Simple tips for improving writing in your second or third grade classroom. These tips are a must if you want better writers!
Looking for esl task cards to use with your english language learners? Try these picture cards that are perfect for quick and effective language practice!
In honor of the Q&A section of my TPT store , I am sharing a little more about my paragraph puzzles today in VIDEO form! Questions answered in this video: What exactly will I get when I purchase a month of paragraph puzzles? Can these be differentiated to meet the needs of my strug
Paragraph writing is a big challenge for many students. This post includes a step-by-step method to help your students write great paragraphs in no time.
Looking to foster a love of writing? Try setting up a writing corner featuring a bulletin board with useful tools to inspire student writing.
Today I'm sharing one of my favourite tasks for building community in the classroom. Students are able to share an important aspect of themselves (the story of their name) with the class and with me, their teacher. Through this task we are also working on important skills, like reading comprehension, writing, and reflection. Day 1 To begin, I asked my students to write any name they wish they had on a sticky note. They then placed it in a mason jar. I read my class the story "The Name Jar" by Yansook Choi. We stopped at several points in the story to predict, make connections, infer, and ask questions. At one point, we paused in the story so that students could journal about the name they wrote down on the sticky note earlier: - Did they choose their own name? Or another? - Why? - If you chose another name, where did you hear that name before? Day 2 At the end of Day 1, students were given homework. (Stick around to the bottom of this post for a chance to get your own copy of this sheet.) I make it very clear, that while names all have meanings, your family may not have chosen your name for that reason. They might not know the meaning, and you can choose to look it up with your family if you wish. I also focus a lot on nicknames and your own feelings about your name. While I've never taught a student in foster care, or one who was adopted, I do think it's important to mention that this could be a touchy task in those situations, so be sure to know your students first, and modify as needed. Students use the homework task, and the journal write from the previous day, to write "The Story of their Name". Some possible options to include are: - who you are named after - the meaning of your name - a name you'd rather have - your feelings toward your name - nicknames you may have - the person (or people) who chose your name - how your name was chosen This piece of writing is then self, peer, and teacher edited, and a "good" copy is made. Day 3 I found this excellent step-by-step self-portrait from "Art Projects for Kids". I modified the task so that instead of drawing the left or right side of their face, they would draw the top half. Students find that folding their page into quadrants as she suggests is very helpful. Under the document camera I demonstrate each step, and students copy, adapting to their own facial features. Each student gets a mirror to look in to help them personalize. The final pieces are put on a bulletin board for display. Students also coloured in a bubble letter version of their names to complete the display. (I used the font KG Red Hands Outline for this.) Day 4 Once we've completed the task, the last job is to reflect on our work. I pulled some elements from our Arts Education curriculum (very relevant regardless of where you teach) for students to self-assess on. I've used the proficiency scale language our school has moved to for all reporting. A few students found it helpful to complete their reflection while looking at the finished product on their bulletin board, but most didn't need this. Want a copy of both my homework and reflection pages? Follow the image or button below to grab your copy. Take Me to the Free Download Pin this post.
In this blog post: Thinking about setting up a writing center in your classroom? Find the best Kindergarten writing center ideas and activities for here. The writing center has long been one of my favorite literacy centers for Kindergarten. It’s easy to set up, easy(ish) to manage, and students absolutely LOVE going there! If you […]
Hi Friends! Confession time…writing is my LEAST favorite subject to teach. I know, I know…teachers shouldn’t have favorites! In all seriousness, teaching writing to first graders was not my favorite subject to teach. I was in a place where I thought, “If it’s boring to me, isn’t it boring for them?” I desperately needed to spice things up. That year I made it my professional goal to improve my writing instruction. I spent time reading, researching best practices and developing a system that would work in my classroom. As a result the Daily Quick Writes were born. The idea behind the quick write is to focus more on the quality of writing, instead of the quantity. A quick write prompt should only take 5-10 minutes…we all have time for that! The prompts are versatile and cover a wide range of topics. They were designed to encourage your students to express themselves as they learn the art of writing! I typically used a writing prompt a day as a writing workshop warm-up, however it can be used any time that works for your classroom. The original Daily Quick Writes were designed for kindergarten and 1st grade students. When I moved to 3rdgrade I developed Daily Quick Writes for BIG KIDS. The prompts are similar, providing an amazing opportunity for differentiation! Over the past few years I have had many requested for a blank version of the Daily Quick Writes paper. I have good news friends, I FINALLY did and it is a FREE download! Daily Quick Writes Subscribe to get the your download & check your email! Subscribe Powered By ConvertKit Daily Quick Writes for BIG KIDS! Subscribe to get your download & check your email! Subscribe Powered By ConvertKit
Ready to rock teaching beginning of year writing in first grade? These early days of writing instruction must be targeted and on point. Click to learn more.
