Integrating Feelings: Llama llama

These books are so cute. I love the way they rhyme. The illustrations are great. The author, Anna Dewdney does a good job with the stories. It explains just how little ones feel as they begin school, want to leave the store, or need to go to bed. What I love about these books is that the Little Llama grows up in each book. You can read them in order and have your little one explore that.

All ages can read and enjoy the books, but the activities and website are geared toward children ages 2-9.






They are just easy reads. I bet your older children could write their own Llama llama book. You should challenge them to try.
Teacher vision.com has great ideas for teachers and parents to use to get their children thinking.

For Comprehension it is suggested that:
• Ask your readers to make predictions about the text. They should focus on the characters’ feelings, events in the plot, and problem/
solution situations.
• Readers can become involved in the story by visualizing the scenes that take place throughout the book. Ask students to draw their
own versions of the story action before seeing the real illustrations.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Values & Decision Making
Explain the concepts of values and personalities to your students. Ask students to think about things they personally value: their families,
friends, toys, etc. Get to know Llama Llama by reading Llama Llama Red Pajama, Llama Llama Mad at Mama, Llama Llama Misses
Mama, and Llama Llama Holiday Drama out loud to your class.
• Little Llama grows older with each book. Read the books in order and discuss how he changes.
• Use the text and pictures in each book to find examples of Llama’s values and personality traits.
• As a class, make a list of Llama’s favorite things and words that describe his personality.
Do the same for Mama Llama. Compare and contrast your lists. How are your students similar
to and diff erent from little Llama?
• What does he learn at the end of each story?

For more information, see the website above.

You can also visit the cutest website ever: Llama Llama Homepage

There is even an APP for that!!

Integrating Feelings: Moving Day

This time of year, families are selling/renting homes, moving, and changing kids comfort in what they call home. You can find many people setting up for garage sales and big moving trucks in the driveways. Often times, kids feelings get overlooked as to what is really happening. Talking about what is happening, even if you think they don't fully get it, will help decrease stress.





Kids can then take a paper and decorate what they would want their new room to look like.

You might even get lucky in the box search to keep the kids busy while you pack. You can entice them that when they get to the new home, they will be able to decorate it. Which will keep them busy while you unpack, for a while.

Integrating Feelings: Dealing with Bullies

Bullies can be scary for children of all ages. They may not know that it is okay to talk with an adult. By reading stories like the following to children, it might create a conversation of a time they were bullied or when a friend is/has been bullied. One thing that I deal with weekly and will not tolerate are bullies. Throughout the year, I have books that I read to my students to remind them how to stand up to bullies and also recognize when bullies are scared themselves of feeling left out. My oldies but goodies: How to handle when a bully frightens you or makes fun of the way you speak.

When a bully makes fun of your size- something you cannot change. When recess is not a fun place to play because one person ruins it for everyone. And a new favorite, when and how to talk with a grown up: Of course, there are picture books and many would think that they are just for primary age children, but they send the message to all ages. For more books and resources about bullies visit, Embracing the Child, which also leads you to wonderful links such as The Ophelia Project and Stop Bullying now.

Even if your child is not being bullied, there is a chance that they might BE the bully. Reading these books might help them reflect on their actions before it is too late.