Creating Writing with Meaning

It's 10:45 in room 148. I announce it's time to clean up from spelling and take out Writer's Workshop folders. I've learned 2nd graders have two reactions to this:
1. Their eyes light up and they search frantically for their pencil to get started.
2. Groaning, asking to go to the bathroom, their pencil isn't sharp enough, anything that can delay them from starting to write.

I've found the former is much less common than the later. It's true, writing can be a daunting task for a 2nd grader. Not only do they have to try to spell words, make capitals and remember punctuation marks, but they also have to THINK of what to write! No wonder they are overwhelmed when we expect them to write a story with 3 paragraphs. But the thing is, they can do it. And it's easier to do it when they are writing about something they are excited about.

We have spent the beginning of the year looking at real authors who have written stories based on events in their life. As students were generating their own ideas we read many mentor texts from authors such as Patricia Polacco and Tomie dePaola. We kept track of meaningful topics that real writers write about on an anchor chart. I snapped a picture of it...

Happy writing!

First Friday in February Freebies (Say that 10x fast!)

Here are three of my most recently loved freebies! Two I've found and one I created :) Click on the pictures or link to get it for yourself!

1. How to Paraphrase Anchor Chart

First, here is my latest freebie! We will be beginning our nonfiction writing unit on wild animals at the end of the month. I use this with my 2nd graders to help them write facts in their own words. I always tell them I don't need to see how a professional author would write it, I need to see how YOU would write it!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Paraphrase-Anchor-Chart-1092158

2. Schedule Cards by Cara Carroll

I get the feeling these are pretty popular (as they should be) but in case you haven't seen them here are a FEW of the huge 45 page pack of schedule cards created by Cara Carroll. LOVE. Her. Work.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Schedule-Cards-The-First-Grade-Parade-298601

3. Picture Direction Cards by A Cupcake for the Teacher

I no longer hear "Mrs. Lewis, do I cut it out first?"!! Ok, maybe occasionally, but then I just point to the board. I have the cards on magnets on my whiteboard and keep the ones we aren't using in a magnetic pocket ($1 at Dollar Tree!) Shout out to A Cupcake for the Teacher. *Adorbs*
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/picture-directions-free-printables-257438

Breaking down the CCSS narrative writing standard... one anchor chart at a time!

Here's a quick peek at my writing bulletin board! (Well, part of it.) I created a set of anchor charts aligned to the CCSS for grades K-3 in kiddo-friendly language. Although there is only one 2nd grade narrative writing standard for Common Core, it is jam packed! Each component of the standard is truly it's own mini-unit.
Last week I taught several lessons about focusing on a topic. Next week we'll be tackling transitions. I'll let you know how that goes, but for now here are my anchor charts! You can get them on my Tpt store by clicking either pic or the link below.

My anchor chart bundle on Tpt actually includes 11 anchor charts as well as the "Good Writers" lettering and cute writing kiddos (thanks Scrappin' Doodles!) for dressing up your bulletin board. (I only have up the things we've learned about so far.)
The anchor charts include focus, details, transitions, sequence, closure, dialogue, personal narrative, characters, setting, problem and resolution.

Click either pic above or the link below to check them out.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Good-Writers-CCSS-Narrative-Writing-Anchor-Charts-933904