OMG! Book Clubs on Steroids!

::Flashback to 2005::

It was the day of Parent Orientation (the Thursday before school began).  I was a third year teacher on a fourth grade team.  We were departmentalized and I was set to teach Math and Science...my LOVES...until {dun dun dun} one of the Reading/LA teachers accepted a position at another school leaving the team to hire a substitute-turned teacher in her place.  The curriculum coach turns to me and says, "I need you to teach Reading and Writing."  {insert tears}  I was beyond nervous, beyond scared, beyond bummed.  I understood why she "needed" me to teach Reading and Writing to these fourth graders - the state tests!

I had only taught kindergarten before teaching 4th grade Math/Science.  I didn't know WHAT I was doing.  This was before Pinterest, before blogs, before basically Facebook lol

The curriculum coach was so helpful.  I can never thank her enough.  She introduced me to Book Clubs and my kids fell in LOVE.  I still use them to this day...

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Mother's Day and Earth Day

*sigh*

So I'm a new mom (yay!).  I've been on maternity leave for 9 weeks.  My little guy is such a great baby (not that I have anything to compare it to - but I've heard worse stories about other kids).  With that being said, we've pretty much mastered the afternoon nap and thus, TIME TO WORK ON SOME PROJECTS!  Here's my man :)

I just finished my Mother's Day Writing Craftivity for Primary.  I had my "nieces" make some samples. Here is the one by the first grader. She listed main ideas on her plan and added the details to her essay:

Her plan

Pages from her Essay to Mom

The template is available in my TPT store for just $2!

Now I'm working on something for Earth Day... which is RIGHT around the corner!  Stay tuned!

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Narrative writing

Background: I teach 4th grade in South Florida.  Here in my state, the kids take a writing assessment in 4th, 8th, and 10th grades.  In fourth grade the focus is on essay writing and on narrative writing.  We've been teaching expository writing since the beginning of school and now's the time to switch gears to narrative.

I've introduced problem-based narrative stories with a number of books.  Some of my faves are: 

Owen by Kevin Henkes

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down by Paul Johnson

Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey

Mrs. Toggle's Zipper by Robin Pulver

The Most Perfect Spot by Diane Goode

You Can't Move a Hippo by Michael Catchpool

More on how I do this later...

So now, I need to teach this little sponges how to write these types of narrative stories.  

While I teach the HOW, I use these worksheets I created.  I call them "description of" worksheets.  It's to help kids move from TELLING to SHOWING in their writing.  

I wanted to share this first one with you all.  Leave me feedback with your email, and I will send you another little goodie.

TIA!

Summyr

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Thanksgiving Writing (gobble gobble)

So it's after school and I'm cutting out the sample for my next product.  I have a group of my students who stay in my class during aftercare because it's quite and they can do homework.  One of my fourth graders says, "OH!  Are we going to make THAT?!?"  (See below)  My response was, "Really?!?  You want to make this?"  I guess I forget these kids are still kids and like to make "kiddy" crafts lol.  With that, I added intermediate paper to my "primary craftivity"  Now it's for all grades ;).

Any thoughts?  Do any of you intermediate teachers out there do projects like this with your little artists?

For a copy of this "Craftivity" go to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.

I also uploaded some FREE writing paper :)  I'm trying my hand at creating graphics!  Enjoy!

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Halloweeeeen Writing!

I just finished two fun "craftivities" (not sure I'm using the term correctly but it is an activity and there is cutting and gluing involved so...)

I just posted it to my TPT store.  Here are two student samples I was able to collect :0)

It's a candy corn BOOK LOL!

And one for the secular crowd fall!

Enjoy :0)

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Back to business peeps...

Greetings all!

I've been back in town for two weeks but as any of you know, sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation :)

Alaska was UH-mazing!  Glaciers, wildlife, and yummy food (oh my).  My husband and I ate THE best king crab!  As for Seattle, I think I've seen enough of Seattle to last me a lifetime.

Since I've been back, I've been making these writing task cards.  I don't know about you, but sometimes the writing prompts provided at my local "teacher store" are not what I'm looking for.  Thus, if you can't find - create.  Right?  So here they are...

I'm excited about them.  They will be an easy addition to a literacy center.

My next activity jumbling my mind will be coming down the line *rubbing my hands together*  Don't you just love when you come up with an idea that will just make your teaching that much easier?  Hint: I'll be going back to composition books next year (thank GOD - I hate those stupid spiral notebooks).

Oh!  And did I tell you?!?  I've decided on a theme this year (wait for it) Zebra and Neon.  I know, I know... it's been done before.  But let me tell you... my mom came to visit and she gave me her old sewing machine.  I made pillows for my reading nook.  SEE!  I'm so proud of my new-found hobby hehehe.  The green and pink even have sparkles!!

 

Then I went online and found this on Pinterest

It's to help your little ones line up.  I teach fourth and let me tell you, my kids always line up in number order and this will help with the jam at the front of the line.  What is it?  They really want to get outta class THAT badly lol.  The comments on Pinterest say vinyl lasts longer so I found this website that I could use to create my OWN vinyl stickers!!!!!  I can't hold my excitement.  Anyone who knows me, knows I go all out - with everything!  So here is the site I found STICKER YOU!  Here are the stickers I made and ordered (I hope I don't have more than 24 kids this year...)

More exciting ZEBRAtastic fun to come!  Stay tuned :)

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Father's Day Primary Writing Activity (and foldable)

Just added a Primary Writing Activity for Father's Day...

Pass it on :)  Visit my shop for your copy today!

TN        TPT

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Word Wall Linky!

Jen from The Teachers' Cauldron is hosting her first linky!  We are all taking snapshots of our word walls to get a little inspiration for next year :)  Here is mine. (I actually put my words back up after state testing for this pic...)

I color code my words so I can refer to them more easily.  I teach 4th grade in Florida which is when we do the state writing assessment. 


Here is my key:


Yellow are my "sentence starters" - "I want to see at least 7 sentence starters in your paper today." 


Red - are commonly misspelled words I find in student papers


Hot Pink - our "hot words" or our "repertoire of words" - these are high-level vocabulary words I find in books we read or just ones I like to use


Orange - external transitions for essay writing


I'd love to see your Word Wall!  Link up!


Summyr

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