Want to write a story that works? Learn how to plot your novel using the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet in this post! (Free worksheet included!) #writingtips
If you're writing a book for the first time and you're not sure what the steps to do it are, you can follow these simple tips to start writing your novel.
PRIMARY WRITING - UNIT 3 I am so excited to teach this narrative writing unit! This writing curriculum is geared for kindergarten, first grade and can even be used in second grade classrooms. In Unit 3 , we are learning how to write a personal narrative . We practice writing about what we l
When reading the work of literary heroes like Jane Austen, or modern-day masters like Sally Rooney, it can be hard to imagine that they began with an empty page (or screen). It's strange to think that Victor Hugo turned a pen and parchment into the beautiful tale of The Hunback of Notre Dame. Or
Oh, the first day of school! It's such a fun, but chaotic day. Most of my first days are a little bit of a blur. This is why I have to write very detailed lesson plans or I'll forget everything from that day. I always try to have the same activities for that first day
Is your child ready for Kindergarten? This post will help you decide plus free worksheets focused on kindergarten readiness skills like...
A plot idea is just the beginning when you want to write a book and these simple questions help you turn that idea into a complete story.
Kids color and cut out a spiral snake, exercising their fine motor skills on this prekindergarten arts and crafts and coloring worksheet.
These methods of outlining will help you create a novel outline that makes writing your first draft a breeze, whether it's your 1st or 10th time writing a book.
Spring lamb tracing pages that are free
A blank novel outline template for use with Google Docs, Google Keep, and Scrivener. The One Page Novel is a simple, memorable structure for novelists.
Do you have an idea for a novel? Before you start writing, here are two exercises that will help you test out your story idea before penning the first draft!
One of my favorite projects of the year is our End of the Year Memory Book. It's a special keepsake for students and parents that features photos, drawings, writing samples, and more. It's a project the class works on periodically throughout the year. I love it because it shows how much the kiddos change over the year. It gives parents a memento to remember the year by, rather than trying to save everything the child brings home. #guiltyofthat This is Ellee. She was in my very first class. She just started 10th grade! Her Mom sent me these pictures of her looking back on her Kindergarten Memory Book before school started last month. It made me so happy to know that she was reliving all of the fun we had in Kinder. Crazy to think 10 years has come and gone! You can see in the photos that Word Art was all the rage back in 2007. LOL. I've made some updates to my Kinder Memory Book since 2007, and I've also created a Preschool and 1st grade version. I have some tips for creating these Memory Books that will make them manageable. 1. If you have active parent volunteers, find a parent that will head up this project. My first year in the classroom, I had 26 kids in my morning class and 25 in the afternoon. 51 memory books! Thank goodness I had an amazing aide and some super parents that helped out. 2. Two options for binding the memory books... You can copy all of the pages you need and bind them over the summer/at the beginning of the year. However, I think it's better to wait to bind them until the END of the year. To keep it all organized, I have a file folder for each student. As we complete a memory book page, I file the completed page away in the child's folder. Then at the end of the year, all the pages are in order and ready to be bound. 3. Print extra copies for potential new students or for "Uh Oh" mistakes. 4. If you forget to take a photograph of a student for a certain page, they can draw a picture instead. The combination of photographs and illustrations will make it extra special. 5. You can send a page home for "homework" every now and then if you just don't have time to get to it in class. Be sure to tell your students how important these pages are so they come back in good condition. I would recommend sending them home in an envelope or file folder so they don't get ripped, folded, or destroyed on the way home. :) 6. I've included extra pages at the end for photographs. Students can personalize it, color it, add stickers, get autographs from friends, etc. The teacher can write a special note to the child in the back of the book as well. These Memory Books will work great for Homeschool Kiddos and for the crafty Mamas out there. Just print and use the pages you need. I'm thrilled to be making one with my preschooler.
Writing a great plot twist needs a few ingredients. Read this post to find out how to mislead and surprise your readers.
Inside: You can publish a children's book. You can do it this year! Let's get started with three different paths forward. Shortly after publishing Belinda Baloney Changes Her Mind I started getting messages that were worded much more eloquently but essentially boiled down to this: But, like, how? It's a great question! And a question
Haven't tried a book tasting with your students yet? This fun reading activity is an awesome way to introduce genres in your elementary classroom or library!
10 reasons to teach Wonder the book by R.J. Palacio to your students. It's an amazing story you'll love! Plus Wonder Book Quotes to live...
