Ellwyn Autumn's Blog, page 6
February 26, 2023
Themes To Teach In March
Lucky for you! I found a bunch of fun things for you and your class to do this month.
From lions and lambs to Women’s History, March is jam-packed with special occasions for learning.
Image by Hansuan Fairegas from Pixabay
There are links to free or economical resources in this list.
There are more dates to entertain your kiddos:
Image by Musaed subaie from Pixabay
March 1- World Compliment Day
March 3- If Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 6- Dentist’s Day
National Oreo Cookie Day
March 8- International Women’s Day
March 9- Barbie Day
Popcorn Lover’s Day
March 11- Johnny Appleseed Day
March 12- Plant a Flower Day
March 14- National Pi Day
Learn About Butterflies Day
Image by orythys from Pixabay
March 16- Giant Panda Bear Day
March 17- St. Patrick’s Day
March 19- Let’s Laugh Day
March 20- Earth Day
1st Day of Spring
March 21- World Poetry Day
March 23- National Puppy Day
March 31- National Crayon Day
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
I choose dates that I think will make students happy in the classroom. Please visit holidayinsights.com for a comprehensive list.
I hope this helps you with your lesson planning!
February 19, 2023
When Love Flows: The Beauty of Encouraging Others Book Review
Author: Sonia Amin
Illustrator: Arlenis Chirinos
Publisher: Sanasamal Press
Released: October 30, 2022
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle
ISBN: 978-1735299686
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4 Lemon Drops
A story overflowing with love and gratitude!
Nora loves her family, her teacher, and her neighbor. So much affection is welling up inside her.
She yearns to express these feelings in words, but every time she tries to write them, her words get stuck. The precise words to show her gratitude and empathy won’t come to her.
After a brief struggle, Nora shows emotion through sincere actions and straightforward words.
Love is patient, love is kind, love doesn’t need complicated language to be impactful.
Opinion:You know the maxim, “Love makes the world go round.”
Amin created a character who encapsulates the joyous and unconditional love children have for the world.
Nora possesses many qualities parents and teachers strive to instill in children. She’s caring, loving, sympathetic, empathetic and a great role model.
Things I liked about the book:
The use of onomatopoeia. When Nora’s words trickled to a stop they’d, “Drip, drip, drop!” A wonderful attention grabber for a child!
It was also nice to see a character overcome a common dilemma we’ve all faced in our lives, staring at a blank piece of paper after struggling to find the right words to communicate our feelings.
At times, they wrote words like water droplets or in unconventional lines or spirals. What a fun way to read!
There's even a brownie recipe at the end to share with friends and family.
Chirinos’ illustrations are bright and colorful with a splash of lighthearted fun. They complement the story perfectly.
I give it 4 Lemon Drops!
Age Range: The author’s target audience is ages 4-11.
Targeted Vocabulary: burble, compassion, encourage, erupt, gaze, geyser, gush, muddled, ripple, trickle
The author has a glossary of these words at the end of the book.
As an early childhood teacher, I am always searching for books to supplement my social/emotional lessons.
When Love Flows is a great resource when discussing frustration tolerance, appropriate behavior, and kindness.
This book could also preface a letter writing activity. Students can write encouraging notes to classmates or family members.
Building on Nora's struggle to find the right words, encourage children to make a list of positive phrases or kind words to use in their writing.
I would definitely add this to my classroom library.
Resources:
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/socialemotional-strategies/
About The Author:
Sonia Amin is a wife, mother, and pharmacist who loves encouraging others with her words, hugs, and prayers.
She is passionate about helping others live healthy lives and believes being healthy is not just about physical well-being.
Her debut book, Bax and His Bubbles, offers a method using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help kids foster healthy thinking habits, while her newest book, When Love Flows, helps children understand the power of an encouraging word.
Benefits of Author Visits Episode 4
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Episode-4-School Visits: Explore user-friendly resources that assist busy educators and librarians in planning and funding an author visit.
bit.ly/schlvis4January 25, 2023
Themes To Teach In February
Image courtesy of canva.com
Every teacher knows February is a busy month. I teach Pre-K Head Start and my checkpoints are due on the 8th. Shortly after that, parent conferences will occur.
