Friday the 13th Debate {Writing Lesson}

Writing teachers!

I love using debates to create stronger writers.

My hope is that all students (and teachers!) will find debates a great way to practice speaking their mind. By figuring out how to express opinions out loud, students will become better opinion and argument writers! (The amazing Lucy taught me all about it... she's seriously the writing God.)

Writing time should always be fun and manageable. Nobody enjoys taking a writing test, but being able to write “on demand” is a skill that serves a viable purpose. I firmly believe that a strong writing curriculum and systematic on demand writing environment will vastly improve student’s writing skills and writing enjoyment – and debates are a huge part of that!

In this lesson, you will find a lesson plan for you, materials to support your students and an article for your students to read. And it's FREE!

What Are Mentor Texts and How Can You Use Them?

Are you teaching writing with mentor texts to study and imitate writers? If not, be sure to read below - you're going to want to make sure you start ASAP because they make teaching writing so much more simple! And if you are using them - what would add to this list? Comment below!

The Raft

Scarecrow

More on Writing Conferences

Wondrous Words

Spring & Easter Freebies for Upper Elementary

This week I spent some time gathering up some fun and engaging freebies! My favorite time of the year is Spring! Outside the weather is beautiful, plants are blooming, and in the classroom - students are on point. They get into the groove, gain a lot of independence, and are just more fun to be around {typically}. How are you enjoying your Spring?

Check out these amazing freebies & grab one {or all} and have some fun! I LOVE how the Journal Prompts tie into last week's post on curing Writer's Block!

Earth Day Promises: A Writing Activity

Earth Day Report Card

Poetry & Figurative Language Posters

March Journal Jar

3 Ways to Destress Your Students in 5 Minutes or Less

Stress finds it's way into every classroom. But don't let it get to you! Here are some surefire ways to quickly de-stress that classroom!

Lead Your Class Through Yoga 

Yoga in My Classroom

How to Get Re-Energized About Teaching Writing Halfway Through the Year

It's January. It's cold. I don't know about you, but by now I'm usually over writing. Kiddos have run out of topics. I've run out of patience. And writing conferences just aren't running as smoothly as they used to.

But writing is important. And we want our little writers to see that and know that. And they can't see that and know that if you're sitting in the corner even more frustrated or unhappy than they are!

So how does one get re-energized about teaching writing? Follow one (or 2 or all) of the steps below to help you feel better about your writing time!

 >>My TpT Store<<

I hope these ideas can help you feel great about your time spent teaching writing! Don't be scared to spoil yourself - YOU DESERVE IT!

Constitution Day Lesson Plans

Did y'all know that Constitution Day is celebrated on Thursday?  THIS Thursday!? If you're like a lot of schools, you're held accountable for celebrating the day and teaching your kiddos about what it all means.  If you're like me {horrendous at History} this has you feeling like

Via

But have no fear... I taught myself {for your sake and my sake}... and then created a super easy mini unit for teachers like me!  Check it out below and grab it in my store before Thursday.  So you can actually use it on the appropriate day... or not... no judgement. 

>> Grab it here! <<

Classroom Economy - Checkbook Incentive Program

How many of you are stumped on classroom incentives?  I know I was forever.  Something that worked one year, wouldn't work the next.  My kiddos were just too different.  Like all classrooms, some were internally motivated.  Some were externally motivated.  Some worked really hard no matter what.  Others didn't work hard at all, for any reason.  That's just the way it is. 

Ideally I would LOVE to have a classroom where positive verbal reinforcement was enough.  And where I was good enough at it, that it worked and I didn't need another system.  But alas, I am not there yet.  I'll keep working on it though! 

But until then, I have come up with a system that I have used, altered, mastered, and come to love, y'all!  I am so excited to share it with you!  It's the Checkbook Incentive Program.   Check it out by clicking on the link!

Basically, students make their own checkbooks {everything they need is in the packet on TpT} and then get rewarded for good behavior and work, with checks from you.  Students keep their checks and their balance in their own checkbooks.  {LESS WORK FOR YOU, PTL!!!}  Then, they visit a "Banker" {which can be you or it can be a classroom job for your students- I recommend making it your students if they can be responsible and trustworthy} and "deposit" their checks in the bank.  For me, our bank is a binder with balance sheets.  Each student has their own balance sheet that looks an awful lot like this...

At the beginning of each year, I print my own checks and write on them.  I write different reasons I may pass out a check, like "Being a great listener", "Going above and beyond", or "Helping another classmate".  I then give all the checks different denominations.  I like to stick with $5-$15.00, but the price is completely up to you!  You can even make some checks crazy denominations, like $12.36 to force adding and subtracting different numbers.  Then, I laminate the checks and cut them out so they're ready to pass out at a moment's notice!  When I see a kiddo doing an exceptional job, I hand them a check and very specifically verbalize why they're receiving that check.  {That's an important part of this system!  Kiddos need to know what they did so well!}. 

At the beginning of the year we choose good times to balance our checkbooks, so that we don't have students balancing them during my math lesson!  So until it's the right time, students stick their check in their pocket or in their checkbook.  Then when they're able, they fill in their new check in their checkbook balance pages and find their new balance.  About once a week, students sign up to visit the banker and deposit their checks in our class bank.  {This is where laminated checks can be great because you can reuse them once they're turned in!}  Students keep track of their own balances in their checkbooks and just like a real checkbook- the correct balance is always the one at the bank. 

So what do students do with all this money?  What's the big deal?  Well, here's my favorite part!  When students go to the bank, they are also able to "purchase" an item by writing a check to me {they better fill it out correctly though!}.

The possibilities are completely endless and up to you, so this program can fit your own classroom! 

One thing I really love about this program is, twice a year we have a large auction where we ask families and local organizations to donate items for us to auction off to the students!  These auctions are a great way to discuss with students why it's important to save your money and it provides them with an incentive to work hard all year.  It's a win/win! 

Again, how you use this program is completely up to YOU and your class!  If you have any questions about this or any of my other products, feel free to e-mail me at Appleslices4th@gmail.com. 

And for the next 4 days, I will have all my products marked down 20% to celebrate Summer and that we have about one month left to enjoy!  Also, it's mine and my hubby's 1 month anniversary. :)   I know it's a small one but you've just gotta celebrate every little bit of life, right?  So enjoy!

Happy Friday, everyone!