About Me
- Fran Richardson
- Welcome to my blog!I'm a teacher in a beautiful, small, rural town. I moved here a few years ago, but I have taught over 20 years in this same small town that is now my home. My experience is in teaching second, third, and fourth grades with one year in sixth grade. I am always reading, learning, and reflecting on what goes on in my classroom. I love the work that I do with the parents, my fellow teachers, and most all-my students.I hope you will enjoy reading my blog.
The Scholar, Age 5
I'm A Lifelong Learner...
My first and only microscope
I Still Love Learnin'!
Still The Scholar
Seriously getting ready for school: Our fourth grade summer team meeting ( 2009_
More Scholarly Stuff
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My Blog List
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NPM 2024 - Book Spine Poem 24 - For National Poetry Month this year, I am perusing my bookshelves and building book spine poems. We wonder the shape of the world gravity spiders and ...
3 hours ago -
YOUR STUDENTS WILL LOVE THIS COLOR BY NUMBER DIVIDE BY 4 RESOURCE! - Getting your students to practice their division facts can be challenging, but you will love the no prep, print and go ease of these Color By Numbers Divid...
4 days ago -
Excellence in Action: Practical Ways to Overcome Procrastination - From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Procrastination comes to us all. And sometimes, we don't have enough tim...1 week ago
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St. Patrick’s Day Craft Project - Your class will show gratitude for what they are lucky for during the month of March through this hands on St. Patrick’s Day Activity. It makes a fun and...
1 month ago -
Character Affirmation Posters: Purposeful Reading Decor for Your Upper Elementary Classroom - As I've said in previous posts, I love decorating a classroom, but those decorations need to have a purpose. I leave a lot of empty space on my bulletin...
7 months ago -
ATTENTION TO ALL WHO SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL!! - image via Unsplash You will no longer be receiving email notifications for this blog because Blogger email subscriptions were handled by FeedBurner, whic...
2 years ago -
My Latest BAM! Radio Show Is On Using Tech In English Classes - Ways to use Tech Effectively in English Classes is the topic of my latest ten-minute BAM! Radio Show. I’m joined in the conversation by Jenny Vo, Jennifer ...5 years ago
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Getting Started with Interactive Math Notebooks - I have been using interactive math notebooks in my classroom for as long as I can remember. Math notebooks are a great place for students to take notes, re...
5 years ago -
A Look Back: ADHD Diagnosis, Bullet Journal, Cube Timers, Brain Dump, Growth Mindset, Katie's Teacher Tea, & Encouraging Words - At the beginning of 2018 I had the goal of trying to a monthly post, but I had such a difficult time trying to keep up with posting on the last day of t...
5 years ago -
Four years after... - Hard to believe I walked away from this for four years. I love words. I love to write. It's cathartic for me. Somehow, I let four years slip by. There ...6 years ago
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The Mini Greg - It has been a long time but finally, a new lesson plan template. A colorful and organized approach to guided reading groups. Originally created for Mr. Greg...
6 years ago -
Ten-Frame FUN - Helllooooo! Yes, I am still alive. Yes, I am BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. But yes, I am still here! I think about this little old blog often but lately it has had to ...
7 years ago -
Celebrate The Last Day of School and Happy Teacher Appreciation Week - Happy end of the year to you, phenomenal teacher! Hats off to you and the hard work behind all you do. Finish out the school year strong - and treat yourse...
7 years ago -
I've moved! - Click the image below to be redirected to my new blog! Friends, I've rebranded. Thank you so much for following along over the years. I made a new blog...
8 years ago -
I'VE MOVED!!!! - Hi my lovely, loyal readers!! Please note that Mrs. Mimi has up and MOVED to a shiny new blog with fabulous new content. Don't worry, I took all the old s...8 years ago
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How to Get Started With Genius Hour for Elementary Classrooms? - I believe that every single child is gifted and that every kid has a talent which we as educators should help uncover. This is not easy when you have a c...
8 years ago -
Making Poetry FUN - Poetry can be so much FUN! My kids and I enjoy reading poetry, and we recently dove into a poetry unit, which included learning more about figurative lan...
9 years ago -
New School Year! - Dusting off the shelves of this blog for another school year. I'd like to use this more as a personal journal for my schoolteacher life this year so what b...9 years ago
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Looking Back - I’ve just spent nearly all of an afternoon looking back on all the INK blogs that I’ve written, trying to get a sense of what I’ve been doing, thinking, an...
