Literacy Journal Prompts {aligned to Common Core}

Need an easy and effective way to reinforce the Common Core ELA standards {reading, phonics, language arts, and writing}?!?! 

Check out my first set of literacy journal prompts! These are formatted exactly like my math journal prompts--->cut/paste prompts your sweeties glue into their literacy journals {spiral or composition book}! They can be used for morning work,  mini-lessons, a literacy center/station, homework, formative assessments, etc.!!! So many possibilities!! Can't wait to post the next set soon!!

Click {HERE} to grab your copy!!

Christmas in July Sale Extended!!!!

Hey Sweet Friends!!! TpT did some maintenance to make the site even better today, but it took them longer than they anticipated!! I'm happy to report that everything seems to be running smoothly now & that the Christmas in July sale is extended through tomorrow!!! Go check out all of the seasonal items in my store that are all 20% off right now!!!

XOXO

It's Christmas in July!!!!

When it is hot and humid outside, sometimes you have to think cold!

So here is the deal:  Seasonal items have been placed on sale for JUST ONE DAY!  Grab some Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter fun!

A huge thank you to Babbling Abby for making this adorable picture!

Babbling Abby	Michelle Oakes	Erica Bohrer	Cara Carroll
Anna Brantley	Amanda Nickerson	Kim Adsit	Deanna Jump
The Teacher Wife	Kathleen Pedersen	Deedee Wills	Rachelle Smith
Natalie Crockett	Amy Lemons	Hope King	Cheryl Saoud
Sarah Cooley

InLinkz.com

NOTE:  Teachers Pay Teachers will be off line on Wednesday until 9am, so sadly there will be no earlier birds...

Do you want to participate?  Quickly link up over at Blog Hoppin and let everyone know!

  

Daily 5- Chapters 4-6

Whew!!! I'm playing a game of catch up today with our Daily 5 book study!! I decided to just make one post for chapters 4, 5, and 6! There's a TON of information in these chapters!!! Ready, set, go....


Chapter 4- Read to Self

Book boxes are soooooo important to use when implementing read to self. Each child has their very own box of "just right" books! What a fabulous way to instantly differentiate your literacy block! I can see how managing them could be a challenge in the beginning, but my goal would be for my students to take charge over it! I've ordered the plastic magazine file folders below for my book boxes!!! Cute & colorful, plus they will last a long time...*I hope*!!!

Chapter 3 gave such an amazing overview of  how to start your "read to self" routine with your sweeties! Being a complete newbie to the Daily 5, I'm going to completely follow their lesson plan ideas and suggestions!! I love the 3 ways to read lesson...How wonderful that the Daily 5 gives students an option to read the pictures! I know this will build confidence and eliminate stress for my students who struggle with reading words.   

 Chapter 5 - Read to Someone 

I would have loved the opportunity to read to someone when I was a little first grader! All of my life, I have enjoyed being able to share and reflect on books with others. I know this Daily 5 choice will be very popular one in my class! My focus at the beginning of the year will be modeling correct behaviors {EEK, voice, check, etc.}. Chapter 6 gives amazing lesson ideas for teaching your students what Reading to Someone is all about! I'm excited to watch my students experience reading to a partner in a variety of ways & the growing readers they'll become because of it!!

Chapter 6- Write to Self

  “You don’t learn to write by going through a series of preset writing exercises. You learn to write by grappling with a real subject that truly matters to you.” ~ Ralph Fletcher

Ahhhh, Ralph knows what he is talking about! 

I love giving my students choices when they are writing! When you give students a purpose for writing, they are inspired, motivated, and engaged in their work! 

Again, I'm in awe of every single lesson the sisters provided in this chapter! WOW!!! The majority of my students get a major case of writer's block when they can't spell a word! I have never made "what to do when you can't spell a word" my first writer's workshop lesson, but can see in every way why it should be!! Seriously, why didn't I think of that? 

Word work is already a big part of my literacy block!! YAY!! Something that isn't brand new!!! I have a making words pocket chart center where students make words out of words, as well as a word working shelf full of different manipulatives-stamps, letter tiles, letter magnets, letter beads, etc...Most of my literacy centers provide my kiddos with other activities for working with words, too!

Here's a packet I have on TpT packed with 25 Making Words activities! I've gotten a lot of feedback from buyers about how they enjoy using it for Daily 5 word work!!! 
 
I also made the printables below to use when introducing my loves to read to self, read to someone, and writing to self! 

 
Graphics {borders} from Scrappin' Doodles 
Fonts from Kevin & Amanda and Lettering Delights
 
They are pretty plain, but I really wanted the students' illustrations & writing to make them cutesy!!! You can get them all *here*!
  
Make sure to link up over at Lory's blog to share what you thought about these chapters!!! Thanks so much for joining our book study!! I've had so much fun reading all the different experiences, ideas, and thoughts! Y'all are a HUGE source of inspiration to me!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!!! I'm going to be enjoying the last 7 days of my summer before pre-planning begins!!! Most of it will be spent in my classroom getting ready for my new crew!!! haha