9/29/2016: Celebrating Johnny Appleseed

This week we are wishing a "Happy Birthday" to John Chapman, who later became known as Johnny Appleseed! John was born September 26, 1774, in Leominster, MA. Today you can visit Nova, Ohio, to see the last known tree to be planted by Johnny Appleseed himself,  it is 176 years old! 

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

One user recently gave us this feedback: "How fun! .. and at the perfect level for my first graders. Thanks so much!!"

I am sure your class will also have fun with this readers' theater play.  

3/23/2016: Spring is Here- Looking Ahead to Arbor Day

Spring is officially here!  It is a perfect time to enjoy the beauty of nature- baby animals, flowers, and trees!  Speaking of trees, Arbor Day will soon be here!  According to the Arbor Day Foundation “National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates throughout the year based on best tree planting times in their area.”  

Performing my original play "Trees – A Joy Forever!" is a great way to celebrate Arbor Day and the arrival of Spring!  This play is written for 2nd - 5th grades and has 11 parts. The play focuses on J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. The play tells the history of Morton’s contribution to establishing Arbor Day as a national holiday through the eyes of the statue (J. Sterling Morton). The statue comes alive when two children walk through Arbor Lodge Historical Park in Nebraska.

This is an original play 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.

You can find other original readers’ theater plays on my Teachers Pay Teachers site

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.

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.

9/9/2015: 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.

6/2/2015: Welcome to June, and Avoiding the Summer Slide

Welcome to June!  In your classroom, school is likely winding down into summer vacation, if the school year has not officially ended already.  

As the New York Times recently noted, Keeping kids reading consistently throughout the summer is one of the best ways to beat this dreaded “summer slide,” the loss of learning that occurs when children are typically not regularly engaged with educational activities during the summer months.  My collection of original readers includes relevant summer themes, such as What is Juneteenth?  This 4th grade Level Q reader tells the story of Juneteenth - a day celebrated at the end of the Civil War. From this story, students will about the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Around the Fourth of July, kids can learn more about the beginning of our country with my Level O reader The Founding Fathers

Students can also have reading and acting out original plays, such as The Wonderful Wizard.  Written with 16 parts, you will see that the Wonderful Wizard (Mr. Wonder) is never too old to help someone!  Although the play is written for students in grades 2-4, it can be adapted for other grades and abilities.

1/29/2015: Happy Groundhog's Day!

Groundhog’s Day is almost here! According to popular lore, if the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd we will be in for six more weeks of winter.  If he does not, we will get an early spring!  Probably the best-known groundhog is Phil in Punxsutawney, PA, "The Home of the Groundhog!" The official Groundhog’s Day site has a lot of great resources for educators.

If you are looking for another fun resource, your students will have fun learning interesting facts about Groundhog's Day and groundhogs when they read this play "Happy Groundhog's Day" and take part in the original card game "I Have, Who Has? – All about Groundhogs", included with the play. This fun, interactive game will have your class ask and answer questions to help reinforce facts and information shared in the play.

Written with 28 parts, the play is set at a school where the students meet the legendary groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, and are excited to learn all about Groundhog’s Day. Information about groundhogs is reviewed with a special game their teacher made for them.  

1/19/2015: Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day

Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day 2015!  

The week Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a wonderful time to teach your students about the life and legacy of the great American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today the legacy of Dr. King is honored across America by MLK Day of Service

You can read more about Dr. King in my reader Martin Luther King, Jr. - First Grade Level D Reader.  My original series of leveled books is written to incorporate the Fountas and Pinnell leveled vocabulary, Rebecca Sitton spelling words, and common core curriculum standards for grades K-6 in the United States. They are great for ESL students, too.

I have also created two original plays about Dr. King, I Have A Dream - The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Dream - A Play about Martin Luther King, Jr.

These plays are complete with a teaching guide that lists questions before and after reading the play, words to preview, and extension activities, your students will have fun, build self-confidence and increase in reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary development.