10 years ago -
Exciting News! - We are excited to share with you our newest adventures! We are both opening up our own individual Teachers Pay Teachers stores, as well as our own indivi...10 years ago
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Auntie Claus Preview and our Polar Express Day! - I wanted to give a sneak peek at our Auntie Claus unit that my friends, Michele and Elana (Lana) and I are finishing up for teacherspayteachers. We are ...
11 years ago -
It's a Lifestyle - I have noticed that everything I do is not a career or an event or even an activity/ chore.... it's a LIFESTYLE. The problem is making sure my lifestyle c...11 years ago
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Calling all teachers!!!! - Alright, this is kind of a poll... I'm about to *finally *open my TpT store, but I'd like to know from y'all what kinds of things you'd like to see first a...11 years ago
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Tennessee's Teacher Evaluation - What a mess! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/education/tennessees-rules-on-teacher-evaluations-bring-frustration.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&smid=fb-share12 years ago
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Five Friday Freebies - Week 22 - f you are not a TN member, membership is FREE. Here is a link to register so you will be able to download. *Teacher Notebook Registration *Click on log in...
12 years ago -
Connecting Children With Nature: Learning About Trees - Our playground is surrounded by an abundance of beautiful trees, which always seem to captivate my very curious kindergartners. Who would have guessed that...12 years ago
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First WAS Fab...Second will be Super! - Thanks to all followers of this BLOG. I will be moving to second grade and will no longer post to this BLOG. I will, however, leave it active for viewing a...12 years ago
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Summer Book Club (for students!) - Our recent post on Teaching Blog Addict has me thinking.... I know I can't wait to read over the summer, but what about my students? How can I help preven...12 years ago
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New Year - New Plans - It's been a whirlwind end to 2010. My school was in the middle of a Quality Review when I received a call to take a position at another school. It was such...13 years ago
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Saturday, July 2, 2011
Best Resources for Independence Day
I love books! I love reading! I LOVE HISTORY!
Unfortunately, those three things didn’t often go together when I was a kid growing up in the 1970’s. There were some dry, boring history books back in the day, but I was fortunate to have a mother who was an avid reader and a librarian who always choose the BEST books for me and made me a lifelong learner.
My first choice: Joy Hakim’s History of US ( series)
Why: Joy Hakim’s series are the backbone of my US History read alouds. She engages the reader with details of how things look, smell, and sound as we travel back in time. The series is an excellent choice for visualizing history, and her writing style is filled with snippets of first-person accounts and documents. I also like the fact that she doesn’t present historical figures as being perfect and “god-like”. We read about their flaws and failures, and I think this better paints a picture of what leaders are while it also encourages kids to see that sometimes despite setbacks, you can still succeed.
An Old Favorite: Jean Fritz
Why: Jean Fritz is an old favorite of mine and still is at the top of my list. I read her books growing up. Joy Hakim ( above) actually uses Fritz’s work as a reference often. Fritz makes the characters sometimes quirky and always memorable. My students again see how historical figures are not perfect human beings but have both good and bad qualities. For instance: John Hancock made a horrible soldier and complained about the conditions and went back home which sparked a discussion on why some folks should or shouldn’t be leaders. I use this set of books to do a fact and opinion activity because in fourth grade, we begin to introduce the idea of bias. These books are excellent to start discussions on whether or not Fritz has reported straight facts or offered her opinions as she writes her biographies so the books are also good for studying the author's craft.
The Liberty Tree
Why: This book has been published under several titles. It is still one of my favorite books because the language is easy to understand and concise but the illustrations and captions add interest. I find that the students read this one on their own, also. I find in our discussions that this is one that they quote from.
If You Lived….
Most of the books in this entire series have a home in my classroom. They are easy to read independently in the intermediate and upper grades ( 3rd-5th), and they have a question and answer format that breaks the text into smaller bits. I use these books to show the strategy of asking and answering questions. The only flaw I find in the entire set is that I wish there was an index. Instead students must skim and scan the table of contents to locate information that is specific, and for kids, that is time-consuming and often frustrating. Despite that, I would still say the texts are worth reading.
Another favorite of my students by Lane Smith:
Why: I have to say it’s the quirky, cartoon characters that get the kids hooked on this one. I often find this one hidden in a kid's desk!
