As educators, we need to take ownership of our teaching. If you think your tried and true lessons are lackluster, change them. Start with looking at your students and asking yourself, what do my students need? What are their strengths? Next, look at the VERBS in your standards. Precisely what is it your students need to master in this unit? Finally, embrace the art of teaching, follow their lead.
Category: creativity
The Promise of a Writing Maker Space
As I opened my classroom door Friday I knew we would be writing a poem for Mother's Day. I was feeling a bit guilty about the ease and maybe the lack of thought that I had put into the gift this year. As I switched on the lights and straightened books, I thought about Wonderopolis. I entered Mother's Day in the search box and found a wonder on Mother's Day and an invitation to dive into Writing Maker Space!
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A Book for Passionate Creators + a Giveaway
Have you lost your muse? Create Now is the kind of book you need to help you transform your creative process and get you inspired to write.
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Make Your Mark by Blogging!
I have plans, big plans, for my third grader writers this year. Topping the list is helping them to become bloggers.
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Creative Writing is Not Hot
Each year for the past nineteen years, the International Reading Association has published a list of What's Hot and What's Not in literacy education in their magazine, Reading Today. The list is based on surveys of twenty five of the world's top literacy gurus, such as Richard Allington, P. David Pearson, and Timothy Rasinski. Survey respondents were… Continue reading Creative Writing is Not Hot
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Solve It Your Way
I'm excited to share Franki Sibberson's latest project with you. SOLVE IT YOUR WAY! is an innovative project to encourage creative problem solving and collaborate with others around the globe. I shared this month's question with them while we waited in the car for Andy to run into the store. When we got home, my… Continue reading Solve It Your Way
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S.I.H. Class Starts Tomorrow
Just a reminder, for those of you that signed up and will be joining Ruth and I (and probably 50,000 other people), that the Stories in Hand Class begins tomorrow. Make sure you have a 6" x 6" binder for the project. (Ruth kindly sent me one since this size binder was sold out everywhere… Continue reading S.I.H. Class Starts Tomorrow
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A Little Copywriting
This afternoon, I'm going to teach a Social Studies Lesson about voting I found on Scholastic.com. It's a lesson about having kids persuade adults to vote in a non-partisan way. I created a PowerPoint to go along with the lesson. Feel free to use it if you're interested in teaching the same lesson before November… Continue reading A Little Copywriting
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The wrecking has begun!
Ruth gave me a copy of Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith when I arrived in Indiana. Essentially, the purpose of this book is to explore "creative destruction," which is totally new to me since I care for my writer's notebooks. However, that might be the reason Ruth got this for me... to try something… Continue reading The wrecking has begun!
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SOLSC: Mini Courses
Hummos, Pita, and Turkish Apricots Originally uploaded by teachergal Mini Courses began yesterday at my school. I landed up having eight kids in my handmade card making mini course. I had a FABULOUS time with them (Six are my students, one student is in the third grade, and one student is in the second grade.)… Continue reading SOLSC: Mini Courses
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Scrapbooks for the Slicers
One of the Two Handmade SOLSC Scrapbooks Originally uploaded by teachergal I enlisted myself for the preservation of my four students' Slices of Life (i.e., the ones who completed all 31 March). I created a scrapbook for each of them. They decided if they'd be handmade or digital. Personally, I love the handmade ones (pictured… Continue reading Scrapbooks for the Slicers
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POETRY CHALLENGE
I like challenging myself and my students with their writing. So... in honor of National Poetry Month, I thought about creating a week-long poetry challenge since I'd like to create more poetry of my own to share with my students during minilesson demonstrations. Hence... I was thinking about starting this Challenge on Saturday, 4/12 and… Continue reading POETRY CHALLENGE
