FALL-ing into the ELA Common Core Standards!

Fall is the perfect time to bring your class outside to spark new seed ideas for writing. First, I want to introduce seeds for writing to those who are not familiar with the concept :-) If your district uses Lucy Calkins or Fountas/Pinnell than you already know about teaching your students to gather "seed ideas" for their writing journals in the beginning of the year. This can be done by giving each student a photocopy of a heart or a photocopy of an inverted watermelon. Inside the heart or watermelon the students write all the things they like. Outside the heart or watermelon they write all the things they don't like. Students should just write words- not sentences. Throughout the year students will refer back to this for seeds to write about when they have "writers block." In an article titled, Using the Environment as an Integrating Context: ELA Common Core Standards and the Kentucky Environmental Literacy Plan (KLEP) by Vivian Bowles it discusses ways for teachers to provide authentic implementation of ELA Common Core Standards for writing. While you can use print and the internet to provide authentic learning, you can also bring your class outside the walls of your classroom. It does not matter if your school has an elaborate outside classroom. Give each of your students a clipboard, pencil, and a few sheets of notebook paper. Tell your class you are taking them outside to gather more "FALL SEEDS." You can take them for a walk around your school or have them sit in one spot. Have your students use their 5 senses to write down observations they see, hear, smell, (taste- depending on your lesson), and feel. These observations can provide inspiration for real or imaginative narratives, informative/explanatory texts, and substantiated arguments.

The dog ate my homework!

First of all, now that I have a puppy I realize it is REALLY possible for a dog to eat a students homework! My puppy eats everything! She eats paper, sunglasses, shoes, remote controls... I could go on but the list would be endless! When I was a kid I heard my friends use that famous excuse for not having their homework, but I will admit the teachers never believed them. Of course I didn't either. Now that I am a teacher I will say I have yet to really hear any of my students say, "My dog ate my homework and that is why I do not have it." However, I do find it funny that it is REALLY possible!

Don't Let the Turkey Sail the Boat!

Don't Let the Turkey Sail the Boat is adapted from Mo Willems Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Don't let the Turkey Sail the Boat will be a hit with your children! They will want to read it over and over again! It is perfect for guided reading and teaching specific strategies such as reading for comprehension, accuracy, fluency, or expanding vocabulary. It is great for your emergent readers. The book is a total of 20 pages. I included a vocabulary page in the beginning and a reading response question at the end. This book comes in a color version and a black and white version. I also included lined writing paper with a colorful turkey border and the same lined paper with a black and white turkey border. Check it out in my TPT store! Might I add this book is also perfect for reading in November!!!

Superhero Powers in Teaching

I believe other than a child's parent or guardian a teacher is one of the most significant role models in a child's life. Children look up to their teachers for guidance and support. They come to us when they have a problem with another child or even at home. When young children are first learning to read they see us as superheros with exceptional reading powers. By giving a child who is first learning to read a special wand or a magical cape all of the sudden he feels like he has the same superhero powers that you do as a teacher and his confidence for reading skyrockets! Use your superhero powers as a teacher to help your students succeed!!! I love teaching for all these reasons.

 

 Visit my TPT Store to purchase these Back to School Headers!!!

Fall ABCs

 

Spelling

Word Work during Daily 5!!!

Hands on and Fun!!!

Activities to Engage and Teach to LOVE Learning!!!

*some activities are not pictured

~Magnetic Letters, Letter Tiles, Write the Room, Boggle, Letter Detective... 

~Word Families~ Rhyme Time~Sight Words~

Crayon Bulletin Board