Scholastic StoryworksCinderella: The True Story by Louise Rozett and Monique D. Hall How do you engage students the day before vacation? How do you engage students the day before vacation after two days of ELA state testing? On Friday, I decided that READERS' THEATER was the way to go. Readers’ theater is a great way for students to practice reading… Continue reading Readers’ Theater
Category: Blog Posts
Posts from Members of the TBR Blogging Team
How War Changed Rondo
One day during a class meeting a student told the class she was interested in social justice issues. Another student added she wanted to learn about Ukraine. The funny thing is I don't even remember what we were talking about, but I heard them. Later on, I was reading NCTE's CLA blog and read about… Continue reading How War Changed Rondo
Not Little By Maya Myers Pictures By Hyewon Yum
Not LittleBy: Maya MyersPictures By: Hyewon Yum Not Little, written by Maya Myers and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, is the story of Dot who is small, but mighty. When people around her underestimate her abilities, she likes to prove them wrong. Being small doesn't mean she can't do things like everyone else and she let's… Continue reading Not Little By Maya Myers Pictures By Hyewon Yum
I Am Golden
I Am Golden, by Eva Chen, illustrated by Sophie Diao, is a love letter from Mei’s parents to their daughter, explaining her name and how her differences can be powerful. They tell her she has a golden flame on the inside. She is made of “dragons, of phoenixes, of jade rabbits, and of monkey kings.” … Continue reading I Am Golden
Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrations by Micha Archer
Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Micha Archer April 10, 2022 We can't let April get by without digging into some poetry. One of my favorite poetry books that can act as a mentor for equation poems is Snowman-Cold = Puddle. Simple equations anchor this book while the author adds some explanatory details about… Continue reading Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrations by Micha Archer
Shelby and Watts: Tide Pool Troubles by Ashlyn Anstee
I usually choose the next book I want to read and share with teachers and students, but this book chose me. I was leaving the Children’s Department of my local library where Shelby and Watts: Tide Pool Troubles was on display. The brightly colored cover and spirited animals on the front caught my eye and… Continue reading Shelby and Watts: Tide Pool Troubles by Ashlyn Anstee
Dragonboy, by Fabio Napoleoni
Dragonboy, by Fabio Napoleoni, opens with a little boy waking up in his bed “behind the farthest door down the hall”. In his room, we see a dragon costume as well as several stuffed animals of different varieties. The boy gets dressed in his dragon costume and greets his stuffed friends. As you turn to… Continue reading Dragonboy, by Fabio Napoleoni
Resource for Young Adult and Adult Readers
ratedreads.com Have you ever finally settled down with a book that you’ve been ever so patiently waiting to read, just to be completely disheartened by the language or the nature of the content? Or, have you perused your teen’s required reading or friend suggestions to your utter dismay! It seems to me that more frequently… Continue reading Resource for Young Adult and Adult Readers
Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen and illustrated by Abby Hanlon
"There once was a youngster named Chester van Chime, who woke up one day and forgot how to...make words sound alike." April is National Poetry Month, and my students and I kicked it off with a hilarious new picture book by Avery Monsen. Chester van Chime loves to rhyme, but one day he wakes, and… Continue reading Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen and illustrated by Abby Hanlon
“I know we can change the world!”
I'm always watching for mentor texts for our kindergarten persuasive writing unit and when I came across Rise Up and Write It by Nandini Ahuja and Anoosha Syed, I literally squealed. Not only does this book show how children can really impact change in the world, it is written by and about people of color.… Continue reading “I know we can change the world!”
Saving American Beach
March Madness is upon us in more ways than one! As a fan of Xavier Men’s Basketball not only am I watching the NCAA finals but I am also watching the NIT Tournament. Not where the Musketeers wanted to be, but they are still playing! In school, we have our annual March Madness book tournament… Continue reading Saving American Beach
A Little Bit of Zen for Our Little Ones
Need a little Zen for you and the little ones in your life? Look no further than this adorable, helpful book: Alphabreaths: The ABS of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard. Miss Erin (AKA Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire) does an amazing job of simultaneously fostering well being and academic learning. It's truly a joy to watch year… Continue reading A Little Bit of Zen for Our Little Ones
SOMETHING GOOD by Marcy Campbell and Corinna Luyken
The day the bad-something is discovered written on the bathroom wall, everything changes. Confusion, anger and worry spread through the class as rumors fly. It is not until some encouraging words from their principal and a creative assignment from their teacher, do the children rediscover their kindness and their power to create something good. SOMETHING… Continue reading SOMETHING GOOD by Marcy Campbell and Corinna Luyken
Above the Rim
How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball Written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Frank Morrison Sometimes you have to sit down, to stand up." It’s that time of year again! While fans are glued to their screens, anticipating college basketball wins through their March Madness brackets, elementary schoolers far and wide are elbow deep in picture… Continue reading Above the Rim
John’s Turn by Mac Barnett
John's Turn by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kate Berube was recently published. It's a mentor text for being brave, taking risks, liking something different, and doing something in front of a large audience. I bet you can infer from the front cover what John shares with his whole school on a Friday morning. The… Continue reading John’s Turn by Mac Barnett
Writing Joy with Encanto