Let’s make time to share the love (and chocolate) with our co-workers and students this month!
Image courtesy of Terri Cnudde from PixabayHere’s a list of possible themes for February and links to free or inexpensive resources.
Birds (It’s National Bird Feeding Month in the United States.)
Image courtesy of OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
A few other entertaining dates your kiddos might enjoy:
February 1- World Hijab Day
World Read Aloud Day
February 2- Groundhog Day
February 3- Bubblegum Day
National Wear Red Day
February 4- Ice-cream for Breakfast Day
February 6- International Frozen Yogurt Day
February 7- Harry Potter Book Night
Send a Card to a Friend Day
Image courtesy of GraphicMama-Team from Pixabay
February 8- National Kite Flying Day
February 9- National Pizza Day
National Stop Bullying Day
February 10- National Umbrella Day
Photo by karelinlestrange from PixabayFebruary 11- International Day of Women and Girls in Science
National Make A Friend Day
February 12- Autism Sunday
Lincoln’s Birthday
Superbowl Sunday
February 14- Frederick Douglas Day
Valentine’s Day
International Book Giving Day
Library Lovers Day
Read To Your Child Day
Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
February 15- National Hippo Day
February 17- National Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 18- Thumb Appreciation Day
World Whale Day
Photo by Gordon Johnson from PixabayFebruary 20- National Muffin Day
President’s Day
National Muffin Day
Love Your Pet Day
February 21- Mardi Gras
National Pancake Day
National Sticky Bun Day
February 22- National Wildlife Day
Washington’s Birthday
World Thinking Day
Image courtesy of WikimediaImages from PixabayFebruary 23- Pinocchio Day
Tootsie Roll Day
Play Tennis Day
February 24- International Stand Up To A Bully Day
National Dance Day
February 25- International Tongue Twister Day
Quiet Day
Rubber Duckie Day
Image by Sabine Kroschel from PixabayFebruary 26- Tell A Fairy Tale Day
February 27- International Polar Bear Day
National Strawberry Day
Pokémon Day
February 28- National Science Day
National Tooth Fairy Day
Image courtesy of Michaela from PixabayI choose dates that I think will enhance the enjoyment of students in the classroom.
For a more comprehensive list, please visit parade.com.
I hope this helps with your lesson planning!
January 14, 2023
My Sister Wants an Elephant Book Review
Author: Lynne Podrat
Illustrator: Sarah Gledhill
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Released: December 1, 2022
Format: Kindle, Paperback
ISBN: 978-1639887316
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 3 1/2 Lemon Drops
A story for animal lovers!
Review: Book Summary:
Randy wants a llama for the rest of his life, his baby sister wants an elephant for her birthday, and Mom always wanted a Siberian tiger.
Will this animal loving family give up on their dream, or will Mom’s compromise satisfy everyone?
Opinion:To fulfill a child's unpractical wish, parents must be creative. Like Randy and Jerica, children ask for a lot of things when they are young. My youngest wanted a baby dinosaur years ago.
The introduction of the story grabs the attention of the reader. The ending is sweet and acquaints children with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and group adoption of animals through the zoo. A young person will benefit from the range of word usage.
I liked the siblings scheming to get Mom to allow an elephant and llama to join the family. The dedication of the mother to her children and animals is admirable.
That being said, the story needs an additional edit. There were some inconsistencies. They don’t detract from the story, but they caught my attention. The grammatical errors are simple to fix and would add to the integrity of the finished product.
Gledhill's illustrations complement the story nicely. The giraffe kissing the mom is my favorite.
I give it 3 ½ Lemon Drops!
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Classroom Connection:
Age Range: Pre-K to 3rd Grade
Targeted Vocabulary: unaffected, adopted, gigantic, especially, practicing, panic, obsession, imagination, compromise, acquainted, surprise, IFAW, enclosure, impressed
Resources:Non-fiction passages about llamas on TPTElephant Fact Booklet With Digital Activities
All About Elephants Non-Fiction Unit
About The Author:
Lynne Podrat graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and then spent fifteen years in the Fashion Industry as an Assistant Buyer and Department Manager with Bloomingdales Department Store before returning to school to receive her educational degrees from Arcadia University and Gynedd Mercy.
