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Blog postAny teacher who has seen words like “nice” and “good” one too many times in student writing can vouch for the importance of teaching shades of meaning. When kids have the understanding that synonyms can be closely related and differ in intensity, it helps them make stronger word choices in their writing. As if that […]
The post 5 Ideas for Teaching Shades of Meaning appeared first on Life Between Summers.
5 days ago Read more -
Blog postWith each holiday that’s come up during the pandemic, we have had to find creative ways to adapt. Whether it’s been virtual kindergarten graduations or Polar Express hot chocolate parties over Zoom, teachers have been trying their best to still make special memories for their students despite being limited to distance learning. It’s been almost […]
The post Valentine Exchange Ideas for Distance Learning appeared first on Life Between Summers.
1 month ago Read more -
Blog postIf you were to get a group of teachers in a room and have them brainstorm some reading comprehension strategies, I’m sure they could rattle off a long list. If they were then asked to prioritize that list in order of importance, a strong case could be made for visualization to be near the top […]
The post Teaching the Most Powerful Reading Comprehension Strategy: Visualization appeared first on Life Between Summers.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postWell, my friends, this is going to be the shortest and sweetest blog post you ever did read! I know we’re all a little extra busy this time of year, so I’ll save you some valuable time and get right down to it. I threw together a last minute holiday card for students to make […]
The post “Home for the Holidays” Holiday Cards for Parent Gifts appeared first on Life Between Summers.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postIt’s been a doozy of a year, to say the least. I’m willing to bet you might be ready to say good riddance to 2020 and never look back. If you’ll hear me out though, I do believe there’s always something to be said for reflection, even on a “let’s just forget it ever happened” […]
The post Hindsight is 2020: A New Year’s Writing Craft for Student Reflection appeared first on Life Between Summers.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postWhen you combine my favorite hobby and favorite holiday together (travel and Christmas), you get one of my favorite units to teach…Holidays Around the World! I have switched it up over the years with a variety of lessons and crafts, but this most recent version is aligned with Common Core language standards AND includes a […]
The post Holidays Around the World Activities for Close Reading and Opinion Writing appeared first on Life Between Summers.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postConferences can be prone to cause a little anxiousness on both ends for parents and teachers. Some parents may be nervous to hear what their child’s teacher has to say. And on the other side of camp, some teachers might feel a little apprehensive about conveying so much important information in one concise little time […]
The post Using Student Self-Evaluations for Parent Teacher Conferences appeared first on Life Between Summers.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog post“How do you spell ________?” It’s a common question every elementary teacher has heard at one time or another from a student. Similarly, a frequent question from parents working with them at home is, “Should I help correct their spelling?” There is much to be said for invented spelling (especially in the early primary grades), […]
The post Teaching Students How to Self Edit Writing Using Personal Spelling Dictionaries appeared first on Life Between Summers.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postAs teachers know, a read aloud can be a powerful launching pad to further learning opportunities. When students hear a story, the wheels in their head start turning and they are primed for learning (I swear I didn’t intend to make that a rhyming sentence, it just sort of happened)! I guess it provides a […]
The post Class Family Album: A Book Companion for “Our Class is a Family” appeared first on Life Between Summers.
7 months ago Read more -
Blog postKids have been spending 50% more time indoors in comparison to the generation before them, even before social distancing began. No one is stranger to the notion that electronic devices have taken their toll on “the good old days” of climbing trees and playing outside until the streetlights came on. Add digital distance learning into […]
The post The Never Starting Fairy Tales: STEM & Literacy Activities appeared first on Life Between Summers.
9 months ago Read more
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“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”
Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.
With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.
And currently, during such an unprecedented time when many teachers and students are not physically in the classroom due to COVID-19 school closures, it’s more important than it’s ever been to give kids the message that their class is a family. Even at a distance, they still stick together.
Les enseignants font bien plus qu’inculquer des connaissances de base. Ils développent un sentiment d’appartenance dans leurs classes et créent un second foyer où leurs élèves se sentent en sécurité, appréciés et aimés.
Avec ce message venant du cœur et ses illustrations colorées et fantaisistes, « Notre classe est une famille » est un livre qui contribuera à construire et renforcer le sentiment d’appartenance au sein d’une classe. Les enfants apprennent que leur salle de classe est un lieu où ils peuvent être eux-mêmes et faire des erreurs, et qu’il est important d’être amical avec les autres. Lorsque leur professeur leur lira cette histoire à voix haute, les élèves sentiront qu’ils font partie d’une famille vraiment exceptionnelle.