Chalk Talk

I just added a RSS feed. It's called Chalk Talk and it is all about teaching tips for early educators. Check it out!

Scary Stories

When it comes to library time in a kindergarten class boys tend to take forever choosing books because they want "cool" books. I noticed one day that a few of the boys were consistently taking out "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon" books. One of the boys told me that he liked it because it had scary monsters in the story. Another said this what happens to the teachers when the kids leave for the day (which I thought was hysterical). Have your students check them out and see what they think!

Positive Message Books

Kindergarten can be a stressful time in a kids life. I know you are all thinking "Come one seriously?! All they do is color all day." But this is usually the first time that they are away from their parents for a long period of time every day. They have to learn how to do things on their own. So I found some stories that have a positive message in them. A parent could read them to their child and then talk about what they story was about and the message in it. There are a lot out there but here are some that I know have had some benefit.

Helping Hands on PhotoPeach

Series Books

There are some books out there that are great stories but are way too high for your kindergarten age students. A good way to get around this problem is to read these stories to your students during a break time. A teacher I used to work with would read a story to her students during their snack time. She would use series such as the Fudge Books by Judy Blume or  the A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy. The teacher would use this opportunity to explain characters and plot sequence to her students. The stories were so engaging that the students loved snack time because they wanted to find out what happened next. And isn't that what we want for our students to engage them in new stories?

Story Videos

I have learned by working in a kindergarten classroom that some children are reluctant to learn how to read. Some believe that anything interesting or fun is only on the television these days. Parents and teachers have to be creative. By choosing stories that you know will capture the child's attention is the biggest part of the battle. Some of the educators I have worked with have used videos of stories to grab the attention of their students. Below I have two videos that kindergarten students have found funny or interesting. Enjoy!

"Teaching Kids to Read and Helping Those Who Struggle"

I came across this website today. It is called Reading Rockets. Reading Rockets is a reading resource that assists parents, teachers, and other educators in helping readers build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Check out the link below!

Reading Rockets

Holiday Stories

It is that time of year again  for holiday stories. I found some stories that are great to read to your kids or your students to get them in the holiday mood!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The Grinch hates Christmas, and wants to stop it from coming. So he forms a devious plan: to      impersonate Santy Claus and to steal the Whos’ Christmas presents. But come Christmas morning, the Grinch is in for a shocking surprise. He did not stop Christmas from coming! And the Grinch realizes something new. That maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. That maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!

Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
What are the poor villagers to do? The holiday-hating, hill-dwelling hobgoblins are bound and determined to ruin yet another Hanukkah for them. Every year the beasties snuff out the menorah candles, destroy the dreidels, and pitch the potato latkes on the floor. But these wicked wet blankets never counted on someone as clever as Hershel of Ostropol showing up. Using his wits and a few props--pickles, eggs, and a dreidel (a square-shaped top with Hebrew letters on each side)--Hershel manages to outwit all the creepy critters and break the spell.

Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
In an African village live seven brothers who make life miserable with their constant fighting. When their father dies, he leaves an unusual will: by sundown, the brothers must make gold out of seven spools of thread or they will be turned out as beggars.