Tomorrow is June!

Whoa, baby! Vacation is really almost here! Actually, it probably IS here for some of you lucky teachers!

But for those of you who have to put in a few more weeks like me, I thought I’d direct you to a freebie in my TpT store that might be helpful for a couple of those last library classes! I made this free product around this time last year, and I just updated it today with one new printable worksheet. So now, it includes three no-prep, print-and-go worksheets that work like a charm during those last few totally crazy weeks of school.

Click the cover image below to grab a copy!

Cover clip art by P4 Clips Trioriginals

That’s it for today! I’m sure you have an awards ceremony, spring concert, faculty meeting, banquet, field trip, field day, exam, classroom cleanup, or library inventory to get to…so I’ll see you next time! 🙂

Copyright Resources for Teachers and Librarians

This image is a derivative of a CC0 image courtesy of StartupStockPhotos on pixabay

The internet is overflowing with information and media. There is just SO much content out there, and much of it is just a few clicks away! As someone who remembers looking at documents on those old microform machines for my own school assignments, I am, frankly, a little jealous of today’s students. (However, I did get to say the word “microfiche” from time to time, and our students don’t, and it’s a pretty fun word to say. So there.)

The downside to so much information that is easy to access and free? It’s easy to access and free, so kids can forget that it does not belong to them. Just because you CAN copy and paste and download words, pictures, songs, and videos from the internet in less than 5 seconds doesn’t mean you should. And if you do, it does not mean they are YOURS.

On the other hand, all those words, pictures, songs, and videos ARE there to be read, seen, heard, and accessed, and some of them, such as those in the public domain, are even available for almost any type of use. As teachers and librarians, we want our kids to find and use information, and although we don’t want them to misuse others’ creations, we certainly don’t want them to be afraid of finding and using media and information. We want to help our students learn to synthesize information and create new content, all while being respectful of others who have also created content.

With the complex nuances of copyright law and the ever-changing nature of technology, helping kids with all that can be a daunting task. But, I figured I’d take a stab at helping you help them!

This image is a derivative of a CC0 image courtesy of rawpixel on pixabay

Below, you’ll find links to some resources you can use to help your students get on the right track when it comes to copyright issues.

Disclaimer: I am NOT an attorney, so I cannot attest to the accuracy and validity of any information that can be found on any of the websites/resources I’ve linked to below! At the time this post was published, these websites and resources provided information that, based on my experience as an educator, may be useful to teachers, librarians, and students.

Copyright and Creative Commons Resources for Educators
  1. Common Sense Education – The Common Sense Education organization has created several fabulous videos and lesson plans that can help you teach your students about copyright, such as this Copyrights and Wrongs lesson – all available for free! That particular lesson was designed for high school students, but it could be adapted for middle schoolers, and there are other lessons for younger students on the site as well. (You do need to create an account to access these lessons, but it’s easy and free, and there is bunch of other cool digital citizenship stuff there too that you might be able to use!)
  2. Copyright Kids – Copyrightkids.org, created by the Copyright Society of the USA, is a kid-friendly site that kids can use to explore basic information about copyright law. In the past, I have asked students to visit the site to learn some background info on copyright and then take the Copyright Challenge. I would love to see the site make some updates, since I haven’t noticed any changes in the 5+ years I have been using it, but overall there seems to be a lot of useful information that kids are able to understand.
  3. Taking the Mystery Out of CopyrightThis resource, available on the Library of Congress website, shares great info on copyright geared for children, including an interesting (well…interesting for geeks like me) timeline of the history of copyright.
  4. Copyright Term and Public Domain in the United States – Cornell University – When your students already have a basic understanding of what “public domain” is, this chart by Cornell University’s Copyright Information Center can be used to help students determine whether works are part of the public domain.

