Unit of Study: Fiction Writing

This is a link to a great write up about one of Lucy’s units of study:  fiction.  I am always searching for references to Lucy’s units since many of the teachers I work with use the units as a resource. 

http://bestbookihavenotread.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/unit-of-study-fiction-writing-grades-3-5/

How-To make crayons!

This was one of my FAVORITE VIDEOS when I was a little girl!  This is an awesome procedure lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU-wXsgyR8

Celebrating 40 years of Sesame Street!

Life is good as we watch Ernie and taking a bath with his Rubber Ducky.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh85R-S-dh8 

After you have taken a bath, it is time to eat cookies!  Cookie Monster is eating his cookies.  Yummy.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye8mB6VsUHw   

It is song and story time with cookies.  Big Bird is singing on of my favorites, ABC-DEF-GHI-JK-LMNOP-QRS-TUV-WXYZ    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvhKZHAP8U

Time for bed.  Dance Myself To Sleep    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk1Y4xo4XJ4

Essay Writing Ideas

Many schools are using Lucy Calkins’ materials and Units of Study.  One of her units includes an essay unit.  Jim Trelease has a site that includes a weekly essay.  It is awesome!  http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/essay-of-week.html  

I am always looking for resources.  This is another site of wonderful resources for us.

Lucy Calkins Writing Kits

 

http://literacybytes.com/  A wonderful site as a Grade 3-5 staff implements Lucy Calkins kits in their building.

Was it worth it?

http://www.thereadingworkshop.com/2009/10/why-do-students-give-teacher-control.html 

What do you communicate when you choose your battles as a teacher?  What rules do you enforce or not enforce?  Why do students obey certain rules or not obey?  What do students need or want?  Compare yourself in a staff meeting when you are following the rules or aren’t following the rules to a child who is following the rules or is not following the rules.  Why did that happen?  What drove you to listen or not listen? To text or not? To correct papers while your boss was speaking?  To follow the group norms, or not?  Why do we follow the group norms, or choose not to?

email change awhile back

debsmith@debfourblocks.com

 

I have my regular email that is listed under my contact me.  This one is a left over one.  If people try to contact me using this one, hopefully they will run across my blog.  deb

Who owns a Kindle? Do you fit the profile?

It is interesting it read Seth Godin’s interpretation of someone who owns a Kindle.  I own a Kindle 1.  I have read every book on my Kindle 1.  I describe myself as an avid reader.    I almost always have a current professional read and a fun, no thinking or everyone read. 

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/10/some-people-are-better-than-others.html

http://blogs.forrester.com/groundswell/2009/10/seth-godin-is-right-some-people-are-better-than-others.html

Kylene Beers

Kylene Beers has decided to join many of us that blog.  I appreciate many of her books and will enjoy reading what she writes in this genre.  Join her on her blog.  Welcome Kylene!

http://kylenebeers.com/blog/

Multiple Choice Practice Questions

 

http://www.boiseschools.org/schools/north/mrznorth/ISATSampleQuestions.