Writers Workshop Anchor charts for Small Moments

Hello Everyone!
Wow!! I just have to say that a little bit of "sand in the toes" time does wonders for the mind, body, and spirit! It was a well needed time of decompression and rejuvenation as a family. We did it together and it was wonderful!! 

Now, time to get my teacher hat back on.  We will meet our new little learners on Thursday!! 

I'm sure many of you are starting soon...or maybe you've already started.  I know that as I start my 33rd year, I can say that I am excited about this year! 

Many of you use Lucy Calkins' Units of Study to help guide your writing lessons.  You know how much I love that whole series. We will be using the Grade 1 series this year and I can't wait. I wanted to use her little anchor chart ideas- but have them available in printable form for the classroom anchor charts and smaller ones for the kids' writing tools notebook. So, I came up with these. 

You do have to know that these go along with Lucy's lessons and will make more sense if you are using her books. ( I feel like a walking advertisement for her!!! :))

Anyway, if you would like a quick printable,

CLICK HERE!! :)

Let me know if this is something you can use. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back soon! 

Joyfully!

Nancy

Small Moment Stories and Minding your "Peas" and Q's!

Hello Everyone!
I know! I know! Two posts in two days???  What??? Well, I told you that I was digging deeper into Lucy Calkins Units of Study for first grade and her first resource Small Moments has once again inspired me to create something fun for my little writers.  Lucy suggests using the little book, Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements, as a mentor text for helping kids understand what a small moment story looks and sounds like. As soon as I saw that title, I knew I wanted to dig even deeper!  It is a great little book about a boy who turns into a monster when he has to eat a pea! (How perfect for our beginning of the year monster unit too! I already had the book lined up to read!)
Well, if you know me, I can't just read a book once and leave it alone.  I wanted to really inspire kids about small moment stories by comparing peapods and peas. I know, a little wacky, but the connections just scream out to kids!!  So I created a little intro to small moment stories using peas.  It is very similar to the unit I've posted in the past about using pumpkins and seeds.  I can't wait to try this with my littles this year.  It is my intention to start this after we've done all the brainstorming, heart mapping and setting up of our notebooks. 
Here are a few pics from the 15 page mini unit.

I can't wait to help kids understand that their little tiny moments from their lives can become wonder-filled stories!!

If you want to try it too, you can get it HERE!!!

Click!!

If you want to learn more about the resources Lucy Calkins put out, you have to look into getting her books!!!  Great investment!

I am getting more and more excited  about the new school year!!  

I hope you are too! Let me know if there's anything else you would like to see, or if there is a problem with anything you do see.  Until next time, look for the joy today!!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Writing Across Five Fingers

Hello Everyone!
Thank you so much for stopping by for a peek into our wonderful world.  First grade is such an amazing year of learning, growth, independence, stamina building, and soooooo much more.  Our writer's workshop is coming along so nicely.  My kids are loving storyboarding. We have published so many books already, and the kids are so engaged! First graders need as many tools as they can get to help them organize their thinking before writing.  Next week I will introduce a writing organizer developed by Lucy Calkins.  Lucy Calkins talks to young writers about making sure they have a beginning, middle, and end to their  small moment stories. She discusses how to use their own five fingers  as a graphic organizer to plan a story before they begin to write things down. I think there are many different ways to use this idea and tell a story across your fingers. You can use the who, what, where, when, and how template. Or you could use the who, what, when, what happened, and how you felt template.  Another way to think about the five fingers is introduction, beginning, middle , end, and how you felt template.  Remember that each of these five parts will need details added.  I have included several different mini posters and planning sheets in a little unit. You can use the one you want to emphasize or support your writer’s workshop.  Whichever template you use, kids need a lot of practice making sure they can tell their stories across their fingers.
Here are some pics of a little unit inspired by Lucy!

I like to use the template that emphasizes  the intro, beginning, middle, end, and how did you feel  components.  I illustrate that with stickers on my hand in the colors of a stoplight.

We have been working hard on the partnerships we are building as writers.  Our partners help us make our writing even better by asking questions.

I am so looking forward to giving my kids a new tool for their writing toolbox. 

You can get the 40 page unit if you simple click HERE!!

I hope this will help you and your kids work on your passion for writing! Let me know if you can use this or if you would like to see something a little different. (And as always, let me know if there are any typos!!) 

I am always up for learning something new that will help my little authors.

Have a great rest of the weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Joyfully!

Nancy