Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?
Are you looking for new ways to practice spelling and sight words? Here are several activities you can try in the classroom or at home with your kids. Your kids will have so much fun practicing their words! IDEAS FOR SPELLING and SIGHT WORD PRACTICE Lacing Letters Kids can get a little fine motor practice in while working… Read More
Have you thought about using novels with small groups, but aren’t sure where to start? It is definitely possible to do so in the primary grades! Here’s how I got started using chapter books with my second graders during my small group time. WHY USE NOVELS WITH SMALL GROUPS? My very first year of teaching, I was in… Read More
I have been asked to share some of the ways I organize my weekly spelling practice. I prefer to incorporate spelling practice into our Word Work rotation during our Daily 5 block (you can read more about our weekly routine here). In order to do this, things need to be organized so the students can access and use the materials independently…. Read More
Recently I shared all about what spelling looks like in my classroom from day to day. If you missed that post, click here to read all about it. Today I’m back to share more about what you might see for Word Work during my Daily 5 time. WORD WORK Students are allowed to choose their own Daily 5 tasks. However,… Read More
I’m back to share more information about how I do spelling practice and word work in my second grade classroom. Since this is a long post, I’m going to break it into two posts. Today’s focus will be on spelling. SPELLING In our classroom we usually have a spelling pattern or phonics skill we focus on each week. This weekly… Read More
I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a series of writing posts. I thought I’d start with how I provide kids with something to write about during Work on Writing. Stick with me to the end and there will be a few goodies waiting for you. A couple of years ago, a colleague introduced me to Flip’s Fantastic… Read More
✏️“I don’t know what to write.”
If you teach writing workshop, you’ve probably heard this more times than you can count. When your mini lessons aren’t reaching every writer, it might be time to reach for a picture book. That’s why I’m so excited that @katemessner and @marksiegel2020 have teamed up again!
How to Write a Story takes readers on a young girl’s journey from choosing an idea to sharing her finished writing piece. Kids are sure to get inspired by the colorful illustrations and create their next story. Swipe to sneak a peek inside the book.
What are some of your favorite picture books about writing? I'll share some of my favorites down below.
#howtowriteastory #writingmentortext
Just because your kids can read to themselves doesn't mean they have outgrown the read aloud. Here are some tips for read aloud. Number 5 is my favorite!😀
storiesbystorie.com
Reading aloud to children of all ages is so important. Some teachers and families don't make time for read aloud because of busy schedules, lack of books, or because their kids can already read indepe...This morning I set my son up on the computer for his Google Meet and then slid back over to my computer to start work. After listening to his teacher cheerfully greet each and every student, she mentioned that she had a book to share. Suddenly I found myself caught up in her story. Why? Because she was reading Our Class is a Family written by my friend, Shannon.
This rhyming story wants to help each and every student feel loved, included, and safe in the classroom. It shows that a classroom family celebrates what makes each member unique, how the people love and respect one another, and that the classroom is a safe place where it’s okay to make mistakes and grow together. This book is perfect for the first few weeks of school, but can also be revisited throughout the year.
Sometimes a book comes along at the perfect time with an important message. No matter how you’re teaching right now, your class is like a family. Building relationships and community is more important than ever. Have you shared this book with your students yet?
P.S. I hope you’ll autograph my copy of #ourclassisafamily the next time I see you @lifebetweensummers 😉!
MONSTERS!
This weekend I updated my book companion for I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll. While working on that, I decided to add resources for the sequels to that story: Hey, That's My Monster! and How I Met My Monster. These book companions all have comprehension questions, vocabulary practice, graphic organizers, and either a monster craft or directed drawing. Take a peek at these new crafts. I had so much fun putting them together!
These companions have been bundled so you can mix-and-match the crafts between the books. I'll leave a link with more info below.
