Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
LauraLeighn

LauraLeighn

Joined June 2020

Elementary Education Major
review
LauraLeighn
The Great Gilly Hopkins | Katherine Paterson
post image
Pickpick

Author: Katherine Paterson
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Newberry
Gilly Hopkins is a feisty spunky 11-year old who has earned the title “meanest girl in town”. After Constantly hopping from foster home to foster home Gilly is ready to find her birth mother once and for all. This is a book I would not be able to resist doing as a Read aloud (RA) and with a PG movie adaptation, I think the entire class would love to go on a journey with the

LauraLeighn Great Gilly Hopkins. Using the movie would be a great way to get in UDL principle 1.2 (Offer alternatives for auditory information ). As we read through the book students can use ESOL strategy 42 (Have students use timelines to arrange and sequence important facts and information) and keep a timeline of the adventures and trouble Gilly gets into. Cpalms actually has an entire resource page for this book, full of lessons, activities, and 4y
AshleyH I have never heard of this book but I want to look into it now! Showing the movie to students aligns perfectly with UDL principle 1.2. Since all students learn in a different way it‘s good to incorporate different teaching styles. Great post! 4y
DrSpalding This is a great read! I like your idea of comparing the book with the movie. Remember that you would have to get parental consent prior to showing anything beyond a rating of G. Using Florida‘s resource, Cpalms is a wise choice. 4y
4 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

Author: David Soman and Jacky Davis
Genre: Realistic Fiction
“No need to fear! The Bug Squad is here!” Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy is a realistic fiction (RF)about a little girl's adventure at the playground. When she and her friend can't agree on what to play she suggest he joins her and plays Ladybug girl. Together they show off their power on the playground and save a helpless pup from an evil derange squirrel. This book would be fantastic

LauraLeighn for Partner Reading (PR) weather that means each student takes turns reading each page or if they assign parts and read for their character. I think ESOL strategy 10. Teach think, pair, and share strategies in cooperative groups would go great with the PR. It would be great to encourage the students to be thinking critically as they read, let them bounce ideas off each other. This ESOL strategy plays well with UDL 9.3 (Develop self-assessment and 4y
LauraLeighn reflection) since you can encourage any student to think pair share as well as reflect on what they are reading. TeacherVision has some great lesson resources for this book as well, with fun activity pages, and reading assessments. https://www.teachervision.com/childrens-book/ladybug-girl-bumblebee-boy-activity... #ucflae3414SU20 4y
Emmaturtle3 Hi! I‘ve never head Id this book before, but I now want to read it!! The title remind me of shark boy and lava girl haha also, that is such an awesome resource. It provided so many worksheets, lessons and assessments for this book and I know many other as well! Great post :) 4y
DrSpalding What a helpful resource. This is a series! Ladybug girl is the main character of several books. Minor errors… Weather should be whether. 🙂 4y
3 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

Author : Dan Gemeinhart
Genre: Realistic Fiction
The remarkable journey of Coyote Sunrise was a tear-jerker if there ever was one. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride and you never want to get off. This Realistic Fiction (RF) if just perfect for Independent reading (IR), students will quickly be hooked and won't be able to put the book down. There is a lot of talk about crossing the US map and going from one state to another it would be

LauraLeighn helpful to use UDL principle 3.3 (Guide information processing and visualization) by having a map on the board with pins on the cities that Rodeo and Coyote visit. This plays well with ESOL strategy 30. Encourage the use of diagrams and drawings as aids to identify concepts and seeing relationships. Possibly students can have their own personal maps that they can mark the road trip on as they go through the book. Once again I find myself on 4y
LauraLeighn Teaching Books where I find so many useful resources. There is an author interview, multiple lessons for the book, and vocabulary lists. https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=61834 #ucflae3414SU20 4y
Emmaturtle3 Laura it was tear jerker for sure, I too loved this rollercoaster of a book as your know from our LC!!! I love how you mentioned that students can create their own personal maps what a fun and creative way for students to identify concepts and see relationships! Great post :) 4y
DrSpalding I am happy that I was not the only one to cry! Your resource with the author interview is quite helpful. I would share the interview with students that selected to read this book. I think it is an excellent option for literature circles and the idea of creating personal maps is an excellent extension activity. This is certainly one of my new favorites! 4y
5 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

Author: Tony Abbot
Genre: Science Fiction(SF)
The Sleeping Giant of Goll is an exciting and action-packed story about 3 friends and their adventure saving the city of Droon from a mean old giant. This Science Fiction (SF) book takes the reader on a true adventure across faraway lands and ancient kingdoms. This book is perfect for Independent reading (IR) and will definitely get the attention of any thrill-seeker in your class.

