Let's write quickly!

A quick write is a very useful tool that teachers from first grade to college can use with their students. I think everyone uses quick writes, they just don't know it. 

A quick write is when you take a topic and write everything that you know about the topic in a given amount of time (example: 1st grade: bugs- 3 min). During the time allowed the students are not allowed to erase or reread what they have written.  This allows them to get all their thoughts out before going back through.

These quick writes can be used as a student's brainstorming activity, a way for the teacher to see what the students already know,  an assessment after a lesson to make sure the students all understand and many more possibilities.

I like quick writes because it is an easy way for me to jot down ideas for my blog when my time is limited.  I think it would be a great idea to use in the classroom when the students finish early.

Even though I am a big supporter of quick writes I do believe that they should not be used every day.  This needs to be an occasional tool that is used. This will keep the children interested in the activity. 

New Year!

Happy New Year to you! As 2014 unfolds what are your resolutions for the up coming year?

This is something that I feel should be shared with students. Tell them some of your resolutions (school appropriate of course). After discussing yours have the students write some down for themselves.  Save these and during the last week of school pass them back out and see who is following their resolutions still.

With this new year try to come up with a pact with your students to stop bullying.  A new year can be a great time to talk about bullying.  Talk about what they should do if they see bullying. Explain how the victims feel when they are bullied.  Tell them the consequences of bullying.

Overall with this new year encourage your students to be better people!

I hope you had a safe and happy New Year!  I look forward to writing many new posts this year.

It's all about ME!

Need a fun ice breaker to help start off the New Year?

Let's talk all about an All About Me project!

This is a fun way for you, as the teacher to get to know all of your students! 

There are pre-made posters at different store where the children can decorate and answer what is already on the paper. Or you can take a different route and create your own like I ended up doing. This allows you to ask the children specific questions. You can also do this project at the end of the year to see how the children have changed throughout the year. 

Things you can include in the posters:

• Name
• Age
• Favorite things
• sports
• food
• color
• Birthday 
• Pets
• Family
• What I like to do

For older children you can create longer questions and ask why. For example you can ask what the best part of the summer was and why. This will get them back into school and allow them to practice writing. Also you, as the teacher will be able to see where your students are at the beginning of the year. 

Use different materials! Here are some suggestions:

• Markers
• Crayons
• stencils
• pom poms
• scissors
• colored pencils
• glitter
• glue
• pictures 
• paint
• stickers 
• pipe cleaners 
• paper

Here is what I came up with for my All About Me project!

Well I have taken the leap and went on YouTube! My first video is below where I talk a little bit about my All About Me project ideas! Take a look and let me know what you think!