Writing
4 ways to teach you're (sic) kids about grammar so they actually care: https://theconversation.com/4-ways-to-teach-youre-sic-kids-about-grammar-so-they-actually-care-144353
This article has great examples of how to use mentor texts when teaching writing skills.
7 Great Places to Make and find Story Starters: https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2019/11/7-great-places-to-make-and-find-story.html
The 100 Day Writing Challenge: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/the-100-day-writing-challenge/
"The 100 Day Writing Challenge is a free fiction writing course, by podcast. Each episode contains a 10 minute exercise, complete with timer, to help you build your writing muscles, train you indifferent styles, and develop your confidence."
A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman: www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/genre-study-letters
"In this lesson, The Jolly Postman is used as an authentic example to discuss letter writing as a genre."
Designed for grades 3-5.
Aphorisms Galore!: http://www.aphorismsgalore.com/home
Batter Up Spelling
First, take some sticky notes and stick a smaller sticky note on the back of each of them. Write a number on the smaller sticky note, such as 500, 100, 50, 25, or even 0. Attach these sticky notes, small sticky note side down, onto your black or whiteboard in random order. (Use your imagination with what you write on the small sticky notes, depending on the age and ability level of your class.) Divide your class into teams of varying numbers and prepare a chart you can keep score on...For example, several columns headed with Teams, Round , Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Total Score. Then, have one member of the team spell a word you call out. If it's right, he or she gets to go to the board and turn over the sticky note. His or her team receives the number of points written on the small sticky note. If it's wrong, pass the word on to the next team. Play continues until all the words are given out, the sticky notes are all used up, or whatever criteria you want to use to end the game. The winning team has the highest score. You can use this game in all subjects. You can also put several wild cards and zero cards on the sticky notes just to add interest.
Battleship Spelling
This game is done by drawing 36 squares on a 1/2 sheet of paper. Along the left side Label the boxes A-E. On the top row of horizontal squares label them 1-5. (Leave the square in the upper left hand corner empty.) Each child gets a piece of paper and they put in 20 to 25 spelling words in the empty boxes and put into pairs to play. The first player calls out, for example, B-5. His opponent says the spelling word. If there is one in the square, the first player spells the word and it is a hit, if not a miss. If the box is empty, it is a miss. The both players are winners because they are practicing spelling words, or the one who "sinks" the most words when the time is up.
COPS: use for any written assignment
Did they use Capital letters?
Is the Overall appearance neat?
Did they use correct Punctuation?
Are the words Spelled correctly?
Books set to music.
A You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
Baby Beluga by Raffi
The Cat Came Back by Bill Slavin
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Clifford We Love You by Norman Bridwell
Down By the Bay by Raffi
Down By the Station by Hillerbrand
Everything Grows by Raffi
Five Little Ducks by Raffi
Frog Went a Courtin' by John Langstaff
Give the Dog a Bone by Steven Kellogg
The Hokey Pokey by Laprise, Macak, and Baker
How Much is That Doggy by Trapan
I Know an Old Lady by Nadine Westcott
I'm a Little Teapot by Iza Tripani
I've Been Working on the Railroad by Nadine Westcott
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Tripani
The Lady With the Alligator Purse by Nadine Westcott
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen, Michael
Mary Had a Little Lamb by Iza Tripani
Mary Wore Her Red Dress by Merle Peek
My Favorite Things by Renee Graef
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? by Iza Tripani
Oh, a Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff
On Top of Spaghetti by Katherine Tillotson
One By One: Garth Pig's Rain Song by Mary Rayner
One Light, One Sun by Raffi
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone
Over the River and through the Wood by Lydia Child
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Westcott
Pizza Pokey by Jeffrey Stoodt
Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
Shoo Fly by Trapan
Skip to My Lou by Nadine Westcott
Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Jack Norworth
The Thirteen Days of Halloween by Carol Greene
The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Song Rebus Emily Bolam, illustrator
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Slimms Taback
Tingalayo by Raffi
Today is Monday by Eric Carle
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Iza Tripani
Wheels on the Bus by Raffi
What a Wonderful World by Bob Thiele
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson
Buzz Off
Children all stand behind their chairs. Give them a word and they take turns around the class spelling that word, one letter each. When it gets to the end of the word the next child says "Buzz" and then the following child says "Off!" The next child in line sits down. Continue going round and round the class until there is only one child left - the winner! Children also have to sit if they say an incorrect letter.