LauraLeighn The group of friends are always having to come up with solutions and solve problems, which is why ESOL 47.( Use information gap activities, sharing pieces of information to solve problems) would be a great principle to use on this book. Have the student write a story about how they would solve the problem on the Giant, or complete coloring puzzles. You can aid in comprehension by applying UDL principle 3.1( Activate or supply background knowledge) 4y
LauraLeighn and provide other books about kingdoms and giants. There were not any activities for this book or even an updated author website so I linked a resource that has a bunch of fun activities centered around knights and dragons. https://www.happyandblessedhome.com/preschool-activities-castles-catapults-shiel... #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding What a cool photo! I agree with independent reading however it could also be a resource that you use when teaching about ancient civilizations in social studies. 4y
3 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Who Was Pablo Picasso? | True Kelley, Who Hq
post image
Pickpick

Author: True Kelley
Genre: Biography
Who was Pablo Picasso? He was one of the most well known Modern Artists to exist. This Biography (B) is a great Literature Circle (LC) book and is great for class discussions. This book satisfies ESOL 28 (Provide biographies of significant men and women from different countries) since Picasso was from Spain. BY giving Lit groups worksheets to fill out as they read you can promote executive function

LauraLeighn and UDL 6.2 (Support planning and strategy development). This encourages students to plan and be more aware of what they are reading. Artsy Crafty Mom has an amazing collection of Pablo Picasso crafts and activities, ranging from play-dough cubism to making your own bouquet of Peace. #ucflae3414SU20 https://artsycraftsymom.com/top-10-pablo-picasso-projects-for-kids/ 4y
AshleyH I heard that this series of books are really great to have in the classroom! I think you EL and UDL principles align perfectly with this book selection. (edited) 4y
Emmaturtle3 Laura as an artist yourself, I think this is such a great Book to share with students because you will have such a passion! Also, I absolutely love that resource that you shared the bouquet of peace 🥺 so cute!!! 4y
DrSpalding English learner strategy 28 is perfect for these Bobblehead biographies and all other picture book biographies. In the social studies standards, you must teach about historical figures. These are some of the best books for the intermediate grades. They are visually appealing and provide accurate content. Use them. 4y
5 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
The Napping House | Audrey Wood
post image
Pickpick

Author: Aubrey Wood
Illustrator: Don Wood
Genre: Realistic Fiction
How peaceful must it be to be in a house where “everyone is sleeping”. The Napping House is a realistic fiction book that tells the story of a family all piled on a bed to take a nap. This book would be great for Choral Reading(CR) since it has highly repetitive phrases that students can quickly pick up on. ESOL strategy 14 Simplify your speech by making it slower and redundant

LauraLeighn would be easy to do since the slower the read the more students can join in the choral reading. By using UDL strategy 3.2 Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships you can encourage students to see the patterns in the book which will help them feel more comfortable participating. Carol Hurt (who runs a children‘s literature site) has an entire page dedicated to different teaching methods and lessons to go along with 4y
Mazzole18 Laura,
This is a great book to read for storytelling. I have used it with a puppet and with felt pieces. Your UDL strategy fits nicely and I appreciate your resources for the book.
Nick
4y
DrSpalding You did such a beautiful job with this storytelling. Incorporating ASL worked beautifully. 4y
5 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Three Little Pigs | Golden Books
post image
Pickpick

Author: Milt Banta and Al Dempster
Illustrator: Walt Disney Studios
Genre: traditional Lit (TL)
A classic every child hears and most get to perform, the Three Little Pigs is a traditional literature story. Easily one of the most enjoyable stories for Dramatic Reenactments (DR) The Three Little Pigs is a hit in the classroom. Students just love to “Huff and Puff” as they dramatically retell this classic story. Since this is a low-level book it

