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Category: Books

Stamping with the Very Hungry Caterpillar

We are so excited to join in the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This was one of my absolute favorite books as a child and was the first book I bought the day I found out I was pregnant with my first

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Jargon Journal March Bundle

The March Jargon Journal Bundle is here! Click here to read more about the importance of vocabulary instruction. Click here to read more about the Jargon Journal program. Here's a run down of the March Bundle. In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb – Buy the book In Like

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Jargon Journal January Bundle

I can't believe I forgot to post about our January bundle of interactive vocabulary notebook units (aka the Jargon Journal.)  Click here to read more about the importance of vocabulary instruction. Click here to read more about the Jargon Journal program. Here's a run down of the January Bundle. Martin's

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Top 5 Christmas Themed Traditional Tales

1. The House that Santa Built by Dianne de Las Casas  W New for 2013, this is a Christmasy spin on that old favorite The House that Jack Built.  The author tries hard to work in lots of sound words: creak, clap, stomp, squeak, etc. 2. The Little Red Elf by

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Top 5 The Night Before Christmas Reads

It’s a classic poem.  We’ve all heard it.  We can probably recite it.  But how can you not love it?? And with such beautifully illustrated versions available, you’ll want to make it part of your Christmas library.  Of course, it’ll be hard to narrow it down to just one.  Every

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Top 5 Dino Christmas Reads

#1 Dinosaur Christmas by Jerry Pallotta W Have you ever wondered how Santa delivered all the presents before the reindeer?  Dinosaurs of course! #2 How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen W A festive installment in the great “How do Dinosaurs?” series.  There’s also a Hannukah version. #3 Dear Santasaurus

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Acquiring Vocabulary with an Interactive Vocabulary Notebook

  Words are not just words. They are the nexus—the interface—between communication and thought.  When we read, it is through words that we build, refine, and modify our knowledge. What makes vocabulary valuable and important is not the words themselves so much as the understandings they afford. –Marilyn Jager Adams

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Our Rain Gutter Shelves

I've shown our book shelves here before but I realized I never really explained them so let me tell you a bit about our rain gutter book shelves. As I mentioned in the previous post, Adelaide doesn't usually have a long attention span for books, unless they are board books

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A Birthday Book for Addie

Both Heidi and I are suckers for children’s books. We both have amassed HUGE collections (though a lot of mine is in the basement at my parents’ house!) Still I find the need to pick out special books for Adelaide on occassion. Both at Christmas and on her birthday I

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