Teach kids about blueprints and architecture with this fun dream house project. Print out blueprints and create and design a house. STEM project idea
Not to be missed titles for 4 year-olds to listen to over and over.
Do you love to read to your students? If your answer is yes, which I am sure it is check out this list of "must read" books. It is recommend for Kindergarten but any age should enjoy them. Reading a book to my students is one of my favorite things to do as a teacher. I love the way kids get so engaged in a story. It makes me feel like I am five years old again. Well here is the list....enjoy! 100 Books
Today is a big day. This might be my favorite quiet book theme to date! I LOVE this cars quiet […]
Hi friends! As promised in our homeschool plan post, I'm following up with our nature study plans. I touched on it briefly in that last post, but teaching my girls about the natural world is very important to me. How do we raise kids who will do their part to protect the Earth from climate
I love using picture books as inspiration for children’s art projects. Over the past 13 years I have curated a a massive list of project ideas and lesson plans. Here is my growing list of picture books and coordinating art projects for kids: A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni Abe Lincoln’s Dream by Lane Smith
Resources, links, and a few Pinterest fails from our week learning about Holland (the Netherlands.)
A book list read aloud chapter books for preschoolers and 3 year olds that will delight young children and parents alike.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'm feeling pretty festive today (or maybe I'm just craving tacos...) so I thought I'd share some of my favorite Spanish picture books. Or really, to be more specific, the Spanish bilingual books and Mexican culture stories I enjoyed using my Head Start Preschool storytimes (you can see a couple highlighted bilingual storytimes I did here). So here are my top eleven! Plus some more, because I always seem to think of other random titles here and there in my descriptions. There are, of course, many more awesome bilingual books, so if you have a favorite, don't forget to share them in the comments below! Cinco De Mouse-O Written by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler Holiday House (January 1, 2011) 978-0823423286 ¡Que felicidad! It’s Cinco de Mayo, and Mouse follows his nose to the festival, where musicians play, dancers stomp, and delicious treats abound. This one would be most appropriate for today, of course! Mouse gets to enjoy a proper fiesta (although he should beware the cat) and even tasted some candy. Another awesome Mexican holiday book I enjoyed is The Dead Family Diaz, which celebrates the Day of the Dead. Chicks and Salsa Written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Paulette Bogan Bloomsbury (October 7, 2005) 978-1599900995 The chickens are very tired of their chicken feed. Luckily, the farmer's wife has been watching some cooking shows and Rooster knows just what to do. This celebration of Mexican food (mmm, guacamole) is pretty silly, but still lots of fun. It's also very similar to another play-on-food-words, Mice and Beans, by Pam Munoz Ryan, which is another great Mexican culture story. Señorita Gordita Written by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by Will Terry Alber Whitman & Co (March 1, 2012) 978-0807573020 A little corn cake has escaped from the frying pan that cooked her and is on the run! Yep, a Spanish version of The Gingerbread Man. It has a lot of Spanish vocabulary (all the animals she's running from) and is a total hit with the kids! Well, until the very end... This author/illustrator team actually has a lot of awesome southwestern-flair retellings that are sure to please, such as Armidilly Chili, and There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant. Don Quixote: A BabyLit Spanish Language Primer Written by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Alison Oliver Gibbs Smith (April 1, 2015) 978-1423638759 So no, this isn't a Mexican cultural book, but it does involve classic literature (albeit, from Spain) and learning Spanish. Plus the illustrations are so cute and it's aimed for those youngest of readers, so yes, I'm including this one. This is a cute one to share with tots and babies. My Family Adventure (Sofia Martinez) Written by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Kim Smith Picture Window Books (February 1, 2015) 978-1479557905 Great for beginning readers, Sofia Martinez is a fun and spunky character dealing with all sorts of family drama (it is hard to be the youngest, you know). The story also has a good amount of Spanish vocabulary—any Spanish words that Sofia and her family use