AUTUMN IN THE AIR

I've always loved introducing my students to autumn poetry during our colorful autumn in New England. One of my favorites is Bliss Carmen's "Vagabond Song". Carmen, a Canadian, captures the true essence of autumn in his hauntingly beautiful poem. The music in this YouTube video is a perfect fit for  it. Take a minute to immerse yourself in the glory of autumn.


A Vagabond Song
by Bliss Carmen


There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood —
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name. 

Another Favorite Autumn Poem!


Download this FREE PDF file of yet another poignant autumn poem, Clay Harrison's poem "Autumn is Nature's Masterpiece". There are two handouts for students and a teacher's answer key. It includes literary elements and grammar skills.
Stanzas are in fall colors for projecting on an interactive board.

Practice identifying elements of literature and polish those grammar skills!

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Holiday Postcards, Gift Tags and Special Notes

This fun packet of holiday postcards, with matching gift tags and special notes are perfect for a classroom holiday activity. Black and white templates of all three are included. Special notes can be used as anonymous notes of kindness written by your kids to their friends. Make sure they don't sign them! Display in your room for everyone to see!

Pinterest!!

Pinterest is a unique place. Create your own board with favorites you find on the Pinterest site. Name your boards according to categories. Find incredible websites!

Check out my Pinterest boards to see what it's all about!

WHAT?? ANOTHER NEW STUDENT??

I don't have enough desks in my room. HELP!

This new adorable student asked me what we're having for lunch. I told him a mixed green salad and he smiled. 
 He offered to help me reach the top shelves of my closet!

Seriously.. We all need a bit of levity from time to time. 

Click on this wonderful photo and you'll be transported to 

National Geographics Jigsaw Puzzle Maker! 

Warning: This is addicting but well worth doing once a day!

A Warm Welcome to Connie Casserly!

Hi Everyone! Please extend a warm welcome to another TeachersPayTeachers colleague! Connie is a high school English teacher who offers middle and high school products on TeachersPayTeachers.com. She's also the author of A Fine Line, a young adult novel, that addresses the issue of teen dating abuse. Visit her blog "TeachItWrite"

You can visit Connie's TeachersPayTeacher's Store at

Store: Connie - TeachersPayTeachers.com

Also, check out her Teach It Write Facebook Page 

Teach it Write | Facebook

Eric Carle

One of my favorite children's authors and illustrators is Eric Carle. His incredible colorful art work is charming. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR is the one that I vividly remember. For a number of years I had my fifth grade kids do author reports. Each child selected an author and read two or three books written by that author. They had to compare and contrast illustrations and the stories and write a report. Their culminating activity was to write a letter to the author to describe the best features of the books.


Eric Carle always wrote a personal letter to the all of my students and would include an illustration for them. Parents told me that they framed them because they were so precious. 


This fascinating video is about Eric Carle's newest book, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. He describes what inspired him to write it and demonstrates how he creates his artwork. Take a few minutes to sit back, relax and enjoy this delightful author as he also explains how children relate to art.

The Eric Carle 40,000 square foot Museum is in Amherst, Massachusetts. Watching this video was magical. Eric has not only his own art work on display but he also has a collection of out of print picture books in a picture book library for kids and adults. Free art lessons are given and you'll see kids working with tissue paper to create their own colorful animals. As seen below, there's a theater where picture books are acted out in skits. This is truly a museum to see!