Spelling The Best We Can & Moving On!

Over the last few days our writing workshop mini lessons have focused on stretching words out (saying them slowly) and hearing/recording the sounds. Today, we stretched words out and practiced spelling words with this strategy without worrying if we had every single sound. Our motto was: "Spelling the best we can & moving on!" In other words, don't get stuck . . . . keep writing! 

Each Writing Workshop Minilesson consists of six components: connection, teaching, active engagement, link, write and confer, and after the workshop share. The following are descriptors of our lesson today.

Connection - I reminded the kids that they've previously learned to draw the best they can and keep going. This applies to spelling as well. I modeled a time I was stuck but I said "I'll try" and did the best I could.  "Today I want to remind you that when we write words, we need to say: That may not be perfect yet, but I'll just spell the best I can and keep going."

Teaching - I demonstrated hesitating, trying to spell a hard word, and then continuing on to write more. I dictated to myself (while the kids watched and listened), moved quickly, stopped and thought on a hard word and then said out loud: "oh well, I'll leave it like that for now and keep going."

Active Engagement - I invited the kids to try it with me. We used markers and white boards right at circle. We admired our work and then kept moving.

Link - I encouraged the kids to use what they just learned in their own writing: "Do the best you can and keep going!"

After The Workshop Share - there are so many ways to share and celebrate our hard work. Today we went on a "museum walk" Everybody left their writing at their spot and we all walked around and admired it! When we saw evidence of stretching words out, spelling the best we can and moving on,  we stopped and gave it a thumbs up.

This approach to writing with students comes from the Writing Workshop model, adopted by our district this year. 

This lesson focuses on the following Common Core Standards:

K.W.3 Writing - use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.

K.L.2  Language, Conventions of Standard English

Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

3. Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes)

4. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships

Cider Making Challenge

Our topic of discussion today - the many uses of an apple! We explored an "Apple Grab Bag" and quickly discovered that people consume apples in many ways, some of which we never even thought of! Then, it was on to our "cider making challenge." This activity is a hands-on simulation of making cider complete with chopping, pressing, and finally tasting. :)

Curious George In The Book Corner

We have many books in our classroom library, but some of our favorites are the Curious George books. During Reading Workshop, Quiet Reading, and Free Choice time you will find us all around the room listening to our favorites as well as reading ourselves with the pictures.

August Orientation

Now that all the picture permission slips are in I can share pictures from our first day together way back in August. This was our chance to meet our new teachers, check out the classroom and explore the school. It was a great way to begin our year!

Hackett's Orchard Field Trip

It was a beautiful day for our Hackett's field trip!

Friday Free Choice

Classroom Community

We have been so hard at work learning the school rules and forming a kind, safe, responsible classroom community. Today we discussed what it looks like, sounds like and feels like when we are being kind to each other. Our discussion lead us to the topic of belonging, and how we can each do our part to not leave our friends out. We read some great books including "The Very Special Critter" and "Will I Have A Friend?" We drew pictures to illustrate our thoughts around belonging . . . . Here are some of our ideas . . . . 

"Belong in is playing together with pop-cubes."

"Belonging is throwing a party for your sister."

"It is me and . . . . Holding hands."

"We are sharing and using pop-cubes for minecraft."

"Me and . . . . sitting together at lunch."

"Me and . . . . jumping on a trampoline."

"Belonging feels likes a rainbow with raindrops around it."

"Belonging is friendly kids going to kindergarten."

"Belonging is two kids playing at school."

"Me playing carefully with my baby brother."

"Belonging is building a tower with . . . ."

"Belonging is like when one kitty gets lost and the other one found it and said 'you can go to my house.'"

"This is one friend telling another friend, 'Do you want to come play blocks with me?'"

"Belonging is holding hands."

"This is my family. Mommy is holding a ball for us to share."