No more boring book reports! Check out 26+ FUN, creative and unique book report ideas and free printable projects too!
Informative writing can be tricky in first grade, but this all about book is the perfect way for students to research their own animal and publish a book
Before you write your idea for a kid's book, you need to understand these 3 things. This free children's book template outlines everything you need to get started.
Here you'll find out how to outline a novel step by step and you will be able to download a novel outline worksheet so you can outline your story.
Novel Studies that Promote Higher-Order Thinking Have you been following along our novel study journey? If so, you may have seen my posts about using interactive novel workbooks instead of typical novel studies. Novel workbooks are
How to set up a writing planner and ideas on what to include in it to help you stay inspired and organized while writing a novel.
Wild Thing Book Activities! This unit is fantastic for Maurice Sendak's book Where the Wild Things Are. Writing worksheet and craft included. Perfect for kindergarten or first grade!
I love these name letters for bulletin board toppers and more! This includes the Flap Book printable also. This set of letters that spell JOSHUA is a super condensed overview of his life. They can be used as a bulletin board heading, or by themselves. These letters are perfect when you have a couple extra minutes when you are studying Joshua and can spend some time for review. The download includes the color and black & white version. Click here to download the Spell-It-Out Letters for Joshua. For the students, you can print this Joshua Flap book. The students can write each Joshua fact under the flap. These are great for Joshua discussions and for review. The download includes the color and black and white to print. Click here to print the Joshua Flap Book. Click here to see more for Joshua. Click here to see more.
This comic strip template is a free printable that is perfect for kids. Kids of all ages, particularly preschoolers, elementary aged kids, even middle
Everyone gets nervous on their first day of school. Have your students share their feelings about coming back to school with this fun emoji writing.
How to outline your memoir using a simple 3 step process. Make sure you write a memoir outline before you start drafting the manuscript!
Clever ideas for kids' book reports, from mint tins to cereal boxes to a Wanted poster.
Structuring your story can frighten some writers and confuse others, but it doesn't have to be so - here is a simple way to look at story structure.
105 creative writing exercises to get you writing again. Try these short, 10-minute creative writing exercises to beat writer's block.
Help your little learners write numbers 0 to 9 with these fun and catchy number poems. Each number poem has a poster visual and page in the student activity book! Your classroom will be cute, bright and fun with our happy design style! The rhymes will help students remember the path of motion for writing each numeral and we have provided 3 options for you to display them: All-on-one page poster Individual page sized posters Type-your-own poem posters Included also is a student activity book. Students can read the poem and trace and write the numbers We've written a little rhyme for each number, which your students will love learning and repeating as they do their numbers. But if you have a favorite rhyme alternative, just type it into the editable version before you print! A perfect activity to accompany learning these rhymes is the little activity book we have included with the pack. Students can trace, trace and write each number as they say the poem! Hop over to TpT to find it ! Watch our video to help your little ones learn the poems! Number Crafts Your students will love making some number friends to display around the classroom too! Find them over at TpT!
A literary agent shares a 7 step process she uses with clients to help them write a book that sells so they can make a living from their writing!
I asked my Instagram followers,“What are some signs of amateurish writing, in your opinion?” Here are the results!
I love using interactive lapbooks in the classroom. They are fun to create, engaging and can be used throughout the year to review skills taught. I finally completely my Lapbook Bundle and I am happy to share the lapbooks included with you. Whether you think your learners will enjoy creating all of the lapbooks, if you
A summary of the comprehensive outlining method developed by Youtuber and writer, Kat O’Keeffe.
These FREE book report worksheets for a simple, fun way to make kids understand what they read. Print free printable book report template here
These FREE Printables and Unit Studies for Eric Carle's Books will help you expand on what your kids are learning through these beloved books.
Journalling has so many benefits and if you have some great memoir writing prompts you can really deep dive into your reflections. Here's my top 3 writing prompts for your journalling practise.
Use these free printable Parts of a Book Poster & Worksheet to teach your pre-readers about book awareness and concepts of print.
After reading the Lois Ehlert story "Eating the Alphabet", create this classbook. Product includes a cover page for the book and a page for each child to create. The child would choose a letter and a food to go with it. Students can draw the food in the open space. Classbooks support independent...
I’ve been slacking on remembering to bring my camera to school, so I keep forgetting to snap some pics of what we’ve been up to! We’ve been...