LauraLeighn it works great with UDL 5.3 (Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance). This book is great for classes first DR, It requires a wide variety of reading levels, so a higher level reader can be the narrator with lots of long parts and lower-level students can be pig 1 or 2 who only has a handful of short lines. ESOL 29. (Offer a variety of reference materials at the students‘ instructional level for independent 4y
LauraLeighn use) can be easy to satisfy since there are so many spin-offs and remakes of this book, it would not be hard to offer students books from the wolf's point of view or in their native language. The Website KidsSoup is overflowing with lessons, crafts, projects, math activities, and science explorations, it‘s an all in one stop for three little pig resources 4y
DrSpalding Dramatic reenactment works well for traditional literature. It definitely would not be hard to provide a book from the wolves point of you… Look up the true story of the three little pigs. The crafts on your website resource could be used in the dramatic reenactment. 4y
DrSpalding Your universal design and English learner strategies are specific and detailed. Nicely done. 4y
4 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Rhyming Rabbit | Joan Stimson
post image
Pickpick

Author: Joan Stimson
Illustrator: Carolyn Ewing
Genre: Poetry (P)
“ain‘t it fun to be a bun?” The Rhyming rabbits about a cute little rabbit born in a world that doesn‘t accept rhyming or talking more than a few words. This story is about a little rabbit who stays true to who he is no matter what anyone else may say or do. This book would be fantastic for a Readers Theater (RT) since there are 5 characters including the narrator, it would be fast

LauraLeighn and fun for students. This book offers a wide range of reading levels for the parts, with the narrator having the hardest lines and the Dr.Pill having only a few words. The RT of the book would work well with UDL 1.3 Offer alternatives for visual information in the form of a play. This would also be great for ESOL strategy 2. Promote cooperation (small groups) as well since this book can be read and performed as a whole class or in small groups. 4y
LauraLeighn To really bring the lesson about poetry and rhyming together I think fun-a day rhyming activities would be a great addition after the RT activities. https://fun-a-day.com/rhyming-activities-for-children/ #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding I agree that readers theater could work nicely for this five character story. Ladybird books have been around for quite some time. 4y
3 likes3 comments
review
LauraLeighn
The Red Book | Barbara Lehman
post image
Pickpick

Author/illustrator: Barbara Lehman
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Award: Caldecott
The red book is a wordless picture book that leaves the story up for interpretation. It is about a little boy and little girl on two completely different sides of the world who find each other through the pictures of a red book they found. Since the book doesn‘t have any words it would be great for the Storytelling (S) teaching strategy. It would not be hard to apply UDL

LauraLeighn strategy 7.3 (Minimize threats and distractions)since the book has such beautiful and interesting images you can get the student's attention and keep it. ESOL strategy 21. (Record your lectures, presentations, or stories on audiotape, especially for new students who have very limited exposure to English) can be a great tool for ELLs. By providing an audiotape of the storytelling lesson, ELLs can go back later and flip through the book 4y
LauraLeighn while listening. Teaching With Books has some great recourse for this book including author interviews, book guides, and lessons. https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=11371 #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding You have to have an account to view some of the resources. The site shows 13 resources that could be used with this book. I was checking to see if they offered the option of students writing their own story based on the pictures in this wordless picture book. 4y
3 likes3 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Number the Stars | Lois Lowry
post image
Pickpick

Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Historical Fiction
Award: Newberry
Number the Stars is a historical fiction novel about a young Jewish girl surviving in Denmark in 1943 during the Nazi invasion. This book would be a great Read Aloud (RA) book that incorporates history and literacy. It is important to use UDL 3.1 (Activate or supply background knowledge) and provide plenty of background knowledge about WW2 and who the Nazis and Jews are.

