Character Feelings Lists by Categories: Using Precise Language

Character feelings lessons begin in kindergarten and end in . . . well, we still talk about our feelings as adults, right?  Teachers are pros at experiencing a wide range of feelings, LOL. 😬

As students are developing their vocabulary banks, it's easy for them to just use words within their comfort zone:  happy, mad, sad, and scared.  Our jobs are to help them grow their vocabulary and use precise language.  What better way to scaffold the process than with some organized lists!

Assessing Elementary Readers Digitally: Thoughts & Questions

It's been awhile, friends.  I hope that this blog post finds you well!  Or at least persevering through the challenges.  Because there are plenty of them.

I could make lots of excuses of why I haven't been writing on this blog.  Eventually I'll write a blog post about some of my personal challenges, taking a deep dive into the importance of healing.  (I would love it if you followed me on Instagram...my *favorite* social media platform.)  Nonetheless, I'm here now, and I've got some deep thoughts about assessing children's reading via purely digital methods.

Quick book review: Extra Yarn

Before this winter comes to an end, I would encourage you to try to squeeze in Extra Yarn as a read aloud.  I really LOVE this book.  Last year, I used it as a way to talk about doing great things for the New Year, but this book can be used for so many different lessons.  It is a great piece of children's literature as well as work of art.  Simple yet amazing.  Let's just go through the checklist...it has it all:

• A great plot structure {characters, setting, problem, solution}? Check.
• A couple author's lessons, ranging from simple to more sophisticated? Check.
• Characters with defined character traits? Check.
• Can be read over and over again for new ideas and meanings? Check.
• Mentor sentences?  Check.
• Mentor text for writers workshop?  Check.
• Suspense? Check.
• Humor? Check.
• Sweet and sassy? Check.
• A hint of magic? Check.
• The beauty of kindness? Check.
• Multiple opportunities to change your voice during the read aloud? Check {a very important reason to pick a read aloud 😍}.

I can't say enough about this book, but Lane Smith, the illustrator of many cool books, called this book "perfect." And I agree with him.