Back to School Mentor Text and Instagram!

I'm linking up with the Collaboration Cuties for their Back to School Mentor Text linky! I have to say that great minds think alike because before I posted this I had several books in mind and most of them were already taken by other bloggers! BUT, one of my new favorites from last year hadn't been snatched up yet! 

It's Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld. It's basically the story of a little cloud who wants to do great big things like all the other big clouds. She gets a little discouraged by her small size, but perseveres until she realizes that maybe she can't make rivers rush, etc. but she CAN make important small differences. 

I teach in a fully inclusive class(almost no pull out services for even my students with high needs), and I really liked the message that some clouds are big, some clouds are small, but they can all make a difference if they try. I use this book (among others) that first week when we're doing goal setting for the year. Sometimes the old "You can be president if you want!" type books get a little tired (don't worry I read those to the kids too though!), and I like that this one is a little more real. Some of my kids need to learn how to read before we worry about the presidency, you know? Let's make it rain on the little frog's pond before we worry about making a rushing waterfall. 

And besides all that the book is just ridiculously cute.

Check out the other great books in the linky! And if you're not already (and most of you aren't!) I'll be your BFF if you follow me on instagram! (My little button is up there in the top right corner!) If you do you'll be privy to all kinds of fun pictures, like this one right here:

This is a card I got at the end of the year. Yes, that child said they would tip me if they could...sigh. PS - my name is pronounced like "writes" but this kid apparently always wanted to pronounce it "Ritz." Weird.