LauraLeighn It's important to educate the class on the subject of the story before diving into it, and this can play right into the ESOL strategy 28 ( Provide biographies of significant men and women from different countries). By proving students with information about famous/important people from the era students can build a strong mental picture in their heads. This nonprofit website Reading is Fundamental has over twenty different activities and games that 4y
LauraLeighn can be used for this book, it is really a great way to pad each day's reading. https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/book/number-stars #ucflae3414SU20 4y
Mazzole18 I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading this book as a child. It was my first glimpse at the Holocaust. Thanks for the great reminder and website. Your ESOL strategy seems on point. 4y
DrSpalding This is one of my all-time favorite historical fiction novels for children. English learner strategy 28 does not quite work because the main characters are fictitious. Were you thinking about some of the other historical figures included? If so it could work. This would be an excellent book selection to complement social studies instruction in fifth grade. 4y
5 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
La Princesa and the Pea | Susan Middleton Elya
post image
Pickpick

Author: Susan Middleton Elyr
Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: Pura Belpre Award (2018)
You can never be too careful letting someone marry your son, especially if he is a prince. In a new twist on the fairy tale, Princess and the pea is La Princesa and the pea! This story is full of English/ Spanish combination that flows smoothly and leaves context clues for translation. Sentences will go “his MADRE is picky”

LauraLeighn on a page with our main character and his mom. This gives students the chance to make connections and use context clues to understand. This also gives some ELL‘s an opportunity to shine and answer vocabulary questions in their native language. UDL 2.4 (Promote understanding across languages) can easily be applied to this book and would support the cross-learning of Spanish and English vocabulary during a Read Aloud(RA) lesson.This book would be 4y
LauraLeighn great for Read Aloud (RA) and gives our Spanish speaking students a chance to participate. As long as ESOL 22. (Give enough wait time for second language learners to respond to questions) is applying the lesson can run smoothly. Allowing the ELL‘s time to unravel the English part of the sentence and use the context of the Spanish words is important in facilitating a fair and functioning class. 4y
LauraLeighn . Mrs.Jumps's class website has a great breakdown of lessons and activities that can be used with this book https://deannajump.com/la-princesa-and-the-pea/ and includes plenty of images and downloadable. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding This is a wonderful multicultural version of a classic piece of traditional literature. Your resource could help you create storytelling props or props for an interactive read aloud. You have provided specific, detailed information regarding English learners in this post. Well done. 4y
3 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
After the Fall | Dan Santat
post image
Pickpick

After the Fall
Author/Illustrator: Dan Santat
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Awards: Charlotte Huke Award, Caldecott medal
“After that day, I became afraid of Heights” After the Fall tells the heart-wrenching story of Humpty Dumpty after he recovered from his fall. Humpty, now with PTSD, and has to cope with everyday life but his anxiety stops him from enjoying the little things. No longer can Humpty climb a latter to get to the top shelf at the store,

LauraLeighn no longer can he feel like he‘s among the birds high in the sky. This book introduces students to PTSD symptoms and Anxiety and shows them how easily it can take over their lives. This book can be used for Shared reading(SR), with the UDL 9.2( Facilitate personal coping skills and strategies ) and let the emotional coping mechanisms of Humpty be picked apart by students. This book helps to show students how to overcome anxiety and fear, and that 4y
LauraLeighn it is ok that healing takes time. It is important to remember your ELL‘s so by using ESOL 25. (Incorporate second language acquisition strategies in the curriculum) you can ensure students are getting the most out of this lesson. Translating new and high-frequency words will help to ensure they are comprehending the story. This is a truly great book for introducing anxiety and personal coping skills. 4y
LauraLeighn Once Again Mrs.Jumps class has amazing lesson plans for grades k-2 that are made specifically for After the Fall. They include timelines activities as well as cause and effect practice. https://deannajump.com/after-the-fall-humpty-dumpty/ #ucflae3414SU20 4y
See All 6 Comments
AshleyH I would love to read this book aloud with my future class! I love what it is all about. Your UDL aligns perfectly with your book selection. 4y
bsiqueira Oh my gosh!! I had no idea there was an aftermath book! I‘ll have to read this one. A shared reading seems like a wonderful idea and your UDL is perfect for this book pertaining to emotional coping. Great post! 4y
DrSpalding Your universal design principle works perfectly with your Humpty Dumpty that now has PTSD. This is an excellent variant of the original nursery rhyme. The illustrators pictures are fantastic! 4y
3 likes6 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

If You Give a Pig a Pancake
Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Awards: Quill Award (2006)
“If you give a student the chance to predict, they will probably want some background knowledge” The classic book by Laura Numeroff is filled with the antics and mischief of a little girl and a perky pig. Loved by children all over the nation, IF You Give Pig A Pancake is a great Shared Reading(SR) book for the class.

