100 Minute Book Study: Chapter 5

Today's post is being hosted by Dilly Dabbles Blog. Click HERE to read what she has to say.

Writing Time/Direct Instruction in Writing:

So I've been struggling with how the writing time, at the end of the block, will help my students when it isn't followed by the consolidation piece. This chapter has cleared up a lot of my questions.

Writing time is a great time to create clear learning goals and success criteria with the students. Students can share their writing. You can also look at Mentor texts, which is a great way to co-create success criteria. It's also an opportunity to look at exemplars as well as modelling writing. 

What I was envisioning was a variety of modeled lessons, with no immediate follow through. After reading this chapter, things are so much clearer. I also realized that I can continue to do a lot of things that I am already doing. 

Here is an example of the success criteria that we created for letter writing.

We deconstructed  a letter using the success criteria that we co-created.

Students deconstructed their own writing with a partner to create class exemplars.

This is an example of a shared letter that the class wrote. We used a checklist to make sure that we had all of the success criteria.

To take a closer look at my "Writing Friendly Letters with Learning Goals and Success Criteria", click on the picture. 

To see my other writing products with Learning Goals and Success Criteria click HERE.

 

Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop

I have joined up with over 106 teacher authors to give you "The Best for the Best, Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop". We are demonstrating how we use our best product in our classrooms for you, our followers. We think you are the best! This blog hop has been designed by the Amazing Amy from Teaching in Blue Jeans.

So which product do I think is my best? That is a tough question! There are so many that I love. One of my favourites right now are my new Problem Solving Strategies Posters. They are animal themed to help students remember the different strategies they can use to solve problems.

However, this product wasn't ready for you when I signed up for this blog hop, so I have decided to highlight my Writing Personal Recounts with Learning Goals and Success Criteria.

Over the last couple of years, my school board has been asking us to post Learning Goals and Success Criteria in our classrooms. At first, I have to admit I was a cynic. My little firsties could barely say Success Criteria let alone know what they are. But, after using them for the last four years I am a true believer. I think it's important for the students to know exactly what it is they are learning. Too often we have an end goal, but the students don't know what that goal is until they reach the end of the journey. Learning goals allow students to be participants in the journey, they know what their goal is. 

Success criteria are the things that the students need to do to be successful. Keep it simple. Success criteria, that are written in student language, allow them to be successful. The same language is used in the rubric.

I also included a variety of writing templates. I have found that allowing my students to choose the template they on which they will write allows them to become more motivated to write. Some students at the beginning of first grade find it easier to write on unlined paper; others need more lines to write.

Learning to use conventions is important for beginning writers, but adding details are as well. I post the 5W's posters in my classroom for students to use. The pictures in each of the posters are used throughout all of my units (i.e. Retell, Narrative, and Letter Writing)

I placed each of the success criteria on to arrows, including the clip art. The arrows can be used for so many different purposes. I introduce the arrows as a way to deconstruct and model my own writing. 

I then let the students peer assess their partners work using the arrows. If they have arrows left over it is obvious that they have forgotten to include something.

I also use checklists and a double sided recount glove for students to assess their own work. I laminate one glove for each student. They store them in their writing folder. The students enjoy using a whiteboard marker to check off that they have all of the success criteria.

The Writing Rainbow is a perfect opportunity for students to create examplars as well as goals to improve their own writing. 

Each colour on the writing rainbow represents a goal that young writers need to work on, i.e. finger spaces, capital letters, and adding details. I use packing tape to tape the sides of a page protector leaving the top open. This way when I see a student who is using, for example finger spaces, I insert their page into the reading rainbow. This allows my exemplars to be more authentic to the students.

I conference with my students and together we come up with a goal for them to work on. They clip their names on to their goal and attach a goal card to their folders as a reminder of their goal.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a copy of this great unit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Continue on to "The Best for the Best, Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop" by clicking the picture below.

May the 4th Be With You

Devon from Teach with Fergy had the brilliant idea of having a "May the 4th Be With You Sale." So of course the amazing Amanda from The Primary Girl ran with it. Man that girl is organized. So here we go the May the 4th Sale starts now! My Top 4 products will be on sale, 20% to 30% off.  

 We are currently learning to tell time to the o'clock and the half hour, Ontario grade 1 curriculum. My students love this game. It is super easy to differentiate, pick which times your want your students to work on (:00, :30, :15, :45). Players put the analog clocks on the floor. One player is the caller. The caller calls out a number, the rest of the players race to find the correct clock first. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

Hunting for the correct clock.

Found it!

This is by far my favourite writing unit for my students. I have found that once we have worked through this unit that the quality of my students' writing has improved exponentially. Everything is included in this unit. Learning Goals, Success Criteria, posters, anchor charts, arrows for peer assessment, checklists for self assessment and all kinds of writing paper for different levels of writers.

Writing Rainbow: Goal Setting

Included in this set is a writing goal setting kit.We used page proctectors that we attached to the poster with clear packing tape. Leave the top of the page protector open so that you can put new examples in. Since writing in grade 1 and 2 changes so quickly throughout the year, we change the writing samples, so we are displaying a clearer example of what the students' writing should "look" like. I conference with each of my students and we come up with a goal together. 

Writing Rainbow for Goal Setting

They then clip their name to their goal on our large writing rainbow. 

We attach the same goal to their writing folder along with any words that the student has difficulty spelling.
If you like the writing folder covers click HERE for a free sample. Boy and girls covers are included.

Canadian First Grade Teachers: This is item is like finding pirate treasure! I absolutely love this unit! Meet Pirate Penny, Captian Nick L., Davey Dime, Carrie Quarter, Loonie Lou, and Toonie Bird. This merry band of pirates love money! This unit includes: posters, sorting placemats, worksheets, word problems, ideas for a class store and 8 money games that your students will beg to play. 

Pirate Slap It!

Pirate Flip and Cover

Pirate Bump

Even though we completed our money unit in January, my students still ask to play these games when they have free time math games. I am currently working on an American coin version of the unit.

Have your students played a bump game yet? My students absolutely adore bump. If they have a choice bump and slap it games would definitely tie.  In time bump, students read the digital time and then find the matching analog clock.

Six different game boards are included in this set.There is a game board for o'clock, half past, o'clock and half past together, quarter after, quarter to and quarter after and quarter to together.

To check out more TPT shops that are taking part in this sale, check the linkup below!

An InLinkz Link-up

 
Thanks for stopping by! Remember this is a one day only sale! Get it while you can. Click HERE or on the picture to go to my store.

Happy Shopping!