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 ...
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Earth Day Art and Writing
Earth Day is one of my favourite holidays to celebrate in class. Students become aware of their responsibilities as citizens and feel empowered to make a difference!
Our discussion include:
•What is recycling?
•How can we save energy?
•Why should help the earth?
After our ...
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Valentine’s Day Writing Prompts
As candy hearts and Valentine cards fill the store, students cannot wait for February 14th! Instead of love and chocolates, they celebrate friendship and kindness with their classmates. Since these aspects are so important, teachers work hard to add in Valentine’s Day-themed activities. For ...
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Differentiated Story Writing
When students begin story writing, they often feel confused and anxious. While they love creativity, it can be hard to develop an entire story. Therefore, they often become so stressed that they cannot focus on their writing skills. Thankfully, there are ways for students to work on story ...
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New Year’s Resolutions Writing
Have you ever noticed that, after New Year's celebrations, when students come back to school after winter break, they act like they've never been in a classroom before? Sometimes it seems like they've forgotten everything you've taught them in the past months!
Of course they haven't ...
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Writing In Primary – 12 Simple Book Projects
As teachers and parents of beginning writers we want to encourage our students to see themselves as authors. This can be so challenging when working with emergent writers. Students can be overwhelmed by a blank page. The idea of "sounding out" all those hard words can prevent them from ...
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Animal Writing Flap Books
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 ...
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Writing Workshop: Setting Up For Success!
Do you do writing workshop with your students?
My program has evolved over the last 23 years, and now it runs smoothly - although I can't help but add new ideas each year!
Long before I expect students to write stories, we spend a lot of time discussing stories.
For example, every time we ...
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Drawing as a Writing Prompt
Students always love their time in specials. However, they often only get to go to art, music, library, and physical education once a week. This is why teachers often find creative ways to incorporate essential academic skills with aspects students love. For instance, Directed Drawing and ...
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Art History and Writing Integration
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 ...
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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 ...
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Thanksgiving Art and Writing
November is such an exciting time of the year! Between the changing weather and seeing family for Thanksgiving, there is so much to look forward to. However, this does mean it can be a bit tricky to keep students focused and engaged. Thankfully, adding Thanksgiving art and writing to lessons ...
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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!
Our current favourite ...
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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 ...
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Back to School Writing
Honestly, it is shocking to think about all students learn at young ages. For instance, they enter kindergarten possibly knowing letters and numbers. Then, they leave reading and writing sentences. It is incredible to think about all the growth students show each year. Thankfully, all this ...
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Writing Prompts & Sets
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WRITER'S WORKSHOP BUNDLE
This is a bundle of 9 top resources to implement rigorous, interactive writing instruction in your classroom. It is also perfect to support and reinforce the writing program you already have set ...
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Fairy Tales – Masks, Scripts, Writing and Phonics
Fairy Tales are well proven vehicle for Readers' Theater, but the engagement and learning increases significantly when you also incorporate masks and interactive play.
Here's how we explore fairy tales in my class.
Character Masks
Creating masks is a fun way to incorporate art into ...
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Quotation Station: Writing About Quotes
I'm a big fan of good memes or quotations, and love to share and discuss them.
If a quotation is educationally meaningful, I often will share it with my students. They are perfect for inspiring meaningful discussions and higher level thinking! Sometimes we use these quotations or ...
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Writing Templates For The New Year (Free)
The first days back at school after the winter holidays can be hard to plan for. Everyone is thinking about goals for the new year, and this is a great topic for writing and reflection with students. Don't be afraid to model that kind of goal setting with them!
First, we reflect back on the ...
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Halloween Crafts and Writing Ideas
HALLOWEEN IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM
How do you decorate for Fall and Halloween?
Our room transforms with each added art projects, and I love them all!
I especially love projects that involve tracing hands, like these spiders below.
We also made pumpkins - and some pumpkins that turned out a bit ...
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Integrate Writing and Math With Building
You know how some students (especially in the first weeks of school) just sigh when you give them writing or math jobs because what they really want to do is play with blocks or Lego all day?
Here's how I got those students excited to do some writing and math (while still letting them build ...
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Easter Craft Ideas For Primary
Easter is just around the corner! So, it is time to start thinking about the perfect Easter craft ideas for primary grades. Since students are so excited for the Easter Bunny to visit, they are always eager to see what their teacher plans. Thankfully, there are amazing options that combine a ...
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Books That Teach Friendship and Social Skills
Our class spends a LOT of time learning social skills, problem solving, friendship and conflict resolution. This helps to create a peaceful environment where learning can thrive, and we do not have to spend the majority of our time solving interpersonal conflicts. We use interactive lessons ...
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End of Year Graduation
As the end of the year approaches there's always a scramble to get things finished and keep students engaged. Personally, I'm always also looking for ways to help students reflect on the past year. I encourage them to recognize their hard work, their accomplishments in learning, as well as the ...
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