Orange Pumpkin Book---Revised; Get Ready for Halloween!

Back in 2012, I found an awesome Halloween book on Tarheel Reader, and after adding interactive icons, put it up on my blog.   It has been a huge hit, and when I was working in the schools, my students read it year after year.  Today, I decided to actually look at the book and my blog entry.  I still liked it, but when I took a look at the photo credits on Tarheel Reader, I found that some of the photographers had changed their usage rights, or had removed the photos.  In addition, back in 2012, I knew very little about copyright laws and image use.  The bottom line--I've revised the book using Photos for Class  or provided a link back to the photo website (provided the photographer allows use of the photo in the first place). I'll be taking down my original book.

The book is the same pattern, but some images are changed.  I also changed the font to make it more child friendly.

There are also the same icons as previously, both in Boardmaker and as a pdf.

For those of you who don't know about adapting books, I like to print out and laminate the pages including the icons.  The kids can match colors and item pictures to the book as it's read to them, or as they read it themselves. 

Links for downloading are below.  Happy reading! 

Click here to download the icons in pdf

Click here to download the icons in Boardmaker

Click here to download the revised Orange Pumpkin book in pdf


Off topic, does anyone else love Joan Baez?  Her farewell tour is coming to Durham NC this weekend.  

"What do I see in the Fall?"---Free printable interactive book

It's fall!   My favorite season!    In the spirit of giving, I found a new book on Tarheel Reader and adapted it (changing out some of the pictures, adding icons, and adding a sentence frame). You can print or display it, whatever your preference is.

The book focuses on a few core words ('I', "see", "go") along with fringe vocabulary ('fall' words such as 'rake', 'acorn', and 'leaves').
Kids can add pages if there are other items that they see outside---that's just a quick extension activity idea :)

This was originally found on Tarheel Reader.
Tarheel Reader is an excellent resource for simple books with vivid pictures.  These can be printed or downloaded to an ipad.  I print, and edit.

Simple repetitive language is throughout the book.  "I" and "see" are core words.  Kids also need the fringe (in this case, 'fall' vocabulary).

Icons are provided to make the book interactive, along with a sentence frame.  Icons are from Smarty Symbols----I pay a professional subscription to create and share materials.   These symbols are copyrighted, so please don't create new materials using them.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE BOOK "WHAT DO I SEE IN THE FALL?"


If you are interested in this free book (which does focus on nouns and 'fall'), you may also like an item I listed on Teachers Pay Teachers which is also fall-themed.  This packet includes two interactive books, a craft booklet, and a fall scavenger hunt for a nominal price. As usual, if you are a starving CF, or in a disaster zone (such as a Hurricane Florence area), email me at speech40@gmail.com, and the packet is yours free.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FALL LEAVES PACKET ON TPT


Let's pray for no more hurricanes. We were very lucky in Chapel Hill, but my heart breaks when I see images from the coast.

No more, please!

"I See Trains" --free printable interactive book

Who doesn't like trains?  I've ridden them in the US, in Indonesia, in Italy, in Spain, and in Norway.  I'd love to go to Japan and ride the Bullet Train.  Kids often are facinated by trains too and several I worked with were familiar (obsessed) with Thomas.  Some owned myriad Thomas toys, and even when they didn't really have functional communication skills, could name all the characters instantly, putting my limited Thomas vocabulary skills to shame. 

In honor of train travel, I've adapted a Tarheel Reader book I found. I changed out some of the pictures due to copyright issues, and added icons, and a sentence frame at the end. The original book is here.      The link to my interactive rendition is below.  I liked this book with its repetitive language, use of modifiers, and vivid pictures.  If you are working on core AAC vocabulary, there are several words here along with a variety of fringe vocabulary.  If you are working on kindergarten reading level, this book works for that too!   The symbols are from Smarty Symbols and  I pay a subscription fee which allows me to create and share materials

. 

All pages follow the 'I see a _____ train' pattern.

Icons are provided for matching, and a sentence frame is on the last page. 


You can download the free printable book from this link.







Long ago, my husband and I along with our two boys took a trip across the country on Amtrak. 
It took a long time with many stops along the way to explore  Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Glacier National Park, and Seattle.  Needless to say, we had loads of fun and an experience my boys will never forget!

New Gluten-Free Vegan recipe--Butternut Squash Coconut Chili

I'm not a vegan.

That being said, I occasionally have to cook vegan, and found a perfect recipe which accomodated vegan and gluten-free diets.  When there are multiple food restrictions occuring in the same meal with different people, cooking sometimes gets a little complicated!  I do want to prepare a meal for a friend at times, and accomodating another's special diet is the first step to having a good time.

The recipe is for Butternut Squash Coconut Chili.  I found this on a beautiful blog that looks as though it's been abandoned.   I'm working on making sure my own, Chapel Hill Snippets, continues to be up and running.

I made this today, and it was delicious.  Please go to the Fig Tree for the recipe.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention our state's weather disaster.  Hurricane Florence devastated the eastern part of North Carolina.  My community, Chapel Hill, was relatively unscathed, but I worry about all the people down east, many with flooded homes and little relief in sight as the flood waters continue to rise.  The news is terrible and sad.

We did have a bit of a downpour yesterday which gave us a taste of the power of water.  Our little babbling brook down in the ravine turned into a major torrent in the matter of a few hours.