Connect the dots
Put 30 - 36 single dots on a sheet of paper, spaced about 1/4-1/2 inch apart. Make groups of 4 in your spelling class. Each group (one member at a time) is given a word, if that member spells it correctly they draw a line from one dot to another. As the game goes on, the other teams must spell words correctly to connect dots, and can gain "completed boxes" started by other teams. When a box is completed, the team puts their team number in the box. The team with the most completed boxes wins.
Daily Grammar: http://www.dailygrammar.com/
"Daily Grammar is a fun, convenient way to learn grammar. By simplifying complex grammar subjects, Daily Grammar is a great teaching tool for both public and home-schooled children, ESL students, and anyone needing to refresh English grammar skills. By practicing language rules, any person able to read will be able to master English."
Editorials
Have students study the editorial page of the newspapers--looking at elements common to letters that get published. Have then choose an issue and write/type a letter to the editor. Then send them.
Grammar Bytes!: http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm
"Grammar Instruction with Attitude"
grammar.englishpage.com: http://www.englishpage.com/index.html
Grammar Cheat Sheet for Bloggers: https://blogging.com/grammar-cheatsheet/
This blog explains how to use commonly misspelled words for anyone who writes.
Holiday Writing: A writing activity for the week before any holiday is for students to listen to and read stories from the popular Chicken Soup series. Explain to them that they are going to make their own books designed to be a holiday gift for a family member. The book is titled "Chicken Soup for the Holiday Soul," and the students make a cover just like the Chicken Soup books, a table of contents, and a dedication page. Stories that they might include are: Best Holiday Gift I Received, Best Holiday Gift I Ever Gave, Favorite Holiday Family Tradition, What the Holidays Mean to Me, and so on. Have the students include some fun poetry, like acrostics, and silly lists like Top 10 Best Things to Get in Your Holiday Stocking.
How Good Grammar Saves Lives and Other Reasons It's Still Important: www.wizcase.com/blog/how-good-grammar-saves-lives-and-other-reasons-its-still-important/
How to Write an Ode: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-an-ode-4146960
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/
Make Beliefs Comix: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
"Create Your Own Comix Strip" The characters offered at the web site are diverse and show a wide range of people with special needs, too. There is also a MakeBeliefsComix app for iPad users that can be downloaded at the iTunes store.
Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Purdue University: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
National Spelling Bee: http://spellingbee.com/
Paragraph writing - Have students write one paragraph: 5 sentences, S1 gives claim, S2,3,4 explain and S5 is a clincher. Many times these paragraphs are written on 3x5 cards. These are easy to grade and can be done quickly.
Paul Brians: http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/index.html
"Emeritus Professor of English, Washington State University"
Pizzaz (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling): http://pages.uoregon.edu/leslieob/pizzaz.html
Prewriting list making - In their writer's notebook have students divide a page into three columns. The first column is titled "Name/Noun". The second column is titled "Description/Adjectives" and the third column is titled "Anecdote". Begin with the first column and ask the students to name the members of their immediate family-- the people they live with, then extended family, then friends, pets, places they lived, favorite places etc....you'll run out of time before they run out of names. Give them 7 minutes for this. Then go to the second column and ask them to write description of what the people, places, things look like. Give them about 7 minutes. Then have them write a short anecdote for each one--something memorable.
When you are done tell them that this is an ongoing section and that if they have any additional time they can go back and work on it. Then have them choose a topic they'd like to discuss more, circle it and move on to another page. Have them prewrite only on that topic. Looping works best in this instance. That's where they write about the topic for 7 min then circle something they want to explore more and write about that for 7 min then circle another thing and write for another 7 minutes about that.
Scaffolding Writing for Language Learners: www.middleweb.com/45229/scaffolding-writing-for-language-learners/
Silhouettes - Students make silhouettes of their heads on black paper and then chose words, phrases, etc and put them into a poem that is about them. That is glued on the portrait with a Guess Who? at the end.
