At the beginning of the school year, every teacher focuses on establishing a classroom community and developing relationships among the members of the classroom. Cultivating and maintaining a positive classroom community takes dedication, time and care. You Hold Me Up , by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Danielle Daniel is a book that will… Continue reading You Hold Me Up
Tag: Kindness
Carmela Full of Wishes
She stared down at the dandelion in her hand.It seemed so much more importantnow that she knew it was a place to put her wishes. What if she made the wrong choice? Carmela is excited to accompany her older brother into town for the first time. Although her big brother isn't happy to have her,… Continue reading Carmela Full of Wishes
Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
Teacher Thoughts: When I got my copy of Stella Diaz Has Something to Say, I included it at the last minute to our read aloud vote versus Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan and Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. To my surprise, it won. The themes of having a best friend end up in a… Continue reading Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, Illustrated by Alea Marley
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh has been a favorite read aloud as I’ve visited K-2 classrooms this fall. Harpreet is a school-aged boy who wears a small turban, called a patka, in the tradition of the Sikh religion. Harpreet changes the colors of his patka based on his mood - pink for celebrating, red… Continue reading The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, Illustrated by Alea Marley
The Little Guys by Vera Brosgol
A cautionary tale from Caldecott Honoree Vera Brosgol We are the Little Guys. Yes, we are small. But there are a lot of us. Together we are strong, and we can get all we need. A new addition to my coaching bag is a sleeper tale, The Little Guys. This versatile book made the rounds of my… Continue reading The Little Guys by Vera Brosgol
Allie All Along by Sarah Lynne Reul
When I start visiting classrooms to read books aloud this fall, Allie All Along by Sarah Lynne Reul will be one of my top choices. It fits right into our social-emotional learning curriculum. We teach our students that however they are feeling, it's ok to feel that way and they can use strategies to help… Continue reading Allie All Along by Sarah Lynne Reul
The King of Kindergarten
The King of Kindergarten “It’s time to start kindergarten, and you know what, kid? You got this! It’s your time to shine and be the King of Kindergarten!” The King of Kindergarten joyfully written by Derrick Barnes and artfully illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton should be every kindergarten teacher's read during the sparkling-with-opportunity first few minutes… Continue reading The King of Kindergarten