    CC0 image, courtesy of JaneMarySnyder on Pixabay
  5. Teaching CopyrightTeachingCopyright.org is a project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and it provides teachers with five lesson plans and other resources that you can use to educate your students about copyright.
  6. Creative Commons – Hit up CreativeCommons.org to give your students the basics on Creative Commons right from the source. I enjoy this flow chart available there that breaks down the different types of Creative Commons licenses.
  7. Can I Use That? A Guide to Creative CommonsThis resource by Gail Desler clarifies questions you and your students might have about use of images with Creative Commons licenses. It’s very thorough, and as you read it, you’ll find links to many other fantastic resources that will add to your understanding of copyright.
  8. Finding Copyright-Friendly Photos for the Google Images Generation – This article by Kathy Schrock can be found in eSchool News, and it’s an awesome introduction to helping kids find photos to use in their school projects. It has a great overview of Creative Commons and also provides links to some sites that have free images that students can use in their schoolwork. (If you are still looking for more lessons and resources related to Creative Commons and copyright, Kathy Schrock has compiled a monster list of these types of resources on her website, Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything.)

I hope all those links will help you get started in the tricky task of teaching kids about copyright!

This image is a derivative of a CC0 image courtesy of rawpixel on pixabay

(By the way, the photos used in this post are thanks to the generous photographers out there who upload their photos with a CC0 mark onto pixabay.com – a website that just so happens to be another great place to visit when discussing copyright and Creative Commons!)

How to Shop Teachers Pay Teachers on a Budget

The more time I spend searching TpT, the more I wonder how I got by without it for so long! There are just so many talented teachers who contribute to Teachers Pay Teachers, and it is so awesome to be able to improve my instruction with their creativity and ideas.

As someone who both buys and sells on Teachers Pay Teachers, I thought I’d share some tips I’ve noticed along the way that will help you get the most for your money!

Shop the Freebies…

Every single seller on TpT is required to have at least one freebie. That means you can legally and ethically get something for free from EVERYONE on TpT, including some of the best educators in the WORLD. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I shop the freebies quite often.

Sellers upload freebies to get their names out there, earn positive feedback, give something back to all the hardworking teachers out there, and get kids around the world using their resources. They WANT you to download their freebies. Go wild! Here are mine – shop away! (By the way, if you happen to be a school librarian and need some freebies that will work well in a school library, check out my previous posts, “Freebies for Your School Library on Teachers Pay Teachers” and “MORE Freebies for Your School Library on Teachers Pay Teachers” to see some of the awesome free products I have found!)

Be sure you have signed up for the weekly TpT newsletter, which highlights 10 freebies every week, to keep up with new and fantastic freebies.

…And Shop Them NOW!

Here’s the thing about freebies on Teachers Pay Teachers – they don’t always have to remain freebies. Sellers can and do change their products from free to paid whenever they want. So if you see something you like, and it’s free, then download it right away – don’t let it sit on your wish list! If you have already downloaded it, you’ll still have access to the file if you need to download it again later, even if the seller decides to increase the price. Some sellers offer occasional “flash freebies” that are free only for a short amount of time, so if you see a flash freebie, you always want to click quick and get it right away.

Speaking of Wish Lists…

While it does not make sense to add freebies to your wish lists (just get them right away!), DO add resources to your wish list that you like but can’t buy at the moment. There’s always a chance that the seller will change the price, or bundle that resource with others, and then you can save money  wholesale club style. Having a wish list helps you keep track of products so you can periodically check prices and watch for potential bundle savings. Having an active wish list also sets you up to get the resources you want at seriously fabulous prices when they go on sale.

And…Speaking of Sales…

Teachers Pay Teachers has occasional sitewide sales in which you can receive discounts of up to 25%. Teachers Pay Teachers and the individual teacher-authors partner together to provide the discount, so you can save a lot of money in many TpT stores. Typically, there is a unique discount code for each sale, so keep a look out for emails about when these sales are happening.

Individual sellers, and small groups of sellers, also throw sales sometimes, so be sure to follow the sellers you love so that you’ll know about their sales.

Leaving Feedback = A Coupon

Okay, so you know how at some fast food places, the receipt says that if you call a number and do a survey on your experience, and then you get a free coffee or burger? Well, TpT does that too, except it is MUCH less of a hassle. No receipt to clutter up your purse, no phone number to call – just a couple of clicks to provide your feedback and get credits toward future purchases.