She taught English, literature, composition, and history in elementary and secondary schools in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania School District.
She has been a writer and a poet her entire life, but only recently decided to share her talents with the world.
Lynne now lives with her husband in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, spending winters dragon boating and summers hiking the Rockies in Vail, Colorado, where her heart sings.
About the illustrator:
Sarah Gledhill lives in Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Sarah and ‘The Pen’ had fantastic fun collaborating with Lynne Podrat and her book filled with delightful animals and children.
After decades spent bouncing around the hot African veld in a Landi, sharing life and adventures with four sons and a wonderful variety of animals, Sarah is now happily rediscovering the cherished, fragile worlds of the hedgerows, woodlands, waterways and dry-stone walls of the UK.
January 1, 2023
Themes To Teach In January
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
The holiday rush has ended. It is time to get back to the classroom.
I must admit, I’m a bit sluggish in January. That's why I like teaching themes that are fun and engaging.
I am able to make learning more enjoyable for my kiddos if I am interested in the topic.
Image by Jozef Mikulcik from Pixabay
Here are links to free or inexpensive resources for this month.
Snowmen, Snowflakes, Snow
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 18, 2023)
Chinese New Year (January 22, 2023)
Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay
But wait! There are more entertaining dates your class might enjoy.
January 13- Make Your Dreams Come True Day/National Rubber Duckie Day
January 16- Appreciate a Dragon Day
January 18- Winnie the Pooh Day
January 24- Compliment Day
January 29- National Puzzle Day
January 30- Draw a Dinosaur Day
January 31- Backward Day
Happy Teaching!
Get Back On Track After Winter Break
Image by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay
There’s no magic trick to getting your class back on course after winter break, but there are a few steps you can take to ease the changeover.
A smooth transition depends on your mindset. Rules and routines won't fall into place at once if you teach little ones.
Everyone will have a few limit testers and criers when their class returns. We must be proactive, consistent, and compassionate with ourselves and our kiddos.
Image by Prawny from PixabayHere are four steps to help you keep the procedures and the fun going.
1. Set your intentions for the day with a simple guided meditation. I feel calmer and more focused when I do this consistently.
2. Make sure everything is ready for your lessons. Some teachers had their lessons written before Winter Break. For those who did it, I salute you! I prepared mine while I was off.
3. Review classroom procedures and expectations in the morning.
4. The holidays are over, but not all the jolly is gone. A classroom snowman will be introduced to my students.
Like Elf on the Shelf, the snowman will arrive with an introductory letter. Each week in January, he’ll bring us a fun wintry activity to do.
Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayWeek 1- Classroom New Year’s Party BoxWe’re going to do a Noontime New Year’s Countdown, so January coloring pages, party hats, noisemakers, and a writing prompt for a New Year’s Resolution will be included in our box.
Week 2- The Snowy Day Box The Mailbox Magazine has a cute activity that my kids enjoy. Children recreate the front cover of The Snowy Day after reading it.
This box will hold The Snowy Day, Peter cutouts, rectangles in different sizes to be used as the buildings in the background, white, blue, and purple paint, white glitter, and large paper to paint on.
Week 3- The Mitten BoxThis is a popular activity that goes with The Mitten. The children will retell the story after a read aloud of the book. There’s an adorable poem inspired by the book on firstgradewow.blogspot.com. There are free character masks available for the book on Jan Brett’s website.
This box will have The Mitten, a white sheet to use as the mitten (drape it like a tent between two chairs and the children sit inside), The Mitten Poem, and the character masks.
Week 4- Snow BoxYou can’t have a snowman mascot and not bring a little snow into the classroom. After reading Snow by Marion Dane Bauer , we will make our own snow.
This box will include Snow and a recipe to make our own snow. You can also purchase classroom snow here.
I hope these suggestions help you and your kiddos transition back to a new term at school.
December 23, 2022
10 Free & Easy Winter Break Ideas
Image by Petra from Pixabay
Winter Break is here!
Oh, the merry making! Oh, the joyous jollies!
Many families expect Old St. Nick’s yearlong visit. Some people can't wait to light a candle on the Menorah. The hubbub will be unforgettable.
