What We're Reading ~ Valentine Favorites

Check out what we're reading on this "love"-ly day!!

Franklin's Valentines by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark

Franklin is getting ready for his class' Valentine party, but he has lost all of his valentines.  He is so sad when he does not have cards to give to his friends.  In the true spirit of friendship, Franklin's friends reassure him that it's not what you give, but what kind of friend you truly are!

One Zillion Valentines by Frank Modell

Since Marvin and Milton do not have money to buy Valentines, they decide to make them for their whole neighborhood. 

 

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton   

Splat has a special Valentine in mind for a cute girl named Kitten.  But Spike also likes Kitten.  Splat tries to win her heart on Valentine's Day.

What stories do you like to share on Valentine's Day?

Alexis

A Thanksgiving Tradition Using Picture Books

Every year in my classroom I like to teach the concept of Pilgrims and Native Americans using picture books.  It doesn't matter what grade I teach, I always use the same stories.

 

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl is told through the eyes of a Pilgrim girl recently after the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock.  The students like to read this and compare Sarah's life to their own.

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy is a lot like Sarah Morton, but told through a Pilgrim boy's point of view.  These two characters have a lot in common, yet are extremely different since boys had different types of chores to do and were viewed in a different light.  This book is interesting because there was actually a passenger on the Mayflower named Samuel Eaton.

Tampenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times is told through the perspective of a Native American boy during this same time period.

The lesson:

• Each day in class, I read a different book.  We compare and contrast ourselves to the characters.
• Once we have read about Sarah Morton and Samuel Eaton, we create a Venn diagram to compare the two characters.
• On the third day, after we have read about Tampenum, we create a 3 circle Venn diagram to compare the three children.  
• On the final day, the children create character masks to symbolize the character that they liked best.  On the back of the decorated mask, the student lists the character's qualities that made them choose him/her.

These wonderful stories helped to bring the lives of Pilgrims and Wampanoags a little closer to my students.  The concept becomes more concrete after reading these stories.

How do you teach about the early settlers to the New World?

Alexis

What We're Reading ~ Halloween Favorites

Storytime is a MUST in a classroom, no matter the kids' ages.  Everyone loves to be read to....even adults.


Here are some Halloween inspired reads that my students, my boys, and I enjoy at this time of year:

Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini 

This is a funny story about Gritch the Witch who wants to make piggie pie, but she can't find any piggies.  See how those sneaky piggies trick poor Gritch! 








There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro

This delightfully rhythmic and predictable story follows along the same pattern as There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, but with a Halloween theme.  Imagine that!






The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey

This story is one that all parents can relate to: children choosing their Halloween costumes.  Only this time it's a Dachshund who doesn't want to be a "wiener dog" for Halloween...not to mention all the other dogs make fun of him.




What are your favorite Halloween stories?