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Back to School Books by Kevin Henkes

Are you looking for some back to school books by Kevin Henkes? He is hands down one of my favorite authors! Kevin Henkes is a brilliant author and he is also the illustrator of his own stories, which I find amazing! Not to mention he is both a Caldecott Medal winner and Newbery Honor winner. Most of the characters in his books are animals that act as humans and I believe that young children actually relate to these characters quite a lot. Henkes’ work is best known for touching on hot-button topics such as new siblings, the first day of school and deceased grandparents. Again, these are super relatable topics to children, which makes his stories great to read aloud in the primary grades. Kevin Henkes has two books that are perfect, in my opinion, for back to school time in the classroom or library. (Note: This post contains

7 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Older Students

Today, let’s chat about my top picks for fiction and nonfiction book pairings tailored for the older crew. Specifically, those spirited 4th to 7th graders. Guiding these students into the magical realms of both fiction and nonfiction is a special task. As they navigate this pivotal age range, I’ve found that while fiction tends to steal the spotlight, coaxing a 6th grader into exploring nonfiction can be quite a rewarding challenge. In my experience, the key to successful book pairings for this age group lies in aligning the reading choices with their individual interests. To spice things up, I often turn the decision-making process into a fun activity. I often conduct a poll to unravel the topics that spark their curiosity and get them excited. So, together, let’s unravel how book pairings captivate our older students as they journey through fiction and nonfiction texts! Oh and before we jump

8 Back to School Must-Haves for the Library to Start Off the Year

As summer winds down and we start to get ready for the new school year, it’s that time of year when we begin leisurely searching for back-to-school activities for the library to kick off the year. Let’s make your life easier by setting things up now, so you can stress less and relax more during the back to school madness. Today, I’m sharing some of those must-haves for the library to start the year off right and make your life so much easier! Why Do School Librarians Need to be Ready for Back to School Season? As we know, back to school time in the library is crucial. It’s the perfect moment to set the rules and procedures that will guide the rest of the school year. We start to build relationships with our students, and we figure out schedules. It can get a bit chaotic and crazy, but

5 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students

Exploring the world of fiction and nonfiction through book pairings is truly a highlight when working with my students. It’s a strategy that can be used with any age to unravel the characteristics of each writing style. More than just an academic exercise, book pairings inspire students to dive into both realms of fiction and nonfiction. In the world of younger students, these pairings play a pivotal role in laying the foundation for their literary journey. Choosing shorter yet captivating books for grades K-2 ensures that there’s ample time for thorough exploration. The key is in the ensuing discussions where our students start to discern the differences between fiction and nonfiction. It’s a delightful process that fosters a love for reading and a keen awareness of the diverse literary landscapes that await exploration. Importance of Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students It’s safe to say for all

6 Wonderful Wordless Picture Books to Read with Your Students

How do you feel about reading wordless picture books to your students? Do you know how powerful wordless picture books actually are? If you want to truly measure your student’s comprehension skills or imagination, try reading wordless picture books with them and see if they can understand what is happening in the story based on the pictures alone. In addition, the low pressure nature of a picture book allows children of all abilities to join in and feel successful. Wordless picture books are great resources to encourage joint interest, vocabulary, sequenced language, making inferences and engaging in discussion. Here are 6 wonderful wordless picture books to read with your students, as well as some lesson ideas to incorporate with them. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole Summary: When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and

10 Books to Get Kids Excited for the Olympics

The Olympics are once again just around the corner. After a yearlong postponement due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Games are set to kick off later this summer in Tokyo, despite the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and lingering concerns in Japan. With the Olympics happening every 2-4 years between summer and winter, children should have some exposure to the Olympic games at a young age so that they understand them. Reading Olympic themed books about them can help get kids excited and may even turn them into fans! It is interesting for students to learn about how much the athletes train for the Olympics, as well as the mental will-power that must be withstood at such a young age. Let’s look at 10 Olympic themed books kids can get excited about! The Frog Olympics Grades: Preschool-Kindergarten Summary: The actual Olympic Games definitely won’t include events like fly catching. But

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Back to School Books by Kevin Henkes

7 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Older Students

8 Back to School Must-Haves for the Library to Start Off the Year

5 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students

6 Wonderful Wordless Picture Books to Read with Your Students

10 Books to Get Kids Excited for the Olympics

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