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Wednesday, December 31
Teachers & Homeschoolers- FREE Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story Materials Now Available!
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 31 Dec 2008 09:56 AM CST
Teachers & Homeschoolers- FREE Katie & Kimble Materials Now Available!
 Hey,
teachers and homeschoolers! Free Katie & Kimble
classroom/ homeschool materials are now available to download from the
Katie & Kimble Blog!
As of August 15, 2008, I have uploaded the full set of brand new Activity Packets that accompany
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (280L) and the full set of new Activity Packets for Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (290L).
NOW the free downloadable, printable Awards Package for each book is included right in the file with the Activity Packets. Readers can mark their progress with color-in ribbons!
Answer Keys are now available, too. See below.
Each Activity Packet covers two chapters and
contains 7 Activity Pages (reading skills, word skills, comprehension,
apply text to self, writing, etc.).
The first page of each Activity Packet is a
Table of Contents/Cover page for the packet. Teachers and homeschoolers can
decide which Activity Pages to use in each packet, and kids can check
off each Activity Page on the Contents page as they complete it (very
motivating, as they can see their progress). The
Contents page/Cover sheet also contains pre-reading activities (predictions) for the
chapters that follow. These Katie & Kimble Activity Packets are
available to download free of charge.
As some of you know, I used to be an English teacher (ESL). I also
used to create materials on a regular basis, both for my own classes
and for the language programs that employed me. So, it just follows
naturally that I would wish to create some materials to go along with Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish.
These materials are RL3 (third grade). As my guide, I have used the
requirements from two Iowa school systems for reading skills in their
third grade classrooms and the national standards for third grade.
Plus, I've had the input of a wonderful third grade teacher, Mrs. Juli
Dodd, MA, who specializes in reading.
I have Reading/Writing Activities and Class/Group Activities,
including prompts for writing reports on things related to the Katie
& Kimble story. I've also created topics and prompts to go with my
Childhood Stories that you will find on the right sidebar under the
Katie & Kimble Activity Corner.
KK--ClassroomActivities.pdf
You can download all the materials free of charge below and make copies
for your own personal use or for classroom use. And don't forget the
free downloadable coloring pages!
Download the pdf of Activity Packets 1A-1C and Activity Packets 1D-1F for Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story here:
KK1--ActivityPackets-1A-1C.pdf
KK1--ActivityPackets-1D-1F.pdf
Download the pdf of Activity Packets 2A-2C and Activity Packets 2D-2F for Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish here:KK2--ActivityPackets-2A-2C.pdf
KK2--ActivityPackets-2D-2F.pdf
Answer Keys
KK--AnswerKeys-Books1and2.pdf
Katie & Kimble Awards Package
This Awards Package has been
designed to accompany the Activity Packets for Katie & Kimble: A
Ghost Story and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish.
The file, the Katie & Kimble
Awards Package, consists of one four-inch ribbon to be awarded to the
reader upon the completion of each Activity Packet. The ribbons
are designed to be printed out and work equally well in color or in
black and white/grayscale.
Suggested Use
When the reader has finished
Activity Packet 1A, for example—the “1” meaning Book 1 and the “A”
meaning the first packet—give the reader the ribbon for packet
1A. The reader can color in the ribbon, cut it out and write her or his name
on the blank ribbon. The reader can then collect the ribbons, pin
them or tape them up on the wall or on a bulletin board, and watch her
or his progress grow. At the end of each of the Katie &
Kimble books, the reader is to be awarded one of the bigger, six-inch
ribbons to signify having completed the entire book and all six of the
Activity Packets.
The printable ribbons can be downloaded here. There are six small ribbons per book and one large ribbon per book.
KK--AwardsPackage.pdf
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Tuesday, December 30
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story - Does Katie Have a Song?
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 30 Dec 2008 11:22 AM CST
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story - Does Katie Have a Song?
 This past summer,
a Katie & Kimble reader named Marissa posted some
questions and comments here on the Katie & Kimble Blog. She’s
really got me thinking, too! For example, Marissa and I have discussed Kimble’s song, Mr. Russell’s song, and even Twinkle’s song (sort of). So, Marissa asked me if Katie has a song.
Well, there is a song that I think of when I think of Katie. It’s not
really “Katie’s Song.” But for people who have read Katie & Kimble:
A Ghost Story, I think you’ll know why I think of Katie when I hear this song.
The song is called “Down by the Old Mill Stream.” It was written in
1910, and so it was popular when Kimble was a child. There is a line in
the song that goes like this:
Down by the old mill stream
(not the river but the stream)...
If you have read the first Katie & Kimble book (Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story), I think you can see Kimble’s sense of humor in this song (and you know which chapter I’m talking about!)
