Teachers Pay Teachers!

I feel like I am stepping up in the world. I created a TpT account!!! I uploaded a project I am going to do with my kids after we finish our Pennsylvania unit. As we have been learning about PA history, government, and the regions, my kiddos have been taking notes to create an ABC book. I made an ABC book template for them to create their final products and uploaded it to TpT for free! :)
Click here and tell me what you think!

VISUALIZING

This year we began talking about visualizing with our students. There are some amazing books out there which are great for this strategy.
One is Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsberg, however our kids read this in 3rd grade, so I was looking for something else.
Helen Ketteman writes some hilariously funny stories, and visualizing them is equally as enjoyable.
I introduced the strategy by reading Luck With Potatoes aloud. I didn't show the students the cover or any of the pictures. While I was reading, they closed their eyes in order to "make a movie in their head". After every few pages I had them turn and talk to a neighbor about what they were picturing.  I also had them draw a scene from the story. The language the author uses really helped them to picture the small details about the story events.

Students then got the opportunity to practice visualizing with another story by Ketteman, Heat Wave. Instead of reading the book to them, I typed the book out and gave them each a page, picture free (Click here for the Google Doc). Students then took turns to read their pages to the class, and then illustrated each. We were then able to make a class book with their visualizations.

It was so neat to have the kiddos make their own book. After having it displayed for the duration of our lesson, I hole punched the pages and put them into a 3 clasp folder to make a "Class Book". And voila. The best part is, the kids love to read and reread the story because the art came from them.

What Is Figurative Language?

If your state takes some dreaded standardized test, then like me, you're trying to make sure your students know everything they can. Meaning, you try to stuff as much information into them as possible and their heads start feeling like an overstuffed chair.
Anyway, a few months back I introduced 4 types of figurative language: Alliteration, Similes, Personification, and Metaphors.
I decided to work on one type each day. So, I had the kids make a figurative language booklet using a large piece of construction paper. They folded it into four sections, one for each type.
Here is a picture of my example:

 

For each section, we begin by defining the type of figurative language. Then, I add a sentence that shows an example and the kids can illustrate. Below you can find my (insert sarcasm) amazing illustrations I created on the board as an example. Then, because I LOVE picture books, I tried to find one to go with each type. Here are some I like: 

Alliteration: 

Dr. Seuss' ABCs

If You Were Alliteration

Simile:

Crazy Like a Fox

Skin Like Milk, Hair Like Silk (Also does introduces metaphors)

Metaphor:

You're Toast, and Other Metaphors We Adore 

There's a Frog in My Throat

Personification: 

I'm Dirty
Sweet Tooth

Ok, here is it...my amazing artwork. Yep, amazing.

The kids made fun of my gazelle. I guess it does look more like it's doing a leg kick than jumping. Hi yah? (emphatic karate noise)

Anyway... after reading a picture book and talking about how we can identify the figuative language, I do a hands on activity. A collegue of my took a brain-based learning course, at which she learned that students learn better when they can create something with their learning.
So, here are some things I did with my kiddos.

Alliteration:
Since we began learning about figurative language in the winter, and I wanted some cute decorations, I decided to have the students make alliterative snowflakes using their names. I used the heading "No Two Are Alike", since both people and snowflakes are all said to be unique. I think they turned out really cute! Example: "Brody blew blissful bubbles around the barn"

 

Simile: 

For the simile I gave each student a wanted poster, Then, they had to think of a "criminal" with a distinctive feature to create on a poster. Mine was, "A teacher as tall as a giraffe". Then they colored them and cut them out. It made a great hall display.

The template I found was from Mailbox Magazine. Click here for a copy in Google Docs.

Metaphor and Personification: 

I think these are harder for 4th graders to brainstorm on their own. Because of that, I printed out metaphors and personification and cut them into strips. Then, each student got one to illustrate. They glued their sentence onto a white piece of computer paper and illustrated it. Then, I made them into a class book using a three clasp folder.

Click here for a Google Doc of Metaphor examples. 

Click here for a Google Doc of Personification examples.

Happy creative writing!!

Amazing :)

I love finding great resources I can use in my classroom. Who wants to spend all day Saturday creating activities when someone else has already done it for you?

Have you checked out http://www.fcrr.org/. It has great reading resources for all grades. I can't wait to create some of them for my students to use.

You Rock

Ok, so I absoluted LOVE LOVE LOVE technology rocks. seriously. She makes some AMAZING posters that I've been using to spruce up my classroom with color.
We recently did a lesson about being a bucket filler. (If you have not read this book, it's a good one: Have You Filled A Bucket Today?)
Anyway, my co-teacher and I have been encouraging the kids to be bucket fillers. Well, thanks to these awesome signs, the kids have positive affirmations every day right on their lockers!

Writing Worries

I'm sure I'm not the only 4th grade teacher out there who struggles to get their students on board with revising their writing. My kiddos are so quick to tell me everything is perfect and they are finished. While they are not too bad at editing, it's the revising that gets us every time. "What do you mean you want me to change what I've written?"
So, I model, model, model. Then, I went to a writing conference and got this great idea about STAR revising. It is a great way to give students ideas about HOW and WHAT to revise. I created a document to put in their writing folders and shared it below.

How do other people help their students learn the wonderful art of revising?

Click HERE to access this document on google docs!

Poetry

I love teaching poetry with my students. It is such a fun way to get students thinking creatively! Every month I pick one type of poetry to teach my children. Then, I model a poem and have the students write their own. I went to my local IU and used their large Die Cut machines to make seasonal cut outs. The students use these cutouts to write their poem. Not only are the students learning, but they help me decorate my room! :)
Here is the form I am using to show the students Cinquain poetry.

Here is a link to access this document through google docs