Going with the Flow

Many of you are trying new strategies in your classrooms this year...Positive Discipline, math workshop, Daily 5, Words Their Way, incorporating more thoughtful writing to learn and writing to demonstrate learning strategies...the list could go on. Remember to keep things in perspective as you give new ideas "a go" and realize that as you learn and grow as a teacher, there will be moments that shine, and moments that are less than stellar! Learn and laugh with the dips and celebrate with the high points. Here's a little story of a cat who can "go with the flow"...enjoy!

First Grade Self Portraits

Check out Susan Harsh's first grade self portraits.

Kids created self portraits and then brought in pictures, wrote words, and added illustrations of things they're interested in. These self portraits are being used to collect seed ideas for writing workshop.

Getting Started with 6 + 1 Trait Writing

Writing workshop routines are beginning to settle in and many of you will begin to introduce the 6 + 1 Trait writing framework. I have the mentor texts by trait lists on the G drive and will print a copy out and have available in my room. If you are looking for a resource to help you get started, check out the link below:

http://educationnorthwest.org/resource/504


Let me know if you have questions or need new ideas - I'd love to explore with you!

Great new blog just added

http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
- This is a fantastic writing blog geared toward middle grade students, but easily adapted to younger kiddos.

Reading Workshop Resource

K-2 teachers...here is a super resource for learning more about reading workshop. There are videos, training modules, etc.

Even if you are a 3-5 teacher wanting to know more about reading workshop, this site explains the structure and steps for creating a workshop model in your classroom.


http://www.learner.org/workshops/readingk2/

Overcoming Failure

Here is a short video about overcoming failure...

Just a little humor to start us off...