Off the Shelf: January 2025

Banner with Bookcase and Label "Off the Shelf January 2025 Edition"

Hello, and a very Happy New Year! 🎉 I’m so glad you’re here, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to check out my website as we step into another exciting year.  To kick off this new chapter, I’m thrilled to share a change that I believe will make your planning a little easier…

January 2025 Book Talk

Author: Oliver Jeffers

Illustrator: Sam Winston

Summary: Dictionary has all the words that have ever been read, but she wants to tell a story and is not quite sure where to start. What happens when Alligator starts off looking for a snack? Will Dictionary be able to tell her tale?

Are You Ready to Code?

I love celebrating the Hour Of Code in December, and I’m always on the lookout for new coding activities to do with my students.  While the Hour of Code week is celebrated Dec. 9-15 this year, I usually extend it to the entire month of December as there are always so many interruptions to our…

December 2024 Book Talk

Author: Caralyn Buehner

Illustrator: Mark Buehner

Summary: You will not be reading this fun version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, you will be singing along with the snowmen, snow animals and Santa!

November 2024 Book Talk

Author: Laura Malone Elliott

Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger

Summary: Sam's class is learning about traditions surrounding Thanksgiving and each student is assigned a project to share that is a tradition in their family they are thankful for. But Sam is having a terrible time choosing his project. Can he get it done before the class Thanksgiving feast?