Whimsy Workshop Teaching

Teacher Clip Art, Literary Resources, Classroom Ideas

Animal Writing Flap Books

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Do your students love animal research projects?
It’s a great way to introduce non-fiction writing, and it can be a source of pride for students who feel very “grown up” because they are doing research! However, this enthusiasm can be dampened if emergent writers are not supported with reading materials at their level, and so long as the information sources are not too overwhelming.
 

 
This is why differentiating your non-fiction materials for emergent writers is so important.
Here are some tips for implementing your [Read More…]

Story Writing Ideas

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We reserve  time each day for story writing.
There are so many ways to encourage students to write, even when they are just at the emergent level.
 

 
Two things that I focus on the most in my primary classroom are:
-Students feel confident in their ability to express ideas through writing.
-Students have the opportunity to share their written ideas in a supportive environment.
 

 

Explore Different Kinds of Writing
 
Many students have no strategies for finding a topic, so we spend time discussing different forms of writing and [Read More…]

S.T.E.M. and Growth Mindset

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Hi Everyone!
Here’s some real talk about my experience using STEM in the classroom.

When I am coordinating S.T.E.M. curriculum for grades 1-5, I observe many students exploring the STEM process who are truly engaged with hands-on learning.
For the most part, students LOVE it!
However…
 
Sometimes I also see students who are not yet comfortable with taking risks.
Some students are not emotionally equipped for dealing with the disappointment that arises when their great idea doesn’t quite work out the way they wanted.
Other students feel threatened by other [Read More…]

Integrating Math Writing Art and Science

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I am constantly trying to find new ways to integrate different subject areas in my classroom. We have LOTS of activities that integrate math, art and writing, but because it’s that time of year to start studying life cycles, we’ve now incorporated science into the mix! Here’s how we do it:
 
 

 
Our caterpillars arrived last week and my students are completely engaged in learning about their life cycle. We used color by numbers templates to create the round life cycle pictures [Read More…]

Drawing as a Writing Prompt

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Directed Drawing is a fun and engaging way to integrate art and writing.
Here are some ways that I use art in my classroom to encourage more writing!
 

 

WRITING COMPLIMENTS
 
After your whole class directed drawing lessons, invite students to do a “gallery walk” around the room to see other students’ work. Then, leave a post-it note beside each picture and assign secret partners. Students study their partner’s drawing and write a compliment on the post-it note. Students love to return to their [Read More…]

Art History and Writing Integration

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MAKING TIME FOR ART
As a primary teacher with a degree in visual art and art history, it’s so sad for me to hear that art programs across the country are being eliminated, art budgets being cut, and that teachers just don’t have time for art lessons because of increased pressure to get through other curriculum.
 

 
I’ve experienced the same things in my own district, and so I am trying to think of art in a different way to come up with some [Read More…]

Differentiation In Writing Lessons

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How do you handle differentiation when it comes to non-fiction writing?

 
Over the last 20 years, I’ve learned that when teaching in my multi-age classroom, differentiation is a MUST.  There are many different ways to accomplish this, and I have found that getting this right can make students feel very successful, which makes it a big deal!
 

 
 
MODIFY THE CONTENT
 
When we are working on non-fiction, for example, I offer students information in many different ways. I prefer to allow them to choose the materials [Read More…]

Poetry: Interactive Activities

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We LOVE poetry in our class – reading it, writing it, rearranging it, and reciting it!
Below are some of the many ways we use poetry for literacy in my classroom.
 

 
Why Is Poetry So Useful For Literacy?
 
1.Poetry can be thematic, informational, and funny. The funnier it is, the more my students like to stand up and recite it to the class for a good laugh!
 
2.Passages can be short so as to not overwhelm early readers.
 
3.Poetry encourages repeated reading; the rhythm makes [Read More…]

Number Bridge No-Prep Math Game – Bright Ideas October

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Today I’m sharing one of my favorite no-prep ideas for math or spelling.
All you need is paper and crayons.
I call it Number Bridge.
 

 

This simple game can be adapted to any grade level, but here are the basic rules to play for my little ones.

That’s all there is to it!
This is great practice while making the number board themselves, and more practice creating the bridges. Each student will have a uniquely different board, and it’s a great tool for [Read More…]

Strategies for Teaching New Concepts To Anxious Students

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When introducing a new topic of learning, especially in math, I notice the anxiety levels in some students rise significantly. The more anxious students in my class begin to fidget and look uncomfortable when they see something unfamiliar because it falls outside of their comfort zone for known success.
 

 
 
These students are afraid to try and fail; since school is all about introducing new concepts and embracing the learning process, this is quite a problem. Here are some strategies I use in [Read More…]

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