Welcome to the Winter Mentor Text Blog Hop! I am so glad you are here to gather great literacy lesson plans and fabulous free resources as you read through the variety of winter mentor text posts.  The posts in this link-up were written by some of my favorite teacher-authors from The Reading Crew . In this post, I will be sharing ideas about how to use Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett to teach theme. This Caldecott Honor book is simply and beautifully illustrated by Jon Klassen.  It tells the story of how one little girl and her thoughtful, generous actions change the landscape and disposition of her entire town.  Annabelle is the main character in Extra Yarn , and the quietly powerful story of how she shares her talent of knitting with others is a great springboard for classroom discussions about the themes of kindness and the importance of doing good deeds for others. TEACHING THEME WITH EXTRA YARN...

Hello Friends... I hope this revised post finds you thinking of ways that we as educators can continue to advocate for respect, equality, and justice for all.  It was written in honor of the diverse groups of children I have taught over the years, and continues to be timely.  It includes lyrics and video clips for the musical anthems that have provided the uplifting soundtrack to my own life, and will hopefully inspire theirs through the school months and beyond. It also includes a free resource that I hope will help you initiate important discussions based on the important beliefs expressed in the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. LET SPECIAL SONGS TELL  IMPORTANT STORIES ...