Madeira is an extraordinary island that holds many treasures. Check out 11 stunning highlights of Madeira and a guide to my favorite places on the island.
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.
No doubt you'll find some of your own favorite places when exploring Porto, but these make a great starting point for the best photo spots in Porto.
HOW TO CREATE THE BEST ITINERARY FOR 5 DAYS IN SWITZERLAND Switzerland might be small, but there are many stunning places to see. If you are looking for the best places to visit in 5 days in Switzerland or the perfect 5-day Switzerland itinerary, this post is for you. I regularly visit Switzerland and am
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One of the most important parts about travel is trying the food. I relish the rich dishes in France, the carbs in Italy, and the array of options in America. But when I visited Dublin,
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Looking for the best places to visit in Serbia for your trip? Here are our favorites, from big cities to small towns to natural wonders.
Studying abroad is more than just an academic experience - it’s a life experience. CEA's Study Abroad Blog helps you with critical resources, advice & tips.
This 2 week Thailand itinerary is full of all the places that you need to visit including a few hidden gems that are more than worth a visit.
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A big list of the best restaurants in Omaha Nebraska, including steakhouses, brunch spots, pizza shops, a greasy spoons.
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Montepulciano is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. It’s nestled right in the beautiful Tuscan hills and has an incredibly charming, historic, peaceful vibe. It’s a quaint town with some incredible restaurants, cute shops and tons nearby activities like hot springs, wineries, day trips to oth
This delightful quiche, with its buttery, flaky crust and rich, creamy filling, is the perfect dish to elevate any meal, whether it's a casual brunch or an elegant dinner. Customize it with your favorite cheeses and add-ins for a truly personalized culinary experience.
Have the best trip to Portugal ever!
Hidden Gems in Switzerland - Most Underrated Places to Visit Do you want to explore some hidden gems in Switzerland? Discover places that are not well known? Then this post is for you. As a Switzerland addict who has gotten to see A LOT of the beautiful country, I am happy to share my favorite off-the-beaten
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I love incorporating games into math as much as possible. Who doesn't love playing games, right?! But the problem with games is that they often require quite a bit of prep work for us teachers. I've been trying to come up with some that require little to no preparation to use. I'm so excited to
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It’s easy to ride the Metro or hop on a bike and explore all that the nation’s capital has to offer. Walk the halls of free Smithsonian museums, paddle on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers or sit back on a double-decker tour bus and soak up some history. Local shops, funky marketplaces and people-watching hot spots beckon by midday, as nighttime gives way to multi-course dinners and drinks from local breweries. However you spend your time here, make it count.
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