12/21/2014: Happy Holidays, and looking ahead to 2015

Happy holiday season to all, and thank you to everyone who helped to make the Holiday Sale at my Teachers Pay Teachers store such a success!  There are still a few days until Christmas, and still time for some of my original holiday plays such as Ding-a-Ling, the Christmas Bell

Written with 18 parts including Ding-a-Ling, the Christmas Bell, and friends, the other bells who tease Ding-a-Ling for falling and not being able to make a clear sound, this play shows how Santa is rescued in a very unexpected way.

I have written plays for use in my own classroom for many years. I am pleased to be able to share them with teachers all over the country through Teachers Pay Teachers.

For those of you who are looking ahead to the New Year, January will bring Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Right now I am offering Martin Luther King, Jr. - First Grade Level D Reader as a FREE DOWNLOAD!  This reader comes with two worksheets which reinforce literacy skills involving reading, language, spelling, and writing. Specific concepts, skills, and vocabulary targeted in the reader are listed on the first page of the story.  I also offer two original plays about Dr. King at my store.  Happy holidays, and happy reading!

12/14/14: Holiday Sale December 17-20!

The month of December is flying by!  Besides the December holidays, December is also Read a New Book Month.  My original holiday-themed plays are a fun and educational way to add some festivity into your classroom this season.  

These 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.

Our Holiday Sale is the perfect time to stock up!  On December 17th-20th all books and plays from our Teachers Pay Teachers store will be 20% off!

Besides the December holidays, now is also a great time to plan ahead for important upcoming dates such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month.

12/8/14: Happy Belated St. Nicholas Day!

Belated Happy St. Nicholas Day!  In the Western Christian calendar the feast day of St Nicholas is observed on December 6th.  Today this day is most widely celebrated in Europe, and different countries have their own way of celebrating on this special day.  In some countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, children will leave out an empty shoe the night before for St Nicholas to fill with presents and sweets.  Your students can learn more about Christmas traditions from around the world with my original play Where in the World is the Spirit of Christmas?

Written with 21 parts, 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. Please also be sure to check out my my full selection of original holiday plays at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  

Thank you, users for all of your your kind and thoughtful feedback. For "First Grade Leveled Books: Level H - Set 1" user Karen Anderson commented:

“These stories are very helpful in providing activities for my students that are meaningful and practical. interest level is good for both boys and girls!”

12/1/2014: Welcome to December!

December is here, and the winter holiday season has arrived!  What fun seasonal activities do you have planned for your class?  

Perhaps consider bringing one of my original holiday-themed plays into your classroom this season.  

These 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.

Now that our Super Cyber Saving Sale is here it is the perfect time to stock up!  On December 1st 12:01AM (ET) through December 2nd 11:59PM (ET) we will be offering 20% off as part of a sitewide sale.  Just use promo code “TPTCYBER” when you check out!

11/24/2014: The First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is now less than a week away!

My original play "The First Thanksgiving" 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.

11/3/2014: Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving!

Now that it is officially November, you may be thinking ahead to some fun Thanksgiving activities for your class.  My original play "The First Thanksgiving" 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.

Although the play is written for students in grades 2-4, it can be adapted for other grades and abilities. Additional students can share parts for choral reading or help with directing, props/costumes/scenery/sound effects, prompting, programs and invitations, Master of Ceremonies, or house staff (selling tickets, ushering, etc.).

Written with 13 speaking parts, and an unlimited number of Pilgrims and Indians who join in the feast on the first Thanksgiving, this play tells the story of how Sarah Josepha Hale encourages President Lincoln to proclaim Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863 to be observed annually on the 4th Thursday of November throughout the United States.

10/31/2014: Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I hope that you enjoyed a spooky and spectacular holiday with your students!  As we enter into November, Veteran’s Day, November 11th, is now approaching in a little over a week away!

A Veterans Day Play is an original play 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.

Written with 9 speaking parts, the play also features a band and choir of unlimited members. The band marches in a parade that the family (mother, father and two children) comes to see on Veteran’s Day and the choir sings the national anthem, as well as additional patriotic songs when the play is over. With an announcer, two parade assistants and three narrators, you are all set to put on this play that helps us all learn more about this important holiday of honoring our veterans.

