literacy Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Whimsy Workshop Teaching

Animal Writing Flap Books

November 5, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 4 Comments

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…]

Christmas Kindness Around The World

November 2, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 4 Comments

I strive to make my classroom a place where students feel safe, appreciated and respected just as they are.
My classroom banner says simply: “Be Kind. Work Hard.”

These ideas are reinforced all year long, but there are some special ways that we spread kindness in December for Christmas.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Each year we take the month of December to really focus on Random Acts of Kindness and caring for each other. If possible, I enjoy getting families involved. A few years ago [Read More…]

Making Phonics Fun and Interactive

July 29, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 1 Comment

Teaching phonics can become a bit monotonous day after day, but there are lots of ways to keep it engaging!
Here are a few examples of the ways I’ve tried to keep phonics lessons interactive, hands on, and FUN!
Phonics instruction can also be differentiated with a little creativity.

BUILDING WORDS & SENTENCES
This activity allows for differentiation because the tasks get more complex as you work down the page. Some students will only be required to print the letters and build the [Read More…]

Phonics Centers for Back To School

July 8, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 2 Comments

When do you start teaching phonics?
There are so many things going on at the start of a new school year!
We are getting to know new personalities, watching them interact with each other, and at the same time, we are taking notes and assessing abilities.
One of the first things I set up are my EASY and independent literacy centers.

These take very little explanation, and students can happily work on literacy skills while I use valuable time to assess their abilities before moving [Read More…]

Secret Sentences for Phonics Fun!

April 16, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching Leave a Comment

One of the most engaging activities in my classroom over the last 20+ year has been Secret Sentences. Students LOVE to solve a secret mystery, and even better when they are practicing their letter sound knowledge at the same time!
WHERE TO BEGIN: SIMPLE WORDS
We begin with simple words. We use word tiles, scrabble tiles, or homemade tiles with n

As shown, student place tiles to match the FIRST SOUND of each little picture. They can also use dry erase marker on [Read More…]

Drawing as a Writing Prompt

April 11, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 10 Comments

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

April 8, 2017 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 9 Comments

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…]

Story Writing Ideas

October 22, 2016 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 6 Comments

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

September 13, 2016 by Whimsy Workshop Teaching 7 Comments

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 students [Read More…]