LauraLeighn It has simple language and a cute, easy to understand the plot. When you apply UDL 3.1 (Activate or supply background knowledge) you can then encourage students to use background knowledge to predict what is going to happen next in the story. This promotes critical thinking and heightens prediction and assessment skills. ESOL 42.( Have students use timelines to arrange and sequence important facts and information)helps to ensure total 4y
LauraLeighn comprehension of the story and gives students a reason to reread and critically think of the sequence of events. The website Fantastic Fun and Learning has an article by Shaunna Evan that lists resources, activities, and lesson plans to go with Laura Numeroff books, https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/activities-to-go-with-books-by-laura-num.... This would be a great resource if you decided to do an AS. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
Nkaufmann Laura, you did a good job of explaining why the UDL and ESOL principles you chose, would be helpful in the classroom. You made a great point in saying that it is important to promote critical thinking. That‘s something I haven‘t thought about. I also remember reading and loving this book in elementary school. 4y
AshleyH I love the book, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, so I know I would love this one too. Young students love to hear these fun stories. You made a great EL strategy selection as making a graphic organizer aids comprehension. 4y
DrSpalding Your resource has a lot to offer but remember to search the author and publisher first! These circle stories are excellent for sequencing activities. An author study in the primary grades would be an excellent option as well. 4y
3 likes5 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Wolf in the Snow | Matthew Cordell
post image
Pickpick

Author/Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Genre: Traditional Literature (TL)
Awards: Caldecott (2018)
“Huff huff, whine whine” Wolf in the Snow is a beautifully illustrated story with no back and worth dialogue which makes it perfect for the storytelling (S) teaching strategy. The Wolf in the Snow tells the story of a young child and a wolf pup as they come together to help find each other's families. The inclusion of only sounds and exclamation points

LauraLeighn provides a blank canvas on which students and teachers can create their interpretation. Many pages include landscapes and leave a lot up for the imagination, I think a teacher could easily implement the storytelling teaching strategy over this book. I think ESOL strategy 11. Place language in a meaningful context can be applied since the teacher is creating the oral story and are choosing what words will be said over which page. Making sure the 4y
LauraLeighn words are relevant but also level with the students' comprehension is very important when applying storytelling strategies. It is also important to take note of UDL (7.2)Optimize relevance, value,and authenticity, and be aware of how relevant and authentic the story is in relation to both the illustrations and the class. The website http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2017/04/wolf-in-the-snow/ published by Katie Cunningham on Classroom Bookshelf, 4y
LauraLeighn Lays out a lot of great storytelling techniques specific for this book and helps break it down for the best form for teaching it. This website also has additional links to enhance the lesson even further. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding This book screams creativity! I like the idea of storytelling and your reasoning as to why this would work well. You could provide the storytelling during a unit about the four seasons. 4y
2 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

The Runaway Racehorse
Author: Ron Ray
Illustrator: John Steven Gurney
Genre: Traditional Literature
A disappearing horse, Weird mud prints, and a race to win tomorrow? Sounds like your reading an A to Z Mystery! Ron Ray is at it again with the mystery novel The Runaway Racehorse. I think this book would be great for an Authors Study(AS), students can pick out one of the many A to Z mystery books written by Ron Ray and generally get the same

