Kids be cray cray this time of year!
The end of the year is slowly inching towards us! So exciting, but also so stressful! If you’re looking for some engaging, fun, and easy-to-teach activities for this time of year, I’ve got you teachers!! One of my favorite end-of-the-year activities is a storybook lesson.
Have you ever just watched a child when you are reading to them? 
They get that peaceful, content look that is so rare in children, especially this time of year. Even my 5th graders LOVE read alouds!! You might not believe me, but I swear it’s true! Here are three great books you can use for some peaceful, quiet time in your classroom!
The first recommendation is called, Now Cow Helps Drama Llama – A Mindful Tale for Coping with Anxiety, by Kelly Caleb. Kelly is a licensed therapist and has created a series of “Now Cow” books to help children understand and cope with anxiety. Kelly will be the first author to participate in my new Author Spotlight series, happening every third Friday in my Facebook group especially for teachers.
This delightful story is all about how Llama stresses about everything under the sun, while Now Cow tries to help her cope. Can you say Social and Emotional Learning??! I don’t know about you, but my students seem to be more stressed every day. The lesson plan for this storybook includes, of course SEL strategies. You’ll also get to teach new vocabulary while focusing on timbre, steady beat, how music can reflect different emotions and feelings, and of course, your students will get to do some moving!
Recommendation #2 is Boy Can He Dance, by Eileen Spinelli. 
This adorable storybook is perfect for your movers and shakers. It’s all about a little boy named Tony who wants to be a dancer, but his father wants him to be a chef. His hilarious struggles in the kitchen of a grand hotel make this story a favorite for all ages. Your students will be able to actually get up and dance as they listen to the story. Meanwhile, you get to focus on new vocabulary, the sequence of the story, steady beat, instrument exploration, moving to the beat of music, and multicultural music! The extension to this activity gives students an opportunity to work on their teamwork skills, as well as how to play instruments together.
The best part about this activity is that it works for K thru 5! Want the lesson plan? Connect with me at morethanmusic83@gmail.com, and I will send it to you!
My 3rd recommendation to help you get through the rest of the year without pulling your hair out is Mortimer, by Robert Munsch. This is lit.er.a.lly one of my favorite books to teach. Mortimer DOES NOT like to go to bed! His entire family, along with the police get involved in trying to get him to go to sleep. It’s fun, active, and totally an awesome storybook for the end of the year! You get to focus on the sequence of the story, comprehension skills, dynamics, and good mallet technique. Your students will enjoy this storybook and ask for it over and over!
The lesson plan comes from master teacher, Artie Almeida and is part of her book of lesson plans, Mallet Madness. If you don’t know Artie yet, be sure to check out her website! She is amazing, creative, and one of the most helpful people I’ve ever come across! She is featured this Wednesday, May 12th in a new webinar series from Music Play Online, which is another great online resource for music teachers. Be sure to check out the webinar by clicking here!
Each month we’ll focus on a book designed to help you integrate music and literacy skills into your classroom! I’m helping and loving on teachers in this group! You don’t want to miss this opportunity to help your students find the joy in reading! Click here to join us!
Children’s interactive book recommendations will be a monthly series on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Don’t forget to check back here for more great recommendations. Not only will you get info about some new-to-you kids books, but I’ll also hook you up with a FREE fun lesson plan idea to go with one of these kid’s story books! All you have to do to grab your free lesson plan is click here to join my email list!