How to Accept a GIFT!

How to Accept a GIFT! This is an awesome writing experience for children.

http://lilcountrykindergarten.visibli.com/c7d9f83b5fe8b259/?web=a98c5d&dst=http%3A//inspiredbykindergarten.blogspot.com/

What Do You Know For Sure?

I know for sure that change is going to happen and I am not always comfortable with change. 

I know for sure that I love my family and there are A LOT of people in my extended family.  I am glad for each and every one of my family members.  It is messy sometimes because there are lots of members, and it is ok because we love each other.  We are there for each other. 

I know for sure that I love to work.  The extended family does too even when family members don’t know they love to work or don’t want to acknowledge the love of work!  We are workers!

I know for sure that I value ethical people and ethical behavior.

I know for sure that I value with-it-ness!

What do you know for sure?

Grammar Ideas!

  Teachers appreciate grammar ideas.  Here are several authors who help teachers use picture books effectively to teacher grammar.      

http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/make-language-adventure-learning.html

All About Book Idea: All About Winter

The teacher on this website had her class write All About Books. The topic was winter.  They are awesome. Your class could pick any topic.

I prefer the idea of having students complete writing projects in the sequence of gradual release: I Do, We Do, You Do. When the teacher writes or models writing, it is I Do.  When we write together, it is We Do.  When students choose their own topics and write individually it is usually You Do. 

http://splatypus.blogspot.com/2011/02/all-about-winter.html

Mentor Author: Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco is a great example of using an Author as a Mentor

http://www.middleweb.com/ReadWrkshp/JK65.html

Mentor Author: Mo Willems

Mo Willems as an author for an author study

http://imaginationsoup.net/2009/10/author-study-mo-willems/

Mentor Author: Ezra Jack Keats

Characteristics of Ezra Jack Keats as an author as mentor resource

-all caps 

-dialogue 

-specific word choice 

-dramatic tension 

-simile/metaphor 

-sound words 

-dash 

-problem solution story structure 

-transition words 

-multiple steps to solve a problem

Homerun Sentences

Writing about Text Structures

Text Structure Wall

Writing to a prompt