Let’s say you purchase a resource that costs $10. If you leave feedback for the seller, you will receive 10 “credits” that you can use toward a future purchase. Each credit ends up being worth 5 cents, but they add up quickly – that one $10 purchase got you 50 cents worth of credits, so imagine what a back-to-school shop-til-you-drop could do. TpT rounds up for you, also, so if the resource was $9.50, you’d still get 10 credits.

It actually works out well for everyone, because sellers love to receive feedback on their work, and buyers love discounts.

Love a Resource? Buy With a Buddy!

If you and a colleague are both interested in the same resource on Teachers Pay Teachers, you can save money if one of you purchases the resource plus an additional license, which will be at a discounted price – usually 10% off. (Just as an FYI, TpT sellers price each resource based on the idea that it will be used by one teacher only, so to make sure you are abiding by copyright law and the seller’s terms of use, you’ve gotta get those additional licenses if you and a friend both want to use a resource!)

Become a Groupie

When you find a great resource and know you’ll be back for more products from that seller, it makes sense to follow that seller, both on TpT AND on his or her blog and/or social media. TpT sellers use blogs and social media to keep you informed of flash freebies, sales, new products, and sometimes even gift card giveaways, so it makes a lot of sense to follow them every which way you can so you don’t miss any news.

(You can follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers by clicking here, and on Pinterest by clicking here and then clicking “Follow.” Oh, and you can subscribe to my blog by typing in your email address up at the top of this post!). (Update 05/17/18: I am now on Instagram too…click here and click “Follow”!) 🙂

Now, when you follow sellers on TpT, you will be the first to know about their new products, which is awesome because sellers often list their products at a reduced price for the first 24 or 48 hours. I do this somewhat haphazardly at my store, I’ll admit, but I have seen some stores that do it for EVERY new product, and I have even seen some that list ALL their products as FREE for 24 hours or so. The thing is, you aren’t necessarily going to know what is going on with the sellers you follow unless you log into TpT regularly, so make sure that Teachers Pay Teachers makes the list of sites / apps you check often – not just when you need a specific resource.

And feel free to take a step beyond following and actually connect with TpT sellers. They are, after all, just teachers like you and me who probably love meeting new people, learning, networking, and sharing ideas. True story: one time, I emailed a TpT seller with a question about a resource, and after a few emails back and forth, this generous seller offered to make some changes to the product AND give me a free resource, all for checking in with her. If you love a seller, comment on his/her blog posts or social media, leave a positive feedback or Q & A comment in TpT, or send an email to say hi or ask a question. You may end up with a free product, a free TpT gift card, some new teaching tips, or even a new pal!

Bundles, Bundles, and More Bundles!

As I mentioned when I was talking about wish lists, buying resources as part of a bundle is a great way to save money. (A bundle is just a group of resources sold together for less money than they would be if you bought them individually.)

In some TpT stores, growing bundles are also an option, which means that when you purchase the product, it is incomplete (but a lot cheaper) and more resources will be added to the product over time. Be sure to read product descriptions carefully so you know what you are buying, but this can seriously be an awesome way to get the resources you need without spending too much money.

For example, I recently purchased a clip art growing bundle that cost me $5. The price went up as more and more resources were added, and now, at the time this is being posted, the same resource costs $36.50, but I can access all of the clip art, even the clip art that was just added. Oh, yeah!

Maybe Somebody Else Wants to Pay for That?

If your school gives you a budget to spend on classroom supplies, don’t forget that TpT products can fall into that category. Teachers Pay Teachers even accepts purchase orders for purchases over $20, making it even easier to make purchases with the school district’s money.

Better yet, share info about Teachers Pay Teachers’ newest program, TpT for Schools, with your principal. TpT for Schools allows teachers to request educational products on TpT and send those requests to their administration, who can then purchase resources for each teacher. I’m thinking this could be a perfect way to get funds for those big ticket items you might not otherwise be able to afford. It’s definitely worth checking out – if your principal likes the idea, you may end up with fabulous TpT resources that you can use in your classroom without having to pay for them yourself!

