Welcome to the Social Skills Ideas Bank!
The Social Skills Idea Bank is a series of related posts, each dedicated to sharing strategies for teaching a particular social skill.
As teachers, our strength lies in sharing our ideas, experiences and strategies!
This is a growing list, and you are invited to contribute in the comments section. We hope you will, because there’s nothing like a good idea shared between teachers to make our jobs easier.
This post is about simple ways to guide students to thinking [Read More…]
First Grade Writing: Free Downloads
Looking for something super simple for your first grade writing centers? Download these FREE seasonal writing templates for your writing center!
These fun writing topper templates are a great way to offer differentiation and interest in your writing centers!
I created a set to use through the school year for seasonal topics.
They are free to download and try with your students!
TEACHER PREP DIRECTIONS:
These centers require very little prep! Just copy the topper and writing template you’ve chosen for each student. Students will need [Read More…]
Story Writing Ideas
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 priorities that I focus on the most in my primary classroom are:
Making students feel confident in their ability to express ideas through writing.
Allowing students to have opportunities to share their written ideas in a supportive environment.
Explore Different Kinds of Writing
Many students have no strategies for thinking of a writing topic, so we spend a [Read More…]
Integrating Math Writing Art and Science
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-number templates to create the round life cycle pictures seen in [Read More…]
Differentiation In Writing Lessons
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…]
Directed Drawing Videos: Valentine Hearts
Do your students love directed drawing? Mine do!
WHY DIRECTED DRAWING?
There are lots of reasons to try directed drawing with your students! Here are a few skills and benefits:
practice with following directions
practice close attention to detail
fine motor development
increased stamina in focus and attention
self-expression and communicating ideas
growing skills in drawing and appreciation of art
perfect for celebrating seasonal content and decorate the class
an easy writing center to switch out each week
a fun activity to do at home! Send the link to parents and [Read More…]
About Me Writing Template
This year I will be using this cute All About Me writing template with my new students!
It’s not too overwhelming for my reluctant writers, and it’s a great way to get to know them. I find this format is more engaging for my emergent writers. The only rule I have is that they must complete some writing before they can color. And they WANT to color all the cute pictures very badly!
It is also allowing me to collect valuable information about [Read More…]
Directed Drawing Videos: Butterfly
WHY DIRECTED DRAWING?
There are many reasons to try directed drawing with your students! Here are a few skills and benefits:
improve skills in following directions and attention to detaila fun way to practice fine motor developmentincreased stamina in focus and attentionincreased self-expression and communicating ideasgrowing skills in drawing and appreciation of artperfect for celebrating seasonal content and decorate the classan easy center activity to switch out each weeka fun activity to do at home! Send the link to parents and ask [Read More…]
Directed Drawing Videos: Bee
WHY DIRECTED DRAWING?
There are many reasons to try directed drawing with your students! Here are a few skills and benefits:
improve skills in following directions and attention to detaila fun way to practice fine motor developmentincreased stamina in focus and attentionincreased self-expression and communicating ideasgrowing skills in drawing and appreciation of artperfect for celebrating seasonal content and decorate the classan easy center activity to switch out each weeka fun activity to do at home! Send the link to parents and ask [Read More…]
Directed Drawing Videos: Leprechaun
WHY DIRECTED DRAWING?
There are many reasons to try directed drawing with your students! Here are a few skills and benefits:
improve skills in following directions and attention to detaila fun way to practice fine motor developmentincreased stamina in focus and attentionincreased self-expression and communicating ideasgrowing skills in drawing and appreciation of artperfect for celebrating seasonal content and decorate the classan easy center activity to switch out each weeka fun activity to do at home! Send the link to parents and ask [Read More…]