Image by Tumisu from PixabayWhen the holiday hype dies down, what happens? If you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, what do you do? Are you ready to have fun with your children?
Image by Alexandra Koch from PixabayMy class has 10 days off for Winter Break, so I have planned a list of ten easy ideas for you to do with your kids.
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1. Shaving Cream Writing- cover a flat surface with shaving cream and let your children draw shapes, write their names, or just squeeze it through their fingers. Popsicle sticks will let them pretend to shave.
2. Ice cube painting- this involves pouring water into an ice cube tray, adding a few drops of food coloring, and freezing it. Paint the ice on white paper when it's ready.
Image by Couleur from Pixabay3. Play Snowball Fight! A free math game available on Teachers Pay Teachers. (The game involves dice. No dice? Substitute with playing cards. The kids can pick a card from the pile. If you don’t have playing cards, make number cards on index cards or strips of paper.)
4. You can explore the wonderful resources at your local library.
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5. Make a fort with blankets in your living room.
6. You can ice-skate at home by putting paper plates under your feet. Don’t forget the music!
Image by Alexa from Pixabay7. Santa brought toys, so turn the boxes they arrived in into puzzles. (You can also use old cereal boxes.)
8. Create invisible ink with lemon juice
Image by NoName 13 from Pixabay
9. You can make your own memory game or play board games.
10. Boredom Buster Box- fill an old box with slips of paper labeled with things for your kiddos to do: 10 Jumping Jacks, 5 push-ups, walk like a crab or a duck, take a nap, look for shapes in the clouds, do a yoga pose, write a poem, draw a silly picture. The possibilities are boundless!
HAPPY WINTER BREAK!
Image by Jill Wellington from PixabayOctober 9, 2022
Kamyla Chung's ABCs Of Bully Prevention "N"
Two little words that have a profound effect on all of us. Like it or not, we all have to learn to live with being told no.Sometimes it's hard to hear but when we do we must stay calm.Children need to understand that people have personal boundaries and no means no.Here are a few strategies to try when someone tells you no:*Politely ask if you can choose something else to play with or have a turn later.*Talk about how you feel with an adult or a friend.*Write or draw about how you're feeling.*Read a bookBooks About No:I Just Don't Like The Sound Of No By Julia CookNo, David! By David ShannonMy No, No, No Day By Rebecca Patterson
August 8, 2022
You're Finally Here! Read Aloud Lesson
I’ve created a simple and interactive literacy plan for You’re Finally Here! It’s intended for Pre-Kindergaten/Kindergarten. I hope this helps with some of your Back-To-School lesson planning.
Purpose: Children work on focusing attention during a read aloud and will be introduced to new vocabulary.
Classroom Culture: crisscross applesauce, peanut butter hands, eyes on the speaker
Targeted Vocabulary: rude, annoyed, impatient
Materials: You’re Finally Here!, stuffed bunny, anchor chart with “Where Were You?” written on it, sticky notes
Focus Activity: Let’s Meet Bunny
Hide Bunny out of sight.
Would you like to meet my friend? Wait a few seconds before presenting him to the class.
(Look at the clock, etc.) He's late! Where is he? Gosh, that's rude. (Wait a few more seconds.) I'm getting annoyed.
Don't you think it's rude for him to make us wait? It's certainly not very polite.
Pretend to see Bunny and show him to the class. Here he is! This is Bunny. Where were you, Bunny? What took you so long to get here?
Pretend he’s whispering in your ear and tell children what he’s saying.
First, he had to turn three years old and then he had to wait for summer to end, so that school could start.
He's the main character in the story we're going to read today. Bunny is an impatient little guy.
Does anyone know what impatient means? It’s when you don’t want to wait for something or someone. It’s the opposite of patient.
Pre-Reading: Introduce the title, author, illustrator, and front cover
After Reading: I know where Bunny was, but I’ve been waiting a long time for all of you to get here too. Where were you?
Record children’s responses on the sticky notes and have them place them on the anchor chart.
For more ideas, please visit https://aroundthekampfire.com/2015/08/theyre-finally-here-our-first-week-of-school.html
