I apologize for the long break that I took from posting - it has been a very busy month!! Since it has been so busy I have a lot to share with you, so buckle up.
We have been working on informational/informative/report writing for the past few weeks. Because the common core standards require us to "explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing", I have started a whole new method of teaching writing. Here's what our weekly routine looks like now:
Monday: Write a report about your weekend (this gives me time to get Monday stuff taken care of like copies, emails, checking homework, etc...)
Tuesday: Review the writing process (using the song/chant in the video below) and complete step 1 -Brainstorm. We use a planning page from Writing A-Z to jot down ideas and notes for a beginning sentence, three details, and a closing sentence).
Wednesday: Use planning page to write a journal. I model using my planning page first to write nice, detailed sentences that make sense and then give them about 20 minutes to work on doing their own while I walk around the room and give them feedback/suggestions.
Thursday: Revise. First I model checking my work and fixing mistakes, then I walk them through checking their own work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, handwriting, etc..., and finally they get to help a friend (of my choosing) edit their work and vice versa.
Friday: Type, print, illustrate, and publish. I created a class account on Google Drive with a folder for each student. It took a lot of practice, but they are all able to log in and create documents in their folders now. On Fridays I have them bring the journal that they wrote to the computer lab and work on typing it up. When they are finished I print and allow them to draw a picture before we "publish" their work by hanging it up in the classroom.
We went through this whole process for St. Patrick's Day except instead of drawing a picture we attached their reports to this I Caught a Leprechaun craft.
Since my last post we finished our second trimester and began Trimester 3. In the third trimester I always like to make some changes to get the kids extra ready for First Grade. I send home more difficult homework, assign a book report every Monday, and we take spelling tests once a week.
Book Reports
The reports are super simple - they write the author, illustrator, genre, and draw a picture of the beginning, middle, and end of the story. I assign them on Monday and they are due the following Monday. You can pick up a copy of the template that I use at my TPT store for just $1.00.
Spelling Tests
Now you may be thinking - why give spelling tests in Kindergarten when that is not part of the curriculum?!? Well, I started doing this last year and found that:a) The students love it! They feel very grown up when they get their first set of spelling words and I make sure they know that this is First Grade level stuff.
b) It helps to improve their writing so much!!! When they have these words memorized, they no longer need to look at the word wall and are able to focus on making the content of their writing better!
c) It helps them (AND their parents) to get into the habit of practicing spelling words which they will have to do for the next few years.
The way that I make it work is by starting verrrrryyyy sllllooowwwwlllllyyyy. I give them super easy words at the beginning and gradually increase the difficulty as we go. This year I have created five practice pages per week that I send home as homework & you can grab a copy of them for your class if you are interested. (These words are taken from my Kindergarten Rainbow Sight Words & can be used as sight word practice sheets instead if you prefer!)
The first packet is a freebie so you can try it out & the rest are only $1 each.
Enjoy!
