Learning is fun!
Posted in nonfiction lesson, picture book lesson, and writing
In the fall, fifth graders had fun sharing their ‘expert knowledge’ on different topics by creating an alphabet book. Since I started taking guitar lessons on Zoom last July, I created a sample ‘book’ to use as a model and then also shared the book, Attack! Boss! Cheat Code! A Gamer’s Alphabet by Chris Barton. They had fun and we all learned so much!
Samples
Posted in poetry, remote learning, technology, and writing
Thanks to Kasey Bell for the Summer Magnetic Poetry template! Jackson Library remote learners loved it! Check out their poems!
Posted in remote learning, and writing
Thanks to Jimmy Fallon for this get-to-know-you remote learning lesson idea! Using only six words, fourth and fifth graders summarized their summer in the Jackson Library Google Classroom.
Inspiration:
Lesson:
+++Posted in fun events, grants, and writing
Who is the masked writer? Students send in their guesses via the Jackson Library Google Classroom. Thanks to @MedCityPlano and @PISDEF for library books to reinforce writing strategies! In the fall, I wrote a PISD Education Foundation Grant for library books to use as mentor writing texts. Then I taught a series of writing strategy lessons to grades 3-5 during their library time. There were certain targeted writing skills they had to achieve in each piece. I chose a few papers for children to read while wearing a mask. (videos) The other kids in the grade level guess as to who is behind the mask. Fun!
Some other Masked Writer Contestants:
Some mentor texts used:
Twister – Beard
Sergio’s Bike– Boelts
Up North at the Cabin – Chall
Night Driving – Coy
Strong to the Hoop – Coy
Goal! Javaherbin
My Best Friend – Rodman
Google Classroom Guesses
Posted in fifth grade, fourth grade, third grade, and writing
February of this year, we read Kobe Bryant’s Dear Basketball poem (we used MrsBlewettELA’s TPT Questions) and watched the Oscar-winning short animated movie. Then, third through fifth grades wrote a “love letter” to SOMETHING they love. Check out their awesome work! Then, watch our video and check out the three-pointers!
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MrsBlewettELA’s TPT Dear Basketball Poem and Questions
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Student Writing
This idea came from Mr. Bonner! Check out his site: Bonnerville!
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Harlem Globetrotters
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2020 Quotable Quotes, Assoc. Press
“We are all Lakers today.” — Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, in a remark to reporters after the death of Kobe Bryant, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 26
Posted in fourth grade, picture book lesson, Seesaw, and writing
In the library, fourth graders listened to the read aloud Strong to the Hoop by Coy, found the active verbs in a Seesaw activity I created, and wrote their own exciting introduction to a narrative. Several wrote about their recent aquarium field trip. Check it out!
Posted in character education, displays and deco, fifth grade, poetry, TTESS 1819, and writing
Last week in the Jackson Library, fifth graders researched famous African Americans. They synthesized research information into an acrostic poem highlighting important contributions of the person. Click through to see the people, A to Z!
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Posted in bilingual, fifth grade, picture book lesson, Seesaw, and writing
Today in the Jackson Library, fifth graders practiced using active voice during writing. First, we read Chall’s Up North at the Cabin. During the story, I pointed out the author’s use of active voice, personification, and imagery. I used Jeff Anderson’s Patterns of Power book, lesson 6.5. Then the kids used a Seesaw template I created to sort sentences from the story by active or passive voice. After that, I gave them dry erase boards and they wrote an active voice sentence about the school camping trip. As you can see, it rained during most of camp this year!
Jeff Anderson – Patterns of Power- 6.5 What Do Verbs Do? Finding Your Active Voice
“The sunshine sits in my lap…”
“The river spills over rocks and whispers to me…”
“The [boat’s] motor sputters softly, waiting…”
“The boat roars forward…”
“blood thumps through my head…”
“when frosted windows cloud the sun”
Puddles of ink stained the blank paper.
Little dots of paint sketch a beautiful dog.
I just ordered the bilingual edition of the book but it hasn’t shipped yet, so I talked to our bilingual team leader and we guessed at how to translate this lesson for the bilingual kids:
El libro fue liedo por Juan.
Juan lee el libro.
Posted in fourth grade, picture book lesson, reading skills, technology, and writing
Last week in the Jackson Library, fourth grade analyzed the actions, dialogue, and personalities of the characters in Helen Lester’s Me First! to pinpoint descriptive character traits of the main characters. They used a Seesaw bubble map I created and chose between Pinkerton the pig or the Sand Witch templates.
Me First!
Posted in fourth grade, holiday, technology, and writing
Last week in the Jackson Library, fourth graders proofread a letter from a turkey. They worked in pairs on a Seesaw template I created to find the errors. I threw in a few extra ‘mistakes’ to make sure they were thinking! It was a fun activity and helped me gauge which skills need more reinforcing in the future.
ANSWER KEY
