Monday Letters Return

Dear teachers, have you seen this fantastic freebie? With all the snow our East Coast has been collecting, it's worth checking out (and sending to your families!).

Dear writers, I finally, as in I've-been-working-on-it-since-October-and-it's-FINALLY-complete, finished my 6th grade Informative Writing Unit. This guy is packed to the gills with everything you could possibly need to teach about Informative and Expository Writing. Phew.

Dear football, I love you and am so sad to see the season coming to an end. But given that I have lived in Colorado (and was a band wagon Bronco's fan during my time there) and now live in North Carolina, I am ecstatic to watch this match up. #BroncoNation #KeepPounding #SoConfused

Dear February, I know it's still January but I am all about February and Valentine's. I'm not talking about Valentine's Day. (I'm more about my Galentine's anyways...) But it's really all about the cards. Making them (or buying!) and sharing them with those you care about or need some love. I'm drooling all over this, this, and THIS. 

What Should Writing Conferences Look Like in the Classroom?

Are you a Writing Conference master? Writing Conferences are something most teachers squeeeeze into their day. And when they're squeezed in, they begin to look weak. But did you realize we're doing a huge injustice to our students by not being prepared? Check out my quick tips for making sure you have Writing Conferences nailed!

 Challenging, I know! But if you let yourself mingle with students for 15+ minutes, you'll never be able to meet with everyone. It's a fine line you need to walk between quality & quantity.

If you discuss these 3 things every time, you should have a strong grasp of what your writers are working on at all times. Make sure the majority of your time is spent discussing the student's writing goal and how they plan to achieve it. (This is where I love to pull from the masters, like  Cynthia Rylant and utilize mentor texts).

Grab Free Writing Conference Forms Here!

 They're free and pretty - what more could you ask for? For personalized Conference Forms with the CCSS standards included, be sure to purchase one of my writing units!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway! AND check out the FAB Miss L's Blog for some seriously amazing tips for breaking up those November blues!








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Back to School!

Y'all.  Do you hear the pitter patter of feet heading your way?  Those new shoes and fresh clothes are ready for you!  It's that time of year!  Can you believe it?  Even though I'm not going to be in a classroom this year, I can't help getting butterflies thinking about the beginning of the year.

Welcome and thanks for joining our blog hop!!  There are beauties, freebies, and so much MORE below.  Check it out and continue on the hop!  There's something for everybody and you can win $45 from ::my store::!! :) >>Keep Reading!!<<

Every Sunday I share an iPhone wallpaper for inspiration.  Grab this week's for free and be sure to >>follow me<< so you can have the prettiest phone each week!

Click this beauty and save it as your iPhone wallpaper!

I know that b2s is HARD.  For so many reasons- eating healthy, working out, taking care of family and friend relationships, and oh yea, WORKING again.  Well, my goal is to make one of those at least a little easier.  How about a B2s menu guide?  That's right!!  Introducing my newest product (hot off the presses!) a meal planner for you and your family.  There will be one available for each month of the year eventually.  Included are 6 recipes/week (cuz ain't no one got time for 7 meals/week!), seasonal ingredients, a slowcooker recipe each week, a YUMMY vegetarian recipe each week, grocery lists (pre-filled and left blank) and SO. MUCH. MORE.  Did I mention it's all inexpensive too?  And because I love y'all, a sample week (for the month of August) is provided fo' free, below!!  Download it, print it off, use it, save yourself valuable time, share it, tell your friends, enjoy cooking, and take pictures with the hashtag, #mealswithappleslices!

Now, I don't know about you- but first days of school can be monotonous, boring, and more of those synonyms.  BUT writing is always fun. (I'm a writing nerd for reallsies)  And it's a superb way to start the year.  Let's be honest, who is not obsessed with hashtags?  #theyrefun #andsilly #andaddsomuchpersonalitytoyourcaptions So why wouldn't your kiddos love some hashtag action?  Download this B2S {FREE} #hashtag activity to show your students that you love writing, love them, and want to have a fun year together in your classroom!

Now, what's B2S without savings?  Are you one of the lucky ones enjoying tax free weekend right now?  If you are- get out there and shop!!  If not, you can find savings in my store for today and today ONLY!  Grab anything for 20% off!

Be sure to enter our Rafflecopter, below, so you can win some fab prizes!!  Seriously, y'all!!  There are SO many prizes!! >>EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!<<


I'm not the only one on this hop!  Hop along to the next blog and get excited about heading Back to School!  Cheers, friends :)



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Teach Students to Share Evidence! CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.9

Sharing evidence is HARD.  Students consistently struggle with this in testing, writing responses, or sharing their opinion.  And unfortunately, I get it!  They don't yet grasp the concept of figuring out HOW they know something and then putting it in their response.  But today I want to share a couple tricks to help you get students to share their evidence! Be sure to check out my Pinterest Board for a whole slew of information. 

Before you can do anything, your kiddos need to be readers.  You don't want them reading like we grew up reading.  I know I was taught to find the answer and regurgitate it.  Thinking was never necessary.  Nowadays, I want to teach readers who think critically about what's in front of them.  So numero uno, it's vital to discuss text with your readers!  Without this key component, they won't begin thinking about the text at all.   You can grab a cheat sheet >>HERE<<!

After you've talked a lot about texts, the best way to get students to really see evidence, is to grab a graphic organizer.  A simple graphic organizer like the one below will help get kiddos thinking.

 

After you've used a graphic organizer, learners should begin to get the hang of it.  As they do, a good reminder like this:

will help keep them on track! 

By digging in deep with smaller texts in the beginning, students will be able to start tackling larger and more complex texts.  It's all about scaffolding and modeling! 

What are your favorite tips?  I would love to hear them! 

4th Grade Writing Units

Is teaching writing getting you down?  I used to despise writing.  Like, Iwouldtotallyskipitjusttoavoidit.  Shhhhh.   But then I went and saw Lucy speak.  And got motivated.  I absolutely lovelovelove Lucy but dang is she wordy!  And I just never had enough time for her lessons (anyone else out there agree?).  So I took her fab ideas about writing and began creating my own writing unit that fit my maaaybe 50 minutes that I had scheduled for writing. 

Eventually, I began to love writing.  And lowandbehold, SO DID MY STUDENTS!  We had a classroom full of writers!!  And once they got better at writing, I saw them improving in all other areas.  Writing really does improve all subject areas for your kiddos. 

Since then, I've been building my 5th grade and 4th grade writing units because every student should love writing, and with these units (and a little teacher excitement) I can guarantee that your students will enjoy writing, ask to write more, and write in their free time.  Seriously.  I PROMISE. 

So with my Informative Writing Unit recently uploaded, stop by and grab it for 20% off!  Today and tomorrow only!  I know you'll love it!

Informative Writing in the 5th Grade Classroom

Y'all- my 5th Writing Unit is up and on sale!  As of yesterday.  It is the most extensive product I have created yet and I'm so excited for it.  It took me over three months to develop and I am just happy it is all ready for 5th grade teachers to enjoy :)

 

If you're curious about what's included- don't you worry.  It has EVERYTHING you could possibly need to teach Informative Writing.

Lessons? Check!

Interactive notebook pages?  Check!

"How-To" PowerPoints that compliment the lessons?  Check!

Multiple examples of Informative Writing?  Check! 

Pages to track student data?  Check!

AND SO.MUCH.MORE!

I hope you're intrigued :)  Hop on over to my lil old store and check it out!