Raining Cats & Dogs Writing

My fourth graders have been studying all types of figurative language this year. My students just love idioms!  During the year we completed many activities using idioms and I decided to take it to the next step and incorporate one in their writing.  My students had to use suspense and the idiom "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" in a narrative piece.  I gathered stuffed cats and dogs and pinned on an umbrella.  I took photos to add to their final writing piece.

A few of the books that we read:

Raining Cats and Dogs Download

My favorite photo!!! 

Here are a few completed pieces:

The student teacher across the hall was hanging up this bright and cheery adverb board and I had to take a picture to share…Sunny Skies and Rainbows are coming soon!!!  Great Job Meghan Foden!!!

Great Leads and Endings Posters

I have been missing in action for a while.  I have no excuses other than taking care of me for a change! My house is empty for the first time(both girls at college) and I have been getting healthy, both mentally and physically.  I thought I would have more time for blogging but that has taken a back seat.  I hope to get motivated and get back into this…I have missed it tremendously!!!

We are having a snow day and will be on vacation next week.  Just finished up parent conferences(last ones for the year) last night and feel a little relieved.  Today I opened up my computer and created two posters for writing narratives.  I hope you enjoy them!

Great Leads 

Extended Endings

Edward Tulane is Narcissistic!!!!

My favorite read aloud of the year is the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.   I look forward to reading it every year and I still cry at the sad parts.  I am currently reading it with my fourth graders but this year has been different.  After completing our unit on Greek myths,  my students have been comparing Edward to Narcissus…go Common Core!!!  We have been collecting evidence to show that he is narcissistic or vain.  (I still break out into Carly Simon every time I hear that word.)  I am reading this book with new eyes and so are my students.

A Change in Writing

Our district is making big changes in the way that we teach writing.  We are going back to a true workshop model based on Lucy Calkins.  Our system implemented the Common Core last year and has made writing a high priority.  

I found a great resource to support my writing lessons on Amazon.  (A recommendation from my friend Christine who is a third grade teacher.) They have specific grade level books for grades K through 6.

This book has lessons for setting up workshop, conference forms, rubrics, 30 lessons for the six traits of writing with printables, mentor text lists and MUCH More!!!!  You will not be disappointed.  

Visit Their Website

Here is a video on how to make multi-pocket folders for writing workshop.  I am going to do this for next year.  

Using Photos for Inferencing

I created a couple of sheets at the beginning of the year to teach inferencing.  I googled "Inference Photographs" and downloaded many images to my computer.  There are also many photos on Pinterest.  I ordered them as 4x6 prints to save on ink.  The children worked in small groups to make observations, list schema(background knowledge) and then list inferences.  They enjoyed picking out the photos.  

Vertical Sheet

Horizontal Sheet

Catching Up

I have been busy for the past month on many things, here are a few…

We practiced writing four types of sentences: Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative and Exclamatory.  Some of the children turned their characters into punctuation people.

 During writing workshop, we are teaching the students to "Narrow Down the Topic"

 The Literacy Coach created this one

We read several Greek myths and many versions.  I used a unit that I purchased on TPT from Nicole Shelby.  She has great resources for fourth grade.  The unit was perfect for teaching allusions, character traits, inferences, themes, etc.

My nest has been empty for the first time and 22 years.  I have been putting myself first and working on "ME."  I thought I would have more time to blog and create items for TPT…hopefully soon.  I have been getting FIT mentally and physically.

Don't Say...Using Synonyms

One of my Target Skills  this week was teaching synonyms.  I read one of my favorite books and had them listen for synoyms for the word "big".  The book "The Bunyans" by Audrey Wood is loaded with some great vocabulary.  The children wrote them down as I read the story.  We discussed how synonyms can be more specific.  At the end of the lesson, I had them put a checkmark next to a "boring" word and circle one that they would like to use in their writing.

Don't Say Sheet- Free from Scholastic