Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hooking Kids in With Book Commercials

One of the simplest ways to get kids motivated to read those chapter books we try so hard to get them to read, is the old "book talk" or book chat. I really think of these chats as live ads...or let's make it more fun and call them "book commercials"!

I have to do it more often, I confess...but filling up an attractive and intriguing basket of books is an easy and super quick way to rev them up about reading more, and getting their attention in a short time. Depending upon the grade level you teach, pulling out YOUR favorite books and telling them why YOU love them, and why YOU read them, can perk up their ears!

Now, that's a simple strategy--very informal, and you can spend all of 15 minutes gathering 10-15 great reads and prepare a mini synopsis to hook 'em in.

But here's another way that's even more fun... 
Grab an old shoe box with a cover, and a hole cut out on top. Or, use a cereal box! (Just as fun!)
Fill it with post-its or cut up index cards with book titles written on them. You'll want to have those books on hand, on display on a shelf, or in another basket ready to show. Then, ask for volunteers to draw a book title out of the box. Ask for volunteers who have read that particular book to give a hook-line about that book. If nobody has read that book, then YOU give a little advertisement about that book.

Of course, there are lots of ways to get the kids revved up and back on track as far as reading and getting actively engaged in books. You may want to have each of your children write down their favorite book titles cards and place it in the box. (Even better, so you won't have to!) Throughout the year, we do get in little slumps...and kids will say, "I've read all the good books. There aren't any more that I like." Well, try a book commercial!

100 Great Children's Book of All Time-from Scholastic





Friday, July 11, 2014

Amazing Butterflies

Did you know that butterflies can range in size from an 1/8th of an inch to as long as about a foot?

A monarch butterfly travels about 2,000 miles when it leaves the Great Lakes region and travels down to the Gulf of Mexico--and then back again! That's stamina!

Find out some fun facts about butterflies...and you may discover there is much more to learn about them!

You don't have to be a kid either...just a life-long learner like me! 


Fun Butterfly Information Website for Kids



Visit my store and you'll find resources on insects and other animals. 
Just click on My TpT Store






Monday, July 7, 2014

Ocean Animals Themed Journal Covers & Pages--Just for Kids

I created Ocean Animals Theme Journal Covers and Pages Just for Kids because I don't think there are enough fun journal covers for kids out there. 

Kids really do love to write on nice paper...and real stationery. They do get tired of the black and white "worksheet" look. But for those who have few options for printing, especially in color, I've included some black and white pages. Also, as we know... printers can be set to gray scale anyway.

This 84 page set has a ton of pages to choose from! Many of them are geared toward reading journals, but there are several to choose from that would work for a science journal, or for spelling, vocabulary, or creative writing.

Click below, and take a look. Be sure to see the preview.
Thanks for stopping by!   ~ Karen


 




Sunday, July 6, 2014

It's Ice Cream Time!

One of my newest and "yummiest" resources for teachers and parents:





This has over 66 pages of a tasty assortment of templates and patterns for craftivities, rewards, incentives, celebrations, as well as suggestions for using all of them! Binder or journal cover designs and name tags, and labels are also included. What a way to decorate your storage boxes! You may want to study how ice cream is made...this is a perfect supplement. You may want to have your kids build their own sundae...a craftivity that's sure to please. Follow up with a procedure writing piece. They probably won't balk at writing about their super sundae they created themselves....Then why not have a REAL ice cream party?

 Lots and lots of possibilities--and of course, these can be used year after year. This is not a clip art set, but the pattern pieces can be reduced or enlarged as needed. Great for hands on, fine motor work--cutting, and coloring, and assembling a double, triple, or quadruple cone!

Teachers and parents--you can print out the sets of multiple graphics, and write in your own (by hand) math facts, or sight words.Turn the ice cream cones into flash cards for any subject. Create a memory game with them, by printing a double set.

The ice cream themed writing papers encourage narrative, opinion, and other writing. Have kids compare and contrast flavors....theirs versus their friends' flavors?

Guaranteed to help cool you down! Thank you for stopping by...and enjoy your summer if you're up north where I am!! :D

All work is copyrighted by Karen at Growing Smart Readers

K is for Kindness (And Yes! Kindness Matters!)

Hello!   January is on the downside slope and we're quickly approaching February.  But it's not too late to start the year with a re...