Book Room

Bring Poetry “Off the Page” All Year

It’s the last day of National Poetry Month and this final April Book Room post is an eclectic list specifically selected with my teaching colleagues in mind.  I’ve read and used all these books, either directly in my teaching, or as supplements to broaden my own knowledge of contemporary children’s poets and poetry. THE 20th… Read more »

Fill Your Pockets with Poems

In these test-overburdened times, I know many teachers who feel they simply can’t manage the extra class minutes to read aloud or share good books, not to mention, poetry, with children. Of course, it makes NO SENSE. But, like it or not, school days are squeezed, as are budgets, and choices have to be made…. Read more »

Marshmallows, Hummingbirds and Little Dog

If you’ve already browsed Kristine O’Connell George’s site HERE, you know she’s the author of many poetry collections as well as several picture book length poems for the very young. You also know she has many truly wonderful resources for teachers, librarians, parents, and writers – anyone who loves reading, writing, and sharing poetry. Be… Read more »

Sand to Stone, Quiet Eggs, Kakapo Rescues, and More…

This week in the Book Room, we take a look at a few more of the many and varied forms of informational text for K-5 readers. SAND TO STONE AND BACK AGAIN, by Nancy Bo Flood, photographs by Tony Kuyper is a stunning introduction to a unit on rocks and minerals and to the larger… Read more »

The Voices of Biography

There is really no shortage of picture book biographies. And so many good choices, it’s hard to settle on a few. As an educator, it’s important to me to bring to my students’ attention, not only some of the “old” favorites, but to continue to provide many newly published books, as well. There are often… Read more »

What’s UP ? More books by Lola M. Schaefer

WHAT’S UP, WHAT’S DOWN? by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Barbara Bash Cleverly done, What’s Up, What’s Down? is a “look everywhere” book. By that I mean, the book must be turned on its side and read from bottom-to-top in the first half, and top-to-bottom in the second half. It’s a lot of fun and… Read more »

Teaching the Craft of Writing

Over the years, I’ve collected a large number of resources for teaching writing to students. Quite a few of the books on my shelves are those written by this month’s Author-In-Residence, Lola Schaefer. Among my favorites are those of Lola’s in the Teaching the Craft of Writing series. Find out more about these and other… Read more »