are highlighted and there's an index in the back with the translation. There's also other helpful hints and activities at the end, too. Be sure to check out all the books in the Sofia Martinez series. Mañana, Iguana! Written by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House (September 1, 2004) 978-0823418084 A classic! Iguana is planning a fiesta. Tortuga the tortoise, Gonejo the rabbit, and Gulebra the snake all want to come. But do they want to help Iguana deliver invitations or stuff the pinata or cook the food? No, no, and no! A lazy trio loses out in this Mexican retelling of the Little Red Hen. Again, be sure to check out more from this author/illustrator duo, such as Fiesta Fiasco and Tortuga in Trouble (a Little Red Riding Hood retelling). Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin Written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh Henry N. Abrams (March 1, 2010) 978-0810938724 This is the story of two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico, and how their daily lives are different yet similar. The text is quite beautiful, with a good sprinkling of Spanish vocabulary. It's a perfect introduction to Mexican culture. Gazpacho for Nacho Written by Tracey C. Kyle, illustrated by Carolina Farías Two Lions (January 14, 2014) 978-1477817278 Okay, yes, I have a thing for food, especially Mexican food. Yes, a lot of these books have to do with food. Sorry, not sorry. This one is really cute, though, so I have to share it. The beautifully rhyming text (yes, English and Spanish words both) tell a perfectly relatable story about a picky eater. It's sure to be loved by all ages. P is for Pinata: A Mexico Alphabet Written by Tony Johnston, illustrated by John Parra Sleeping Bear (September 23, 2008) 978-1585361441 The Discover the World Alphabet series is a favorite of mine. This book has little poetic phrases for each letter of the alphabet, introducing different topics about Mexico. What's even better is the good amount of factual text included to support each topic. This is a good nonfiction choice to share with kids. Fire! ¡Fuego! Brave Bomberos Written by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Dan Santat Bloomsbury (April 24, 2012) 978-1599904610 Firefighters are super brave and this book shows what a day in the life may look like for these heroes—with a healthy dose of Spanish included! Yes, this really isn't a Mexican cultural story, but I do so love Dan Santat's work. And plus, the rhyming, simple text is awesome—good for beginning readers/ Plus, there's an index at the end that explains the many Spanish words. Buenas Noches, Luna Written by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd HarperCollins Español (April 11, 2006) 978-0064434164 This book is more of a tag on to remind you that many classic children's books have been translated into Spanish, making for a great opportunity for kids to learn the language. Do they have a favorite they've practically memorized? Get them the Spanish translation! ....... Do you have a favorite Spanish bilingual or Mexican heritage picture book? Share them in the comments below?
Learn what you need to make a Quiet Book with links to all the necessary supplies. Links to Quiet Book page ideas and binding tutorial included.
These BFG activities are the perfect accompaniment to the book or the movie. Read/watch the story and then your kids can have fun with these easy activities.
With all of the excitement about the upcoming Olympics, it's time to celebrate this beloved events with some Olympics books for kids!
Make a kid's quilt craft and help your preschooler (or older kid!) practice glueing, pattern making, and creativity! Read 'The Quiltmaker's Gift' - the book is all about being selfless, giving, and the magic of sewing!
The Printable Grade Book for Teachers is a highly useful and convenient tool that allows educators to efficiently track and manage their students academic progress. Designed specifically for teachers, this printable grade book provides an organized and customizable layout, allowing for easy recording and calculation of grades. With its user-friendly format, this grade book is perfect for teachers of all grade levels who want to efficiently manage their students grades and progress.
Never planned to homeschool, now wouldn't trade it for the world
I’m back with another list of 25 more of my favorite art books! Be forewarned, this is a long post. I have given you extra details about the books and some ideas to spark your lesson planning. It is no secret that I love children’s books. Previously, I wrote a list of 25 amazing art books which I like to use in my art classroom. This has been one of my most viewed posts. Since then, I have discovered some … Read more... →
