12/29/2015: Leap Into 2016!

The December holidays have come and gone, and soon school will be back in session.  Why not leap into a new year with some new readers for your class, like my new “Leaping Into Language Arts” readers?

“Leaping into Language Arts” are grammar and writing workbooks that contains instruction and exercises aimed at teaching grammar in the context of practical writing skills.  There are separate books aimed at grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Enjoy the rest of 2015!

12/13/2015: Happy St Lucia Day!

It is already mid-December!  In different parts of the world, children may have been celebrating St. Nicholas Day or St Lucia Day as part of their own Christmas season tradition.  In my original play Where in the World is the Spirit of Christmas Detective John T. Brown travels the world to solve the Spirit of Christmas. Along the way he meets children from Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Mexico and Sweden in hopes of finding the Grinch who is missing the holiday spirit. Come and see how others celebrate this holiday and how the Grinch learned that Christmas is really more than things.

My original holiday-themed books and plays are a fun and educational way to add some festivity into your classroom this season.  This is also a time of year when many of our thoughts turn to sweets and treats!  In my original play Candy Land, children play the traditional board game (Candy Land) and when they begin the game by moving their tokens down the Rainbow Trail, a lick of a sucker causes them to be thrown into a land far from home and set off on an adventure with their dog Brownie and a familiar cast of Candy Land characters.  

All of my original plays may be used as readers’ theater, as a part of balanced literacy (Read-Aloud, Shared and Performance Reading or Guided Reading), or for an actual play production. Using plays in literacy-based classrooms promotes active listening for the performers, as well as the audience, and offers an engaging way to teach reading skills.

12/2/2015: Happy (almost) Birthday to Louis Pasteur!

It is already the middle of December, and the birthday the great French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur is approaching!  Pasteur was born on December 27th, 1822, in France.   His important contributions to science include proving the germ theory of disease, inventing the process of pasteurisation, and producing the first rabies vaccine.  Pasteurization is used to allow us to keep milk longer, to celebrate Pasteur and science try out this fun color changing milk experiment with your class!

If you looking for a way to combine science, history, reading, and writing activities, my

consider checking out on my book “Louis Pasteur - Exploring Pasteurization and Vaccines” on my Teachers Pay Teachers Site

This third grade Level N reader is a three-page story about some of his greatest discoveries,  accompanied by five pages of worksheets which reinforce literacy skills involving reading, language, spelling, and writing.

Please visit my Pintrest page http://www.pinterest.com/havenhillread/ for more ideas on getting students excited for science!  

10/23/15: Happy (almost) Birthday Jonas Salk!

Happy Birthday to Jonas Salk!  Jonas Salk, the important American scientist who developed the first successful vaccine for polio was born in New York City October 28, 1914. To learn more about this great scientist, my reader Jonas Salk - Famous Medical Researcher is perfect for combining science, history, reading, and writing activities! This third grade Level N reader is an informative text that explores Jonas Salk's discovery of the first vaccine for polio, which saved millions from getting this terrible disease.

Please visit my Pintrest page http://www.pinterest.com/havenhillread/ for more ideas on getting students excited for science!  

10/9/2015: Anniversary of the First Two-Way Telephone Conversation

Alexander Graham Bell and his assistant Thomas A. Watson held the first two-way long-distance conversation on October 9, 1876, when they spoke to each other by telephone over a two-mile wire stretched between Cambridge and Boston. 

Earlier that same year, On February 14, Bell and an American engineer named Elisha Gray both filed patents with the U.S. Patent Office for early telephones. There is debate about who got there first but Bell received the patent, and a few days later he succeeded in getting his telephone to work using elements similar to those of Gray’s.

Do your students enjoy learning about famous inventors? My first-grade Level F reader Alexander Graham Bell combines reading and social studies activities to provide interesting facts about Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone. Your students will build their vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension as they read the story, answer questions, and have fun with the puzzle!

9/30/2015: Happy Belated Birthday, Johnny Appleseed!

Fall is the time for apples, and September is also the birth month of Johnny Appleseed!  John Chapman, who later became known as Johnny Appleseed, was born September 26, 1774, in Leominster, MA

My original play “The Tale of Johnny Appleseed” is a great way to learn more about this famous frontiersman with your class!

