Teaching Descriptive Writing with Winter Books
Teaching descriptive writing to upper elementary students with winter books is a great way for students to see what good writing looks like and help them start writing their own personal narratives. The first few weeks back after winter break are always filled with excitement. Kids eagerly share stories about their vacations, family traditions, and […]
Help Students Write Better Narratives by Teaching Small Moments
Teaching small moments is a great way to introduce students to personal narrative writing, especially after winter break. Have you ever asked your students to write a personal narrative, only to read stories that list everything they did in a day? “First, I woke up. Then, I ate breakfast. Then, I went outside…” Sound familiar? […]
New Year’s Resolutions Writing Activity for Goal-Setting in January
A New Year’s resolutions writing prompt is the perfect way to kick off the new semester and help students reflect on their goals. After winter break, students are eager to share their experiences and get back into the routine, making this a great opportunity to spark meaningful conversations about goal-setting. In my classroom, I love […]
Boost Student Reflection with Levels of Understanding Posters
The Levels of Understanding Posters can completely change how students reflect on their learning. Have you ever asked your students, “How well do you understand today’s lesson?” only to hear, “I don’t know”? Sound familiar? Many students struggle to assess and express their understanding because they haven’t been taught to self-reflect. They often wait until […]
A Hands On Writing Strategy for Teaching Topic Sentences
Teaching topic sentences to 4th and 5th graders can feel like an uphill battle. How do you help students create a strong topic sentence that introduces the main idea without diving straight into details from the text? You’re not alone if your students have trouble writing clear, focused topic sentences for a constructed response or […]