How do you prepare your classroom for summer? When I was a classroom teacher, I would invite students to help me prepare for my new class of students on the last day of school. We would do things like test the markers and recycle the dried ones, stack Unifix cubes back into towers of ten,… Continue reading Spring Cleaning – an Invitation
Author: Sarah DeFelice
Emma Every Day series by C.L. Reid & illustrated by Elena Aiello
I am so excited to share the Emma Every Day series with you! With four titles already available and four more due out August 1, 2021, this own voice series is a must have on your classroom bookshelves. Emma is a deaf third grader and in her books we learn about Emma’s likes and dislikes,… Continue reading Emma Every Day series by C.L. Reid & illustrated by Elena Aiello
Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus and illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Someone I love very much is hearing impaired. When I met this person, I thought he was the only person I knew from the deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) community. Because reading and sharing books is such a huge part of my life, I immediately set to work looking for books and stories including… Continue reading Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus and illustrated by Polly Dunbar
The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl
This beautiful picture book tells the story of Leo and Dad, who must say goodbye to a home that feels like part of the family. Wahl’s words and illustrations show the reader all the idiosyncrasies and imperfections of the blue house that would seem unappealing to most, and are what make the house feel like… Continue reading The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl
Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Meet Rocket. Rocket is clever and creative. (Have you seen her flyers for the Phoenix Meteor Shower tonight?) Rocket lives with her mom, brother, and cat. (Why is her big brother, Jamal, aaaaaaaaalllllways on his phone?) Rocket is a lover of all things space. (Did you know that Mae Jemison went into space even though she is… Continue reading Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Starting Anew
As an educator, I have always felt that August offers the kind of renewal and restart that so many others seek to find in January. This August feels especially ripe with opportunities to tip everything on it’s head and to address what’s broken, to actively change what has been exacerbating inequities in our education system… Continue reading Starting Anew