Extraordinary

Thought of the DAY!

HOOKS-Leads

2nd GRADE HOOKS

I start working with students on"HOOKS" in 2nd grade. When I start teaching HOOKS, I tell students that it's just like catching a fish. You dangle some nice bait in-front of the fish and if they like it, BOOM! Gotcha hooked. If not they turn away uninterested. It's the same way with writing. This is how I start. First,  I read students a well known book and then have them practice writing different beginnings for the same story. This is the first thing we do in my writing class. Students can write their hooks in the squares that are provided on blackline. We practice for 2 weeks before moving on to finishing our introduction.  FREE links below

 3rd Grade HOOKS

  FREE links below

                                                              FREE links below
GET 2-4 HOOK PAPERS HERE

The idea for these hooks came from

This resource was found on-line at http://DenaHarrison.com 

Thanks for your inspiration!

Student poster

Beginning Middle End-paragraphs

I use this  hamburger organizer to transition 2nd-3rd graders into writing paragraphs. Students use this hamburger organizer to draft their papers, and then when they write their final drafts, they are able to easily transition into a paper that has 3 paragraphs. I tell them-- when you "FLIP" the paper on your hamburger---start a new paragraph (indent). When we start using this organizer, I like to read a story to them and then have them retell the beginning -middle -end in their own words. Then we transition to their OWN stories------To start off,  I like to write a rubric so that EACH student knows what each paragraph should contain in the beginning- middle and end. This is much easier for them to start understanding paragraphs and it's CONCRETE! By the end of the year, students spread their wings and can do it all ALONE!

Believe

FREE poster HERE

Proverb

I teach this every week with students k-4. I challenge them to use proverbs in their writing to help with the trait of voice. Students love learning about the new PROVERB OF THE WEEK. Sometimes it makes them chuckle! Please join my BLOG and leave an e-mail address under this post and I will send you a FREE grade appropriate list! Thanks for checking out my BLOG!

100% Effort BABY!

I hang this sign on my classroom door. Each student touches it as they walk into the classroom.  Just a reminder to themselves to give their very BEST effort! Get poster HERE!

Descripto Man

THIS IS MY STUDENTS ALL TIME FAVORITE GAME!!! This is a game that I play with students once a week. The winning word gets a small prize. This is how you play. First each student gets a small piece of paper or notebook/spiral paper. You hold up a picture that you have cut out of a magazine. I hold the picture up for 1 min and 30 seconds--I set a timer. This can be any picture. (not just a man) Students then put down ONE describing word that they think no other student will put down. This may address any part of the picture. After the timer rings, I start calling on students around the room to report their word out loud. Everyone gets a turn. That way all the students get to hear all the rich words being reported. If a student calls out a word that none else has, it goes on a running list. If a student calls out a word that another student wrote down, then that word is disqualified or OUT. This encourages kids to NOT use common words like BIG or AWESOME. Students raise their hands if they have the same word as someone else as we go around the room. ---No talking -- only listening or raising your hand for a duplicated word. At the end of the game the teacher chooses the best word from the running list, and announces it in class. I glue the picture to white construction paper and put all the qualified words around it and then display the pictures on the wall. I encourage students to use RICH words when they write! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Seuss Sayings

 

 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss !!!!!!!

RIP-Rest in Peace

We put overused - "BABY" words on our RIP board. It says ....   Here lies Mr. Overused Word.
He was weak and old, now he'll never be heard.