Writing workshop in kindergarten, first, and second grade can be HARD. There’s no denying that. Our young learners want to communicate and tell stories, but they need a lot of guidance getting their ideas on paper. If you are headed into a new year of school and looking for some new tips or guidance, I […]

Setting up Writers Workshop in first grade can be a little tricky. You have students who aren’t reading. You may have some who don’t yet recognize all their letters. So how are they supposed to sit and write for an extended period of time?! In my classroom, I spent the first few weeks easing my […]

Writing personal narratives is one of the first writing genres we learn in first grade! My students are usually successful in this writing venture because they get to write all about themselves. How were they feeling? What happened to them? Who was there? These are all things my students can answer and my job is to […]

As every new school year approaches, I begin to get my mind ready for a new year of students. This always includes thinking of my classroom management approach. I like to try new things each year because each group of students is entirely unique and has a different set of needs than the classroom before.

Diphthongs! What in the world is a diphthong!? I remember very clearly asking myself that question in my Foundations of Literacy class in college. Diphthongs can be tricky to read since the letters shown in these words don’t make their usual sounds – the sound is an entirely new one that isn’t necessarily represented at all in the word.

At the end of the year we always created a memory book of some sort. I love to reminisce with my students. 180 days together is no joke and should be celebrated before they head off to their next teacher! Instead of just filling in a memory book on the last week of school, I […]

Writing in the primary grades can be a bit scary at times! Many of my first grade students are just learning to read and simultaneously I would like them to write a 3 page personal narrative with an opening, three details and a catchy closing. It isn’t always easy, but writer’s workshop is one of my favorite things to teach in first grade because the difference made in a year is remarkable.