Category: Reading

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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King in the Classroom

With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaching, I thought it would be a good time to provide you with a few ideas you can use in your classroom to help your students understand and honor the life and impact of Dr. King. These ideas can be used and adapted for all ages and grades.

Watch the video of Dr. King giving his famous “I have a dream” speech

Sometimes hearing and seeing an event take place can make a greater impact than just talking about it. For younger students, have them listen to and watch the speech and listen for the things Dr. King hoped for. 

For older students, have them watch the speech, then provide them with a physical copy of it. Put them into small groups and have them do a close reading of the speech and discussing what makes this speech so powerful.

You can find the speech here.

Have students create their own “I have a dream” piece

This activity can be presented many ways. Students can create their own speech about their hopes and dreams. You can also have students create a “dream board” where they make a collage of pictures and words showing their dreams. You might also have students write a poem about the things they hope for.

Talk about what “the content of their character” means

Together as a class, brainstorm positive characteristics of people they know. Talk about what character is and how it can shape who you are. Then, have students write (length will depend on age and ability) about the content of their own character and what they hope to be remembered and known for. 

This gives students a great opportunity to analyze what makes a good person and reflect on their own characters. It provides an excellent text-to-self connection.

Create a timeline of the life of Dr. King

Have students— either in groups of individually— create a timeline of events in the life of Dr. King. Have them use the internet to gather pictures and information to create their timelines. 

This activity provides students a chance to research, learn, then practice putting things in chronological order.

Talk about bravery and courage

Dr. King was incredibly brave and courageous for doing the things he did. Talk with students about times they have had to be brave. Discuss what it means to have courage. Have them write about their own experiences with bravery and courage.

Discuss equality vs. equity/fairness

Many students don’t understand the difference between equality and equity. Take the opportunity to teach them the difference and why it matters. The discussion opens up a world of possibilities in talking about how we should treat people and how people need different things to succeed based on their own personal circumstances. Students can create a piece of art or writing showing their knowledge and understanding of these concepts.

Research famous quotes by Dr. King

Have students research famous things Dr. King said. Let them pick their favorite, then have them write it out and create a piece of art around the quote. Encourage them to match their art to the feeling of the quote. 

Plan a day of service

Dr. King was a big proponent of service and believed that everyone could serve. To honor this legacy, plan a day of service with your students. If possible, plan and execute a large scale service project together. If not, encourage students to find smaller ways to serve and help those around them. Service is something that benefits both the server and the served. It provides students with an incredible chance to look outside themselves and see others in a different light. 

However you choose to, I hope you take a minute to at least talk about and acknowledge the impact that Dr. King had and continues to have on our world. His legacy is one to not be forgotten, and it’s important that we continue to teach the rising generation that everyone matters and everyone has a voice.

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Hanukkah and Kwanzaa Book Reviews

As promised, here are some fun books that involve other winter holidays: Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. I really enjoyed reading and learning more about these holidays. I hope you will too!

Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Matthew Trueman

Simon sets out on a journey to get to America. He is lucky enough to get the last ticket on the boat, and sets sail. Tragedy strikes when the boat hits an iceberg and sinks. Simon finds himself stranded on the iceberg, alone, with just his knapsack. In his knapsack, his mother had packed latkes, fish, boiled eggs, a dreidel and a menorah and candles. Simon wishes for a Hanukkah miracle. He is found by a polar bear who brings him fish each day and keeps him warm. He is finally rescued and taken to New York, where he finds a job so he can earn money and bring his family to America.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? By Jane Yolk and Mark Teague

Another darling book in the How Do Dinosaurs… series, this books goes through what not to do and what to do during Hanukkah celebrations and how to properly behave and celebrate. Filled with fun illustrations, this book is engaging and fun for all ages.

Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington; illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Li’l Rabbit is feeling left out and useless during his family’s Kwanzaa celebrations. His grandma is sick, and he wants to do something to help her have a great Kwanzaa. He ventures out in search of the perfect things to make the Karamu extra special. He runs into several friends while he is out on his search. He comes up empty handed and is feeling defeated. When he arrives back home, he is surprised to find that all of his friends and family have pulled together to create a wonderful, memorable Karamu. 

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis; illustrated by Daniel Minter

A family of seven brothers lives in a small village in Ghana. The are constantly arguing, and their home is never peaceful. After their father dies, he leaves them an inheritance, but with the stipulation that they must find a way to turn seven spools of thread into gold, and that they must never argue again. If they can do this by the time the sun sets, they will be able to divide the inheritance amongst themselves. If not, the inheritance will be given to the poorest villagers. The brothers head back home, determined to make gold out of the thread. They learn that they must work together to accomplish what they need to. Using the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, they come together and create beautiful things with their spools of thread. They learn that working together in peace is the best way to work.