LauraLeighn experience out of them. These mystery books encourage students to think critically and use prediction skills to solve the many mysteries in the lives of Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. UDL 3.2 is once again useful as it Highlights patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships. This strategy is easy to implement when talking about mysteries as students need to use high levels of thinking to solve the problem By highlighting patterns and big 4y
LauraLeighn ideas, teachers can guide students who need help towards the answers and promote critical thinking with others. ESOL 26. Maintain a library of supplementary books and workbooks written in simple English, which offer additional illustrations for problems, is applicable. This book has very simple vocabulary and detailed images that enhance the story and would be a level appropriate read for intermediate/ advanced ELLs in 3rd to 4th grade. 4y
LauraLeighn I think doing a mystery lesson would be fun, this website walks the teacher through setting up simple and elaborate clues and puzzles for students to solve. https://enjoy-teaching.com/fun-mystery-activities-kids/ #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding Ron Roy created and easy to read series of books using the alphabet! I have read them all. Mysteries and trying to figure out who committed the crime… AIDS comprehension. The content in these books could actually be appropriate for upper first and second graders as well. 4y
2 likes4 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Vacation Under the Volcano | Mary Pope Osborne
post image
Pickpick

Vacation Under the Volcano
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: none
The Job of a Master Librarian is never boring! In the 13th addition to the magic treehouse stories, Jack and Annie find themselves in ancient Pompeii. On their first mission since being promoted to Maser Librarians, Jake and Annie must find and save an ancient book from a Pompeii library. Vacation Under the Volcano is a short

LauraLeighn quick-paced novel that could be used to link literacy lessons with science. The book is full of great vocabulary that is defined in the story and jampacked with interesting facts about ancient roman cities like Pompeii. This book would be great for independent reading, and even more useful as a selectable resource given to students during volcano or Roman lessons. I think ESOL 9. Teach note-taking strategies: T-lists, timelines, etc. would be 4y
LauraLeighn applicable since Jake takes notes in the story. He repeatedly demonstrates strong note-taking skills and shows how he breaks down information into quick facts and sorts them in T-lists. This ESOL standard would go great with a science lesson, as it encourages students to take notes as they read different books about the topic (example volcanos). To further enhance the lesson UDL 6.3 Facilitate managing information and resources can be applied. 4y
LauraLeighn Teachers will be able to manage the resources students get their facts from, and facilitate proper notes taking. An easy combination of the ESOL standard and the UDL methods. The website include is the Smithsonian official volcano website that is full of information on almost every volcano in the world. https://volcano.si.edu/ #ucflae3414SU20 4y
AshleyH I remembered reading Magic Tree House books when I was in Elementary school! I think it would be such a fun thing to also include in my future classroom. I agree that this book would be great for an independent read but also a read-aloud! 4y
DrSpalding Your posts are detailed yet concise. This is another series worthy of being in your classroom library. I love that you included the Smithsonian Institute site. There are so many fabulous teaching resources there. Continue to consult this site in the future. 4y
2 likes5 comments
review
LauraLeighn
post image
Pickpick

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
Author Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Exactly how far would you go to get an electric blanket? Well, the book “Click Clank Moo Cows That Type” (CCM) is a Modern Fantasy (MF)picture book about a group of cows on a farm who decide to protest against their farmer in order to get electric blankets.It‘s a short story by Doreen Cronin and beautifully illustrated by Betsy Lewin,

LauraLeighn which depicts the peaceful protest between a farmer and his animals over blankets. As the cows protest other animals join in and refuse service to the farmers as well. This book would be a very good Shared Reading (SR) book, as it has many repetitive phrases that a class can read together as well ss plenty of good ‘stop and predict‘ points. UDL 8.3 Foster collaboration and community can be successfully implemented multiple times with this book. 4y
LauraLeighn During the shared reading lesson students are feeling a sense of community and collaborating as a group as they read along and make predictions. The book itself shows the animals collaborating and working as a community to get what they want from the farmer. ESOL 20. List the most important words and phrases you use or plan to use in a presentation on a transparency or on the chalkboard would be a useful and easy strategy to implement. By having 4y
LauraLeighn definitions and translations for high-frequency words such as ‘typewriter‘,‘ electric‘ and ‘strike‘ upon the bored you can facilitate a more inclusive reading environment, and promote the most comprehension among all the students. The Shared reading lesson for CCM is linked as an example of how to conduct the lesson, http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/learning-about-wo... . 4y
See All 7 Comments
LauraLeighn Not only does this website highlight standards and activities but includes talking points that can be made during the lesson. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
AshleyH This seems like a fun book! It also can be a side lesson about peacefully protesting. It is great that it has “stop and predict“ points because that can get students to use critical thinking while reading. Your UDL and ESOLs align very well with your book selection! 4y
Emmaturtle3 Hey Laura! I love the amount of information you shared about this awesome book!!! I definitely think this book works well with ESOL strategy #20 because of the rhyming and repetition in the story. I also think this is for sure a book that needs to be shared with students aloud so SR works perfectly! 4y
DrSpalding You have highlighted a resource that builds upon what you know is appropriate for an effective read aloud. This book could include the students by allowing them to say the repetitive lines. Try this in your primary classroom. 4y
5 likes7 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Mount St. Helens: The Big Blast | Rita Golden Gelman
post image
Pickpick

