Let's Talk About Books! (Linky Party)

Today I decided to join a new linky party!  This one is for BOOKS!!  I know I love to learn about what great books others are using in their classrooms/therapy rooms so I can get ideas for myself and build my already HUGE library.  Click HERE to "jump" back to Mrs. Jump's Class's Blog to see the other educator's book choices.

I decided to share one of my favorite books to use in speech therapy:  Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks!; The Story of the Three Bears as Told by Baby Bear (Other Side of the Story).  I love to use this book with students grades 2-5! Yes, I said grade 5!  Even some of my 6th graders love it too!  They may make fun and crack some wise comments when I first pull it out but once we start reading/listening, they are at the edges of their seats and are totally enjoying it!!

What skills can I address with this book?

• compare/contrast
• vocabulary
• sequencing
• predicting
• comparatives/superlatives
• recall and answering questions
• problem/solution
• cause/effect
• perspective talking
• and so much more!!

I love this book so much I created a storybook companion pack for it.  You can find it on TpT by clicking HERE!

'Twas Night Before Thanksgiving: Companion Pack!

I am not rushing the holidays but I wanted to push out a companion pack for those that like to plan ahead!  I apologize for not creating a storybook companion for Halloween!!  I promise to get a few out next year!!  To make up for it, I have one ready to go for Thanksgiving!!

Activities to use with the book, “’Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving” by Dav Plikey.

Addresses the following skills:
-comprehension
-answering questions
-sequencing
-adjectives
-building vocabulary
-synonyms
-higher level thinking

In this activity:
-Comprehension Questions Board Game:  Students must accurately respond to the questions on the cards provided in order to take a turn using a dice/spinner to move around the game board. Answer key is provided.

-Sequencing Cards:  Students must read the sentences provided and arrange them into the correct order of events from the story.

-Vocabulary Matching:  Use the cards to drill and play memory matching games to build vocabulary using words from the story.  I recommend doing this activity BEFORE reading so students will understand the vocabulary as they read.  Also great for working on synonyms!

-Adjective Sort:  Students can sort the adjectives from the story into the categories (good vs. bad).

-Draw & Write:  Several worksheets are provided to elicit imagination and higher level thinking.   I recommend having students share their answers/drawings to elicit conversation/discussion.

You can access this companion pack by clicking HERE!!

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

If You Take A Mouse To School Companion Pack!

Use these activities with the book, If You Take A Mouse To School by Laura Joffe Numeroff.

In this activity pack:
-Sequencing Cards: Big version can be used as large visuals while telling and retelling story.  If you print two copies of this version, students can play memory matching games with the vocabulary.  Small version can be used for sequencing on construction paper or a paint stick.

-Sentence Strip:  Use with sequencing cards.

-Cause-effect Matching Cards:  Students must match the causes and effects from the story.  Can use as a memory matching game.  Visual is provided as well!

-Compare/Contrast Worksheet: Venn Diagram to compare/contrast a real mouse vs. the mouse in the story.

-Comprehension Board Game:  Students can practice their recall and comprehension skills on the task cards to move across the board game.  Various question types are used for practice.  Answer key is provided as well.

-Where do you find it? Sorting pages: Sort the picture into the correct category based on where you would find the items provided.

-Let’s Describe Card Game: Vocabulary based on story/school theme.  Students will be provided with a visual to assist them.  For each description made, students will earn a point.  The student with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

-Category Say & Color:  For each item in the picture, students must say the category label before coloring the picture.

-Pack The Backpack:  Print and laminate the backpack page. Print and laminate the “packing pictures.”  Use the sentence strip on the “Pack The Backpack” page to work on following directions and asking/answering yes/no questions.

You can access this companion pack in my TpT store by clicking HERE!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Young Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop Mystery (Companion Pack)

Growing up I used to love the Cam Jansen mystery chapter books by David A. Adler.  I have been using these books in my speech room to teach predicting, story comprehension, using context clues to learn new vocabulary, main ideas/details, sequencing, and answering higher level questions and using evidence from the story.

I have created a companion pack to use with one of my students' favorite books from this series.  I found these books on Amazon for less than $4 each and when you buy them in a bundle you can get them even cheaper!

In this companion pack:

-Sequencing Sentences:  Students can rearrange the sentences to retell the story in the correct order.

-Comprehension Board Game: Students can recall and express details about the story using the question cards provided.  After students respond correctly, they can take a turn in the board game.

-Graphic organizer:  Students can use this graphic organizer to take notes while reading the story.  This will help them with the various activities included.

-Comprehension question worksheets: A worksheet is provided for each of the 5 chapters.  Students can practice recalling details after each chapter.  By reviewing what was read/heard, this will help them recall the entire story once finished.

-Word Hunt Worksheets:  Students can reread the story again and look for the specific grammatical structures requested in each word hunt.  Students can compete against each other to see who can locate the most!

-New Vocabulary Word Sheet:  Students can practice understanding and using new vocabulary used in the story.  Students will practice looking up definitions, using definitions in their own words, using words in sentences, and illustrating how the words are used.  A sample list is provided of new vocabulary words.

