Once upon a time I taught students how to write. High school students. Middle school students. I was an English teacher. I hate to admit this piece of trivia because I overuse clichés. I misuse commas. I abuse prepositions. And I have a fragment habit. It can be embarrassing to announce this to the whole wide web. However, …

Writing, I believe, is one of the most vital skills we can teach our kids, whether we homeschool or not. It is so poorly taught in modern education, yet

Many teachers today find themselves unprepared to handle the level of disruptive and aggressive behavior challenge that are prevalent in class

Many teachers today find themselves unprepared to handle the level of disruptive and aggressive behavior challenge that are prevalent in class

When sharing about our homeschool rhythm a few weeks ago I mentioned that I wanted to write a post about how I plan our year without a curriculum and I

Too many students give writing prompts a quick glance and just start writing without a plan. Teaching students how to dissect and analyze writing prompts gives them a specific plan to follow before they begin to write. Teach them CUBS, a Writing Prompt Analysis Strategy that uses a mnemonic device that they will easily remember when they encounter prompts in your assignments or on their state tests. CUBS stands for C: Circle key words U: Underline the "Do This" B: Box the action word in the "Do This" S: Strategies my writing plan You May Also Like Reward and Recognition Certificates: Give Them a High Five! Writing Sentences: Six Snazzy Starters for Beginning Sentences Teach How to Infer and Make Inference Statements with Very Short Stories

Many teachers today find themselves unprepared to handle the level of disruptive and aggressive behavior challenge that are prevalent in class

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

Want to teach writing without a curriculum? You're in luck - it totally can be done. Build critical thinking skills and raise thoughtful, engaged writers when you let go of your writing curriculum.

5 ideas for better activity transitions in middle and high school classes

How to Make Lemonade | Writing and Sequencing Activity Informational or Expository Writing How to Make Lemonade | Writing and Sequencing Activity | Informational or Expository Writing is a comprehensive teaching resource designed to enhance writing and sequencing skills in young learners. This interactive packet narrates the process of making lemonade, invoking imagination while teaching vital language arts concepts. Purpose: This resource caters for educators searching for engaging ways to stimulate students' creativity and encourage participation in an entertaining yet educational environment. The versatility of its usage ranges from whole class lesson plans on sequence writing, small group exercises aiding comprehension of transition words, or as solo homework assignments heightening student autonomy. Included Features are: Colorful Printables and Worksheets : They not merely promote informational writing skills, they also add an artful touch with coloring tasks. How-to Writing Anchor Charts : Step-by-step instructions guiding children through the write-up process. Transition Word Guides : Supporting sentence formation abilities alongside two levels of editing checklists fostering self-correction skills among young learners. An Envelope Template : Storing sequence cards safely during multiple uses. A Sample Write-up on 'How To Make Lemonade' : Acts like a template guiding children through their own lemon-making narrative journey. To make it more engaging, educators are encouraged to bring actual lemons or other lemonade ingredients into the classroom while discussing the process! The Benefits Encompass: Fostering Creativity and Memory Retention : The sequence cards aid memory retention through visual stimuli. Enhancing Artistic Abilities : full-page booklets including pictures ready-to-color are provided along with line spaces available catering to their little narratives. Flexibility and Inclusion : With 49 easily printable PDF pages structured for preschool up till 3rd-grade students; accommodating diverse educational needs while providing flexibility so educators can adapt to group retention averages. In conclusion, this product ensures that teaching is never boring and learning becomes engaging fun! How to Make Lemonade | Writing and Sequencing Activity

Learn some strategies to easily differentiate for your students without having to spend hours planning different lessons for each student.

There’s nothing that can ruin your day quicker than a rejected grant application. Fortunately, there are four ways you can win more grants without writing...