Happy reading, and Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to all who celebrate!

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Children’s Christmas Books

If you’re looking for a fun book to read with your kids (or students if you’re still in school!), look no further! When I was looking for books to review and share with you, I learned that there are a TON of Christmas books! I could never even come close to reviewing all of them. So, after reading several, I narrowed it down to just a few.

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen; illustrated by Dan Hanna

Pout-Pout fish gets so caught up in finding the most perfect gift for each of his friends that he finds himself unable to decide what to get them. He soon learns that it’s not about giving the most perfect gift, but giving from the heart that matters most. 

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway

A Christmas sugar cookie is sad to learn that he tastes terrible, can’t run fast like the gingerbread man, and can’t build his own gingerbread house. He tries to “fix” the things that he thinks are wrong with him, until he learns what he is supposed to be. He finds his place and celebrates knowing who he really is.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore; illustrated by James Marshall

There’s nothing changed with this classic Christmas story, but the illustrations are darling and incorporate all the pets of the house.

Cookiesaurus Christmas by Amy Feller Dominy & Nate Evans; illustrated by AG Ford

Cookiesaurus Rex is a determined Christmas cookie. He thinks he should be the cookie that gets set on the plate for Santa. With every other cookie that is chosen to be put on the plate, he finds a way to knock them off the plate, all while causing a mess and trouble each time. It’s not until the end that he discovers that the humans of the house have a special place, just for him, that is even better than Santa’s plate.

5 More Sleeps ’Til Christmas by Jimmy Fallon; illustrated by Rich Deas

The excitement of the Christmas countdown is almost too much for one little boy to handle! As he counts down to Christmas day, he thinks that he is so excited to sleep each night as he watches the snow, thinks about what gifts he might receive, and more. The illustrations are darling and detailed in this fun Christmas book.

Holiday themed books are just so much fun. They bring an added element of fun and magic to any holiday! Next week, I’ll share a few books that spotlight other winter holidays. See you then!

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Reading: A Skill Worth Holding Onto

A seventh grade student, in annoyed exasperation, once asked me, “Why are we even reading books? I already know how to read, so why do I need to keep doing it?” The English teacher in me was ready with an answer, ready to defend reading, and ready to convince this student that they would, indeed, use reading skills for the rest of their lives.

So why is reading even worth doing? 

Reading is one of the most important skills a person can have. Some might argue that it is the most important skill, and that it is crucial for living in today’s world. I don’t think there is a day that passes where I don’t use reading in some form or another. Research has shown that reading improves writing skills, spoken communication, and imagination, among others.

Written language has been used and passed down through generations for thousands of years. Early civilizations found it to be an effective way to communicate ideas as well as to preserve histories and ideas. Although written languages have evolved over time, one thing remains: they are still used to communicate and preserve ideas. 

Learning to read is a lifelong skill. While not all adults who graduate high school or college will go on to read for pleasure and entertainment, I am positive they will still use reading skills in their daily lives. Take, for example, a person who finds themselves ill and in need of some kind of medication. Reading suddenly becomes a very important skill, as one must read the label and directions on the medicine bottle so that they can correctly take the medicine. Or perhaps someone wants to clean their kitchen, but doesn’t know what cleaners would be best. Again, reading becomes essential, as one must read labels to correctly identify which cleaning agent is best and how to use it. 

The instances in which we use reading are endless. We read when we are at the grocery store trying to choose what foods to buy. We read when we are driving and reading road signs. We must read when we are using an instruction book to assemble furniture, or when using a user manual to learn how to check the tire pressure in our car. I imagine we’d have some interesting tasting foods if the chef or baker wasn’t able to correctly read the recipe or labels of ingredients. Imagine the disasters that could ensue if medical professionals weren’t able to read chart details. There are a myriad of situations that could be greatly impacted by the inability to read. While not all people enjoy picking up a book and reading, one thing is certain: they will still use reading, and will find that it really is a skill they use daily. 

So to that seventh grade student, and to anyone else who isn’t sure that reading is even important, I assure you that it really is something that you will need to use daily, and that continuing to read will only improve your ability to read effectively and efficiently. Besides, reading can open up a whole world of possibilities, and that’s pretty exciting!