stayingcoolinthelibrary, Author at Staying Cool in the Library

Funny Chapter Books Read-Alouds

Are you looking for some hilarious picture books to share with your students? This list is sure to have your students laughing out loud! From silly characters to outrageous situations, these books are perfect for engaging young readers and encouraging a love of reading. Whether you’re looking for a book to read aloud or a fun addition to your classroom library, our list includes a variety of titles that are sure to entertain. So, grab a copy of one of these funny picture books and get ready to laugh your way through storytime with your students! This is a collection of 15 of my favorite funny chapter books to read with your third, fourth and fifth grade students. Some of the books would be appropriate for younger grades as well, especially as a read aloud. Most of the books are newer (although I did have to include a few

Best Picture Books to Read in April

Spring is finally here! The birds are chirping and my tulips are blooming. The books on my April read-aloud list are guaranteed to put a spring in your step! They celebrate Earth Day and Easter. There are also books about gardening and birds and flowers. KENYA’S ART BY LINDA TRICE Kenya’s class is on spring vacation and their teacher asked them to write a report about how they spent their time. But vacation is almost over and Kenya hasn’t done anything worth noting. A late visit to a museum’s recycling exhibit and a walk through her neighborhood with her daddy inspire Kenya to use her old, broken toys and other items to make art with her family. Now she’s prepared to teach her whole class how to Recycle! Reuse! Make Art! DIG IN! Explore all of the creepy, crawly, dirty, muddy, green, and growing things that can be found

Teaching Primary Students to be Internet Safety Superheroes

We are teaching in unprecedented times when it comes to technology and internet safety. Never before have we seen a generation using technology at such young ages. A few years ago I only taught internet safety lessons to my fifth graders. I was shocked to hear how many of them had Facebook accounts and used YouTube without supervision. Then it was Snapchat and my third graders getting into trouble for posting inappropriate photos on Instagram. Now I have kindergarten students with smartphones who text during recess. This made me realize just how important it is to teach ALL students! I’ve also realized the importance of teaching not only how to stay safe online but also how to be responsible digital citizens. I wanted to teach these skills in a meaningful way that my youngest students would understand. After doing some searching I put together a variety of resources that

Best Picture Books to Read in March

March is a transition time between winter and spring. It is also a popular month for spring book fairs and spring break. The picture books in my March book list include a few women’s history books, St. Patrick’s Day stories and spring titles. Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan A fictionalized account of the night Amelia Earhart flew Eleanor Roosevelt over Washington, D.C. in an airplane. Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson When spring comes, Bear wakes up very hungry and is treated to great food by his friends. Bruce’s Big Storm by Ryan T. Higgins Grumpy Bruce the bear does not like neighbors, but is forced to help when a big storm draws them all to his home. Duck and Goose by Tad Hills Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball they think is an over-sized egg.

Read Across America Ideas: Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers

March 2nd is Read Across America Day. In the past, most libraries and schools celebrated this day by reading Dr. Seuss books and organizing Seuss-themed activities. Over the past couple of years, the focus has shifted to emphasize multicultural and diverse literature. I am grateful for this change because it provides the perfect opportunity to share with students and parents a broader selection of children’s books and to create programs and activities that focus on acceptance, kindness, and cultural diversity. In this blog post, I want to share with you some different activities and ideas that you can use in your own schools and libraries that go along with this new focus. These are perfect for Read Across America Day or any time you want to have a reading celebration. 1. Author Studies Choose an author who writes more diverse books or who features multicultural characters. Create a bulletin

Diverse and Multicultural Picture Books

It is so important to read our students’ picture books with diverse characters. Children need to learn about new cultures, places, and traditions. They also need to be able to “see” themselves in a book. For so long there was a shortage of diverse and multicultural children’s books. And while there has been a steady increase in the past few years, there is still a long way to go. Below is a book list of 36 books that feature both multicultural and diverse characters. These include children of different races and ethnic groups as well as a child with two fathers and a boy who identifies as a girl. Before you read the book list, I want to share with you one of my favorite quotes about diversity. Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte Carlitos lives in a happy home with his mother, his abuela and Coco the cat.

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Funny Chapter Books Read-Alouds

Best Picture Books to Read in April

Teaching Primary Students to be Internet Safety Superheroes

Best Picture Books to Read in March

Read Across America Ideas: Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers

Diverse and Multicultural Picture Books

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