Kids need more sleep!!

Had to post this here...I see too many kids who lack sleep. It affects their work, their interactions with their peers, and how they feel about themselves. Kids who lack sleep end up in the nurse's office more often than their peers. They also have the highest absenteeism. We send out newsletters to remind parents before testing time that their child will need lots of rest. But we don't emphasize it enough for the rest of the time--when it counts even more. There's a lot of research out there that proves how the lack of sleep negatively impacts kids. We all know this anyway....but reading these two articles (out of hundreds) reminds me to take the time to think about what kids are actually getting for sleep and rest. 

Parent/teacher conferences are a good time to emphasize the importance if you suspect this is happening.

Take a peek at these articles:

From WebMD:  How an hour more sleep can make a difference

From The Atlantic: Kids aren't getting enough sleep--teens

A Musing About Roots

Lately, I've been drawn to roots. Tree roots, in particular. I feel like there's a story to be told-although I'm not sure who would tell it. I think of so many tales that have been told and written with trees and forests as settings or symbols. Trees are prolific in literature --embedded in fairytales, folktales, legends, myths, poetry, and stories of romance --and mystery.  I feel this tree has a story--and it's gnarly roots invite me in to listen. Roots are a reminder of life's grit and perseverance, as well as its frailty.

Can you just picture woodland fairies living and playing among the roots?

Happy Back-To-School to All of YOU!
Karen

New Products for Back-To-School

Our School Bus is a nonfiction set of pictures with captions, text that is simple for kindergartners and first graders to read aloud together. The pages also may serve as beautiful posters to put up if you are studying back-to-school topics such as bus safety, transportation, and similar topics.

My School Bus Rocks is primarily a printable mini book in black and white for kinders and firsties to have their own bus book. The text also has sentences, but they are traceable, as so many starting school have not yet had handwriting instruction. It is also perfect for mid-year, once kinders have had writing practice and know their letters. First graders would find this easy (but sill fun) by mid year. This resource includes a stop sign coloring page which can also double as a shape book, as there is a lined page to go with it. Kids will also enjoy the school bus coloring page included in this resource. I am positive kiddos will enjoy making this cute little book. Black and yellow duct tape would be a delightful way to bind this book!

Safari Fun is just the right resource if kids need a lot of practice writing sentences. This is appropriate for second and third graders who are also learning about pronouns. The tongue twisters and scrambled sentences present a fun challenge for students to order sentences using correct grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. There are 18 task cards that are sentence starters--fun for literacy centers, homework, or individual independent work. I find these work well as story prompts, too! They are quite versatile. A page of suggestions details 4 ways to make this a fun, versatile and reusable resource.

If you are interested in checking these items out, you can find these new teaching resources created by Growing Smart Readers at My Online Store.

Free Frame: Polka Dots and Pastels

I have been playing around with more frames and designs. This time--polka dots and pastels! If you like polka dots and pastels, here's another free frame. Please enjoy! 

Click here: Polka Dots and Pastels Frame: Google Shared File

All rights reserved. Copyright 2014 Growing Smart Readers

Or click here for a free set of frames: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Floral-Frames-Variety-Pack-Free-1161914

Free Butterfly Frame

Here's a playful butterfly frame that I created just for the fun of it. I got a little carried away with making this cute goggle-eyed butterfly and then experimented by making a frame out of the image. I'm still experimenting with clip art. But if you like this please go ahead and go to the Google link below!

You can use it for personal or small business commercial use (but no mass production). Great for teachers who are making products for their classroom or for selling on TPT!

Free Butterfly Frame: Google Shared File

All rights reserved. Copyright by Growing Smart Readers 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

Top_100_Childrens_Books_of_All_Time pdf