It is written for use as readers’ theater, as a part of balanced literacy (Read-Aloud, Shared and Performance Reading or Guided Reading), or for an actual play production. In readers’ theater or through one of the balanced literacy approaches to teaching reading, children are not expected to memorize their lines, yet the reading encourages strong oral skills. An added benefit is performing the play for other classes or parents while increasing social skills, cooperative learning and creativity. Using plays in literacy-based classrooms promotes active listening for the performers, as well as the audience, and offers an engaging way to teach reading skills.

9/30/2015: Happy National Hispanic Month!

National Hispanic Month 2015 is here!

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month.  This month began as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, and was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.  

According to the official website “The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.”

Now is a great time to honor Hispanic history and culture in your classroom with some of these offerings from Haven Hill Learning on Teachers Pay Teachers:

San Jacinto Day – 1st grade Level G Level

Cinco de Mayo – 4th grade level R

San Jacinto Memorial –  4th grade Level R

Cesar Chavez – 5th grade level T

My original Level T reader Caesar Chavez: Champion of Farm Workers' Rights is Great book for your students to learn more about the life of Cesar Chavez who was a champion for rights for migrant farm workers. It is written as a Level T reader but can be used with younger grades for advanced readers or as a read-a-loud and also for higher grade levels for special education students or ELL learners with various reading abilities.

This four-page reader comes with three accompanying worksheets which reinforce literacy skills involving reading, language, spelling, and writing. Specific concepts, skills, and vocabulary targeted in the book are listed on the first page of the book.

9/16/2015: Prepare for National Fossil Day on October 14th, 2015!

Are you ready to celebrate National Fossil Day on October 14th, 2015?  National Fossil Day was begun in 2010 by the National Parks Service to raise awareness of paleontology.  Today, National Fossil Day continues to be organized by the National Park Service as a celebration “to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational values.”  The National Fossil Day website has a number of great resources, including a kid’s site and information on their annual National Fossil Day Art and Photography Contest.  

Fossils can be a fun  way to engage your students with science.  My Fourth Grade Leveled Books: Level Q - Set 2 consists of 7 books, including “Fossils and Paleontologists”  Each book comes with accompanying worksheets which reinforce literacy skills involving reading, language, spelling, and writing. Specific concepts, skills, and vocabulary targeted in each book are listed on the first page of each story.

9/9/2015: Happy Post-Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  I hope that everyone enjoyed a restful holiday weekend, and you all feel energized for the new school year!

Why not get your students excited for a new year of reading with some of my original plays?  These plays are written for use as readers’ theater, as a part of balanced literacy (Read-Aloud, Shared and Performance Reading or Guided Reading), or for an actual play production.   Using plays in literacy-based classrooms promotes active listening for the performers, as well as the audience, and offers an engaging way to teach reading skills.

9/9/2015: Get Ready to wish "The Star-Spangled Banner" Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to the American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner!”

During the War of 1812, on September 13–14, 1814 Francis Scott Key watched Fort McHenry being bombed by the British forces in the Battle of Baltimore.  In the morning, Key could see that the American flag was still flown over Fort McHenry, showing that the Americans had not lost possession of it. The inspired Key’s to write a poem, which became “The Star-Spangled Banner”  

Learn more about Francis Scott Key with your class with my book  Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner: First Grade - Level I Reader.  

This first grade Level I reader gives students the interesting background of the United States national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".   Francis Scott Key and the American Flag are also featured in my First Grade Level I – Set 2 book set.  

My  five-page Level O reader The Founding Fathers is a wonderful resource to bring information about life in the American colonies about the founders of the United States into your classroom.  The book comes with three accompanying worksheets to help reinforce literacy skills involving reading comprehension, language, spelling, and writing.   

Your class can learn more about some of America’s other important Founding Fathers in my third grade level O reader Ben Franklin - A Man with an Electric Personality

my first-grade Level G reader Ben Franklin, my second grade Level L reader John Hancock and a Study of Pronouns.  Your students will learn more about The Liberty Bell, and The United States Flag in my set of leveled books Social Studies Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels H/I

8/18/2015: TpT Sale- August 19th!