When setting up a classroom or homeschool writing center, there are FIVE things that I found useful for writing success. These items provide your students with the necessary tools to get ready to write effectively throughout the year. Below, I've put together 5 essential things every writing center needs!
These This or That Exit Slips are designed to provide students with fun and creative ways to reflect on and showcase their learning after any lesson. There are 20 different exit slips in this resource!Each exit slip or ticket out the door includes 2 choices for students to showcase their learning. ...
Did you think teaching students to write would be a snap? I mean, you are a college-educated, certified individual. How hard could it possibly be? Well, it’s a challenge, especially when just starting out. In my classroom,
Read 10 great ideas and solutions for solving the lost pencils problem in classrooms in this blog post.
Sentence writing ideas for kindergarten & first graders. Engaging ideas for students to learn to write basic sentences.
Well…I did it. I survived the 2nd week! HA! In all honesty, I have a pretty sweet little class. I feel like they’ve picked up so much in just a short 2 weeks! I’m so excited and anxious to see how much they progress this year. This is one of the reasons I love Kindergarten …
Looking for a fun way to introduce the writing process to your students? What about using playdough? Come grab a fun & hands on lesson for your classroom!
Do you want your students to love writing? Get tips on how to create a classroom writing center that your students will WANT to go to!
In today’s society, it is important that students can use their critical thinking skills in their everyday lives. The perfect place for students to learn how and to practice critical reading, writing, arguing, and even listening is the high school English classroom. Here are 10 critical high school English lessons and skills that teachers should be teaching their students!
Storytelling is a wonderful way to build creativity and imagination in your students. How can storytelling activities be beneficial in the classroom? There are so many ways! inspires purposeful talkingraises enthusiasm for reading textsinitiates writingenhances communityimproves writingengages students Want to see how each of these activities work? Watch the Storytelling Activities video on my YouTube
Learn how to make sensory bags for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students to practice writing, drawing, and creating on.
Follow this step-by-step lesson plan to teach your students how to write an organized paragraph. The writing activities and topics will work well with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students!
This activity is heavily scaffolded for beginners. Students orally create the word bank and sentences, but I write the words and sentences on the board using
If you've been following my blog, you probably figured out that I love using writing rubrics! Today I want to share what a writing rubric is, why I like using them and share links to 3 free writing rubrics you can use.
The Sentence Game Let’s face it, writing is hard. It takes lots and lots of practice to master the many skills a writer needs. But practice can be boring. Not now! I’ve created a sentence writing game your kids will love. With this game they’ll write sentence after sentence without complaining, because it’s a game. It’s very simple, but practices very essential skills- capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and spelling. The game can be played with 2 or more players. There’s even a way to play it with your whole class. Each student needs a word grid and a sentence/scoring sheet. Each set of players will also need one die and a scoring guide. Here's how it's played: v Each player rolls the die. The players then circle that number of words on their word grid. They circle the words down the first column, in order. Words cannot be skipped. v Now each player writes one sentence, using as many of the circled words as they can. If two sentences are written, only the first sentence will be scored. All of the circled words do not need to be used, but players earn one point for each grid word in their sentence. The words from the word grid cannot be changed. (ie. quickly cannot be changed to quick.) Important: After writing the sentence, players underline the grid words they used. This makes it easier for the checker to check the grid words. v Once all sentences are written, players pass their sentence/scoring sheet to the right. These players score the sentence and write the score in the box on the right. To play with your whole class, simply roll the dice once. Every student in class will use that number to circle the words on their grid. Once all the sentences are written, students can exchange their sheet with a partner for the scoring. After your students understand how to play you can play a round anytime you need a time filler. Students can keep their word grid and sentence/score sheet in a folder or their binder so it’s always handy. This game also works very well in a literacy center. Click on this image to download The Sentence Game. Happy writing!
