Launching Literacy: Literature Circles

Wahoo! I finish another literacy pack! I have currently been working on getting all of my literacy circle activities together into one huge pack. This is one of my favorite things about teaching fourth grade. I love it because this activity helps my students become independent learners. They're exstatic to learn the roles they are responsible for completing. I enoy watching their groups develop as they take ownership of their discussions and in turn, grow as readers.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB MY PACK!

It is a generic pack that can easily be worked into many books. It contains everything you need to complete any literature circle unit. Included in this pack:
* Literacy Circle Contract
* Vocabulary Predictions (predictions using vocabulary)
* Mad Word Finder (find unique, unfamiliar words define and use in context)
* Crafty Artist (Draws a part of chapter & provides caption)
* Cool Connector (Text Connections)
* Dialogue Director (Group Facilitator, Implicit Questions)
* Passage Actor (Fluency)
* Bookmark Job reminders (helps students keep track of current jobs)
* Super Narrator (Summarizing/retelling)

Read on & Happy Blogging!

Let the Writing Begin: Engaging Beginnings!

For those of you who don't know, my school is departmentalized from 1st grade to 5th. My math partner is currently working on starting her blog, so as soon as she gets it up and running, I will link it to my blog.


My new freebie was a life saver last year. My students always struggle with engaging beginnings. I used this as an anchor chart. I printed it as poster size and gave each student a copy to place in their interactive notebooks. I referred to the chart numerous times throughout the school year. Each time they began a new piece of writing, I always encouraged them to try a different beginning. Also, I had the kids try various beginnings with the same story.

By the end of the year, my students were able to start their writing without me having to remind them to use an engaging beginning.

Click here to get this freebie from my TpT store.

The anchor chart page includes 4th grade standards.
The second page is the generic anchor chart.

Happy Blogging!

New School Year, Tons of Kids, Already Drowning!

I am three weeks into the school year, and I am already drowning! I honestly think the new class size "normal" is a little on the excessive side. I have 30 students in my inclusion homeroom, and since my team is departmentalized, my other class also has 30 students. When you add that up it equals 60 kids. I can't even keep up with spelling inventories and writing prompts. I know it is still early in the school year, but I am starting to worry about how I am going to keep everything organized, graded, and sane. I had a great two weeks, but got a real good taste of crowd control this past week. Is it even possible to start a workshop within a reasonable amount of time?

If anyone out there has any, ANY suggestions on how to survive this school year please please comment away!


On a brighter note, I am SUPER DUPER THRILLED about drama club auditions this week! My friend, Abby, over at Third Grade Book Worm and I are heading it all up with a few fabulous staff members and about 60 students.


Oh and for those of you who keep up with my TpT store, I have just finished up a HUGE Types of Sentences pack with leveled game/resources.






Happy Blogging!

P.S.

I give mad props to those of you who are able to keep up with your blogs throughout the school year!