Ready for back to school? Haven Hill Learning is participating in Teachers Pay Teachers one day sale on Aug. 19th For one day only, enjoy 20 % off products in my TpT store and then use code MORE15 to get additional savings!

8/5/2015: Nelson Mandela and the Dream of Freedom

On August 5, 1962 anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested by South African police. In October of that year he tried and sentenced to five years in prison. While Mandela was still serving this prison sentence, in 1964, he was placed on trial for sabotage, high treason and conspiracy to overthrow the government and sentenced to life in prison.

Mandela was released on February 11, 1990,after 27 years in prison. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize along with South Africa's President F.W. de Klerk for their efforts to peacefully end apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was elected the president of South Africa in 1994.  He is held in deep respect throughout South Africa where he is often referred to as “the father of the nation”. He is also honored throughout the world for his lessons of patience, love, and tolerance. 

Learn more about this remarkable activist and politician with my original readers Nelson Mandela's Dream of Freedom (for 1st- 4th grades) and Nelson Mandela: Father of South Africa (for 3rd-6th grades)

8/1/2015: Happy Birthday to Francis Scott Key!

Happy Birthday to Francis Scott Key!

The author of the “Star-Spangled Banner” was born in Frederick County, Maryland in 1779.  During the War of 1812, on September 13–14, 1814 he watched Fort McHenry being bombed by the British forces in the Battle of Baltimore.  In the morning, Key could see that the American flag was still flown over Fort McHenry, showing that the Americans had not lost possession of it. The inspired Key’s to write a poem, which became “The Star-Spangled Banner”   

My first grade Level I reader  Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner: First Grade - Level I Reader gives students the interesting background of the United States national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".   Francis Scott Key and the American Flag are also featured in my First Grade Level I – Set 2 book set.

7/31/2015: Love Back to School Sale

It is hard to believe that August is almost here, and time to think about returning to the classroom for the fall. Teachers Pay Teachers Love Back to School sale runs August 3rd 12:01 a.m. (ET) through August 4th 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Books in my Teachers Pay Teachers store will be 20% off Aug 3 and 4th with Teachers Pay Teachers offering an additional savings using the 10% off Promo code BTS15!

7/27/2015: New Dr. Seuss Book "What Pet Should I Get?"

Do your students have pets, or do they imagine the kind of pet they would like to have some day?  This week a never-before-seen picture book by iconic children’s author Dr. Seuss was released, titled "What Pet Should I Get?"   In this book, the brother and sister seen previously in “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” visit a pet store and struggle to choose the perfect pet.   In this charming rhyming story, Dr. Seuss imparts the lesson that sometimes you just have to make up your mind, even when choosing is difficult.  

While you read this new book with your class, it is also a great time to enjoy my original  Second Grade Level K Reader All About Dr Seuss- Well-Known Children’s Author This biography tells the story of Dr. Seuss, the beloved children's author, whose books have been enjoyed by millions of readers. Your students will build their vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension as they read this short biography. This reader also be used in literacy circles with other classic Dr. Seuss books.

7/24/2015: Amelia Earhart Day

Mid-July is here, and July 24 is Amelia Earhart Day!  Famous American aviator Amelia Earhart was born in Atchinson, Kansas house in July 24, 1897 in the home of her grandparents, Judge Alfred Otis and Amelia Harres Otis.

Your class can also learn more about this ground-breaking female pilot in my reader “Amelia Earhart - Soaring High.” In this story students will learn facts about one of the most famous women in American history who was a pioneer in the field of aviation.

This book is part of a collection of leveled readers “Famous Women in History” for second through fourth grade features stories about eight women and their contributions to history:

Amelia Earhart -- Airplane Pilot (level L)

Abigail Adams -- First Lady & Crusader for People’s Rights (level L)

Clara Barton -- Founder of the American Red Cross (level N)

Maria Mitchell -- Astronomer (level N)

Helen Keller -- Inspirational Speaker (level O)

Ellen Ochoa -- Astronaut (level P)

Laura Ingalls Wilder -- Pioneer and Author (level P)

Millie Hughes-Fulford -- Scientist in Space (level R)

Each book highlights specific grade-level concepts and vocabulary. An accompanying set of worksheets reviews the targeted literary skills.   

