Huge ($250!! x 2) giveaway for teachers!

BACK TO SCHOOL MEGA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Could you use some extra spending money to help you purchase everything you need for your 2017-18 classroom? Myself and a team of amazing teachers have grouped together to gift TWO awesome teachers with a TPT or AMAZON gift cards...and it's HUGE!!!!

PRIZES INCLUDE 

1 x $250 TPT Giftcard. 

1 x $250 Amazon Giftcard!

#1 TAG your teacher friends by adding their names in the comment section
#2 Sign up for my newsletter here!
#3 ENTER HERE: Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REMEMBER: each entry counts as ONE entry, the more links you complete, the higher your chances of winning!!

Raffle CLOSES: 
Saturday 19th August 2017 12am

GOOD LUCK!!!

Here are some great products from my store!

Digital Close Reading Guide

Here is a great digital close reading activity for your students to use with thre novel Wonder.  I also have guides for many more: The One and Only Ivan, Wonder, Fish in a Tree and many more.

Back to School Team Building Activities

Looking to build trust and community in your classroom?  I hope these activities help you build that environment where your students feel loved, secure and supported.

Classroom decor sets

Looking to decorate your room?   I always start with literature!  Here are six different sets: Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dia de los Muertos, Island Tiki and Mary Poppins. Choose the one that fits your personality and kids!

Math CGI

Are you doing CGI Math in your classroom?  Here are some products that can help you!

Good luck on the raffle!!

        

Culturally Relevant Picture Books for your Kids

Monday Linky from Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers and Kathryn from Book Date!

Diverse Reads for your students

I had the pleasure of attending a conference session led by Lindsey Nagorsky and Dr. Sharroky Hollie about Responsive Reads.  Culturally responsive reads are texts that are culturally relevant and teach kids about the world around them.  So it doesn't mean you only read texts with Latino characters to Latino students but you read these texts to all students to open their world.

So after some research, here are some of my favorites.  I've got a DonorsChoose grant out there hoping to get these texts in my reader's hands.  This week, picture books!

Picture books

A Piece of Home 

by Jeri Watts and Hyewon Yum

This is a beautiful book about a child moving from Korea to America and the changes he has to endure. 

She Persisted: 13 American Women who Changed the World 

by Chelsea Clinton

Being culturally relevant doesn't mean just ethnicity.  It also means gender. This book is great for little girls to see themselves and picture a brighter future.

Separate is Never Equal:Sylvia and her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuth

Great non-fiction picture book about the fight for desegregation in California.  I had never heard this story before and it happened in my backyard!

The Most Magnificent Thing 

by Ashley Spires

One of my favorites.  This is great for teaching growth mindset and helping kids see they can accomplish anything if they put forth the effort.

Next week...chapter books!

        

Do you like money? Do you like TPT? This is the raffle for you...

Do you like money?  Do you like TPT?  

Well, this is your kind of raffle!  

Win $100 in a TPT Gift certificate!   

Enter two ways!  

One: click on the magnifying glass to the right to enter and get my newsletters

and two: click on the rafflecopter link below.  

That's it.  

No going to a million websites and 

liking Instagram and Facebook pages, 

no comments needed, 

just enter these two places 

and you are in!   

Do it!  It's $100!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are some great products from my store!

Growth Mindset

Is your school doing  more and more with technology?  Here is a Google drive activity about growth mindset.  It had two quick activities and a report for the kids to do!  If not techy yet, I have other products for Growth mindset for you.

Digital Close Reading Guide

Here is a great digital close reading activity for your students to use with thre novel Wonder.  I also have guides for many more: The One and Only Ivan, Wonder, Fish in a Tree and many more.

Back to School Team Building Activities

Looking to build trust and community in your classroom?  I hope these activities help you build that environment where your students feel loved, secure and supported.

Classroom decor sets

Looking to decorate your room?   I always start with literature!  Here are six different sets: Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dia de los Muertos, Island Tiki and Mary Poppins. Choose the one that fits your personality and kids!

Good luck!!

        

Top Ten Read Alouds for Fourth Grade

Here are my top ten read alouds for fourth grade!

I like books that are multicultural and teach empathy.  Books that catch their interest and leave them begging for more read aloud time!

Pin Me!

