WILF: What I’m Looking For

What I’m Looking For…
Look at your ________ standard or expectation or benchmark to decide what to teach
(Everyone) Must+++
(Some student) Should++
(Some students) Could++
What I am Looking ForMichigan Grade Level Expectations are written like this:R.NT.02.03 identify and describe characters’ actions and motivations, setting (time and place),problem/solution, and sequence of events. [Core]
The teacher who is writing a lesson [...]

Word Work: Teaching Letter Patterns with Picture Support

The children generate words in the -et word family with the teacher’s support.
Picture SupportThe teacher has prepared the picture support to build vocabulary support. The teacher is using the words with pictures to help build meaning vocabulary with her students. Real items work too whenever possible.“I took my dog to the vet.”“We will catch [...]

Word Work: Developing Root Word Understanding

Pat writes about root words in numerous books. She writes the activity up on pages 166-169 in Phonics They Use, version 5.
Procedure by Pat:1. Write the word play on the board. 2. Tell students that a little word like play can become a big word when parts are added to the beginning and to [...]

Getting To Know Who?: Names

Many teachers use lots of name activities in their classrooms effectively. This is one activity called, “Getting To Know Who?” Many children learn their name in print quickly. Some children even come to school already knowing their name. It makes sense to build on the knowledge that children come to school with. The next step [...]

Tuesday 2: Slice of Life Story Challenge

Traditions!
This week I am struck by Tradition! It is not just who we are closely related to, it is who we are as a Dutch heritage. My son recently decided to attend my tradition, Hope College. This is the college where his dad and I, and all my siblings attended. His grandparents are [...]

Building Blocks, Job Chart

To build an understanding of a few sight words, this teacher has a job chart. The child reads the one sentence strip of their one job for the day. Each child rotates daily. The student who is line leader (red sentence strip) reads this job, “My job is the line leader.” The child touches the [...]

Writing: Think of a Person that Matters to You

When you are stuck for an idea of what to write about, “Think of a person who matters to you, then list clear, small moments you remember with him or her. Choose one to sketch and then write the accompanying story.

This is an idea that I originally gleaned from Lucy Calkins kit 3-5. [...]

Writing: Think of an Object that matters to you

Read the book, Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems to develop the concept of a favorite object.

My son, Andrew, is laying on his “Knuffle Bunny” or his favorite blanket to the left of the elephant I cross stitched on a blanket while pregnant with my first born. My second born, my daughter, Ashleigh, is under [...]

Writing: Think of a Place That Matters (Playground)

Writing about a place that matters: The Playground

-Today I want to teach you that writers sometimes think of a place that matters; then we list small moments that occurred in that place, moments we remember with crystal-clear clarity.

-It helps to provide the students with an anchor lesson, so the first time that students [...]

Writing: Think about a Place that matters to you

•Lucy Calkins in her 3-5 kit writes, “Today I want to teach you that writers sometimes think of a place that matters; then we list small moments that occurred in that place, moments we remember with crystal-clear clarity.”

Two Writing Teachers encourages us to think about the special place using this criteria:
-A special place in your [...]