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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Poetry Friday is Here! - Happy New Year, poetry people! I'm delighted to be hosting you this week. I have been working on my cards for the New Year poetry postcard swap hosted by...
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Perimeter Task Cards! - *Perimeter Task Cards!* [image: Click Here to Download This Great Set of Perimeter Task Cards Today!] Click Here to Download This Great Set of Perimeter T...
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Apple Intelligence and Its Impact on the Classroom - From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, technology continues to ...6 days ago
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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...
3 years ago -
New Christmas Drama Circle Activities - The month of December always brings out the excitement in my students, and for me, one of the best ways to take advantage of that excitement and energy is ...
5 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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GYTO ~ Get Your Teach On National Conference - Last week I was so blessed to attend the Get Your Teach On National Conference in San Diego. This conference was started by Deanna Jump & Hope King. T...
6 years ago -
Smashing Strategies for Guided Math: Daily Reflections - This is our final week of sharing Smashing Strategies for Guided Math!! In my previous two posts, I discussed different options for Math Warm-Ups and Inc...
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...
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 -
Teachers Pay Teachers Sale - For all the Aussie teachers going back to school and any one else looking to update their lesson plans, don't miss out on the 2 day sale, you still have t...
9 years ago -
Classroom Resources for Martin Luther King - My class is focusing on biographies right now and I've compiled resources over the years on my blog for Martin Luther King. I hope you find something u...
9 years ago -
Tangle Tables: Multiplication FUN!! - Hello, all! Hope you had a MERRY Christmas! This break has been so relaxing, yet productive for me! I hope it has been for you as well. :) So, have you eve...
9 years ago -
Word Study Workshop...Units 3, 4, and 5 Visited! - So, being 40 weeks pregnant I've slacked with posting highlights from these units! They have been posted though, and are available in my TpT store! I'll gi...
9 years ago -
FUN Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day - For over twenty years, the leprechaun would visit my classroom and then my home when I began to homeschool. My kids have made countless traps all in hop...
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...10 years ago
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Navigating the Dangers of Research - *Today's guest post is by Karen Blumenthal—author of YALSA Nonfiction Award finalists *Bootleg* and *Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different—*and a co...
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...11 years ago
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Waiting on Jake. - I often complain about having to wait for my 15 year old son. As much as I love him (to the moon and back) he tests my limits on frustration because I am ...11 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 ...
12 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...12 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...12 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-share13 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...
13 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...13 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...13 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...13 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...14 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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