Doodles & Drawings {Writer's Workshop}

Our first unit in Writer's Workshop is drawing.

During this unit the students:

listen to/read many great mentor texts

study the choices that authors and illustrators make

strengthen their fine motor skills

learn about a variety of writing tools 

add labels, titles, and speech bubbles to their drawings

and practice drawing

lines

shapes

faces that show emotion

people

animals

vehicles

characters

I created a Doodles Drawings book for students to use during our mini-lessons. 

It has been AMAZING for ensuring that all students are learning the strategies that I am modeling during our mini-lesson. I can clearly see how each child is developing. I also think this will be a nice collection of writing/drawing for students to share with their parents at the end of our unit.

This week we focused on learning how to use writer's tools ...

 (pencil)

 (crayon)

(marker)

We also learned about different types of lines...

 and shapes.

After we work through the mini-lesson the children move to the workshop set-up and are free to select the paper, ideas, and techniques that they would like to use...

I still follow the open-ended writer's workshop format, but the Doodles and Drawing book is perfect for capturing those mini-lessons and having guided practice.

My students LOVE the Doodles and Drawings book. during free choice today I found one of my little cuties making her a Doodles and Drawing book to take home!!

Carolyn - I adore all of your doodles and can't wait to watch you grow as a writer this year! :)

Teacher Friends- If you would like use this with your students you can check it out below:

Student doodle books include pages for: 
drawing with different tools
drawing...
lines
shapes
faces
people
animals
vehicles
movement
speech bubbles
and
I can draw _____________ pages (when teaching how to draw specific things) 
drawing like illustrators we love
many ideas for mentor texts about drawing and art
and MORE!

sample pages...

Other ideas include using this in the writing center or for Daily 5 work on writing.

I {love!} my Growing Writers...

Wordless Wednesday (Why I Love Kindergarten)

Fun First Days

We are off to a great start!!

Here are some fun things that we have done during our first few days together.

Art Projects:

Reading:

Free Choice Time:

Writer's Workshop:

Lunch in the Cafeteria:

                                                       Skyping with Daniel:
                              

Games on the Smartboard:

Learning about important places in our school:

Playing at recess:

Welcome to Kindergarten!!

I am so lucky!! 

Here are the wonderful children that I will be spending my days with....

Make a digital slideshow

We are off to a wonderful start. 

I am looking forward to a fun year of learning!

LAST CHANCE to Enter!!! : )

Just a few more hours to enter to win this FUN book:

If you would still like to enter CLICK HERE to find the GIVEAWAY!

Good Luck!! :)

iPads in the Classroom

I may have the opportunity to have 5 new iPads in my classroom and I could not be more excited!

I believe having iPads in the classroom will:

*provide my young students the opportunity to gain 21st century skills

*increase student engagement

*allow me to create more lessons that are tailored to each child's individual needs

*be an additional way to implement the common core standards

*provide hands-on learning opportunities

*meet visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners' needs

*provide extra practice of specific skills

and so much more!

Here are some {GREAT!} iPad resources that I have found:

Common Core Aligned Apps

Symbaloo full of Math and Reading Apps!

 

     Kindergarten Apps

Search for apps based on multiple intelligences, theme or subject area, students' needs, etc.!

You can also search "common core" on iTunes for great apps that address these standards.

There are also many great resources on my Technology Tools link-up!

What other great iPad resources have you found?