The first bend of our literary essay unit was a challenge. Do these young writers have enough ownership over the essay structure yet? I thought. Naturally, there was quite a range in the levels of independence at the end of our opinion unit, and I found myself feeling nervous for next steps. Yet, I found… Continue reading Writing Joy with Encanto
Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter Not Shade
This year our district's professional development focus is social emotional learning (SEL). I'm on my school's SEL committee which consists of myself, three other teachers, an instructional aide, our assistant principal and our principal. Last year we received training from an outside organization and this year we're tasked with passing on what we learned to… Continue reading Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter Not Shade
Decodables My Kids Can’t Stop Reading
Now, I am a big believer in authentic text, but there are times when readers need practice with a specific phonics skill. Applying newly learned phonics skills can be tricky for some, which is when I pull out a decodable text. A decodable text lets students focus on applying the phonics skill as they read.… Continue reading Decodables My Kids Can’t Stop Reading
Emma Every Day: Friendship Goals by C.L. Reid
Emma Every Day follows the adventures of young Emma, who loves playing soccer with her friends. Emma is deaf and wears a cochlear implant. Izzy and Emma use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. When Izzy wants to give up, Emma and her friend Chen are determined to show Izzy how fun soccer can be.… Continue reading Emma Every Day: Friendship Goals by C.L. Reid
Little People, Big Dreams: Greta Thunberg By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Little People, Big Dreams: Greta Thunberg By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara March is Women's History Month. At our school, each class is choosing a woman that has made an impact on the world to research. They will then create a display to teach the rest of the school about that woman. Soon, our hallways will… Continue reading Little People, Big Dreams: Greta Thunberg By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera In honor of February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month and April’s upcoming Poetry Month, I tried to find a narrative picture book biography on a BIPOC woman that my kindergartners would understand. I succeeded with Exquisite:… Continue reading Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer Fans of Daniel's Good Day will not be surprised by the exuberance of Wonder Walkers by the same author, Micha Archer. For me Micha Archer is on a literary roll, that I hope she keeps up. Look for me to review another book by this author in the coming months.… Continue reading Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl
The last couple of years have been hard on the world and it has taken a toll on all of us in different ways, especially educators and their students. As we move away from masking and social distancing toward the end of this pandemic, I find myself having a bit of difficulty in adjusting. Masking… Continue reading Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl
Timmi Tobson “Solve The Yourself Mystery Adventure” Series
Timmi Tobbson Adventures, by J. I. Wagner and illustrated by C. Frohlich, are an ongoing series of mystery books that invite readers to “Solve Them Yourself”. Currently, there are 2 books out, with a 3rd due to be released this spring. As each story begins, readers are given instructions and guidance for the mysteries that… Continue reading Timmi Tobson “Solve The Yourself Mystery Adventure” Series
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang
"Make them special!... Make them yours." Amy loves to create and is very excited to make her own drawing after her teacher reads about dragons to the class. Amy works diligently to make her drawing special as Ms. Mary has directed. Amy's friends do not think Amy's drawing looks like a dragon. Their comments fill… Continue reading Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang
Mouse Seasons by Leo Lionni
Do you remember these books? I remember so clearly reading and rereading my copies of Fish is Fish, Inch by Inch, Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse, and Frederick. As a college student, I took a class on children’s storybooks, and remember being aghast at the fact that Swimmy was placed on the banned books list… Continue reading Mouse Seasons by Leo Lionni
The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López
“Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing.” Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López, creators of The Day You Begin, collaborate once again on this beautiful new picture book. Inspired by the stories and strength of enslaved people, Woodson pens a… Continue reading The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López
The Whatifs
Building a classroom community and establishing relationships with students is the primary goal of all teachers. Helping students establish relationships with each other that evolve and grow is also a goal for teachers. I tell my students on the first day of school that we will learn to be a family together, that it will… Continue reading The Whatifs
Migrants by Issa Watanabe
As I write this post it is hard not to tear my mind away from the current events rocking the world. The specter of global military conflict rises again. With it, the unspoken acknowledgement that for every bomb dropped, people with no tangible stake in its ends are displaced from homes, workplaces, communities, and memories.… Continue reading Migrants by Issa Watanabe
What the Kite Saw, written by Anne Laurel Carter and illustrated by Akin Duzakin
No one is guaranteed peace. Yet, could it be that peaceful days become expected and routine for some of us? In What the Kite Saw, Anne Laurel Carter and Akin Duzakin transport us into the unfamiliar realities of daily life in a warzone. Told from the perspective of a young boy, readers of all ages… Continue reading What the Kite Saw, written by Anne Laurel Carter and illustrated by Akin Duzakin
For the Love of Reading
I am always looking for books to read aloud that serve multiple purposes. Even if a book is great it often won't make the cut because there never seems to be enough time. But... I had only one goal when I chose to read I Don't Want to Read This Book by Max Greenfield to… Continue reading For the Love of Reading