Category: Writing

  My writing center is the hub of my classroom!  It is everyone’s favorite spot!  Read on to find 4 fun and engaging writing center activities! Pssssstttt…keep reading, I think I see a freebie in your future! This post does contain affiliate links.  If you use the link I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support.     The writing center in my classroom is a combination of Paper Storage and Maker Space.  The kiddos get what they need or want, then find a spot in the room to do their writing or

  April is poetry month!  So over the next few weeks, my Mentor Text Monday posts will all be Mentor texts for teaching poetry! This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. By purchasing an item on the Amazon site using these links, I will receive a small commission on your purchase (with no extra cost to you). For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link!   I love teaching poetry! There is so much freedom in writing short bursts of texts, that don’t always have to follow the “rules”, or have strict rules so you have to be really creative

Ah, sight words.  They need to be taught, and retaught, then taught again.  It is so well worth the time when your kiddos are reading fluently, but not much fun to teach all the time.  I have a fun word work idea to share about something new I started in my classroom the other day. So far, so good! Fun Word Work Idea! So, this year we decided to forgo weekly spelling tests and focus more on Word Work.  We have five sight words a week, then focus on a chunk or chunks of those words for word work for

I really enjoy teaching writing a description to my second graders! I make it highly engaging with Secret Snacks, Beanie babies, and technology!   As a team, we start with each class choosing a “mystery” snack.  I do a whole mini-lesson about using our senses to write a description.  Then, they get their paper with the graphic organizer, a snack, and go back to their seats to write.  Of course, they also get to eat their snack!  The next step is to come back together to write a detailed description of the snack that we shared.  After we have our description written, we then

Free Halloween Writing Project Hello!  Did you come here looking for a Fun October Poem and Writing Activity?     Maybe you just came looking for a great Halloween Writing Freebie?Either way, you are in luck!   Things didn’t quite work out the way I planned on Friday, so we decided to make Monster Menus! Each year about this time we read a poem called If a Giant Monster.  I am not sure who wrote the poem, but it is about inviting monsters in to have something to eat.  Of course, this lead to a discussion about what Monsters eat.  It got a little

  his post has some mini lessons for writing workshop about finding ideas of things to write about! I have been working really hard this year to try to do my mini-lessons in a sequence that makes sense.  It makes sense to me at least! Of course, I started with building stamina for Writer’s Workshop.  If you are interested in seeing our daily routine check out the post HERE. Now that we are into the routine, we get down to the nitty-gritty! T Mini Lessons for Writing Workshop: Brainstorming Ideas! We decided as a class that having a good Idea