Reading Revealed: A Look into Your Students' Reading Potential

Over the summer, I spend my days reading, reading, reading! I read everywhere I can, and I read everything I can. This summer will be no different. In less than 3 weeks, I will begin my summer with nothing other than a book. And my Reading Crew friends plan to do the same! We are bringing you a summer reading link up like no other!

{Affiliate links my be present in this post. This means that when you click on a link and make a purchase, I receive a small amount of money at no cost to you.}

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Character Development Made Simple with Ada Twist, Scientist

Character development is one of those tough ones. How do you get students to see how a character changes throughout a book? How do they see how the author has used those character traits to develop a character? Today's Virginia Readers' Choice and Book Talk Thursday selection will help students better understand characters in a story.

{Affiliate links are scattered throughout this post to help fund future book purchases.}

If you have read Rosie Revere, Engineer, you will love Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty. A young girl as a scientist will have girls (and boys) excited about science again.

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Teaching Problem Solving Skills with Goggles

It's everywhere. We all have them...problems! And we have to find a way to solve them, even if there is more than one way. I have joined in with my friends at The Reading Crew to bring you another fun mentor text blog series to get you ready for school! {Affiliate links are scattered throughout the post to fund future book purchases.}

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Getting Teachers Ready for Book Talk Thursday

It's Back to School time! As a matter of fact, I am on day 4 with kids already. I'm exhausted and tired, but after this week, it always get easier. So, how do we all get ready for Back to School? So many different ways, and sometimes we need some pointers. In the book How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan {Affiliate link provided to fund future book purchases.}, some young kids tell us how they can help their teacher get ready for the entire school year.

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Compound Words That Make Sense

This year, my district finally purchased LLI, Leveled Literacy Intervention, for me! I love it and all of the lessons, but I don't like that it has taken away some of my ability to create new and fun lessons for my students. I decided that after every 10 lessons, we would have a "game day". We have had some game days this year, and I was excited that my second graders had been working on compound words. Though this seems so easy, I love that I could help them see that smaller words can make bigger words.

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Are You Prepared for Your Best Year Ever?

All good things must come to an end! This summer has been fun-filled and exciting for my family. As I reflect on the rejuvenation of the summer, I am ready for my best year ever! Already my team of teachers and I have mapped out some new curriculum ideas and thought about how we are going to be the change that is needed for our school. We want to empower our students as readers and writers, so they will be ready to tackle the world. We know we can't do it alone, but we are ready!

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There's Power in Reading with Superhero Posters

This school year, I am shaking it up a little and will be redecorating. I have had the same theme for 5 years and am ready for a big change, one that reflects more of who I am and what I love ~ superheroes!And since it is the middle of the summer, I am also linking up with some bloggy friends to share a freebie and sale with each of you! We are celebrating Christmas in July and want to share our talents with our readers!

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Shark Week Blog Hop and Freebie!

It's Shark Week, and what better way to celebrate than with a blog hop! I have teamed up with some other bloggy friends to bring you a fun blog hop and great freebies! You don't want to miss it!

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Flip Flops, Beach Chairs, and Teaching With Mentor Texts Summer Blog Hop

Summer is here, and I am excited to team up with some of my friends to bring you a mentor text blog hop like no other! All of the blogs participating have a book to share, lesson ideas, and a freebie (some forever and some limited time). So hop around and enjoy!

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Books and Brackets Blog Hop

Are you excited about a fun March and blog hop full of fun?!  The Books and Brackets Blog Hop hosted by Jackie from Neat, Sweet, and Hard to Beat is chock full of fun!  Welcome to Reading Toward the Stars as we roll through March.

One of the best parts of March is the fun holiday of St. Patrick's Day. Since my favorite color is green, I so enjoy wearing some of my favorite green clothes, along with some bling. And leprechauns are just so much fun and cute!

**This post contains affiliate links to help fund this blog.**

A favorite book of mine for St. Patrick's Day is That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting.

In the book,  three leprechauns, Boo, Col, and Ari have to go on a mission to put the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  They all say they will go on the journey and make no mischief, but the problem is that the leprechauns cannot stay out of mischief.  It all starts when they paint the cow's hooves red and continues on from there.  The story leaves the reader wondering if they will put the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  The children will love the story and laugh along the way at the three mischievous leprechauns!

I have created a fun freebie for you that will make St. Patrick's Day full of learning! After reading the book to your students, you can use the activities to work on sequencing and writing skills. There are two levels of sequencing skills ~ one where students fill in their own shamrocks with events from the story and one where students put the events of the story in order.

There are also two writing pages where students can write their own stories about something else leprechauns might do. One page is for younger students and one for older students.

I hope you are enjoying the freebies on the blog hop.  Now hop on over to my store to grab this freebie! Click {here} or on the picture below to grab it!

And don't forget to enter the giveaway to win your own copy of That's What Leprechauns Do.

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And enter to win a TPT gift card from all of us!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day,and I hope the mischevious leprechauns stay out of your way!

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Book Talk Thursday ~ New Year's Resolutions

Welcome to the final Book Talk Thursday of 2015!  It's hard to believe another year has passed us by.  So much has happened in my life this year that I am enjoying reflecting on it.  Most of it was happy, but some very sad. The unforeseen passing of my mother-in-law at an early age has made me think so much about where I am in my own life. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her zest for life and long for her to be here.  This year, I resolve to live my life to its fullest and not take anything for granted, especially time with my loved ones.

Now onto this week's Book Talk Thursday.  As you can see, the button is a little different. I have created a new button to make it easier for others to join in and to share on social media.  This week, I am featuring a great book to help young children understand what a resolution is:  Squirrel's New Year's Resolution.

