SPLITTING the Sentences

In our class we call this "splitting the sentences." The activity/lesson is to take two basic sentences and have students add details to make each sentence into two sentences or more--hence the name "splitting the sentences." This activity really helps students that struggle with "IDEAS" or just want to write the minimum amount and call it good. When we go through the editing process, I will tell them that they need split sentences to add in those ALL important details! After the lesson, I wrapped their tables/desks in white butcher paper and had them write the new version of the provided sentences on the paper in marker and then the students walked around and saw how different the SAME two sentences could turn out. It was a great ending activity for the lesson -kinda like publishing for everyone to see. This would be appropriate for 2nd grade and higher. Here is a student sample.

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Inspiration Poem

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TRAIT MASTER

I used the following "questionnaire" in a Six Trait training this past week. Teachers had a wonderful time trying to figure out the correct trait. Some of the questions could fit more than one trait. I think this would be an appropriate activity for 4th grade students and higher to try. It could open your lesson to a lot of conversations with your students.

 **adapted from the Northwest Institute--Download here page 1

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DESK WRITING

This is kindergarten artwork. 

We gave all the students dry erase markers and let them illustrate their vocabulary word of the week right on their desk!!! The word of the week was CHEERFUL and they illustrated things that made them cheerful. The desks erased nicely with small foam erasers. After they were finished we told them NOT to do this at home because these are special markers that will erase. Students had an absolute BLAST!Pin It

I Know My Class Survey

I KNOW MY CLASS SURVEY

I attended a national conference a few years back and listened to a speaker that really spoke to me! During his speech he talked about REALLY getting to know your students...not just teaching them, but really getting to know them. He spoke about giving classroom surveys to students so that a teacher could reflect on their teaching practices etc. He also talked about getting to know your students' PASSIONS. As I thought about this, going through my class list, I realized that I really didn't know what a lot of my students liked to do for fun outside of school. I was really excited to share this with the group of people that came to the conference with me. As we sat at lunch that day I told everyone that I was going to do a survey with my students and find out what they really thought of my class....An anonymous survey! One of the teachers I was sitting with immediately replied, "I don't want to do that!" I said "WHY?" and her reply was that she didn't want to know. Well I decided that I DID want to know.

SOOO the SURVEY has been given. I tried to keep the survey specific to my classroom and writing. I have given the survey to all 3rd and 4th grade students. (about 100 students) A trend has emerged! One thing I noticed was for the most part students were very positive. I also noticed that when students were asked the question- Does my family think I am a good writer?, if they answered NO!, they also answered the question Do you think you are a good writer? with the answer NO! WOW! How enlightening.

As educators we DO have a huge impact on the students we teach, but as the survey showed, in many cases what the parent thought of the students accomplishments became their reality. I also intend to use the information to reflect on my teaching practices and make my classroom a BETTER place for students to learn and accomplish their goals and dreams.

**Something to keep in mind** The speaker that I listened to also said that you can NEVER have 100% satisfation on your survey. He stated that if you walked into a room of 100 people, 3 people won't like you and they haven't even met you.

I have also given my students the task of writing a paper called MY PASSIONS! They are excited to write about the things they love and share it with me. I'm excited too! I have already found some shoppers, campers, barrel racers, swimmers and turtle lovers! GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY SURVEYING!

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READING GLASSES

CHECK THIS OUT! I saw this in a first grade teacher's classroom and it the COOLEST thing ever! READING GLASSES!!! OMGoodness sooo cute. She found all these used old glasses at an auction, popped out the glass lenses, and now all the kids can wear glasses when they do their hard work. Look how studious the students look! They are so smart! And with those reading glasses on, well they can READ and WRITE just about anything! THE STUDENTS LOVE WEARING THEM!

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STICKY NOTE HAMBURGER

Okay....Everyone knows me as the hamburger lady! I LOVE to teach 5 paragraphs using the HAMBURGER organizer. I came up with this idea as a review. (and  to engage the kids with a FUN activity) The kids use sticky notes to put on each layer of the HAMBURGER so they KNOW what each part needs to contain.

TOP BUN/INTRO- They must write 3 things on their sticky note that the top bun/intro MUST contain--A HOOK, at least one DETAIL, and a THESIS statement. Then they come put their sticky note on the top bun.

