Mini Lessons using Morning Work booklets

Today I'm going to share with you how I use my morning work resource.

click here to view the complete bundle.

This is a 30-week series that will take you through the school year.  I usually start it with my students the day we come back after Labor Day.  By then, they are becoming familiar with the rules and routines of school and are ready to start focusing on the academic aspects.  I start off by making this the first thing we do together in the morning for the first few weeks so they get the idea of how to do the work.  It should only take about 10-15 minutes in the morning.  Once they have the idea of the routine of the morning work, I set it up for them to do independently when they arrive at school in the morning.  This is where the mini-lessons come in.

After doing the work independently, we check the work together.  I project it onto the SMARTBoard, and write in the correct answers.  The children check their own work, fixing errors as necessary.  I believe this is an important part of the process because if I correct their error, it will mean nothing to them.  But if they correct their own errors, it is more likely to be meaningful to them, and they will remember not to repeat their mistake the next time.  In theory...but that's a post for a different day.

As we correct the work, I choose one thing to spend a few extra minutes on. I try to choose a different area each day of the week.  So  Monday, I might choose to focus on capitalization at the beginning of a sentence, Tuesday the focus might be phonics, Wednesday the focus might be numbers from 1-120, Thursday the focus might be adding basic facts, and Friday, the focus is always on responding to a writing prompt.  On this day, I will write my own response to whatever the prompt of the day was, and we will discuss main idea, responding to the prompt, and as the year progresses, adding detail sentences and a conclusion. Following this procedure last year, I saw a great increase in the effectiveness of my students' writing ability.

Each mini-lesson gives me the opportunity to focus on a skill, and the skills gradually spiral up to the next level.  It is a great way to work more curriculum-based practice into our daily routine.  I spent some time looking at other morning work series out there, but none of them were quite what I wanted, so I designed my own.  Hopefully it will fit your needs, too.

You can try the first week for free.  Just click on the picture below and download it.

Thanks for checking in!  

The Great Guided Readers Giveaway!

Hey, friends, I'm back again with a great way for you to get age appropriate guiding reading materials in your hands for your emergent readers!  My friends over at Hameray Publishing (you know, of Mrs. Wishy-Washy fame) are giving away a set of high-interest  books perfect for small group instruction!  

Joy Cowley Early Birds Junior Set features Joy's "learning with laughter" writing style, made famous by the Mrs. Wishy-Washy books, in a totally new set of stories—new characters, new illustrators, and new fun ways to get your students excited about reading. Written at guided reading levels E–G, these books are perfect for welcoming your emergent readers back to school.
                                              

You can explore these titles and Hameray's other literacy materials here 

If you want to jump start your students' reading excitement, enter the giveaway by clicking on the picture below.

Click here to enter the giveaway of Joy Cowley Early Birds Guided Reading Complete Set 2

The giveaway will run from this Friday, August 26, 2016 until next Friday, September 2, 2016.  Good luck!!! 

Take Your Students on a Reading Journey!

It's #ThankfulThursday! and have I got a deal for you!  Take your students on a reading journey this year with my supplemental skills workbook series.  Here's a quick overview of my series.

For my deal today, I am putting both my 1st semester bundle on sale for 50% off!  The feedback on these resources is excellent.  Teachers love them for the time saving and student engaging aspects of them.  Kids love them because they are fun and just challenging enough to keep them moving forward in the reading curriculum.
                                      

You can go to www.shoppracticemakesperfect.org to find these and other great reading resources, or click on either cover above to go straight to that resource.

Be sure to search #ThankfulThursday on www.teacherspayteachers.com to see other great bundle deals!

The End of Summer

The days are getting imperceptibly shorter.  Nights are getting slightly cooler, enough that the air doesn't kick on at night, and I can sleep with my window open again. Through my open window, I hear the steady cacophony of sound that foretells the end of summer. The crickets are serenading me full force at night. It is a bittersweet time of the year.  Long, hot, lazy days spent at the poolside, floating on my special raft and having the LUXURY of reading for pleasure without falling asleep 2 pages into my reading, cookouts, fires, and camping days are coming to an end.  That makes me sad. And yet . . . there's a certain excitement.  My class list and schedule have arrived in the mail.  My thoughts turn to name tags and desk tags, and classroom decorations.  I'm starting to feel antsy to get back into the classroom, get it organized, meet the new group, and get this party started!

If you're feeling anxious to get the party started (or your party already started), then you will want to be sure to check out the last Oceans of Steals and Deals this week.  Here's a listing of what's coming up.

So it's Monday, and you know what they means?  #ManicMonday!  

I will be offering my fabulous back-to-school resource, All About Me, for only $1.00. Check out this video highlighting the resource and the ways I use it in my classroom during the first week of school to get to know my students better.

                                       

Click here to visit shoppracticemakesperfect.org 

For my second item, you can get these colorful Rainbow Theme room decor, 2D and 3D shapes posters.  They will mesh with most existing room decors, or buy the complete bundle and make your room bright and colorful!

Be sure to check back on Tuesday to see what my 2 for Tuesday deals will be.  I think you're going to like them!

Click on the pictures below to see the other great #ManicMonday deals being offered.

Have a great day!

An InLinkz Link-up