Writing...The Joy of it all!

Hello Everyone!
Do you ever wonder if you truly are teaching? Making a difference? Helping kids be the best they can be?? I am telling you when you really look at the progress kids make through their written expression, your answer will be clear! Don't doubt yourself!!
 Every student in our school district maintains a writing portfolio which is passed to each new grade level as students progress.  We take a writing sample three times a year. The samples go into the portfolio along with documentation on a writing continuum.  Last week I finally had a chance to show the kids the writing collected in their personal portfolios.  Of course, they only had writing from kindergarten and this year, but I wanted them to see what almost brought me to tears as I was putting folders together. Tears of JOY!!! The growth in writing is amazing to me!! They are learning!! They are taking in all of our little lessons and writing conference conversations!! 
When I asked the kids to open their portfolios,...you should have seen their faces! You should have heard the squeals of delight!! You should have seen them jumping up and down!!

They truly couldn't believe how much they have grown as writers!

End of Kindergarten to end of first grade growth!!

Today we counted up all the books we have published! Again! The smiles and cheers were crazy cool!!

In my class I have some wonderful moms who come in on Thursdays to help kids publish their drafts. Once in a while they will get them typed up, but the majority of work is simply printed on plain white paper and stapled together with a little cover.  Each kiddo was able to publish about 18 books this year. That makes a total of 396!!! 

 

I can't thank the moms enough for the incredible help this year!!  I know I couldn't have done it without them!! Yes!!  MoreTears of JOY!!!

 Here's my publishing note that I include with the tub of supplies.

You can get it HERE!! CLICK!!:)

On another note, I promised I would share a quick little end of year treat. Very simple, inexpensive, not too much color ink, but also thoughtful!! 

You can get it HERE!!! :)

Well, the excitement of our school day has calmed, it's time to put the wife and mother hat on and get dinner going.  Nothing too exciting!! Oh well, I love that I get to wear different hats!!

Till next time, thanks for stopping by for a peek!!  Stay tuned for some popsicle fun!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Book Baskets

Hello Everyone!
Happy Monday!  Just a very quick post today!  I've had a few e-mails about what my kids keep in their book baskets. First of all, we use our book baskets all day as we connect and integrate!  As soon as I define my kids' reading level, their book baskets (just from the dollar store) will have 5-6 books just under, right on and just above their independent reading level. We have an awesome leveled book area in our library, so I change those out once a week. From those books, the kids get to select whatever they want to take home to read for homework. These books are also used during our Daily 5 Read to Self and Read to Someone rotations.   Our Book Baskets also contain any mini books that the kids may have published.  By the end of the year they may have 12-15.  The kids looooove reading their own words!
Book Baskets also contain readers and writers thinking tools; A reading finger (just a rubber finger to help point to and focus on words and keep your place while reading), a pair of Word Watchers (just a cheap pair of glasses without the lenses), a Whispa Ma Phone (to listen to themselves read), a mini white board (just a mini cutting board from the dollar store), a bandana eraser, a whileboard marker,  a mini slinky (to stretch words),sticky notes and a pencil. 
the kids do a pretty good job of keeping up with all the thinking tools.  Some are labeled with numbers.
I do not give the kids all the tools at once. When I introduce stretching the words to hear all the sounds, I give them the slinky.  When I introduce using sticky notes while reading, I give them those. We practice using the reading fingers and Whispa Ma Phones so that they get all their fidgeting and exploring out of the way.

We keep our book baskets in our cubbies when not in use. 

Questions? Comments? Holler at me!! :)

Joyfully!

Nancy

Author Celebrations

Hello Everyone!
Publishing children's writing is such a validating experience for them!!  Celebrating those publications is just as exciting!!  Today we were able to celebrate the published works of many of our kiddos!  Our school has an in house publishing company.  The volunteer moms and dads put in hours and hours to help as many students as they can go from rough draft to hard cover bound books that become a part of our library. This year our hard working volunteers found a company to bind the books and offer extra copies for parents to purchase. The company studenttreasures.com did a wonderful job! Check them out!! Most of my class took advantage of this amazing opportunity and this morning we celebrated writing and reading!

These books and many more become a part of our school library until the author leaves the school.

We do a ton of publishing in the classroom as well. Along with the writing conferences, editing, revising and publishing that we do with certain pieces, I also have wonderful parent volunteers come in twice a week to help kids "quick publish" pieces from kiddos' draft books. My first graders write in their draft books every day, and it would not be feasible to formally publish every piece. They pick out their favs and our volunteers help fix up spelling and punctuation. The kids leave each quick session with a mini book and with a sense of authorship!
Here are a couple of pics and my printable note to volunteer publishers.

Writing in draft book

Draft Book Writing

Note for Publishing Volunteers

click here for a printable for volunteer publishers

Or click here! :)

Publishing Buckets

Published Minibooks

I love working on writing with kids!  I hope they all feel as though they can write anything they want!!

Keep writing along!!
Joyfully!
Nancy