K-1 NONFICTION WRITING My nonfiction writing unit is here! This is the perfect way to introduce kindergarten and first grade students to what informational writing is. This unit is so engaging for students because it uses real life photographs and animals. We discus
Introduce the concept of days of the week to your preschool learners with our comprehensive "Days of the Week Kit." This digital download encompasses a variety of engaging and hands-on activities to make preschool learning both enjoyable and effective. What’s Included: Posters Tracing (Cursive and Print) Ordering Flash cards Playdough Mats Q-Tip Mats Please see the video for more information. Pages: 29 pages + credit page Ideal for: Preschool learning Montessori-style education Days of the week introduction Multi-sensory learning experiences REMINDER: This is a DIGITAL download. Not a physical item. Make early learning engaging and effective with the "Days of the Week Kit." Download now and watch as preschoolers delight in discovering the concept of days through various interactive activities. Directions: After purchasing the item, you will receive an email from Etsy containing the link to download the files. Kindly read this article for more information: https://www.etsy.com/help/article/3949 Due to monitor differences and your printer settings, the actual colors of your printed product may vary slightly. TIP: Print and laminate the worksheets for multiple uses! Click for more: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftedWithBlissShop Follow us! FB - Pinterest - IG @craftedwithbliss www.craftedwithbliss.com Paper Format: A4 size - 21cm x 29.7cm Terms of use: After purchase, the buyer acquires the license of the product for personal and non-commercial use only. The buyer is strictly not allowed to sell, rent, send, and distribute the file to others. In addition, the buyer is strictly not allowed to share, copy, or lend the file to others. Unauthorized usage or reproduction of our products is a clear violation of the copyright laws. Lastly, we have a no return and refund policy. With this, we will not allow any return of our products or refund of your payment upon purchase. Thank you! Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Just message us here! :)
I am all done with parent conferences and it feels great! I had the most terrific year and I’m so happy to share my students’ progress with their parents. During parent conference time, I always love to have lots of student work to display. I absolutely love to incorporate student pictures into student work. This ... Read More about Silhouette Autobiographies and Read Across America
Spring lamb tracing pages that are free
Make the most of your writing block with these funny picture prompts! Go here:
Podcasts in the classroom are so fun and engaging! Have you jumped on the podcast train yet?! I have a great system for using podcasts in the classroom...
Explore this fabulous list of journal prompts for 3rd graders! May your students' journaling adventures be filled with joy, fun, and creativity.
Teaching writing to fifth graders doesn't have to be intimidating. This post details exactly how I teach writing in 5th grade.
Three quick and fun writing activities to help energize student writers. Get those creative juices flowing with these easy lessons!
Use these FREE and fun 3rd grade writing prompts and give your students a chance to write about the things that inspire them.
Blank books provide a great way to encourage kids to write. Here are 3 easy ways to assemble blank books for your writing center, literacy center, and beyond.
Before teaching your kid how to write, it is important that he learns to trace lines. The worksheets in this post help him achieve that end. They contain dotted linear and curved lines in various patterns. While some of the printable pages only have different kinds of dotted lines that need to be connected, there […]
Copywork is a simple task that yields high results in the areas of handwriting, and vocabulary. Read more about the benefits of copywork.
If your non-English speaking students aren't ready to do the regular class work, what should you have them do instead? This handy tool can help.
Vocabulary folders are a convenient way to organize vocabulary pages. I used illustrated vocabulary sheets to help my English Language Learners speak and write about new vocabulary. They are also helpful for younger students with spelling. Some primary classroom teachers I supported had a set of these folders on student tables or in a writing
✨Welcoming Newcomers students into your classroom with this Essential Words Lap Book will be a sure way to help them start off on the right foot and feel excited about learning English. This lap book will expose newcomer students to important English vocabulary, including: ✅the alphabet ✅numbers ✅colors ✅body parts ✅days of the week and months of the year ✅survival phrases ⚠️Bonus: An English Workbook is included to help support the vocabulary and skills the lap book covers. ❤️It is the perfect activity for Newcomers to work on independently during class time or for homework. ✍Related Products Interested in another resource for newcomers or the needs of your rising ELL students? Here are a few of my best selling resources: • ESL Newcomers Curriculum • ESL Writing Curriculum • ESL Speaking & Writing Activities • WIDA ACCESS Practice Test Prep • ESL Vocabulary Picture Dictionary ❤️Let's Connect! Sign up for my newsletter, which is filled with new ideas, activities, and exclusive freebies! Click here to sign up! If you have any questions or ways I can help, please feel free to email me at [email protected] Other ways to stay connected! ⚡ Equipping ELLs Membership
