Creating Writers... How Hard Can it Be?

Found this wonderful little gem at 12 am this morning.  What else would I be doing in the middle of the week, in the middle of the night, during my first week off of school?  An effective teaching technique for young learners, engaged learners, cute kids...  Really, it doesn't get much better than this!  Check it  out!

Research Project for Any Topic

Click Here for TPT Link

I love doing research.  I was a sociology major in school and got a taste for investigating topics then that has only grown.  Research is the final frontier I hope to lead my students to during the course of our time together.  It is the opportunity to hand the reigns of learning... personal learning... real learning into the hands of my students.  The challenge for me has always been to create an experience that can be easily understood and used by students new to the research process.  I think the format we landed on this time is simple and easy.  The kids absolutely loved it.  They took the research process and combined it with a project presentation and the results were awesome.  They were fully engaged in the process and I was immensely proud of their work.  Take a look!  If you like what you see, click the like to my TPT site and pick up a copy for yourself.  It works for a variety of grades, abilities, and subject areas (yea!) ... A good, multi-purposed, and inexpensive investment!

Create a topic sentences and record important and interesting facts.
For more detailed projects two or three sentences can be recorded in each box!

Create a Paragraph Write-up and revise and edit the piece.

This is a first attempt at siting sources, so it is  basic.
 This student is definitely ready for the next step in this area.

Research Topic: Elephants.       Project: Movie Roll!

Research Topic: Guinea Pigs.       Project: Movie Roll!

Research Topic: The Maple Tree.        Project: Picture Dictionary

Research Topic: The Heart.     Project: Shoe Box Desplay  

REsearch Topic: History of Baseball.     Project: Shoe Box Desplay

Research Topic: Amelia Earhart.     Project Shoe Box Desplay

Research Topic:  Colliding Galaxies Andromeda and The Milky Way  Project:  Shoe Box Display

Then and Now

This simple end of year activity is a true favorite!!  A miniature  time capsule (aka toilet paper roll wrapped like a tootsie roll)  includes a self portrait, simple math  page, and  a letter written from the student to themselves.  These items are created at the beginning and again at the end of the year.  Students open their time capsule and witness how they have changed over the year.  My favorite quotes this year?... "This isn't my work... I don't write my name like that... ".  I love it when a student bumps into their own growth in a simple and obvious way.  Check it out!

Grading Papers in the Fast Lane!

Okay, I am sure you all have many ways to correct and grade student work, but I am all about speed these days! I divide student work into three groups: 1) practice work: items that don't need to be graded (repetitive practice items done for memorization); 2) stamp grading: items which I quickly check and stamp to show I've seen them (homework and center activities, etc);  and 3) thorough grading: items which are closely reviewed, corrected and then recorded into my grade book. The last group I try to grade with the kids as often as possible (which is a powerful learning tool), but some days it isn't possible.

Thorough grading piles up fast so I keep it under control by grading papers in the fast lane!   When grading papers in rapid succession, I lay six papers out on a large flat surface and quickly compare answers.  When answers don't match, I slow down to double check student calculations to figure out who is in error and mark the work accordingly.  I repeat the process until the class set is done. Then, I flip all the papers and start again. For the math pages,  which are folded papers, I open and compare the inside, two pages at a time.  It's quick, it's easy, and it works!  Maybe you'll find it helpful!  Next time... How to keep up with recording grades... Stay tuned!

The "Any Book Book Report"

I just finished grading last weeks book reports using the "Any Book Book Report" packet.  (That was a shameless plug for the product, I know... So sorry!) Students picked a favorite Dr. Seuss book to report on and did a great job on the project! They had a week to complete it at home and received help if/when needed. I love when parents can witness (and assist) young learners on a writing project. It's like one-on-one tutoring for my students and it makes parents aware of the strengths and weakness their child possesses in terms of be becoming a proficient writer! Check out this sample. This little guy worked really hard and did a great job! I am so proud of him and all my students!