YouTube Tuesday: Noni the Pony by Alison Lester

Welcome to another YouTube Tuesday!

Today I am sharing a reading of an adorable story by one of my favourite Australian authors (and Australia's first children's laureate), Alison Lester. The story is 'Noni the Pony' and it won the Children's Book Council of Australia award for best picture book in 2011. Read about the book on Alison Lester's website. If you don't love Noni by the end of the story, I'll eat my hat! Enjoy!

YouTube Tuesday: The Dot

It's Tuesday again, and that means it's time for another terrific YouTube video!

This week, I'm sharing a great little animated version of the wonderful picture book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. In this story, a little girl named Vashti is frustrated in art class because she feels she can't draw. Her teacher encourages her to make a mark on the page. Vashti angrily draws a dot, which her teacher makes her sign. And that's where the fun begins! This story will help your students find the courage to have a go. Enjoy!

Storybook Saturday: Each Peach Pear Plum

Happy Saturday everyone! Today I am linking up with Paula at Paula's Place for Storybook Saturday.

The book I'm sharing with you today is an absolute classic: Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

Click here to see it on Book Depository UK.
Click here to see it on Book Depository USA.

In this beautiful storybook, we are invited to play 'I Spy' and look for the hidden characters in each image. We start off looking for Tom Thumb, then end up finding a smorgasbord of beloved fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters, including Cinderella, Baby Bunting and Robin Hood. Children love looking for the characters and spotting all the things that aren't mentioned in the text, such as the various woodland creatures that inhabit each page, Robin Hood's framed picture of Maid Marion in his lair and Baby Bear's lack of talent with a rifle! For this reason, Each Peach Pear Plum is visual literacy heaven! There is so much to look for and it is a great way in to discussions about the relationship between the text and the illustrations. 

This book is also a great starting point for discussions about creative language features, such as rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. For this reason, I have used Each Peach Pear Plum as something of a 'mentor text' in my Amazing Alliteration pack, which you can purchase at my TPT store for only $2. 

Get it here!

This resource is suitable for Year 1/Stage 1 in Australia and Grade 2 in the USA, and is aligned to the Australian Curriculum, the NSW Syllabus and the USA Common Core. Read the product listing for more information about what is included in the pack.

If you don't have your own copy of Each Peach Pear Plum, check your school library. It was originally published in 1978, and is still in print, so it should be available somewhere near you! 

Enjoy your weekend!

Storybook Saturday: Sleepy Pendoodle

Today I am linking up with Paula Shaw at Paula's Place for Storybook Saturday.

The book I wanted to share with you all today is one of my favourite read-alouds, most suitable for infants classes: Sleepy Pendoodle by Malachy Doyle.

Click here to see it on Amazon.

Beautiful illustrations by Julie Vivas, one of my favourite illustrators, enhance this sweet story of a girl who finds a puppy 'down the alley'. Unfortunately, the pup won't open his eyes, so our hero seeks the help of her Uncle Hughie. Uncle Hughie knows just what to do to get the little pup to open his eyes, but will our hero remember it all when she gets home?

When I was first starting out as a teacher ten years ago, I shared this story with a Year 1 class I was taking for a day. The kids were enthralled with the story, and delighted as the girl got muddled up with her magic words (my personal favourite muddle-up is when she calls her pup 'Sloppy Popwaddle'!) and got confused with what she had to do. When we got to the end of the story, the students were so happy that they applauded! Yep, that's right, they clapped their hands! It is one of my favourite teaching moments of all time. Their joy filled me with joy for one of the most important jobs we do as teachers - we introduce our students to great literature and inspire them to love books. This is why it is so important to use excellent texts with our students, so that their love of reading and books is nurtured.

If you can get your hands on a copy of Sleepy Pendoodle, or if your school library has it, please read it with your students. I have no hesitation in giving it the Little Green guarantee - they will love it!

Pins of the Week: number boards, fraction strips, book nooks, research skills and storage solutions!

Welcome to another Monday! Here in Sydney, we are on holidays, so no school for two weeks! That doesn't mean Little Green HQ is coming to a standstill, of course, because we teachers don't ever stop looking for inspiration and ideas, even on our break! To that end, Little Green presents this week's Pins of the Week!

All About Number Board

Source

This great board was devised by the talented Tiffany at the Mrs Ouwinga's Class blog. Fittingly, her inspiration was a Pinterest picture of an anchor chart! She, however, wanted to make hers interchangeable so that she didn't have to create a new poster for each number. I think her concept makes this chart even better! Thanks Tiffany!

Fraction Strips Freebie

Source

We've all seen fraction strips like these before, but the best part about these particular fraction strips is that they are free! Teacher Nyla at Nyla's Crafty Teaching has created a black and white fraction strip page for your students to colour, cut and use and has been kind enough to share her hard work. Thanks Teacher Nyla!

Book Nooks and Nature Books

Source

Cathy James at Nurture Store has put together a great post on outdoor book nooks (that look amazing, by the way!) and has listed 50 terrific books that celebrate nature. The book list is extensive and covers both our old favourites and some newer books. Be sure to pop by and check it out. Thanks Cathy!

Research Skills

Source

This excellent resource comes from the State Library of Victoria and consists of step-by-step instructions and tips to help students research and, thereby, submit better assignments. This would be a great starting point to direct your students to next time you set an assignment, or could form the basis of lessons on research skills. Thanks State Library of Victoria!

Storage Solutions

Source

Carisa over at the 1+1+1=1 blog has devised a great system for storing her theme printable packs using those cheap-as-chips nylon storage boxes, plastic folders (the button-style ones) and a label-maker. Although Carisa is in a homeschooling environment, this storage solution would work just as well in a classroom and with other packs of stuff that need organising! Simple, efficient, genius! Thanks Carisa!

All these pins and more can be found on the Little Green Pinterest boards, so be sure to follow Little Green on Pinterest for more great ideas. Have a great week!