Stories For Their/Your Soul

This week I am joining my Kinder Friends to share about stories that we think are good for your soul.

I love reading. It is my favorite subject. I had a very hard time deciding on just one book that I love, so I am sharing 2.

1. A book for your teacher soul:

I have to tell you about this book that I read, researched, and continue to go back to while I am planning for differentiation in my classroom. It is UHHH-Mazing. It is called The Common Core Companion. This book goes through EVERY K-2 Informational and Literature Reading, Writing, and Listening/Speaking standard. It will take one standard then show you the K level of it, the first grade level of it, and the second grade level of the standard. Then it will give you examples of what the student could be doing, questions to ask, and examples of how to expand or remediate EACH standard. The Common Core Companion is a wonderful tool that can ease your soul when planning for whole group, small group, or individual lessons. I highly recommend you get it and use it! You can get it on Amazon for about $28.00

2. A story for the Classroom Soul:

One of my ALL time favorite stories to read is called A Frog Thing by Eric Drachman.  This story is about a little frog named Frank. Frank is determined to fly. But flying is NOT a frog thing!  Frank sets his mind to it even though others laugh at him and tell him he can’t.  This story is so much fun to read with the students in your class.  It teaches so many great lessons and will really warm the kiddo’s souls. The students learn (above everything else) that if you just be you and try, anything is possible. If you don’t have the book but would love to try it, you can get it on Amazon here OR watch and listen to it on You Tube here.

After using this text with your class you can always connect it to Science by learning all about frogs and their life cycle.  I use this Frogs Can Grow Too life cycle reader and activity set to work with my kiddos.  

This product will be for sale in my store until January 22, 2017. You can get it by clicking the link above or by searching #kinderfriendswinter on TPT.

Your next stop is my good pal Elaine over at Kitty Kitty Kindergarten.

She has a fabulous and uplifting story about empowering a class to share with you!

Summer Book Bash Linky

Summer time is a fun time.  Parents ask me all the time about what they can do to help their child over the summer.  My initial response is, "Let them be kids, have fun, play outside with them, climb trees, ride bikes, take a nature walk, and at bedtime read a good story together." I strongly believe in letting the kids be kids and to not overwork them. However, as a teacher I also know that there is a "Summer Slide" that occurs if the kiddos don't practice their reading skills at least a few times a week over the summer. I have a few suggestions that can help keep this "Summer Slide" from occurring.  The suggestions vary depending on my students reading level at the end of the year. 
For higher Kindergarten and First graders, I like to suggest that kiddos begin reading mini chapter books such as Junie B. Jones, The A-Z Mysteries, and The Magic Tree House. These books all make GREAT conversation pieces because the kiddos can really relate to them.  I tell parents to read a chapter a night (or every other night b/c you know there will be those Movie in the pool nights) WITH their kiddos. After reading and before giving those sweet good night kiss, I tell parents that they should quickly chat with their child about their favorite part, how the character was feeling and what caused the feelings to happen, or to try and predict what will happen in the next chapter. 

For my lower leveled readers I send home a letter (actually every child gets the letter) that tells the parents their child's current reading level and gives them tips on how to help them with their reading over the summer. {Of course I always tell parents and kiddos about Gerald and Piggie by Mo Willems (my absolute FAV!!)} I suggest to parents that they go to the Scholastic Book Wizard Website and search for books on their child's reading level. When they find the books, they can always look for them in a different store or on Amazon to find a cheaper price if they need to. I also teach my parents how to use the 5 finger rule to find "Just Right" books if they are out at Walmart, Target, or any bookstore and don't have the site available to them.  Here is a FREEBIE download of the posters I use to teach parents (and students) this easy book shopping technique:

I hope you have picked up a few good tips and books along our hop. Be sure to click on over to Kindergarten Squared to grab some more freebies and discover more AWESOME summer reading ideas and books!

Can you add any favorite mini Chapter book series to my short list?