Also, don’t forget about all those unbelievable PTO parents out there who go above and beyond to help their children get the best education possible. You could consider contacting the school/parent organization at your school about the possibility of purchasing resources or TpT gift cards.

Track Your Spending for Tax Savings

(Disclosure/Disclaimer: I am not an accountant, nor do I play one on TV! The following information is not intended to be considered tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional before making any tax-related decisions.)

If you do have to foot the bill for Teachers Pay Teachers resources yourself, here’s another tip! This isn’t exactly a way to save money on your purchases, but it could save you some money overall. The money you spend on TpT may be tax deductible, even with the new tax plan rolling out for your 2018 filing. (There was some debate on whether that deduction was going to stick around, but it did! Yay!) The TpT site does keep track of your purchases, so it will be easy to figure out how much you spent when you are doing your taxes.

If you are buying resources to use in your classroom, the deduction is for up to $250 of expenses that were not reimbursed, and educators who work at least 900 hours a year in a K-12 school may be eligible.

If you are TpT seller, the purchases you make on TpT to use for the resources you sell (e.g. clipart, borders) can offset your earnings, resulting in less taxable income, so sellers should keep track of those expenses as well.

(Again, please check with your tax professional to discuss your unique tax situation. For more information, you can read these articles on the IRS website about the educator expense deduction and small-business expenses.)

Ready to Save on TpT?

I hope these ideas will make your shopping trips on TpT even more fun because you’ll know you are providing your kids with the best resources and saving money at the same time!

 

Introducing…KIND-ergarten Math!

 

Jimmy has 5 cans. Joey has 5 cans. How many cans do they have altogether?

There were 4 kids playing tag. One more kid joined in. How many kids are playing now?

These are the types of word problems I’m used to seeing on my daughter’s kindergarten math homework. I guess it’s the librarian in me, but I find myself wanting a little more from the stories.

Like, I want to know, why do Jimmy and Joey each have five cans? What are they planning to do with these cans?

And that kid that joined in the game? So, how did that happen, exactly?

I got to thinking that these word problems are a bit of a missed opportunity. Instead of an ambiguous story about some random dudes with cans and kids playing tag, what if the stories had just a teeny bit more depth? What if math time could also be a time to teach kids about kindness? Perhaps we could find out that Jimmy and Joey were collecting cans to give to a food pantry! Why couldn’t we find out that the four kids who were playing tag saw a new student sitting alone, introduced themselves, and invited him to play?!

Enter KIND-ergarten Math

I decided this type of math resource should exist, so last week I sat down and started making what I call “KIND-ergarten Math” resources for my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I wanted to create math worksheets that would allow teachers to weave some character education conversations into their math lessons. Each of my “KIND-ergarten Math” worksheets has word problems that do tell a little bit more of the story, giving the teachers the opportunity to take a few minutes to talk to their students about kindness.

So now, those flowers we’re adding up are a gift for Grandma. The crayons we add are crayons we are helping to pick up when a classmate dropped them. The shirts we are counting are for a clothing drive.

So far, I have two of these resources in my storea KIND-ergarten Math Free Sample and KIND-ergarten Math for Springtime. (Update 04/07/18: I just added another KIND-ergarten Math Resource – KIND-ergarten Math: Subtraction! Feel free to check it out!) I am so excited to think about all the positive conversations that can accompany these assignments. I can imagine all the awesome things that amazing teachers will do with these, and I’m totally pumped to make more of these resources.

Grab a copy of my KIND-ergarten Math freebie!

To my librarian friends, don’t worry – I do have several library resources in the works, too! But I’m hoping that by developing new types of resources, I can reach out to a whole new group of students and play a little role in their education as well.

And as a celebration of my new resources, EVERYTHING in my Teachers Pay Teachers store is 15% off from now until Monday, March 19, 2018.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and may God bless you! 🙂

 

Ten Terrific Read Alouds for Kids in Kindergarten!