Mount St. Helens The Big Blast
Author: Rita Golden Gelman
Genre: Non-Fiction (NF)
Awards: None
Many of us do not know the story of Mount St. Helens, how it grew a huge mass on its north side or that despite the evacuation warning people still visited and camped in areas withing the blast zone. Mount St. Helens The Big Blast (TBB) is a short nonfiction chapter book that describes the awakening, build-up, explosion and aftermath of the

LauraLeighn Mount St.Helen eruption of 1980. The book goes into detail about everything surrounding the explosion, including the effects of the mud and ash on the ecosystem and local communities. The book vividly sets the scene on eruption day, including testimonies and eye witness accounts, as well as interviews and images from first responders “One Man, about to be rescued by a helicopter, shouted, “wait a minute” and ran back to his house. He came out with 4y
LauraLeighn his pet boa constrictor.” This book would be a great addition to any volcano based lesson. TBB would be a great book for literacy circles (LC). The book is a short easy to read novel that includes lots of images and opportunities for critical thinking. With the inclusion of a worksheet, students can discuss the novel, make a prediction about the volcano, and draw from their prior knowledge. The book is separated chronologically, so it is easy to 4y
LauraLeighn implement critical thinking questions that will help guide students' predictions and discussions among their circle. UDL 3.2 (Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships) can be implemented easily with this book. LC worksheets can encourage students to focus on the patterns and frequency of earthquakes, the relationship between Human vs Nature (or Nature vs nature), and the unpredictable stages of volcanos.ESOL44. Focus on 4y
See All 6 Comments
LauraLeighn thinking skills; predict, categorize, classify, observe and report (oral-written-pictorial), sequence, summarize, is a useful strategy to implement for this book since you can focus on prediction, observation, and sequence of events. This book would truly be a great way to connect science and literacy lessons. The mount St.Helen visitor website includes lessons and activities for grades k-12 https://parks.state.wa.us/245/Mount-St-Helens 4y
LauraLeighn that can be easily used and adapted for classroom use. The website is run by the Washington State Park service and even though they are originally intended for pre-visit lessons, they can be used for any volcano based class lesson. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding What a fabulous idea to use a park website as a resource! This book could be used to complement science but also history as well! This is quality non-fiction. Be sure to balance fiction and nonfiction in your classroom library. 4y
1 like6 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Seedfolks | Paul Fleischman
post image
Pickpick

SeedFolks
Written by Paul Fleischman
Illustrated by Judy Pedersen
Genre: Realistic Fiction (RF)
Awards: Newbery Award
In the divers and busy streets of Cleveland, Ohio sat a vacant lot filled to the brim with garbage, until one day a young Vietnamese girl named Kim decided to plant some beans. SeedFolks is a beautiful story about the transformation of a smelly eyesore of a lot into a vibrant community garden.Every chapter is from the point of view