Spelling and Word Study: https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-topics/spelling-and-word-study
This is a series of videos. "Learn more about the English spelling system, how spelling supports reading, why children with dyslexia and dysgraphia struggle, which words should be taught, and word study intrutciont that works."
Spelling Football
Divide into two teams. Take turns giving each team a spelling word. A correct spelling advances the team on the football field. First team to reach the end zone scores. Use overhead to draw a football field and use overhead colored counters to move teams down the field.
Spelling Practice
1. Surround words - Write your words on graph paper and outline in colors.
2. 1234 Spelling - Count the vowels and consonants in each word. What do you notice?
3. Ransom words - Write your words by cutting out letters in a newspaper or magazine. Glue onto paper.
4. Pyramid words - Write your words adding or subtracting one letter at a time to form a pyramid shape.
5. A Song & Dance - Pretend you are a cheerleader, a dancer, a comedian, etc., and perform a 2 minute routine. It can be a ballet, a rap, knock-knock jokes, full of music and movement. No clowns allowed.
6. Feed the Glundersnedd (from poetry4kids.com - fantastic poetry) - (or an imaginary monster) - Decorate several spelling words as food. Draw a picture of the monster and the words he will eat. Write the reasons why the monster prefers the words. If the words are soap and little, you might say,
"My monster prefers bubbly slippery letters like s,o, and a, but he chokes on the p every time. He always eats little last because the l's and t's are like toothpicks to clean around his pointy teeth."
7. Spelling Families - Draw a spelling family of words. Draw their house with the words playing in the yard, looking out the window, working on the house. If one spelling word is batter, the spelling family could be words that end in -er, words that have double consonants, words that have two syllables,
words that have more than one meaning - batter up, cookie batter...
8. Dr. Seuss Was Here! - It's up to you how you imitate the dear doctor. You can make up a silly story rhyme with your words, or illustrate a page to go along with the rhyme. Surprise the class.
9. Highway Safety - Using dotted line paper, write the words into three groups: safe, unsafe, and dangerous drivers - those that dip below the line and above the dotted line. If your spelling words are our, are, tip and lip, which falls into the ditch or into the other lane? Which is more dangerous - lip or
tip? Why?
10. Pay for your Words - If the consonants cost a nickel and the vowels cost a dime, how much would you have to pay for your spelling words? Compare the most expensive with the least, etc. Make up money problems to solve. Tell your parent the strategy you could use to solve the problem.
11. Other Handed - If you are right-handed, write with your left, or vice versa. Look up vice versa.
12. Choo-Choo Words - Write the entire list end-to-end as one long word, using different colors of crayon or ink for different words. Be creative choosing the engine and the caboose words.
13. Silly String - With a long length of string, "write" words, using the string to shape the letters.
14. Back-writing - Using your finger, draw each letter on a partners' back, having the partner say the word when completed.
15. Telephone Words - Translate your words into numbers from a telephone keypad.
16. Flash-writing - In a darkened room, use a flashlight to draw letters in the air.
17. Newspaper Words - Search a newspaper page, circling each letter of a word as you find it.
18. 30 Second Words - Write a TV commercial using all the words from your list.
19. Popsicle - Make words using Popsicle sticks.
20. Secret Agent Words - Number the alphabet from 1 to 26, then convert your words to code.
21. Etch-A-Word - Use an Etch-A-Sketch to write your words.
22. Morse Code - Convert your words to Morse Code.
23. Dictionary Duel - Write your spelling words sorting into three groups: the beginning section of the alphabet, A-H, the middle, H-P, and the last, Q-Z. Then ask someone to call out a word. Find the first letter of the word as quickly as you can. If you look up the word moon, where in the three sections would you open the dictionary? How close did you open the book to the first letter?
