Read Aloud

I went to a book store this weekend that is closing. I found three beautiful hard covered children's books for the price of one. Teachers (especially ME) LOVE a great DEAL! Here is one of my great finds!!!

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson was one of my fabulous finds! Beautiful illustrations and a fun story! It is a cold snowy night and various animals find their way into Bear's den. They begin to share food and a potluck begins. Then the bear wakes up to find their was a party without him. He begins to cry because he was sleeping though it! But don't worry, bear joins the fun!

Teaching Ideas
1. This is a great book for a reader's theater!
2. Great for cause and effect lessons.
3. The text has a rhyming pattern.
4. The language also has examples of onomatopoeia.
5. There is also two great websites with more ideas to use with this book:

BearSnoresOn 
karmawilson 

Happy Reading!!

Winter Writing

Winter Writing Wonderland 

Are your kids distracted by the snow? Do they keeping asking you if they can go outside to make a snowman?

Well, take their indoor idleness and turn it into a poetry writing lesson that encourages your kidos to use sensory images and alliteration to the fullest!


Have your class come up with a list of all the wonderful things about winter. (the snowflakes, snowman making, snowball fights, sledding, skiing, hot cocoa and soup, a toasty blanket in front of a fireplace)

Model for your students a 5 to 8 lined poem using sensory images and/or alliteration examples. I draw a large snow cap on chart paper and write the poem inside. I title my poem "Chilly Choices."

Chilly Choices 
by: Literacy Teacher 

Snowy Saturday
Sledding with speed
WHOOSH! 
Down a slippery snow covered hill
Winter wind whips across my cheery red cheeks
Snowballs whiz above my head
CRASH ! 
Silly me topples over a snowdrift.... 
Time to try again. 

Kiddos write poems on their own winter hats! Then read aloud to the class, and place them around the room or on a bulletin board. 

Winter Books

Here are some more of my favorite books about snow and winter:


Owl Moon has beautiful pictures. This is a wonderful story that lends itself to a visualization lesson. Read aloud the book twice without showing the pictures. Have students return to their seats and draw a scene from the book.


There is nothing better than a snow day. Snow is all about a boy and his dog as they watch the snow continue to fall, piling on the streets and houses, until the entire city is blanketed in white. Have students write about what they love to do on a snow day!

Thomas Snowsuit is a humorous story about a boy who does not want to wear his snowsuit. His mother, teacher and principal try to get him to wear it, but this stubborn child will not listen to them! This is a great book to discuss how the little boy behaves.

The Snow Bear is a sweet story about a polar bear who loses his Mom. His snow friends help him make a snow blanket so he can stay warm. This story has the themes of teamwork and friendship, as well as family!

Happy Reading!

A Fun Snowman Book!

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

First of all, I must say that the illustrations are beautiful in this book! Second of all, the story is so clever! There are even hidden pictures in the snow! Kids will love it!!

Story: What happens at night with snowmen? Where do they go? What do they do? Well, this story will tell you how the snowmen play at night with their friends and family.

Lesson Ideas:

1. There is a rhyming pattern in this book, so there are a lot of clever ways to have kids listen for the rhymes. Have your kids make snowmen on sticks and while reading aloud the story a second time have them raise their snowmen when they hear two words rhyme.

2. This story is so imaginative. Discuss other activities snowmen could do at night. Make a class story and have each child illustrate a page for a class book.

3. Older kidos could write their own snowmen story at night!

4. There is also a lot of cause and effect in this book. Retype the story and cut apart the cause and effect sentences. Have the students put them in the correct category and check their answers with a partner.

Happy Reading!