Something New: I found this one as I was looking over my collection, and it looks from the preview like it would be a good read aloud. I am always looking for read alouds in social studies especially something in the picture book category. It may be a new addition to my bookshelf.
One OLDIE and Another Newbie:
One of the people who is a part of both our American Revolution and Constitution units is Thomas Jefferson. I have several of the Marvin Barrett books which are extremely easy to read for fourth graders, and they seem to get kids hooked on reading biographies. It must work: this series has been around for a while.
In my search, I also found a book by Cheryl Harness. I have several of her books ( like the one on Daniel Boone), and while it’s not filled with colorful pictures, the information is outstanding for a history nut: sketches with labels, maps, and also a timeline of what else was going on as far as world history during the spot-lighted person’s life. Her writing style is also enjoyable to read and conversational- almost like you are being taught firsthand.
These are just a few to get your kids and students thinking and reading INDEPENDENTLY for the July 4!
Unfortunately, those three things didn’t often go together when I was a kid growing up in the 1970’s. There were some dry, boring history books back in the day, but I was fortunate to have a mother who was an avid reader and a librarian who always choose the BEST books for me and made me a lifelong learner.
My mother attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
With July 4 almost here, I thought I would share some of my favorite children’s literature both old and new on the topic of INDEPENDENCE DAY!My first choice: Joy Hakim’s History of US ( series)
Why: Joy Hakim’s series are the backbone of my US History read alouds. She engages the reader with details of how things look, smell, and sound as we travel back in time. The series is an excellent choice for visualizing history, and her writing style is filled with snippets of first-person accounts and documents. I also like the fact that she doesn’t present historical figures as being perfect and “god-like”. We read about their flaws and failures, and I think this better paints a picture of what leaders are while it also encourages kids to see that sometimes despite setbacks, you can still succeed.
An Old Favorite: Jean Fritz
Why: Jean Fritz is an old favorite of mine and still is at the top of my list. I read her books growing up. Joy Hakim ( above) actually uses Fritz’s work as a reference often. Fritz makes the characters sometimes quirky and always memorable. My students again see how historical figures are not perfect human beings but have both good and bad qualities. For instance: John Hancock made a horrible soldier and complained about the conditions and went back home which sparked a discussion on why some folks should or shouldn’t be leaders. I use this set of books to do a fact and opinion activity because in fourth grade, we begin to introduce the idea of bias. These books are excellent to start discussions on whether or not Fritz has reported straight facts or offered her opinions as she writes her biographies so the books are also good for studying the author's craft.
The Liberty Tree
Why: This book has been published under several titles. It is still one of my favorite books because the language is easy to understand and concise but the illustrations and captions add interest. I find that the students read this one on their own, also. I find in our discussions that this is one that they quote from.
If You Lived….
Most of the books in this entire series have a home in my classroom. They are easy to read independently in the intermediate and upper grades ( 3rd-5th), and they have a question and answer format that breaks the text into smaller bits. I use these books to show the strategy of asking and answering questions. The only flaw I find in the entire set is that I wish there was an index. Instead students must skim and scan the table of contents to locate information that is specific, and for kids, that is time-consuming and often frustrating. Despite that, I would still say the texts are worth reading.
Another favorite of my students by Lane Smith:
Why: I have to say it’s the quirky, cartoon characters that get the kids hooked on this one. I often find this one hidden in a kid's desk!
Something New: I found this one as I was looking over my collection, and it looks from the preview like it would be a good read aloud. I am always looking for read alouds in social studies especially something in the picture book category. It may be a new addition to my bookshelf.
One OLDIE and Another Newbie:
One of the people who is a part of both our American Revolution and Constitution units is Thomas Jefferson. I have several of the Marvin Barrett books which are extremely easy to read for fourth graders, and they seem to get kids hooked on reading biographies. It must work: this series has been around for a while.
In my search, I also found a book by Cheryl Harness. I have several of her books ( like the one on Daniel Boone), and while it’s not filled with colorful pictures, the information is outstanding for a history nut: sketches with labels, maps, and also a timeline of what else was going on as far as world history during the spot-lighted person’s life. Her writing style is also enjoyable to read and conversational- almost like you are being taught firsthand.
These are just a few to get your kids and students thinking and reading INDEPENDENTLY for the July 4!
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