-Writing Practice:  Students will work on written expression and higher level thinking with the writing worksheets provided.  Encourage students to look back into the story to locate evidence that will defend their responses.

-Click!:  Students will be encouraged to use their own amazing memories to draw what the whole story was about (main idea).  Then, they can share their illustrations with their classmates.

You can access this storybook companion pack in my TpT store by clicking HERE!!  Feel free to let me know if you request other specific Cam Jansen books for future companion packs!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Trust me, Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks! Companion Pack!

This download is filled with activities to use with the story, Trust Me, Jack's Beanstalk Stinks!: The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk as Told by the Giant (The Other Side of the Story) by Eric Braun.

Speech/Language Goals Addressed:
-Reading/Listening Comprehension
-Vocabulary/Adjectives/Character Traits
-Compare/Contrast
-Written Expression
-Cause/Effect
-Drawing Conclusions
-Inferencing
-Wh- Questions
-Sequencing
-Common core skills!
-And So Much More!

In this file:
-Sequencing Sentences:  Students can use to retell the story.  Have them place the sentences into the correct order to retell the story.

-Adjective Sort:  Students can sort adjectives used in the story into “good” and “bad” categories.  Can your students recall or use reasoning skills to identify which adjectives were used by who to describe which character?

-Comprehension Questions Game:  Questions based on the story.  Use with the board game provided.  This game targets a variety of wh- questions and yes/no questions as well!

-Compare & Contrast: Students can use the Venn Diagram to compare this version & the original story.  You can decide whether to just provide students with a copy of the diagram and have them write in their answers or use the sorting sentences and have your students place them into the correct spot on the Venn Diagram.

-What Would They Say?:  A variety of scenarios are provided with speech bubbles.  Students should write what they think the characters would say.

-Writing worksheets: A variety of worksheets are provided to encourage higher level thinking such as predicting, drawing conclusions, cause/effect, and explanations.

You can access this activity in my TpT store by clicking HERE!

Seriously, Cinderella is SO Annoying! Companion Pack!

I am LOVING these books by Nancy Loewen!!  They are fabulous and my students are LOVING them too!  I wish you saw how quiet they were as I read this book in speech today!  Finally, a companion pack is ready to go for you!

In this file:

-Sequencing Sentences:  Students can use to retell the story.  Have them place the sentences into the correct order to retell the story.

-New Vocabulary Match:  Students can play memory matching games by matching the new vocabulary used in the story with its definition.

-Comprehension Questions Game:  Questions based on the story.  Use with the board game provided.

-Compare & Contrast: Students can use the Venn Diagram to compare this version of Cinderella & the original story.  You can decide whether to just provide students with a copy of the diagram and have them write in their answers or use the sorting sentences and have your students place them into the correct spot on the Venn Diagram.

-What Would They Say?:  A variety of scenarios is provided with speech bubbles.  Students should write what they think the characters would day.  Can your students make two different versions based on the version of the story.

-Multiple Meaning Words Match Worksheet: there are several multiple meaning words used in this story.  Students can review these vocabulary words by matching the terms to both definitions.

-Point of View Chart:  For each statement made, students can check off on the chart whose point of view it would be based on this version of the story.

-Character Traits Coloring:  Several character traits of Cinderella were provided in a color page based on events in the story.  Students must express evidence based on the story that supports these characteristics in order to color the picture!

You can access this activity pack in my TpT store by clicking HERE!

Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten! Storybook Companion Pack!

Are you familiar with the story, Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten! by Nancy Loewen??  Now, I have a companion pack go with it!

In this activity:

-Sequencing Sentences:  Students can use to retell the story.  Have them place the sentences into the correct order to retell the story.

-Homophones Match:  Students can play memory matching games by matching the homophone pairs provided.  You can also have students go for a “homophone hunt” by searching through the book for one or more of the homophone words provided in this activity.

-Comprehension Questions Game:  Questions based on the story.  Use with the board game provided.

-Compare & Contrast: Students can use the Venn Diagram to compare this version of Little Red Riding Hood & the original story.  You can decide whether to just provide students with a copy of the diagram and have them write in their answers or use the sorting sentences and have your students place them into the correct spot on the Venn Diagram.

-What Would They Say?:  A variety of scenarios is provided with speech bubbles.  Students should write what they think the characters would day.  Can your students make two different versions based on the version of the story.

-Describing Your Grandmother:  Students can complete the worksheet to describe their own grandmother.

-Coloring Red Objects:  Students can go through the pictures provided on the worksheet and color red all items that are red.

-Initial /r/ and /l/ and final /f/ Articulation Game:  Students must pick a card and express the word on the card.  If they pick the “wolf” card, they lose a turn.  The student with the most cards at the end is the winner!  Can your students identify which target words were found in the story?!

-Writing Activity: This will help tap into your students’ higher level thinking!

You can access this download in my TpT store by clicking HERE!

Want to read the original version to your students?  Click HERE for a FREE version!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.