24. Cartoon Words - Use some of your words in a cartoon.
25. ABC order- Write your words in alphabetical order in your best handwriting.
26. Rainbow Words - Write your words in three colors.
27. Backwards Words- Write your words forwards, then backwards.
28. Silly sentences - Use all your words in a few sentences.
29. Picture words - Draw a picture and write your words in the picture. Make a dictionary out of it.
30. Words without Vowels - Write your words replacing all vowels with a line.
31. Words without Consonants - Same as above but replace consonants with lines.
32. Story words - Write a short story using all your words.
33. Scrambled words -Write your words, then write them again with the letters mixed up.
34. Wordsearch -Make a word search with a friend or parent, then trade and solve.
35. Crossword - Complete a crossword puzzle made by a parent.
36. Puzzle words - Use a blank puzzle form. Write your words on the form, making sure that the words cross over the pieces. Then cut them out (color) and put them in a baggie with your name on it. 37. Words-in-words - Write your word and then write at least 1 word made from each.
38. Delicious words - Write your words in whipped cream or anything you can eat!
39. Good Clean Words -Write your words in shaving cream on a surface that can be cleaned safely.
40. Dirty Words - Write your words in mud or sand.
41. Pasta Words - Write your words by arranging alphabet pasta or Alphabits.
42. Reversed words - Write your words in ABC order -backwards - from Z to A.
43. 3D words - Use modeling clay rolled thinly to make your words.
44. Magazine words - Use an old magazine or newspaper and find your word. Cut and glue onto paper.
45. Sound Words - Use a tape recorder and record your words and their spelling. Then listen to your tape, checking to see that you spelled all the words correctly.
46. X Words - Write two words having one common letter so they criss-cross.
47. Bookmark - Create a colorful, artistic bookmark and carefully write your spelling words on it.
Steps for Creating an Ode
1. Select a person, place, or thing that you want to write about.
2. Write phrases describing how your item makes you feel and why you feel this way.
3. Write many phrases telling unique qualities of your subject.
4. Now, explain why your subject is important to you and why you adore it so much!
5. Join some of your phrases into lines for your ode. Remember they don't have to rhyme!
Now revise your lines following these steps:
- take away any lines that are too similar
- add more feeling to any meaningless lines
- pick a good opening line or sentence
- order the remaining lines into their best sequence
- select a good closing line that clearly expresses your feelings about that subject
Rewrite your ode in a final draft.
Typos
Students bring in typos from newspapers or magazines for extra credit. Also, if they find examples in their reading books of the writing techniques studied, they get extra credit. For example, give 2 points to students who locate a vocabulary word in their reading and 2 points for using the word correctly in a writing selection.
Tri-fold of a personal hero
Students pick a person they know well as their hero. The person has to be a least four years older then them and have at least three of the attributes of a hero, which have been determined by the class. They pick moms, dads, grandparents, and other special people in their lives. They write a poem, a descriptive essay on why this person is a hero, and a narrative of a special memory they have of this person. They bring in pictures and produce a tri-fold. This tri-fold is then sent to their hero as a present.
Wacky Web Tales: http://www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html
Fill in the blanks to write a fun story.
Web English Teacher: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html
Wordsmith: http://www.wordsmith.org/
World Wide Words: http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm
"Investigating the English language across the globe"
Write a Group Sentence
Divided students into groups of 4-5. The rules are: They cannot talk. Each person adds one word to the sentence. They can use only one piece of paper and one pencil and it must be passed from one student to the next. The sentence must make sense and come to an end. They have one minute to write their sentence. You set the goal that you want the sentences to consistently get longer with consequent tries. Lead the activity several times with the rule about no talking. Then try one time allowing the groups to talk as they compose.
After the "game" is over you can discuss quite a few things. You can talk about teamwork. It is usually not easier to make a longer sentence when everyone talks but most of the time the sentence content is better. You can discuss goals. Usually the kids attempt to make a silly sentence.
You can talk about if there was anything that was said that surprised you.
Write a mystery story, then create the story on PowerPoint, using the buttons. Students have a title slide, a couple of background slides about the crime, then a button that leads to suspect files, a button that leads to clues, etc. Finally as you progress they have a solution button where you can find out who did it and why.
In PowerPoint all you have to do is go to tools and insert buttons and then link the button to whatever number slide you want. It's best to create all slides, then to go back and insert the buttons. Finally you need to go to slide transitions and click the check off of "move on mouse" so the buttons only will operate your movement through the story.
Students can find pictures of celebrities as their suspects, clip art, and forensic or CSI type of websites for actual pictures of thumbprints, shoe prints, etc.