LauraLeighn of a different person and tells the story of how each of them comes together to plant and maintain a garden in the heart of the concrete jungle. Seedfolks effortlessly demonstrates how a community of vastly different people can all work and coexist as one large unit. The community garden brings people of all ages, different ethnicities, opposite backgrounds, and various motives together and shows how working together can truly accomplish anything. 4y
LauraLeighn This book is full of beautiful sentiments and realizations “watching him carefully sprinkle them [seeds] into the troughs he‘d made, I realized that I didn‘t know anything about growing food and that he knew everything”.This is an amazing book for the classroom and is a fantastic addition to not only lessons on diversity but lessons on science and social studies. This book can be used easily with the Storytelling (S) teaching Strategy(TS) while 4y
LauraLeighn reading the book one chapter at a time and discussing the events that occurred. Students can discuss experiences they have had that relate to the story and draw deeper connections. This book is also a good base to work with students on UDL 8.3 Foster Collaboration and Community. By having students work in groups to care for plants, they can learn a sense of community and learn how collaboration can make a difficult task easier much like how 4y
See All 8 Comments
LauraLeighn characters in the book work together to solve garden problems. Students can also collaborate between chapters to solve issues that are being debated in the book. For the ESOL students, this book can be very confusing so by implementing ESOL strategy 21. Record your lectures, presentations, or stories on audiotape, especially for new students who have very limited exposure to English you can provide a resource students can relisten to. Recording 4y
LauraLeighn each chapter allows students to easily return to points in the book that may have issues to solve, information they can use in their garden, or just to relisten to.
Website https://growing-minds.org/steps-to-a-classroom-garden/ has a wonderful breakdown on how to start a classroom/school garden. The website is dedicated to getting students and schools into gardening, it has many how-tos and resources that make school farming easy! #ucflae3414SU20
4y
gpraytor I loved reading this book, and I think you picked a fabulous website for educators to go to for a potential lesson. 4y
JoslynB I absolutely adore that you mentioned how science can be incorporated through this book. Science is important as is reading, so the opportunity to combine them together is excellent. The resource you provided is exactly how I would go about it: a classroom garden. Students can apply what they read to a hands-on activity and see how plants grow themselves in real time to then draw comparison later on. 4y
DrSpalding This is a fabulous post. The integration of literature and science is wonderful and I love the idea of the garden. Storytelling may be difficult but reading aloud a chapter after lunch each day would be wise. 4y
4 likes8 comments
review
LauraLeighn
Actual Size | Steve Jenkins
post image
Pickpick

Actual Size
Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Genre: NonFiction NF
Awards: BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
Have you ever been nose to nose with a Siberian Tiger? Or ever looked into the eye of a giant squid? Through the amazing and clear images of Actual Size, you will get to do just that. Actual Size by Steve Jenkins is a children‘s nonfiction picture book that shows you exactly how you size up to some of the world's largest and smallest creatures.

LauraLeighn This beautiful book includes information and life-size images of 19 different animals from all across the world. Students can directly compare their hands with the mighty gorilla, eyes with the smallest goby, and look directly at “the Saltwater Crocodile, the world's largest reptile”(pg13) and see how 3 of our heads can fit in his mouth!
This book is a must-have for any elementary classroom and is perfect for Read Alouds (RA).
4y
LauraLeighn The book has large images that are easy to see and interact with, and students will be quick to want to compare themselves to the many large and small animals included. This book is also great for ESOL adaption, one method would be (ESOL ST.40) Have students prepare individual card files of subject area-specific vocabulary with the names and small drawings of the 19 different animals in the book. The names of the animals are bolded in the text so 4y
LauraLeighn by providing the students with Card files they can practice word and image association. UDL Strategy 3.3 : Guide information processing and visualization can be easily implemented as students are already trying to process the size of the animals they are seeing, so by having them compare their hands to the images we can emphasize the scale at which these animals are. 4y
See All 6 Comments
LauraLeighn Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZczJfkYwMQ is an Animal Size Comparison video that includes many of the animals from the book that students can point out and compare the sizes of. The video was published by verified user Regarw Comparisons with information being cross-referenced with Britannica, BBC, National Geo Wild, The Animal Facts & Animal Files and is a great addition to the lesson. #ucflae3414SU20 4y
DrSpalding Another fantastic post. What a wonderful resource to expand on the message that the book shares. Non-fiction picture books can be wonderful additions to your science, math and social studies lessons. 4y
AshleyH Love the little turtle peeking from behind the book! So cute! I think this is a great nonfiction book because it‘s so interesting to see the actual size of these animals! I think students of all ages would love it. 4y
5 likes6 comments