In the book, Squirrel has never made a resolution and doesn't know what it is.  He goes around the forest talking to his friends and learning what a resolution is.  Each animal has his or her own resolutions, so Squirrel must figure out what he should do.  In the end, his friends all work together to create the perfect resolution for him.

When I return next week, I plan to read this book with my groups.  After they have learned the true meaning of a resolution, we will work together to create our own resolutions.  By using these framed sentences to guide my students, they will show success in the activity.

You can grab this freebie from my TPT store by clicking {here} or on the image below.

If you would like to link up, feel free to use either of the buttons below.  You can add your book title to the button with the circle or just use the stars button in your post.

I hope all of you have a wonderful 2016! I am looking forward to a new year and many new memories.

Pin for later:

 

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

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Reading in Winter Wonderland ~ White Snow, Bright Snow

Affiliate links are present throughout this post. This means that when you click and make a purchase on a  link, I get a small amount of money at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure for more details.

I was intrigued by the old look of White Snow, Bright Snow, which caused me to take a look at the book.  I especially love that it is a Caldecott winner.  It reminds me of  how much we all enjoy the snow and then long for spring when we have grown weary of the cold weather.  It is a book I will definitely enjoy year after year as I use it in my classroom. 

I love how the book uses a very poetic feel to tell the story of a small town on a snowy day. It really captures the nature of how snow falling feels and what it is like after the snow has fallen. A beautiful and timeless story for everyone!

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Book Talk Thursday ~ Creepy Carrots!

As we get ready for Halloween, I wanted to share an oldie but goodie with you for Book Talk Thursday.  I just finished a unit on -ed endings with my second graders, and we are planning to play this game on Friday after reading the book today.  Enjoy!

In the book Creepy Carrots!  by Aaron Reynolds, Jasper goes into the carrot patch every day to nibble on the carrots.  All of a sudden, he starts to "see" carrots all over the place, but no one else seems to see them.  Finally, he decides to take matters into his own hands and build a fence around the carrot patch.  The fun doesn't end for the carrots, and Jasper is pleased!

The book has a great amount of past tense words in it, so I am going to spend the week working on -ed endings with my third graders, something they struggle with.  After reading the book aloud, each day we will work to find and write words with -ed endings.  For Fun Friday, we are going to play the game "Creepy Carrots".

The game is simple as students go around the board to spell past tense verbs correctly.  Or it could be used to add -ing to words, whichever you choose.  It includes two recording sheets, one for -ed endings and one for -ing endings for use in a literacy center.  The best part ~ it is FREE!  Click here or on the picture above to grab your copy!

And don't forget to link up again this week!  I love finding new books to read each week!

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

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Sensational Stamps!

Recently I was contacted by Holmes Stamp and Sign to receive and review a custom stamp from their extensive collection.  As a teacher, I love stamps, so I was excited about the choices.  I was so excited that I have become an affiliate for their awesome company, so this post is full of affiliate links!  If you click the link below, you can get 10% off, but keep reading, so you can find out how to order your very own FREE stamp!

Instead of picking the typical teacher stamps I have so many of, I chose a stamp for my home use.  I love it!  Here are some pictures of it in use.

When I first got it and opened the box, I saw this and thought, "How does this work?"

Then I saw the red buttons on the side and pressed them.  Presto ~ I had a stamping machine!

I love that the top of it has this, so I know what I am getting ready to use.

When I pressed down on the top and stamp, here is the final product!

Now I can't wait to address all of my change of address envelopes with this!  Won't that look amazing?!

So, you want to know more about the FREE stamp for teachers?  If you are a teacher, you can click {here} or on the picture below to search through your choices and get your free stamp!  Make sure you use the code PROBONO15 to get your free stamp. **$3.95 Shipping not included.** This offer expires October 31, 2015, so make sure you pick your stamp out soon!

**The free stamp promotion has ended! **  But you can get 15% off through October 31 by clicking below and using the code SPOOKY.

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Flipping for Fall with Strega Nona

Welcome to the Flipping for Fall blog hop!  I have teamed up with many of my literacy friends to bring you some of the best resources to use for comprehension strategies for autumn.

Growing up in Louisiana, we didn't see the trees change the gorgeous colors of fall like we do here in Virginia.  I love, love, love to see the trees in all their glory as I drive down the road or look out in my yard.  The mountains are beautiful this time of year!

Summarizing

Summarizing is tricky for many children.  They always want to retell what they have heard or read.  The idea behind summarizing is to make it short and sweet.  One or two sentences is all you really need to get the point across.  In fiction, it gets to the main idea of the story in an easy way.  I love using the book Strega Nona's Harvest this time of year to help students focus on summarizing.  The simple story line is perfect for children to work with.

Before working with this book, we worked on focusing on the main idea and summarizing with familiar fairy tales.  You can read that post {here}.

I then got the kids interested in the story by sharing some ideas in the book and giving some background knowledge.  We then created the foldable to be ready and thinking while I was reading because "reading is thinking" in my room!

While reading the book, my students listened to hear the answers to their questions.  After reading, we filled in the foldable to summarize the story.  Here are some examples as well as the finished product.

You can grab a copy by clicking {here} or on the picture below.

Did you catch my mystery word?  If not, it is autumn. Now it's time to hop to the next stop. Thanks for visiting today and be sure to come back soon!

And remember when you get to the end, you can enter to win a copy of each book in the hop!  Wow!  How awesome is that?!

Happy fall!

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