It’s sort of an “inside joke.” That means that only Katie & Kimble
readers will know what the joke means! I thought that was kind of funny!
So, thanks, Marissa! What do you think of “Katie’s Song”? I found a
free sample of the part I wanted you to hear over on iTunes. Listen to
it here!
Down by the Old Mill Stream
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Monday, December 29
Katie & Kimble: The Sad, Sweet Song that Reminds Me of Kimble
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 29 Dec 2008 11:43 AM CST
The Sad, Sweet Song that Reminds Me of Kimble
 Before Katie met Kimble, Kimble was all alone in that big, old house for many years. At times, she was lonely and sad.
There is a song that reminds me of Kimble. I think of it as Kimble's song. It's called "Graceful Ghost Rag."
"Rag" means that the song is ragtime. Ragtime uses certain
patterns and rhythms. Often, ragtime is fast and bouncy. In
the case of the "Graceful Ghost Rag," this ragtime piece is slow,
beautiful, and so sweet you could just cry.
The "Graceful Ghost Rag" was written in 1971. The man who wrote
it, William Bolcom, did so to remember his father who had died. I
hear it's one of the hardest ragtime pieces to play on the piano!
Click here to listen and watch three different versions of the "Graceful Ghost Rag."
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Sunday, December 28
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story - Did You Know Kimble's Dress is Real?
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 28 Dec 2008 06:56 AM CST
Did You Know Kimble's Dress is Real?
 I wrote Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10, 280L) in May, 1994. At that time, I knew Kimble would be wearing a dress from the fall of 1918.
It took me years to find a pattern for Kimble's dress. I looked and looked. Then,
three years ago I finally contacted Mrs. Penny Ladnier over at CostumeGallery.com to see if she had any books or catalogs from 1918.
In Kimble's day, most girls did not go to the store and buy clothes.
They bought patterns and cloth. Then they made their dresses at
home! They would put the pattern on top of the cloth and then cut
out the pieces of the dress. Then they would sew the pieces together.
When I contacted Mrs. Ladnier, I was truly surpised. Mrs. Ladnier
had just won an auction for a pattern book from the fall of 1918!
And what was even more amazing was the auction was over in
France!
So we waited and waited for the book to arrive. Once Mrs. Ladnier
received the pattern book for children's dresses, she faxed me the
different dresses that were for a girl Kimble's age. Then I chose
one I liked.
Later, the illustrator for Katie & Kimble, Mrs. Kim Tharp, helped
me design the back of the dress. We could guess at the back
pretty well because we could see the front and the side of the dress.
Mrs. Tharp also painted in a plaid pattern for the cloth of the dress. Plaid was very popular that year.
So, that means that Kimble's dress is REAL and that real girls wore
that dress in 1918. They also wore big red bows in their hair,
just like Kimble. And we took Kimble's hairstyle and her dress
boots from the pattern book, too!
Just thought you might like to know!
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Saturday, December 27
Download Your Free Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story Coloring Pages Here!
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 27 Dec 2008 08:57 AM CST
Download Your Free Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story Coloring Pages Here!
Now
you can download free Katie & Kimble coloring pages here! The coloring pages show five scenes from Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10, 280L).
Click here to download the Katie & Kimble coloring pages in PDF format.
Or, look on the right sidebar of this blog. You'll find the
coloring pages and other fun activities in the Katie & Kimble
Activity Corner.
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Wednesday, December 24
Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2) Gets Great Review!
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 24 Dec 2008 09:05 AM CST
Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2) Gets Great Review!
 The results are in from the Writer's Digest 16th Annual Self-published Book Awards, and I am pleased to announce that Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish,
Book
2 in the Katie & Kimble series, has received a great review!
Here's what the contest judge said:
"I haven't read the other Katie & Kimble book, but after
visiting the author's website to see what it's all about, I'm sure it
is a favorite. Ms. Thieman has developed a site that young people are
sure to enjoy.
Books like this, well-written with a good plot, well-presented and
illustrated, are a pleasure to read. I liked the characters and the
open-mindedness of the parents in accepting Kimble into their family. I
think it's a delightful theme to a story.
Written with a nice flow. A good bedtime story book, easy for
young people to read, too. I also like the coupon idea! The author can
be congratulated on doing a splendid job."
Thank you, thank you very much! LOL
Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (290L) picks up where Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
left off. Katie's dad, Mr. Russell, still doesn't know about Kimble.
But he's going to find out soon! What will the girls tell him? And
how will they tell him? "Hi, Daddy, this is my friend, Kimble. She's
a ghost!" That doesn't really work too well, if you know what I mean. How will Mr. Russell react?
And what will the girls WISH for when they find a coupon for a magic wish?
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
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