My Teachers Pay Teachers Store also offers my Veteran's Day - First Grade Level E Reader

This first grade Level E reader is a excellent resource for teaching about Veteran's Day. Students will learn about why and when we celebrate Veteran's Day as they encounter new vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension. There is a two-page worksheet which accompanies the two-page story.

10/10/2014: Almost a month until Veteran's Day

Fall is moving ahead so quickly, it is hard to believe that Veteran’s Day, November 11th, is barely over a month away!

A Veterans Day Play is an original play 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.

Written with 9 speaking parts, the play also features a band and choir of unlimited members. The band marches in a parade that the family (mother, father and two children) comes to see on Veteran’s Day and the choir sings the national anthem, as well as additional patriotic songs when the play is over. With an announcer, two parade assistants and three narrators, you are all set to put on this play that helps us all learn more about this important holiday of honoring our veterans.

Some feedback for this play from other Teachers Pay Teachers users:

On  December 1, 2013,  Deb M. said:

This is a great resource and really added to our unit.

On  August 18, 2014,  Priscilla W. said:

Very nice. Going to use for our whole school.

On  October 5, 2014,  Martha S. said:

This is an excellent play for our Veteran's Day Assembly. I am doing this with our multi-age class for the assembly. The kids are excited about it and I have been able to add ways to make sure everyone in the class has a part in the assembly. By adding a few Patriotic songs with song tracks CD, we have an awesome assembly program that will appeal to people of all ages who will be attending. Thanks, Sue!

9/1/2014 Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  As a new school year begins for many of you, 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.

6/9/2014 Beat the Summer Slide!

For many classrooms across the country, the school year is now, or will soon be complete.  However, for many students these summer months mean summer school, continuing school within a year-round school schedule, or finding ways to fight the summer brain drain, aslo known as the “summer slide”  According to the U.S. Department of Education “Summer is the perfect time for students of all ages to relax, but it’s also a time when summer learning loss can occur. This learning loss is called the “summer slide,” and happens when children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months.”

The web is filled with helpful ideas for keeping kids engaged and learning during the summer months, including Six Great Online Games for Summer Learning, Ten of the Best Virtual Field Trips, and Free Ways To Beat The Summer Slide

Keeping kids reading consistently throughout the summer is one of the best ways to beat this dreaded “summer slide.”  Why not keep them reading with some of my original readers with relevant summer themes, such as What is Juneteenth?  This 4th grade Level Q reader tells the story of Juneteenth - a day celebrated at the end of the Civil War. From this story, students will about the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Around the Fourth of July, kids can learn more about the beginning of our country with my Level O reader The Founding Fathers.

Students can also have reading and acting out original plays, such as A Mixed-Up Bedtime Story: The Little Gray Wolf and Red Riding Hood.  Written with 13 parts, the students will have fun comparing this fairy tale to the familiar tale they know of Little Red Riding Hood.  Although the play is written for students in grades 1-3, it can be adapted for other grades and abilities.

5/6/2014 Teachers Pay Teachers 2-Day Sale!

Teachers Pay Teachers is Having a sale May 6-7, and so is Haven Hill Learning!  Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to take 20% off all books and plays while the sale is happening!

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

A (probably!) belated Happy Birthday to the Bard himself, William Shakespeare!  Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated in modern times on April 23rd, however some experts believe that he was actually born on April 20, or another day entirely.  However, we do know that he was baptised in Stratford upon Avon on April 26, 1564, so his 450th birthday did occur sometime recently!  Shakespeare’s birthday comes in one of the last weeks of National Poetry Month.  EdWeekly offers this great list of 13 Ways to Celebrate Shakespeare's 450th Birthday.  

Want another way to enjoy poetry with your class?  In my collection of four first-grade leveled books Literature Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels F - I your students will have the opportunity to explore different literature topics including a poem, two fables, and a folktale. You can also enjoy another favorite literary form of Shakespeare’s, the theater, with one of my original plays.  My reader play Trees – A Joy Forever! is also perfect this week for Arbor Day celebrations!