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, so if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

I love kindergarten! It seems like every year, the kindergarten kids have the most enthusiasm and energy of any of the classes, AND they obviously win the “cute” award, so I always look forward to that library class. (It also doesn’t hurt that the fantastic kindergarten assistant visits the library with the class to help keep them in line!)

It is always very obvious which read aloud stories are hits with the kindergarteners and which books aren’t their favorites. Keeping twenty five-year-olds engaged during read aloud time can be a tall order…EXCEPT when I’m reading one of these books to them!

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas

We might as well start with this high energy book for your high energy students! The kids love this because A) it’s silly B) it’s cute and C) I let them jump around during the story. (How can you read the line, “Jump up and down on chicken’s sofa!” and make the kids stay still?)

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

This one is fun, AND it’s a perfect start to a library behavior and etiquette lesson. After I read this story, we talk about shelf markers, and taking on the role of the pigeon, I ask the kids if I can do a bunch of things with my shelf marker that I clearly should not do.  The kids, who are now used to responding “NO!” when the pigeon asks about driving the bus, continue to yell “NO!” after each of silly questions I ask about what I can do with my shelf marker.  (Me: Should I pretend my shelf marker is a hat? Kids: NO! Me: Can I swing it around? Kids: NO! Me: Just ONE swing-er-oo? Kids: NO!) Soooo much fun!

The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent

The kids will love this story about a caterpillar and a polliwog growing up and changing! This one is perfect for spring. (And…we’re finally getting there! Spring is in sight! Yay!)

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Here is another really cute story, and it emphasizes the importance of being polite and using manners. Last year’s kindergarten class voted it one of their most favorite read alouds! (If your students like this one, you could also try out a few other adorable stories about Mr. Panda, including I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda and Thank You, Mr. Panda.)

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Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett

This book is more fun than a barrel full of an undisclosed number of monkeys! It has interactive moments built right into the story, so it will keep your kids on the edge of their carpet squares.

Leon the Chameleon by Melanie Watt

Here we have the story of little Leon the Chameleon, who always turns a different color from all the other chameleons (which makes him feel sad in the beginning of the story, but turns out to be a very good thing in the end). You can use this story as a springboard for talking about what it is like to feel different, and how our differences make us unique.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

With Dr. Seuss’s birthday right around the corner, I had to include my favorite Dr. Seuss classic in this list of read alouds! It’s the best book ever written with fifty words or less!

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

As a school librarian, when I find a book that kids love AND it takes place in the library, I know I have a winner! Library Mouse is the story of a mouse who lives in a library and writes books at night, so it even inspires kids to become authors!

A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

My students enjoy the Fly Guy books we have in our library, and this one is my choice for the best read aloud in the bunch, mostly because it is larger than the others so everyone can see the pictures! The kids love this story of Fly Guy’s quest for a pet.

You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown

This is the story of one day when Lucille Beatrice Bear decides that she WILL make a new friend, right then and there. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well at first. This one inspires A LOT of giggling!

I hope my list gave you some new ideas that you can share with your students.  What are your favorite books to read to kindergarten kids? Feel free to add some more suggestions in the comments!


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Michaels Kids Crafts

FREE Coloring Fun for Catholic Schools Week (or Any Time!)

Happy Catholic Schools Week to all the Catholic school teachers out there! If you work in a Catholic school, this week typically brings special events, spirit days, a little bit of chaos, and LOTS of fun.

To celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I developed a little freebie for you over at my Teachers Pay Teachers store! It’s a coloring page that lists the names of some of the books of the Bible, and students need to color the shapes with Old Testament Books red and the shapes with New Testament Books pink. The resulting picture will be a colorful heart – to remind the kids of God’s great love for them!

I figured it would work well during Catholic Schools Week, OR as a Christian-themed Valentine’s Day activity, OR as an “any time” activity for your classroom, religious ed program, or homeschool. Click the cover image below to pop over to my store and get your freebie! 🙂

Or click here to see ALL the freebies at my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! May God bless you! 🙂

 

 

 

 


Disclosure: The banner below is an affiliate link. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. 