Write a letter to the editor
Have students study the editorial page of the newspapers--looking at elements common to letters that get published.
Have them then choose an issue and write/type a letter to the editor.
Send the letter.
Write on, NY!: www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/write-ny
"Guide for Aligning Local Curricula to the Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards"
Writer's Workshop
*Use 3 things for organization of student work.
First, a writer's notebook. This is kind of like a scrapbook of ideas. Students list ideas they have for writing. They may do journal writing to a prompt, free writing, with the option of later turning it into a story. Also they might just copy a poem they like, draw and label a picture, or cut and paste a cartoon. Basically anything can go in it that might inspire them to write.
The second thing is a writing folder where they keep handouts, revision and editing checklists, examples of certain types of writing, and their current writing project.
The third thing is the portfolio. Published pieces of writing end up here. A 3-ring binder can be used for this.
For the teacher's organization, have a pocket chart to keep up with status of the class. The stages of writing are listed and student names are placed beside the stage they are in.
"Status of the Class" lets the teacher know each day how each student is progressing. Instead of taking the time for each student to report where they are in the writing process, make markers that are about the size of bookmarks and have a stack for each step in the writing process. When students come into class they pick up the marker that matches where they are in the writing process and put it on the top of their desk. The teacher can do a mini-lesson and then when the students go to work, the teacher can walk around the room and check off where the students are in the process and pick up the marker. The teacher can then have a short conference if the student hasn't moved on in the process or if they need some help.
Also, to document conferences keep a binder, divided into sections for each child. Anytime there is a conference, make a few notes about what the child was working on, how he's doing, and what he's having trouble with.
*Use 3 subject notebooks. Students can usually use them the whole year and it's nice to see the progression all in one place. Glue any very important papers they will use right inside of the cover or on the dividers.
In addition to the notebooks, try to get old wallpaper books...the kids can use the paper to make unique covers for the books that they publish. Also numerous different kinds of themed paper (the printer kind you get at an office supply store) and blank paper books. To get the kids started they have to motivated and all the "cool" ways they can publish helps. Cut lots of paper in different sizes so they can make big books, mini-books, etc.
*A typical 60 minute writing workshop class might be structured like this:
10 min. mini-lesson
1-2 min decide what to work on/transition
30-40 min writing time/practice: Teacher is conferencing
5 min share/reflect
WritingFix: http://writingfix.com/
"Home of interactive writing prompts"
Writing portfolio
When the time comes for students to select specific types of writing to put into the portfolio, use colored dots. For instance, personal narratives might have a red dot, transactive or persuasive pieces have a blue dot, pieces written out of content have a green dot, etc. When it comes time to organize the writings into stacks and select specific pieces, direct students to make their selections by color.
Writing Prompts for Older People
What are the lessons that you've learned in life?
What are your biggest regrets?
What are your spiritual beliefs?
Who is the most important person in your life and what have you learned from him or her?
Writing With Writers: http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/index.htm
"Students work with authors, editors, and illustrators in exclusive workshops designed to guide them in developing their skills."
Writing World: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml
This article has great examples of how to use mentor texts when teaching writing skills.
7 Great Places to Make and find Story Starters: https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2019/11/7-great-places-to-make-and-find-story.html
The 100 Day Writing Challenge: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/the-100-day-writing-challenge/
"The 100 Day Writing Challenge is a free fiction writing course, by podcast. Each episode contains a 10 minute exercise, complete with timer, to help you build your writing muscles, train you indifferent styles, and develop your confidence."
A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman: www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/genre-study-letters
"In this lesson, The Jolly Postman is used as an authentic example to discuss letter writing as a genre."
Designed for grades 3-5.
Aphorisms Galore!: http://www.aphorismsgalore.com/home
Batter Up Spelling
First, take some sticky notes and stick a smaller sticky note on the back of each of them. Write a number on the smaller sticky note, such as 500, 100, 50, 25, or even 0. Attach these sticky notes, small sticky note side down, onto your black or whiteboard in random order. (Use your imagination with what you write on the small sticky notes, depending on the age and ability level of your class.) Divide your class into teams of varying numbers and prepare a chart you can keep score on...For example, several columns headed with Teams, Round , Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Total Score. Then, have one member of the team spell a word you call out. If it's right, he or she gets to go to the board and turn over the sticky note. His or her team receives the number of points written on the small sticky note. If it's wrong, pass the word on to the next team. Play continues until all the words are given out, the sticky notes are all used up, or whatever criteria you want to use to end the game. The winning team has the highest score. You can use this game in all subjects. You can also put several wild cards and zero cards on the sticky notes just to add interest.