A Diamond in the Desert by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

It's about:
This is about twelve year old Tetsu and his family who are sent to an internment camp in the Arizona Desert after Pearl Harbor because they are Japanese-Americans. When his father is sent to a different camp, Tetsu must decide between his love of baseball and his responsibilities as the oldest son.Why I love it:
I love historical fiction.  It is engrossing and teaches the kids about important historical periods. This book has won a ton of awards and ther author is really nice.  She'll do a free Skype interview with you class if you tweet her!

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

It's about:
This story is told from the point of view of Ally Nickerson. Ally is a really smart girl. She’s so smart she’s been able to fool a lot of people. One day, however, Mr. Daniels comes to substitute for Ms. Hall. He figures out Ally when no one else could.Why I love it:
This book covers some really important themes: dyslexia, friendship, family, bullying, overcoming adversity, identity, perseverance, and the power of asking for help.  It really packs a punch!  It's a great discussion starter!

Flor and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

It's about:
The story is about Flora, a self-described cynic, who witnesses a tragedy/miracle in her neighbor’s backyard. She is able to revive the squirrel and names him Ulysses.  Adventure ensues!Why I love it:
It's part graphic novel, part narrative.  It really catches the kids attention.  It also covers some serious issues such as divorce and abandonment.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

It's about:
This book is written in free verse chronicling Ha's journey from war-torn Vietnam to Alabama and her subsequent problems as a second language learner and with bullying.  She is ten years old.Why I love it:
This is great for our students from Vietnam to see a book about someone like them.  It's written in free verse which I love because it's more accesible to struggling readers.  Beautifully written.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

It's about:
This is about Ivan the gorilla.  He lives in the Big Top Mall.  He's content with living in his domain until a new resident comes.  
Why I love it:
This is another book written in free verse.  Very short poems that really pack a punch!  Kids love to read books about animals.  I cry every time I read it.

Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin

It's about:
Rose Howard is a girl who loves homonyms.  She even named her dog Rain (get it, Rain, Reign?).  Rose is on the autism spectrum and sometimes is not quite understood by her father or teachers.  She has a special bond with her uncle and her dog.  But one day, her dog disappears...
Why I love it:
We have so many students on the autism spectrum these days I think it's important for students to understand it and be empathetic.  This helps them see they are just like them.  

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales

It's about:
This book is about Sofia, who lives in Texas.  She's really smart and is one day offered a scholarship to a fancy school...
Why I love it:
This book was honored by the Pura Belpre award, which is given to Latino writers that celebrate the Latino experience.  This book shares so many cultural experiences: Easter cascarones, Dia de los Muertos, the Christmas nacimeiento and, of course, the tequila worm.  My students are all Latino and every time we read this, it connects to them in ways that other books don't.  I love it.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

It's about:
This book is about August Pullman, Auggie to his friends and family.  He was born with a facial deformity and has had a lot to deal with because of it.  But he's growing older now and his parents feel it might be time to go to school instead of being home schooled.  This book talks about his adjustment to school and the students' adjustment to him. 
Why I love it:
If you haven't read this, read it now!  It's told from different points of view which make it great to teach perspective/ point of view.  How what may be true in your eyes, may look different in someone else's eyes.  Discussion points: empathy, friendship, family, so, so many things!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

It's about:
Alice, of course!  Alice goes on an Adventure.  Not just any adventure, it's an adventure in Wonderland!  She meets the white rabbit, the Cheshire cat and the Red Queen along the way.
Why I love it:
This is the first time my kids really come upon word play.  It's considered one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.  We love talking about the symbolism.  It's a classic for a reason and it's part of the suggested Common Core readings.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

It's about:
This book is about Phillip who lives in Curacao with his mother and father.  The time period is WW2 and german subs are surrounding the island.  His mother decides they should go back to the States.  On their way however, their boat is torpedoed.

Why I love it:
This book really appeals to my boys.  It's set during the war and it's about racism and survival.  It's short and a pretty fast read.  You'll like it.

If you're looking for some close reading units, go to my store: LisaTeachR's Classroom!

Well, I hope you learned about some new options for your read alouds.  What do you enjoy reading to your kids?

I teach fourth grade! I am an NBCT in Literacy, Reading and Language Arts. I have a BCC (Bilingual Certification) and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Instructional Technology. And I love books!

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