6/22/2015: Interesting Inventors

June is a wonderful time to study inventors with your class!  On June 10, 1752 Benjamin Franklin famously flew a kite during a thunderstorm.  When his kite was struck by lightning he collected the charge in a Leyden jar (a vessel for storing static electricity between two electrodes)  This allowed Franklin to demonstrate electricity in lightning.

In Benjamin Franklin, my first-grade Level G reader, students will learn about this famous American  statesman, writer, printer, scientist, and inventor.

My other original books on inventors include my first-grade level F reader Garrett Morgan: Inventor, Alexander Graham Bell- Inventor of the Telephone, and Robert Fulton - Steamboat Inventor.  

6/11/2015: What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth will soon be here on Friday, June 19th! Learn more about this important American holiday with my 4th grade Level Q reader What is Juneteenth? This reader tells the story of Juneteenth - a day celebrated at the end of the Civil War. From this story, your students will about the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in the U.S.

The book comes with companion 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 story.

You can also learn more about Juneteenth and find more free Juneteenth Education resources from the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation

6/9/2015: Almost Flag Day!

It is now the second week of June, and Flag Day will soon be here! Flag Day has been officially celebrated throughout the United States since June 14, 1949 when it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Today, the National Flag Day Foundation is dedicated to carrying on “the tradition of the first flag day observance. On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19 year old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10 inch, 38- star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance.”

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 and keep your kids reading this summer with my book Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner: First Grade - Level I Reader!  

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.

5/6/2015: Last Day of Teacher Appreciation Sale

There is a currently a sale of 20% EVERYTHING on my the Teachers Pay Teachers site on in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day!

Choose from my wide array of original readers that cover a variety of topics, including science, math, literature and social studies.

5/1/2015: Happy May Day, and prepare for our Teacher Appreciation Days Sale May 5-6!

Happy May Day, I hope that you are enjoying spring!  Another thing to celebrate?  Teachers!  There will be a sale of 20% EVERYTHING on my the Teachers Pay Teachers site on May 5-6 in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day!

Choose from my wide array of original readers that cover a variety of topics, including science, math, and social studies.

4/16/2015: Almost to Earth Day and San Jacinto Day!

April has been flying by, and we are now just days away from Earth Day and San Jacinto Day!  

My original reader Do Your Part to Save The Earth is a great addition to your lesson plan for Earth Day, or when your class is studying recycling and conserving resources! This third-grade level N reader combines reading activities and science concepts.

The battle that would decide the outcome of the Texas Revolution, The Battle of San Jacinto, was fought on April 21, 1836.  The Texans were led to victory by General Sam Houston against a Mexican army led by Santa Anna.  Santa Anna would soon sign a peace treaty that required the Mexican army to leave the land that would become the Republic of Texas, later the US state of Texas.    

Your class can learn more about this holiday and its history in my original 1st grade Level G reader San Jacinto Day

The San Jacinto Monument in Houston commemorates this battle.  It is the world's tallest monumental column and tallest war memorial.  My original 4th grade Level R reader “The San Jacinto Monument” will tell your class more interesting facts about this monument and the early history of Texas.