Teaching With Haley O'Connor

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Books for Teaching about Diwali

Books for Teaching about Diwali

Hi! Today I wanted to share some of my favorite books for teaching about Diwali. Diwali is such a special holiday, celebrated by Indian and East Asian families all over the world. If you’re looking to do a Diwali unit in your classroom, be sure to check out my Holidays unit. Diwali celebrates “good over evil,” and is often called… Read More

Reindeer Picture Books

Reindeer Picture Books

Hi! In my last post, I shared about my favorite non-fiction books for your Caribou unit. Don’t forget, you can get a ton of Caribou activities HERE. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite reindeer picture books. These are a great addition to your caribou unit and to discuss Christmas traditions. However, I encourage you to make sure… Read More

Nonfiction Books for Your Caribou Unit

Nonfiction Books for Your Caribou Unit

Are you getting ready to teach about caribou and reindeer in your classroom? I love doing a quick thematic unit about caribou in December, as well as other arctic animals! I wanted to share a few of my favorite non-fiction books to use for your Caribou unit. If you need activity ideas, be sure to check out my Caribou unit…. Read More

Caribou Activities

Caribou Activities

Hi! Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite activities for learning about caribou. All of these activities can be found in my Caribou unit. I love studying arctic animals during the winter! Because we live in Dallas, most of my students don’t have much schema (background knowledge) about winter animals (or even winter, hah!) It’s so important… Read More

Picture Books about Mindfulness

Picture Books about Mindfulness

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite books about mindfulness to pair with my lessons and activities. Mindfulness is such an important strategy for us to teach our students, but it’s equally important that we practice it ourselves. Mindfulness means the ability to connect with our body and be aware of sensations and feelings. It’s often tied to… Read More

What’s Inside My Teacher Binders?

What’s Inside My Teacher Binders?

There are so many reasons to keep a teacher binder. If you’re like me, I keep most things on my computer. I utilize Google Drive as much as I can, and I LOVE my Google Calendar. BUT…there is something about writing things down that’s soothing and helps me remember them so much better. I also like to keep school and… Read More

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  • Gratitude is a hard skill for students to learn but with picture books, they are able to better understand and learn how to be grateful. In this post, I am sharing 4 books about gratitude for kids. These kids books about gratitude are great to read around Thanksgiving. These are some of my favorite November read alouds. They are not necessarily Thanksgiving books but they do tie in very well into the month of November. These are great to read during classroom meetings or readers' workshop.
  • Are you looking for reindeer books or caribou books to use as part of your arctic animals unit? I am sharing 8 caribou books and reindeer books you can use with any caribou activity or reindeer activity in your kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classroom. Use these books for your nonfiction books unit as well as for teaching students about nonfiction text features. Read these during readers workshop, keep in your classroom library, or have in browsing boxes for independent reading.
  • Teaching students about self-control is a huge part of social-emotional learning in the classroom. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite read-alouds for teaching self-control. These children’s books about self-control will help students to regulate their emotions, especially kids with big feelings. You will not only find picture books about self-control, but you will also find regulating emotions activities. These self control books are great for your calm down area in the classroom.
  • Are you looking for digital activities for vowel teams and diphthongs? These digital resources are easy to use and no prep on your part as an elementary teacher. Use these phonics activities during literacy centers, Daily 5, or guided reading groups. These literacy activities can be used on any device. There are magnetic letter activities, vowel team activities and diphthong activities. Students can work on creating sentences, cvc word activities, and finding missing words.
  • Looking for mindfulness books for kids? Look no further! In this post, I am sharing 8 mindfulness books for kids that tie into my mindfulness activities and resources. These mindfulness picture books for kids will help students to regulate their emotions and find calm in their day. Use these mindfulness children’s books in your calm down corner in your classroom. They are great for teaching students self control and calm down strategies during your social emotional learning block.
  • Are you looking for a fun way to spice up your reindeer week or caribou study? Students love learning about reindeer, and this unit allows you to reinforce important comprehension and writing skills! Use these reindeer activities to teach students all about inferences, main idea, and asking questions. There is a list of educational videos and nonfiction books about reindeer and caribou to go with this study. Use this during readers workshop nonfiction unit or add to your arctic animals study.
  • Looking for a teaching binder that will actually help keep you organized this school year? These teacher binders are great for keeping track of student data, parent contact information, parent forms and more. You can do all of your lesson planning right inside these editable teacher binders. Find teacher binder covers and teacher planner templates and ideas. You can also use these teacher planner covers for guided reading groups, your grade book and for guided math. Learn more!
  • Today I wanted to share my favorite activities for learning about caribou. I am sharing my favorite arctic animal activities for caribou. You will find thematic vocabulary words to help students begin to learn context clues. You will also find directed drawings and nonfiction books about reindeer and caribou to use in this thematic unit. Students also get to work on an all about book for nonfiction writing. Find comprehension activities and nonfiction anchor charts! Great for readers workshop.
  • Looking for sensory toys for your elementary classroom? I am sharing some of my favorite sensory input toys that are great for students that need help staying on task. For sensory needs in the classroom, I love to let students use these at their desk, during morning meeting, or mini-lessons. You can use them in a calm down corner. I share sensory bracelets and pop it fidget toys which are great classroom management tools. Weighted stuffed animals are also great for students with anxiety.
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