He Who Must Not Be Named....

"Today you are You,

that is truer than true.

There is no one alive

who is Youer than You."

-Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 

I'm probably not allowed to say that but I don't really give a rats....WHAT!?!

It's absolutely pathetic that teachers are afraid to share the wonderful things that they do with their classes to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday because they are afraid of cease and desist letters and lawsuits.  Despite my disdain for the bullies who are trying to turn Dr. Seuss into Voldemort I am going to share a few things I LOVE about Seuss with you!

So many of Seuss's books contain incredible lessons, messages, and commentary on the world we live in.  For example, as I was reading I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew with my class earlier this week the central message resonated with me even as an adult.

"But I've bought a big bat.

I'm all ready, you see.

Now my troubles are going

To have troubles with me!"

-Dr. Seuss I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew

The story is about a little creature who runs into trouble and decides to run away from his troubles.  On his journey to Solla Sollew he runs into more troubles and upon his arrival he learns he can't get into Solla Sollew (thanks to a Key-Slapping Slippard) and he's faced with a decision.  He can continue his search for a trouble-free life in Boola Boo Ball or he can return home and face his problems.  

Of course, I emphasized that you don't need a bat to face your problems but there are two main points that are wonderful to pull out with young students!  Is it possible to have a problem free life?  When you have a problem should you run away from it or be brave and face it?

I just adore Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal.  I got this little chapter book from a Scholastic Book Fair Warehouse sale last year and just finished reading it with my class.  When we finished a chapter in the biography we read a book that was referenced in that chapter.  It was really interesting and exciting to read the story with background information from the biography!  

For example, we learned in the biography that after Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat using 225 different words, his friend and publisher Bennett Cerf bet him $50 that he couldn't write a book using only 50 different words.  Dr. Seuss won the bet and $50 when he completed Green Eggs and Ham!  A few of my students wanted to know what 50 words he used so this week I created a recording page and they dug into their research.  I forgot to take pictures but I will post two of the "research projects" my students participated in this week. 

If you are interested in using either one of these recording pages with your class please download them HERE for free!