It's My Birthday!

Yep, I am officially a year older today.  To celebrate, I am going to give each person one item from my store for today only.  I don't have a lot but I love to share!  So leave me a comment below and be sure to include your email address and what product you would like!  Be sure you are following me in something other than Google Reader while you are at it! : )

Remember this is for today only!

*I will send them out as soon as I am able but please be patient since it is free!*

Following my Blog

As many of you may already know, Google Reader is going to no longer work as of July 1st.  That means if you were like me you need to get on finding a new way to read your blogs.  There are a few options that I have found:

G+ - Google's social networking tool (this is probably what I will go to eventually but have to figure it all out first!)

Feedly - what I chose to use for now; very similar to Reader

Bloglovin - what a lot of blogger I know are using

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Blogger Dashboard

There are others as well but these seem to be the most popular ways.  Pick what you prefer and switch over before Reader goes away and it will be a lot easier!

Summer Bucket List Writing Activity (freebie)

2 more days of summer school!  It's been tough with no break between regular school and summer school this year due to snow days.  The end is in sight however!

For our summer school program we have to have some products to show on our last day for our Learning Expo.  I made up a simple writing project to use as one of my products.  And I'm sharing it with you!

It is very basic.  Have the kids think of 8 things they want to do this summer and draw them on their plan sheet.

Then have them decorate their front and back covers and cut them out.

Finally have them write each thing they want to do on a separate piece of paper.  Assemble them and staple.  

See...super easy.  If you would like this activity, you can click on any of the pictures above to grab it for free!

Talking, Drawing, Writing Book Study - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - The Craft of Drawing

This chapter included a lot of lessons to teach different aspects of drawing.  It included lessons for drawing people in different ways and angles, clothing, hairstyles, skin, eyes, etc.  There is a lesson about how to go about planning what you will draw.  

I had two general things to note:

*the connection between their sketches (during their drawing lessons) and their writing pieces needs to be made for them; it needs to be explicitly shown for them to generalize from one place to the other

*drawing is not about filling the whole space; it is being specific in what you include so it helps provide meaning to the readers

Don't forget to check out the linky party over at Teaching with Grace.

Next up Chapter 5 - Writing Words

Talking, Drawing, Writing Book Study - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Drawing

The title of this chapter says it all!  : )  There was a good chunk devoted to walking you through a sketching session.  I was glad they included examples of what the kids work actually looked like because as I read it I was afraid they were going to have all these perfect pictures.  I know this would not be the case as I always have a lot that have not really ever held pencils before.

My notes from this chapter:

*Take time to show what it is to really observe and draw realistically rather than symbolically

*Look for shapes in things to help aid in drawing them

*When doing sketch times, rather than just saying "I think it looks great" when a child is not happy with their drawing, try things like "What is it you are not sure about" to help them know you are there to listen and help

*Create a drawing center/learning station (include different pencils, sketchbooks/paper, objects to sketch - loved the ideas of finding the things students are already interested in like their favorite toys, etc.)

Favorite quote:

"Drawing itself is a part of learning: learning to use one's eyes to see more intensely."

Don't forget to stop over to Teaching with Grace to see what others thought.

Next up: Chapter 4 - The Craft of Drawing

Talking, Drawing, Writing Book Study - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 is the Drawing and Writing Book.  This chapter introduces the children to using the journal style books the authors use and all the writing materials.  I am not able to use the journal style books based on the model we are using but I was still able to glean some ideas from this chapter.

*One thing I really liked was saying what I notice.  Using " I notice how" or "I see you are remembering" instead of just "Thank you for putting that back."

*Really focus on visualizing what the drawings need to tell the story.  Details, details, details!

I'm too late to link up but be sure to check out the others that did over at Teaching with Grace.

Next up Chapter 3 - Drawing

Talking, Drawing, Writing Book Study - Chapter 1

So it's been a while but that seems to happen for me.  I have come to the realization that this blog is something for me to do to share with others.  It is not my job or an obligation.  If I feel I have something to share, then I will.  If not, I don't think you want a dull post just because.

Anyway...

I was excited to get my hands on this book!  I heard about it last summer and never got to it.  Jennifer over at Teaching with Grace has a book study linky party to go along with it.  I'm in no way saying I will have something to say about every chapter but thought it would be fun to follow along regardless.

My district went to a writers workshop model this year.  I like many aspects of it.  But I felt like we dove in to them going out to "write" too quickly.  I realized even at the end of the year that a lot of my kids can't even put together a story orally.  How could I expect them to do it in writing??

This first chapter, Storytelling, helped me see what to do next year.  I am going to devote time time to talking....okay, storytelling : )  I'll still read the mentor texts.   I'll model how to do it using my own every day type stories.  But then I will make sure they get a chance to share.

A few notes:

*really give that wait time for students to try to figure out their words; then guide them with open ended questions (don't take over their story)

*have other students repeat what they understand from the story or ask clarifying questions

*jot down oral stories in conferring notes

Now I am ready to go make a share can to keep track who is ready to share a story with us every day!  

Anxious for Chapter 2 - The Drawing and Writing Book!