Advent promotion

(More!) Freebies for Your School Library on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Happy New Year, everyone! If two of your New Year’s resolutions for 2018 are to save money and to treat your students to brand new resources in your school library, you definitely found the right place to start!

I wrote a post a few months ago with links to over 40 free downloads from Teachers Pay Teachers that can be used in the school library, and so far, it’s been the most visited post on my blog. I have been digging up more awesome free Teachers Pay Teachers products lately, and since we’re now almost halfway through the school year, I figured you guys might be ready for another list of fabulous freebies!

I tend to get a little enthusiastic when I go on my free download sprees…I apologize in advance if I seem a bit giddy. (But…ALL THIS STUFF IS FREE! FREE! FREE! IT COSTS NO MONEY!)

Are you ready to shop til you drop? (Or, in this case, point and click a lot of times?)

Parts of a Book / Text Features

This awesome product by Wife Teacher Mommy will help you teach your students about text features! It includes a great Venn diagram that will help kids understand the similarities and differences between a table of contents and an index!

I downloaded this freebie by Anderson Academics for my students when we were reviewing using a glossary. It includes a nonfiction article about bats complete with a little cute mini glossary, so it gave my students good practice working with an informational text and referring to the glossary as needed. Love it!

Genres

Here is a cute freebie by inourlibrary that you can use to help your students understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction!

SPO Resources designed a gorgeous poster and coloring page that will help you teach your students about the fairy tale genre!

And here is a free and wonderful set of genre posters by Kristina Civali!


Disclosure: The banner below is an affiliate link. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.

Shop Fat Brain Toys - A Smarter Way to Play!

Reference Books

When it’s time to introduce different books in the reference section of your library, save time by using this already-made PowerPoint presentation by Jessi Olmsted!

And try this resource by Oak Roots and Arrows! It includes signs that explain each type of reference book!

Download this free worksheet by The Introvert Teacher to give your kids some practice with their dictionary skills!

And for more dictionary practice, how about a free dictionary packet by Nolan Resources?!

Using a Card Catalog

Check out this product by The LibraryFox that will give your kids a chance to practice using their online card catalog!

And to give your students more practice with the card catalog, here’s a freebie by Library Princess!

Poetry

Get your school involved in Poem in Your Pocket Day with this free resource by More Than a Worksheet!

Library Decor

Is it time to add something new to those library walls? Just download, print, and hang these Dewey Decimal signs by Little Library of Learning!

Or this cute library sign by Hello Literacy!

Or this library rules banner by Mister Librarian!

Or…all of them (because…they’re FREE!)

Extension Activities Designed for Specific Picture Books

If you read How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky with your students, download this free resource by The Library Patch!

This resource by Trina Deboree Teaching and Learning includes some terrific ideas and activities to go with Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems!

This cute booklet by Staying Cool in the Library goes with the popular picture book Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman!

This sequencing activity by Little Miss Librarian is designed to be used with another great library read aloud: Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss!

This awesome freebie by Kathy Goosev Howell will knock your socks off! It has activities to go with not one, not two, not three, but SEVENTEEN picture books. Definitely something for everyone in this free product!

Seasonal/Holiday Activities

For Groundhog Day, your students can color these free bookmarks by Let’s Learn S’more!

Thanks to Sweetest Seconds in a Day, your students can practice their ABC order with this cute Valentine’s Day themed product!

And here are some fantastic Valentine’s Day themed bookmarks by Luv2Educate for your students to color!

This Valentine’s Day resource (by me!) will help your students practice differentiating between a fiction call number and a nonfiction call number!

Cover images by Krista Wallden and Kim’s Creations

And ATBOT the Book Bug has some really fun St. Patrick’s Day bookmarks!

The unCommon Library has created a fun, free, fall-themed game for your library students to play – The Dewey Dash!