7/20/2015: Moon Day

On July 20, 1969, the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, landed on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 space mission.  July 20 is now celebrated as “Moon Day” in honor of this historic event.  

My Fifth Grade Leveled Books: Level U - Set 1 includes a Neil Armstrong biography.  These leveled books cover all CCSS.ELA – Literacy Standards: Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas and Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity (RI.5.1 – 5.10).

Kids (and many adults) are fascinated by astronauts and outer space.  My third grade Level N reader Our Planets is a great way to harness this enthusiasm for space, and combine facts about the planets in our solar system with reading, and writing activities in your classroom

The book comes with five accompanying worksheets which reinforce literacy skills involving reading, language, spelling, and writing.

7/14/2015: Happy Bastille Day!

July 4 has come and gone, and now it is time to celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day!  Bastille Day is France’s Independence Day,  it celebrates the storming of the Bastille, a famous prison, during the French Revolution in 1789.  The revolution led to the dissolution of the French monarchy and to the beginning of a representative government.  Holidays can be a fun way to explore other countries and their cultures with your class.  Holidays can also be a good segway to some basic geography.  

Do you study geography with your class?  My book original book Directions - First Grade Level I Reader is great for social studies or geography unit! This book is also included in First Grade Leveled Books: Level I – Set 1.  My first grade Level C reader “A Map and a Globe” is also dedicated to geography.  it can be found in Social Studies Topics – Levels C – E. For higher grade level, the story “Finding the Mississippi – Using a Map and Globe” is included in my third grade level N – Set 1

6/30/2015- Happy (Almost) Fourth of July!

I hope that you all will be celebrating a happy and safe Fourth of July this weekend!  

This time of year it is especially fun and festive to learn more about the American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  

My first grade Level I reader  Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner: First Grade - Level I Reader gives students the interesting background of the United States national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".   Francis Scott Key and the American Flag are also featured in my First Grade Level I – Set 2 book set.  

My  five-page Level O reader The Founding Fathers is a wonderful resource to bring information about life in the American colonies about the founders of the United States into your classroom.  The book comes with three accompanying worksheets to help reinforce literacy skills involving reading comprehension, language, spelling, and writing.   

Your class can learn more about some of America’s other important Founding Fathers in my third grade level O reader Ben Franklin - A Man with an Electric Personality

my first-grade Level G reader Ben Franklin, my second grade Level L reader John Hancock and a Study of Pronouns.  Your students will learn more about The Liberty Bell, and The United States Flag in my set of leveled books Social Studies Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels H/I

6/23/2015: It is Almost Time to Celebrate Independence Day!

We are now officially into summer, and well into the month of June! Flag Day and Juneteenth, have past, soon it will be time to celebrate the Fourth of July!

This is a great time to study some important figures from the early history of the United States, such as the Founding Fathers.

My  five-page Level O reader The Founding Fathers is a wonderful resource to bring information about life in the American colonies about the founders of the United States into your classroom.  The book comes with three accompanying worksheets to help reinforce literacy skills involving reading comprehension, language, spelling, and writing.   

Francis Scott Key is another significant figure from the early history of our country. During the War of 1812, on September 13–14, 1814, Francis Scott Key  watched Fort McHenry being bombed by the British forces in the Battle of Baltimore.  In the morning, Key could see that the American flag was still flown over Fort McHenry, showing that the Americans had not lost possession of it. This inspired Key to write a poem, which became “The Star-Spangled Banner”  Learn more about Francis Scott Key with your class with my book  Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner: First Grade - Level I Reader.  

This first grade Level I reader gives students the interesting background of the United States national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".   Francis Scott Key and the American Flag are also featured in my First Grade Level I – Set 2 book set.  

Your class can learn more about some of America’s other important Founding Fathers in my third grade level O reader Ben Franklin - A Man with an Electric Personality

my first-grade Level G reader Ben Franklin, my second grade Level L reader John Hancock and a Study of Pronouns.  Your students will learn more about The Liberty Bell, and The United States Flag in my set of leveled books Social Studies Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels H/I