The 3 middle parts- LETTUCE, TOMATO and MEAT are their 3 BIG ideas- They must write 2 things on their sticky notes that MUST be contained in each of these paragraphs--A TOPIC SENTENCE, at least 3 DETAILS, and RAZZLE DAZZLE word choice. They will do this for all 3 parts!


BOTTOM BUN/Conclusion asks what should this part do? On their sticky note they should put something like--WRAPS everything up like a BIG burrito! OLE'

After the lesson I serve SpongeBob gummy Crabby Patties. They look just like our giant hamburger and they're delish!

Enjoy the FUN and maybe get a hat like mine so when you teach the lesson you get to see the students' pearly whites shine BIG!

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Summer Fun

This was an awesome activity that could be done with any words as the main focal point. I had the kids do a brainstorm list of all the fun things they did this summer around the words, "SUMMER FUN". In kindergarten they were only able to draw pictures to depict their brainstorm list. You can see the progression up through 4th grade where the students wrote huge brainstorm lists and then drew pictures inside the letters of the fun things they did this summer. To get the best pictures, I told students I wanted to see lots of details in their artwork! Click HERE for free 11 x 17 blackline.Pin It

Our 5th grade team is doing a weekly newsletter. Each week they will take turns filling in the newsletter. What an AMAZING idea. Great teamwork gals! FREEBIE click HEREPin It

ATTITUDE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT ! This is poster size. Get your freebie HERE
If the clarity is not good I can email it to you.Pin It

Writer of the Week Idea...

This year in addition to framing students' work in the hall (see writer of the week post) I will be letting them write with a feather pencil all week. I bought the colored peacock  feathers and floral tape at Hobby Lobby. When explaining the idea to the students this year, I could see their eyes were dancing with delight!

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6 Trait Posters

Someone asked me for a copy of my 6 Trait Posters that hang on my wall, and actually I found these many years ago from a website. I believe it was kimskorner4teachertalk.com which has not been updated since 2008, so I couldn't find the posters on her site again.  I had to convert the file to be able to post them. I LOVE these posters.Get POSTERS HEREPin It

 

 FOR WRITING

 In the younger grades, students do a lot of illustrating with details in their pictures. I discovered that bundling up their colored pencils and markers and teaching them to take only one out at a time and then slide it back in before taking out another one, works FANTASTIC. No pencils on the floor, no pencils rolling around, and no mixed up colors. Store them in a box or bucket and WAAA LAAA, you're ready to go!.

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Blackline Hamburger 3rd & 4th grade

 

GIANT HAMBURGER ORGANIZER with tips and reminders for the students at the top of each hamburger part. I have the students write their 3 BIG ideas in the left hand margin. (not on the intro or conclusion) That way when I check their topic sentence, I make sure it matches what their original brainstorm idea was. Notice how I sign off with my initials on each paragraph in the margin before they can move on to the next one?  Oh, and I won't even look at it if they forget to indent :) Click on hamburger for freebie!

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Big Hamburger

I have many hamburgers I will be posting in the near future.....sooooo please stay tuned!!! I use this particular 5 paragraph hamburger for my 3rd and 4th graders. One of the things I do is to use it under the Elmo to model great writing. We usually create a story together. When students use the 5 paragraph hamburger independently, I have them brainstorm to get their 3 BIG ideas, and create a hook (see previous HOOKS blog). I allow them to write directly on the hamburger. I have blackline hamburgers similar to this that I will be posting in the near future. After editing etc., they can then make their final copy with 5 paragraphs!  Here is the FREEBIE enjoy! Oh, I wanted to mention that this hamburger is 11 x17 which makes it EXTRA CooliO! 

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Word of the WEEK

I teach one different vocabulary word per week to each different grade level. I know it's weird to have a favorite vocabulary word, but 2nd grade has my favorite work this week.... "putrid" It's so funny when they can use it in their writing. It makes them so proud. I took some pictures of 1st grade student work this week. I had them illustrate their vocabulary word on individual white boards. Then we made a class train and students followed me around the room while we looked at all the cute illustrations. These pictures were my favorite illustrations of the word JUMBO :) Get your Freebie HEREPin It

Extraordinary

Thought of the DAY!

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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!

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Student poster

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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!Pin It