The Night Before Valentine's Day! (Plus Freebie)

It's Wild About Books Wednesday! Each Wednesday, I highlight a different book and discuss ways that it can be used in speech/language therapy. I also invite my fellow bloggers to join in on the fun! If you would like to link up, please link back to me using the picture at the bottom of this post! No blog? No problem! I'd love if you would leave a comment sharing your own ideas! I love talking about books and literacy! :)

Last week, I found myself wandering aimlessly around Target when an adorable book caught my eye! It was also $3.99, so I promptly picked it up! It's called The Night Before Valentine's Day by Natasha Wing and follows that same format as you guessed it - The Night Before Christmas. Now, I've seen a million of these books (The Night Before First Grade, Thanksgiving, etc), but this is the first time I have taken a close look at this series. The book is super cute, so I had to whip up a few freebies to share with you!

I've mentioned before that I love using series in language therapy, because they naturally help build background knowledge. When a student is familiar with the same characters or in this case, the same format their comprehension is supported.

There are many ways you can use this book to support language and literacy! Here are some ideas and freebies:

1) Phonological Awareness - Students can work on rhyming discrimination, as this book is written in an ABAB rhyme scheme
2) WH Questions - A made another "A Dab of Comprehension" sheet to go along with this book! Students simply use a bingo dauber (or marker/crayon/etc) to color in the circle after they answer a question.

3) Sequencing - The children in this story make valentines. You can discuss all the steps required to make a valentine. I also made a little "How To" sheet where students can write down the steps!

4) Compare/Contrast - Students can compare their Valentine's Day party at school with the party in the book!
5) Text-To-Text Connections - Have students make connections with The Night Before Christmas or another book in the series!
6) Predictions - At the end of this story the principal drops off a Valentine's Day present! Have students predict what may be inside! It ends up being a cute little hamster - which surprised me! haha

If you would like to scoop up these free printables, just click HERE. I hope they may be useful one day! If anything.. it gives you a reason to swing by Target to pick up the book and most likely a few other things! haha.. If you're following me on Instagram (please do!).. You saw my latest haul!

It's only January and I already have my first bag of Starburst jelly beans under my belt. Eeek! haha

P.S.
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P.S.S.
If you're a blogger - I'd love if you would link up and share your literacy ideas! If you only have Facebook, please feel free to link up with a Facebook note too!