Little Library Learners’ pack of Thanksgiving-themed library resources is so cute! I didn’t discover this product until after Thanksgiving, but I will definitely have it on hand for next year!

Fun Stuff

And here are some superhero-themed bookmarks by A Sunny Day in First Grade for your students to decorate!

This product by Lake Loon Learning Resources consists of little signs that say things like, “Pick me! Pick me!” and “Read me. I’m great!” You can print them out and stick them next to books on your library shelf to get kids interested in them! Such a creative and fun idea!

And here we have a library-themed song by Debbie Clement – complete with the audio file and the lyrics! So cute!

Clip Art

I am so excited about this find! Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs has amazing free clip art sets to go with popular nursery rhymes, including a free Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe set, a free Hey Diddle Diddle set, and a free Baa Baa Black Sheep set.  I can’t believe how adorable (and free!) they are!

I hope your library bag o’ tricks is overflowing with new stuff! 🙂

And next time that bag needs a little more replenishing, don’t forget to visit my store, and the Teachers Pay Teachers stores of all the other teacher-authors featured today, to stock up!

**Thank you so much to the Teachers Pay Teachers teacher-authors who gave me permission to include their free resources in this post! For more freebies, check out my other post about Freebies for your School Library, and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss the next one!**


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My Spectacular, World-Famous Fiction and Nonfiction Song!

Well hello! You’ve stopped by at a fabulous time because I am about to reveal my SPECTACULAR, WORLD-FAMOUS Fiction and Nonfiction Song!

(Please keep in mind that “spectacular” might be a tad bit generous, and that it is only “world-famous” because I am publishing it on this blog, right now, which could, in theory, be read by people living around the world.)

I sing this in my school library when it’s time to review the difference between fiction and nonfiction. I teach fiction and nonfiction in kindergarten library each year in December, so I borrowed the “Jingle Bells” tune when I wrote the lyrics for this little gem.

Ahem. Here we go!

 

Fun, right? (By the way, I did have to adjust the Jingle Bells melody a little to make it work, so “We” in lines 2 and 6 is a little grace note, and “don’t want them to end” and “love nonfiction too” pick up the “jingle all the way,” if that makes sense.)

Feel free to sing it in your classroom or library to help your students learn the difference between fiction and nonfiction!

(Sorry, but please DO NOT feel free to make a recording of it and/or turn this song into the top forty hit that it clearly has the potential to be.  Hee hee.) 🙂


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Michaels Kids Crafts

Thankful for You!

Hi there! As we approach Thanksgiving (what?! just two more weeks?!?!), my list of things to be thankful for is even longer this year because I am so grateful for everyone who has visited my TpT store or my blog.

That includes you! 🙂

Blogging and TpTing are still new for me, but so far so great. I really enjoy writing these posts, creating teaching resources, and meeting new people along the way. It’s so surreal to check the stats and find out that people around the world have clicked over to check out this very blog!

Here’s an itty bitty token of my appreciation – a free teaching resource! I’m working on parts of a book with one of my library classes, so I made a Thanksgiving-themed printable worksheet about using an index.
Go ahead and grab a copy by clicking here!

Graphics by Mrs. Naufal’s Nook

I’m also sharing the gratitude love over at my Teachers Pay Teachers store by having a 15% off sale from now until November 12th. Feel free to check it out!

May God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving (and always)! 🙂


Disclosure: The banner below is an affiliate link. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.


Boo! A Book Care Freebie for You!

Just a short post today to say “hi!” – and “BOO!” – and give away a free library printable!

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I could never have too many resources for teaching about proper library book care! In kindergarten and first grade, I pepper my year with lots of reminders about how to take care of a library book, so it’s great to have resources that will work at different times of the year. With Halloween right around the corner, I put this worksheet together for my first graders:

Clip art by Chadelel’s Design

Click here to download it!

For an easy peasy library lesson, you could just read a spooky story, remind your students not to scare their librarian with bad book care choices, and put them to work on the worksheet during book checkout time. 🙂

Enjoy! 🙂