Revising and Editing! Another Redo!

Hello Everyone!

Another of the more popular blog posts I've done is the one from quite a while ago on "How's My Writing?" Again, I would not be doing my job as an educator if I did not continually upgrade my lessons.  As I work more and more with our youngest writers, maintaining a safe environment for them to work is paramount. Revising and editing is the hardest part of teaching writing. It is our job to be encouragers of our young writers’ work. Our students have worked so hard just to get their ideas on paper and then they are asked to revise? “But it sounds good the way it is!” “Yes, that’s what I wanted to say.”  “I checked everything, and I didn’t see anything to fix.”  You have heard it.  It is my experience in working with hundreds of first-grade writers that adults should maintain certain beliefs about revising and editing.

*I am a firm believer in providing examples of modeling every part of the revising process and setting specific goals for specific kids. Kids should see us write, revise and edit.  Expecting all revisions and editing to take place for every kid on every piece can be overwhelming for both the teacher and the student!  I recommend introducing one revision or editing tool at a time and growing from there.

*I also believe that during the revising and editing process, staying positive is key.  Looking for the “great” things and building on those.

*In addition, I believe that writing partners play an enormous role in the revising and editing process. Utilizing the partner can be an absolute win…win…for both writers!! And sometimes, a young writer will take advice from a peer rather than an adult!! J

*Lastly, being respectful of young writers’ work is something I can not stress enough.  Providing a comfortable, safe learning environment where all effort is appreciated and at the same time encouraging the challenge and risk to rework will result in kids who love to write!

So, I have upgraded my editing unit to include revising.  Here's what you'll see in the unit!

If you think you might be able to use even a small part of this unit, you can download a free copy of it.

CLICK HERE!! :)

Thanks for stopping by for a peek into our world!  It is certainly a window of wonder!!  

Until next time, don't forget to find the joy in each and every kid each and every day!!

:) Nancy

 Don't forget to leave a comment!  

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Spider Writing

 Hello Everyone!!!

Writer's Workshop is in full swing! We have worked hard on composing with pictures, collected ideas, increased our focus to small moments,worked with writing partners , and are now trying to make our stories come to life.  Lucy Calkins,  in her Writing Units of Study, describes the next steps as writing in “Itsy Bitsy Steps.”  Jennifer Serravallo,  in her Writing Strategies Book,  discusses organizing in sequence.  Working on helping kids unfold their stories in steps is a something that takes more than one mini lesson.  It will take mentor texts,  modeling, re-organizing, revising, and a little element of manipulative fun.  I like to start off by sharing one of my favorite  books, One Day by Rebecca Dotlich. You have to get this book!  It shows kids how important it is to include all the parts of a small moment.   We then talk about spiders and how they build their webs step by step. I like to use Eric Carle’s The  Very Busy Spider!  Every page shows the spider making each part of her web. Then I get busy and begin  modeling a piece which includes step by step organization.  To add some fun and interest to the skill I use little spider rings  to indicate each step.

The kids get ready to tell their small moment stories bit by bit. 

I give each kiddo a small spider eraser to help remind them to write like a spider!  This whole lesson takes a few days, and many hours of trying.  But by adding the right fun elements, kids will embrace this important skill!!  Happy Writing!!

Readily available on Amazon

From One Day by Rebecca Dotlich

From One Day

Eric Carle's The Busy Spider

Model the skill

Fun kid reminders to Spider Write!
Spider rings and erasers are readily available this time of year.  found these at Target.

To get your free downloadable mini unit, take the step! CLICK HERE!!!

I hope you give this a try!  It has already made a difference in my kiddos' writing!!! Anything to motivate them, right??? 

That's it for today!  Have a great week! And Happy Writing!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

firstgradewow@gmail.com

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AARGH you ready for a new school year? Pirate Unit and Updated Writer's Workshop,

 Hello Everyone!!!
How's summer going for you? Mine has been busy with cleaning closets, writing, reading, and ... wait for it...Family time!!!! Finally!!! Hooray for having the opportunity to see both my boys this summer! And at the beach!!! What???? All my favorite things are in this picture! I am one happy and blessed momma! 
Being their first teacher, I am so happy to see them growing in positive influence and grace. They are truly my greatest treasure! 


And speaking of treasures, I have some to share with you today.  Our team is going to enjoy a pirate theme this year in first grade. By theme, I mean we will have pirate stuff in the hallways, decorating our binders, our incentives, our class shirts, brag tags, etc. I don't change up my whole "western" themed classroom, rather add some fun whimsy to go along with our theme.  We will make connections wherever we can. I created a little unit which will help guide our theme and give us some fun interactive "get to know you" activities for the beginning of the year. Here are a few pics from the unit!

I am very excited about this unit and I think the kids are going to love it!!!

If you are struggling with how you want to open your year with your littles, simply click the link below! AAAARGH! It's over 110 pages! 

CLICK HEEEEERE!

I also had some time this summer to enjoy some book studies.  One of my new favorite books for teaching writing is The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo.  She includes a very comprehensive guide to working on writing with elementary kids.  She embraces Lucy Calkins and adds her own spin on some of Lucy's lessons.  I have gleaned so much from her book, I had to

update my writer's workshop unit.   Here are some quick pics.

For your updated version of my Writer's Workshop unit, Just Click HERE for the link.

It's over 100 pages now!!  Free for you! :)

I can't wait to set up Workshop with my new firsties!!! Thank you Jennifer Serravallo! You are a treasure!

I'll be back soon to share some more treasures! Thank you for your continued support of this little blog.  I consider it and you another treasure in my life. Please stop by again as you continue on your  journey. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or email.

firstgradewow@gmail.com

Now, off to get ready for our team meeting tomorrow!! Can't wait to get together!!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

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Expository Writing and a Little Pigeon

Hello Everyone!!!
Thank you so much for all the sweet messages concerning our sweet little Lola.  You all are the best!
We all continue to grow stronger. Continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated!
In class we have been so busy writing expository text during workshop. We started our unit with writing about what we know best...ourselves. My little writers had so much fun brainstorming, organizing their thoughts, editing, rewriting, and finally publishing!

From there we went on to "How To..." writing. We started that off with  Oreo eating  fun. How do you eat your OREO? We brought these little ideas to publication as well.  Here are a few pics!

These little writers love sharing their work!!

Munch! Munch!!

Kids are experts at so many things!!!

For all the printable templates for Expository writing, 

CLICK HERE!!

For the templates used in our OREO books, CLICK HERE!!

Now on to some other First Grade Fun!  We are finishing up our measurement unit in math, and we are studying the work of Mo Willems, so I decided to integrate the two and have the kids create Pigeon and use him to practice nonstandard units of measurement. I did a kind of directed creating for the pigeon just giving the kids some sized construction paper and telling them what shapes needed to be cut from them. They all turned out so cute. Then they got busy measuring and writing results on speech bubbles!  I love how they turned out!!

Thanks for letting me share these!!! 

Stay tunes for another peek through our "Window on Wonder!"

See you soon!

Joyfully!

Nancy

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