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A book talk invites students to discuss a book they love or hate and try to convince others why they should read or never read the book. I first heard about book talks from one of my favorite professors, Dr. Katherine Kelly, when she gave one on the first day of Teaching Adolescent Literature. Book talks were […]
If you’re going to teach poetry, the first and most important thing to do is find good poetry. By good, I mean poetry that invites your students into the poem. Poetry that helps them connect to their own world and the world around them. Poetry that doesn’t make them snooze. If you want your kids […]
If you love reading, you know what it feels like when you don’t have a good book within reach. Book lovers might even be reading a couple of books at one time and always have a stack waiting nearby. Readers love to read because the right book takes us into the Reading Zone. We lose track […]
Dear Homeschoolers and Virtual Schoolers, Creative ELA online classes are open for registration! Are you in planning mode? Looking for ways to bring more writing into your kiddo’s day? Looking to save money on classes and resources? My list of classes for the new year is up, and there are so many fun, Creative ELA […]
When my daughter was little, we read a lot! We sang songs to learn letter sounds, wrote words in chalk, tried to spot all the S’s for Sophie we could see. When she was little, our time reading was about exposure and fun. She learned a lot indirectly. As she’s gotten older, a focus on […]
One of the best places to learn is outside. Whether kids are doing homework, exploring, or just taking it all in, decent weather and a good place to sit are all you need to create a perfect classroom. Our family heads outside whenever we can. We play games, relax and spend time as a family. […]
Do your kids like poetry? Are you a fan? Poetry games are a wonderful way to learn about poetry, no matter your feelings on the genre. You’re not alone if you or one of your kids loathe it. Of all the writing genres, I think poetry gets the worst rap. Why? Poetry isn’t straightforward. Poems […]
Here’s a question I often ask students- Have you ever started to read, flipped page after page, tracked each word, maybe even spoken the words out loud, only to realize at the end of a passage or chapter you have no idea what you just read? You might be surprised how many students nod their […]
Writing can give our brains a workout; there’s a lot to learn and remember. It’s why whenever I teach writing, I encourage my kids and students to focus on their interests. It is also why I love using creative writing activities. Not only does creative writing make writing more fun, but it also gets kids […]
Your student has finished a novel. Now what? It’s time to put all that awesome reading to work and dig a little deeper; that’s what! There are many, many ways to explore the themes and characters in a book post-reading. What’s important with a post-reading activity is not to squelch the interest the book brought […]
Have you ever traveled to China? Do you know what a xióngmão is? Have you ever seen one floss! Today is Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and as a part of the Multicultural Children’s Book Day celebration, I’m thrilled to be sharing with you one of Eugenia Chu’s children’s books, Brandon Goes to Beijing. Brandon is […]
Let’s dive into the novel A Wrinkle in Time! In this six-week flex class, students will read, write, engage, and enjoy this wonderful science fantasy classic. Perfect for independent readers or those who need help understanding what they read. In A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, Meg’s father was experimenting with the fifth dimension […]
Every January my kids and I spend time reflecting on the past year and setting goals. We think about what we want to learn, create, and my favorite, what we want to read. Reading goals help us make sure reading and reading for pleasure is a priority. Our best reads of 2019 speak volumes to […]
My daughter’s goal is to read the Wings of Fire AND the Harry Potter series. She’s eight and started reading fluently about six months ago. It’s a big goal. She wants to read them out loud together and to be perfectly honest, I have no clue how we’ll find time to read that much. (Keep […]
One day I’d love to travel around the world with my girl. We have big one-day plans. Alaska, Austrailia, Germany, France, so many adventures make up our bucket list. Until that one day comes, we are content to travel together in story. Candlewick Press books never fail to provide stories we want to adventure into […]
