St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and so I wanted to take some time to highlight one of my older stories, Irish Strong William.

William has traveled to America from Ireland with the hope of finding a better life. Unfortunately, things do not go well for William in the new country and he is separated from his family. Will William be Irish Strong enough to ride on the orphan train a new home in a new country?

The Orphan Train Riders stories were the first books I ever wrote and published, and just like the trips children took on the orphan trains, my own journey seems a long time ago! Back in 2013 my kiddos were toddlers, I was still working as a full time reading teacher and my author dreams were just starting to bloom. I think knowing that these books were my beginning will always reserve them a special place in my heart.

I also love that these stories are a great addition to classrooms, especially around the holidays. While St. Patrick’s Day is considered a minor holiday in the United States, recognizing it can still add a touch of fun and fanfare to your classroom. Using this story and its accompanying resources can be an easy way for you to do just that! And bonus, not only will you be adding a wee bit of fun, you’ll also be able to teach your students about interesting aspects of our country’s past including facts about Ellis Island, immigration, the Children’s Aid Society, railroads and of course, the orphan train riders.

The newest addition to my line up of resources for this book is a read aloud/along video. Accessible for both in person and distanced leraning classrooms, this 30 minute audio recording of William’s journey is the perfect way to experience the story… either all in one shot or broken up into bitesized pieces.

Another resource available is The Orphan Train Riders Unit Study which offers up comprehension questions, vocabulary work, journal writes and extension activities not only for William’s story, but for Charles and Joanna’s as well.

And finally, enjoy this free coloring sheet. Students can fill in the picture on the front and record interesting facts they learn from the story on the back. Then, when they take it home, they can easily share what they’ve learned instead of saying “nothing” when asked what they did in school today.

Either right click and save this image or email me and I can send you a printable copy!

No matter how you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or or what leprechaun shenanigans take place in your classroom, I’m sending you all the luck in the world for a wonderful week.

This post and video were made beautiful by Canva.

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