focused on number representations. Students cut and glued the puzzler pieces to tell what number is represented in the box. By the end, students have a completed picture that they can color. I use various puzzlers throughout the year. This the Pigeon puzzler is a great introduction to how to complete a puzzler. Students loved making their simple, one-page craft Pigeons. All that was required was the Pigeon pattern (I used white card stock), scissors, and glue. The class Pigeons made a really quick and cute back to school bulletin board. In addition to these activities, students worked on counting/cardinality, geometry, place value, number bonds, handwriting, the alphabet, rhyming words, sight words, and more. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is a perfect springboard for a variety of skills. For a math freebie (from the printables featured above), click on the picture below. This freebie provides practice with ten frames, counting, and number identification. If you have not added, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to your classroom library, I highly recommend it. There are so many directions you can go with this book. More importantly, your students will love it and be totally engaged. What a great way to start the year, by reading a book that students truly enjoy. :) For more details about the all of the Pigeon inspired activities I used with my students, be sure to click on the picture below. Of course (like most), I'm not certain what this year's back to school days will look like. Whatever the setup, I know I'll be using The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to help me kick off the year. Thanks for stopping by. School Is a Happy Place is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associated Program, an affiliate program that allows this site to earn advertising fees. Please know that all of the recommendations on this site are authentic and come from personal experience.
Plenty of stick book activities and ideas can be found in this post, based on 'Not A Stick’ by Antoinette Portis, which is a definite must-read for kids!
We are always inspired to do fun crafts and learning activities whenever we read some of our favorite children’s books! Here is a list of activities we’ve come up with inspired by popular children’s books (alphabetized by title). (Book titles are affiliate links.) Be sure to follow our Children’s Book Activities Pinterest board! …
Do you guys remember when I posted all the pictures of the quiet book I made ? It was a really long time ago, but it remains one of my mo...
Sneak in spring math with this counting bugs activity. Print free printable insects coloring Book with your preschooler,
Is your favorite book falling apart or shedding pages or its cover? It easier than you think to repair your book! Using a book or binding glue can help you reattach pages that have come loose from the book. You can also use that glue to...
One of the first projects my first graders made were these “All About Me Crayons”. I had seen and taught this lesson probably 10 years ago and decided to revisit it. I can not remember exactly where I saw this idea, but as many lessons are, we get ideas and see projects all over the place. I try to credit when I can, but some of these I have been doing so long! We started the day by reading … Read more... →
Enhance your circle time lessons with these activities tailored to some of our very favorite children's books.
I get asked all of the time on Facebook what books I recommend for third grade read alouds or classroom libraries. I keep typing out my list of favorites and then it occurred to me- I should make this list a blog post! Duh! #alwayslearning So here are some of my favorite books for third
Charlotte's Web might technically be a book for kids, but E.B. White's classic 1952 novel is just as entertaining for adults as it is for children — which is why we have absolutely no problem reading it for our kids every single time they ask. And it's a classic for a reason — the heartwarming tale of unlikely friendship has a message that will never get old. Charlotte (spoiler alert!) might have died right after sparing Wilbur's life by saving him from slaughter, but her spirit will live on in the book forever. We've gathered our absolute favorite quotes from the story...
Sourdough Pop Tarts are easy to make and taste SO much better than any store bought pop tarts or toaster pastry. Using sourdough discard, these are the best buttery pastry filled with your favorite fruit jam and topped with a lemon sweet glaze!
Looking for preschool books without the twaddle? Want to expose your children to quality literature with wonderful text and beautiful illustrations? In this post, I’m sharing 41 of our favorite picture books for children ages 3-5. These are all living books that you won’t mind reading over and over again. Books that not only your … Charlotte Mason-Inspired Preschool Book List Read More »
Finding chapter books for kids to read that they have a high interest in is key. Listed here are some of our favorite chapter book series for kids in 4th and 5th grades. Most of these are ones that I either read as a kid or used as a reading tutor. Note that while these ... Read More about Favorite Chapter Books for Kids in 4th and 5th Grades
Basswood is my favorite wood to cut with my Cricut Maker. In this post, I share all my favorite tips and tricks so you can avoid some of the mistakes I've