Free Write and a Freebie

Over the past four school days my students have been working on free writing.  Students are able to write about anything they want as long as it is school appropriate.  We are all enjoying every minute of this exercise.  Every day our writer’s workshop begins with free write time.  I set the timer for six minutes and each student must write for the whole entire time.  When I feel the students are ready I will add on another minute.  Our goal is to write for 10 minutes straight by the end of February.  Our free write time does so much for our class.  Not only does free write time give students the choice in what to write about it also gives them a space that is free from grading and teacher’s pen marks.  It really takes the pressure off students and gets even my most reluctant writers excited about writing.  Later on down the road students are able to return to their free writing and edit these pieces.  I am really looking forward to the wonderful writing that will come from this time! I know my students are excited as well.  I would highly recommend implementing free write time in your classrooms! 

Before we started our free write process my students and I created a Free Write Anchor Chart.  This anchor chart includes both student and teacher expectations.  This way there are no questions to what is expected each time we have free write time.  I often review this chart with students and even ask students to model both the appropriate and inappropriate way to use their free write time.  This is a great way to reinforce expectations.  I have included our class free write anchor chart as a freebie! Just click the image above! This poster is sized for 17 x 11 Ledger size paper.

Thinking Routines: Chalk Talk

Thinking Routines are patterns or routines that we use to go about learning and growing together as a classroom community.  I love thinking routines and how easily they fit into my everyday teaching.  These thinking routines make student’s thinking visible and help them to communicate their ideas in an effective way. Truly deep and rich thinking and learning goes on during these routines. Today was my very first day trying the Thinking Routine called Chalk Talk.  

In this routine students are given a prompt and silently each student considers the prompt.  They then record their thinking, ideas, connections and comments to other student's thinking.  This was our first attempt at Chalk Talk with my 4th graders.  I wanted to keep this real simple and fun for all my students.  I put a large white-board (a teaching partner got these at Home Depot and it was really cheap!) at each table group.  Each group of students had 45 seconds to write down their thoughts and ideas.  I then rang a bell and the students silently moved to the next table group.  I gave my students 30 seconds to read the comments on each board before they were allowed to write.   

The prompt for today was Generating Free Writing Topics.  My students will be starting a free write routine at the beginning of our writer's workshop.  I just want my students to be able to write without worrying about being graded.  I am really hoping this will get my struggling and reluctant writers to see writing in a different light.  I am allowing them to write about anything they want as long as it is school appropriate.  My students and I are excited to see where our free writing will take us in the near future.

Classroom Job Bundle Sneak Peak

Today I took my very first personal sick day.  I have been feeling a bit under the weather.  But that does not mean I can not do a little catch up while I am at home for the day.  I took some time to update my Classroom Job Bundle Camping Theme.  It has been a work in progress and recently my students have changed jobs so I was able to revisit this document.This download includes 21 camping themed job description cards pictured below.  Each description card includes a description of each job’s responsibilities and qualifications. In my class we double up on some jobs such as table captains, lunch helper and mailbox manager. You do not have to use all the jobs and there are blank cards for you to make your own as well! 

I included a few blank description cards for you to add your own jobs to fit your classroom and student's needs. 

 There is also a job application and a job certificate. I try to make things as “real-life” as possible and hold students accountable.  We have a discussion before hand how to fill out applications.  I share my experience with filling out very long and detailed applications just this past summer.  Share with the students that they need to convince you that they are the person for this job.  I had some extremely detailed applications with wonderful details and supporting facts.   

Finally, there is a job certificate that communicates to each student which job they were hired for. The job certificate includes a place for student, teacher and parent signatures.  This keeps everyone in the loop about each student’s responsibilities.   I like to put the application and certificate back to back.  That way when the certificate is sent home for the parent signature the student is able to share their application with their parents.  I also like to send home a black and white version of the job description card stapled to the certificate.  Students can take the card off and display it somewhere at home to remind them of their responsibilities.    

    I also included a Classroom Job Title Page.

I will update some student examples in the coming days.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Keep the Tradition Going with this Valentine's Day Freebie!

Happy Sunday!

Growing up I spent a lot of time in my father's classroom.  Some of my fondest memories were coming in for his holiday parties.  We would play fun games, there was always plenty of treats and I got to write on the chalkboard!  I can remember playing a fun game at all the Valentine's Day parties that the kids really enjoyed.  My father invented it his very first year of teaching.  I have carried on this tradition last year during my student teaching and I plan on playing it come February 14th, 2014.  I would now like to pass on the tradition to all of you! I like to call it the Read-It or Eat-It Candy Heart Game.     

Here is how to play:

     ©When it is your turn, pick a candy heart.  Do not read the message.

     © The teacher will choose a student of the opposite gender and you will give them the conversation candy heart message side down.

     © The student who received the candy heart can read the message in their head. They then have the choice to eat-it and not share the message with the class or read-it (then eat-it) aloud in front of the class.  

     © The game continues until all students have been chosen at least once.

The students get a kick out of this game and remember Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Enjoy! As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

  

A New Years Resolution and Freebie!

Hello there!

Happy New Year! I can not believe it is 2014! Time sure does fly when you are having fun.  Looking back on this past year I realize I have so much to thank God for and I am excited to prepare for the second half of my first year as a teacher! As we turn the corner on the second half of school, things have started to slow down a bit for me.  I feel like my students and I are in some what of a groove now.  It is no longer survival mode for this newbie teacher.

So, in the spirit of new beginnings, I have decided to challenge myself with a New Year's Resolution.  I have realized that my blog, TpT and Teacher's Notebook sites have suffered from the hustle and bustle that is your first four months of teaching...ever! I am making a resolution to give some much needed TLC to my blog, TpT and Teacher's Notebook sites. As well as a few other resolutions I have. 

So, please stick around to see what the coming months have in store.  I can tell you it will be jam packed with new products, contests, freebies, funny stories and many other great things! I can not wait to get started on my resolutions.  

Now the good part!  What better way is there to start off the new year then with a FREEBIE?! Please enjoy this "Ringing in the New Year" poster below.