profile

Trina Deboree M.Ed. Readers in the Making

👷🏻 Bring Stories to Life! Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas for Kids

Published 5 months ago • 2 min read

​

Issue # 1

Readers in the Making

Hi there, Readers in the Making Family!

Have you ever watched a child’s imagination take off after reading a great story? Maybe they pretended to be Cinderella at the ball, built a wolf-proof house like the Three Little Pigs, or brainstormed how to really help the Gingerbread Man cross the river safely.

That’s the magic of connecting books with hands-on learning—and this week, we’re diving into Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas to bring stories to life in a whole new way!

Turning Pages Together

A few years ago, I had a student who loved listening to stories but hated reading them. Then, we read The Three Little Pigs—and instead of just discussing the story, we built our own houses out of different materials.

Suddenly, he was thinking like an engineer—testing materials, making predictions, and even reading more to find new ideas! That’s when I realized how powerful it is to extend stories beyond the page.

Hands-on learning makes books more engaging, meaningful, and unforgettable.

I even created a Makerspace in the media center to bring stories to life and bring children into the space enthusiastically!

And it worked!

That is when Makerspace Moments in Literature was born.

Want to know more about Makerspace Moments in Literature? Check out this blog post:

​How To Develop An Awe-Inspiring Moment for Readers ​

The Reading Spark

📚 Bring Stories to Life with STEM & Makerspace Challenges!

When kids get to build, create, and experiment, they don’t just understand a story—they experience it! Here are two simple ways to mix reading with hands-on discovery:

1️⃣ STEM Challenges Based on Fairytales​
🦊 The Fox & The Grapes – Build a simple machine to help the fox reach the grapes.
🏠 The Three Little Pigs – Engineer a house that can withstand the Big Bad Wolf’s "huff and puff."
🌊 The Gingerbread Man – Design a raft to help him safely cross the river.

2️⃣ Makerspace Extensions​
Encourage kids to create story-inspired inventions, like a glass slipper prototype for Cinderella or a trunk grabber for The Elephant’s Child to explore cause and effect!

Want even more ideas? Join me for this week’s Readers in the Making live show! 🎥👇

This Week's Reading Boost

Book Recommendation: Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying!: The Story of Cinderella as Told by the Wicked Stepmother

A fun, fractured fairytale that gets kids thinking about perspective and point of view!

These books by Trisha Shaskan make teaching point of view so much fun! These are just some of the mentor texts I use inside my six-week Fairytales, Folktales, and Fables Unit. ​

📌 Check it out here! Grab the book​

This Week’s Resource Highlight

Reading Comprehension Passages & Science Integration

Reading and science belong together! My Reading Comprehension Passages & Science Worksheets make it easy to combine ELA and hands-on learning in a meaningful way.

✅ Boosts nonfiction comprehension – Covers main idea, vocabulary, text features, and critical thinking.​
✅ Saves time – Just print and go! Cover science and reading in under 20 minutes.​
✅ Engages all learners – Hands-on experiments & real-world connections.

📌 Check it out here!​

Readers in the Making

📅 Monday at 6:00 PM EST on YouTube & Instagram

🎥 Topic: Bring Stories to Life! Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas​
✔️ How hands-on projects boost reading comprehension.
✔️ Fun STEM & Makerspace challenges based on fairytales, folktales, and fables.
✔️ Easy, low-prep activities that blend storytelling and creativity.

🎁 BONUS! Grab your FREE Fairytales, Folktales & Fables Sample Lesson! It includes a sorting activity, lesson plan, and anchor posters.

📌 Tune in live, and let’s make reading an adventure!

Your Turn: Share the Joy!

What’s your favorite fairytale-inspired activity?

Reply to this email or tag me on Instagram @trina_deboree with your best story-based STEM or Makerspace idea!

📌 Bonus! Tag me, and I’ll send you a FREE book list by standards and skills—perfect for finding great reads at your child’s level!

Until We Read Again...

Reading isn’t just about words on a page—it’s about adventure, creativity, and discovery. Let’s help our kids experience stories in a whole new way this week!

Let’s keep reading, building, and imagining together!

Warmly,

Warmly,
Trina

11567 84th Street Circle East, Parrish, FL 34219
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Trina Deboree M.Ed. Readers in the Making

Trina Deboree

Hi, I’m Trina, a former struggling reader turned educator with over 30 years of experience. Through Readers in the Making, I share weekly tips and resources to help parents and “rebel” teachers inspire a lifelong love for books in kids. My goal? To make reading joyful, accessible, and empowering for all young readers. Join our community to get practical tips, engaging resources, and a little extra inspiration each week! 📚

Read more from Trina Deboree M.Ed. Readers in the Making

Have you ever met a kid who groans at writing time? I have—many times. That’s exactly why I created something new that makes writing feel like play (and might even make your child or students laugh out loud). 🎉 Introducing: Would You Rather…Write?! My brand-new interactive workbook is now available on Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/42TCOZO This 123-page workbook is filled with: ✅ 50 hilarious Would You Rather prompts ✅ Guided writing pages to build confidence and sentence structure ✅ 5 hands-on...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Issue # 46 Readers in the Making 👋 Hey there, reader-loving grown-up! If your child (or student) has ever slammed a book shut and shouted “I hate reading!”—you’re not alone. This week, we’re digging into some of the most frustrating reading moments…and how to flip them into wins. Because when kids believe they can read, they start to want to read. 💛 Let’s turn the page together... Turning Pages Together A mom I recently spoke with told me, “Every time I ask him to read, it turns into a fight....

3 months ago • 3 min read

Issue # 45 Readers in the Making Hi there, Readers in the Making Family! Ever tried to read a book with a child who just can’t sit still? One minute, they’re flipping pages, the next, they’re upside down on the couch. (And somehow, the book is now across the room. 🤦♀️ This is so my son, Jackson! Still! And he is 20!) Here’s the thing—movement and reading don’t have to be enemies! Letting kids move while they read can actually improve focus, comprehension, and engagement. This week, I’m...

4 months ago • 3 min read