Battleship Spelling
This game is done by drawing 36 squares on a 1/2 sheet of paper. Along the left side Label the boxes A-E. On the top row of horizontal squares label them 1-5. (Leave the square in the upper left hand corner empty.) Each child gets a piece of paper and they put in 20 to 25 spelling words in the empty boxes and put into pairs to play. The first player calls out, for example, B-5. His opponent says the spelling word. If there is one in the square, the first player spells the word and it is a hit, if not a miss. If the box is empty, it is a miss. The both players are winners because they are practicing spelling words, or the one who "sinks" the most words when the time is up.
COPS: use for any written assignment
Did they use Capital letters?
Is the Overall appearance neat?
Did they use correct Punctuation?
Are the words Spelled correctly?
Books set to music.
A You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
Baby Beluga by Raffi
The Cat Came Back by Bill Slavin
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Clifford We Love You by Norman Bridwell
Down By the Bay by Raffi
Down By the Station by Hillerbrand
Everything Grows by Raffi
Five Little Ducks by Raffi
Frog Went a Courtin' by John Langstaff
Give the Dog a Bone by Steven Kellogg
The Hokey Pokey by Laprise, Macak, and Baker
How Much is That Doggy by Trapan
I Know an Old Lady by Nadine Westcott
I'm a Little Teapot by Iza Tripani
I've Been Working on the Railroad by Nadine Westcott
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Tripani
The Lady With the Alligator Purse by Nadine Westcott
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen, Michael
Mary Had a Little Lamb by Iza Tripani
Mary Wore Her Red Dress by Merle Peek
My Favorite Things by Renee Graef
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? by Iza Tripani
Oh, a Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff
On Top of Spaghetti by Katherine Tillotson
One By One: Garth Pig's Rain Song by Mary Rayner
One Light, One Sun by Raffi
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone
Over the River and through the Wood by Lydia Child
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Westcott
Pizza Pokey by Jeffrey Stoodt
Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
Shoo Fly by Trapan
Skip to My Lou by Nadine Westcott
Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Jack Norworth
The Thirteen Days of Halloween by Carol Greene
The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Song Rebus Emily Bolam, illustrator
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Slimms Taback
Tingalayo by Raffi
Today is Monday by Eric Carle
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Iza Tripani
Wheels on the Bus by Raffi
What a Wonderful World by Bob Thiele
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson
Buzz Off
Children all stand behind their chairs. Give them a word and they take turns around the class spelling that word, one letter each. When it gets to the end of the word the next child says "Buzz" and then the following child says "Off!" The next child in line sits down. Continue going round and round the class until there is only one child left - the winner! Children also have to sit if they say an incorrect letter.
Connect the dots
Put 30 - 36 single dots on a sheet of paper, spaced about 1/4-1/2 inch apart. Make groups of 4 in your spelling class. Each group (one member at a time) is given a word, if that member spells it correctly they draw a line from one dot to another. As the game goes on, the other teams must spell words correctly to connect dots, and can gain "completed boxes" started by other teams. When a box is completed, the team puts their team number in the box. The team with the most completed boxes wins.
Daily Grammar: http://www.dailygrammar.com/
"Daily Grammar is a fun, convenient way to learn grammar. By simplifying complex grammar subjects, Daily Grammar is a great teaching tool for both public and home-schooled children, ESL students, and anyone needing to refresh English grammar skills. By practicing language rules, any person able to read will be able to master English."
Editorials
Have students study the editorial page of the newspapers--looking at elements common to letters that get published. Have then choose an issue and write/type a letter to the editor. Then send them.
Grammar Bytes!: http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm
"Grammar Instruction with Attitude"
grammar.englishpage.com: http://www.englishpage.com/index.html
Grammar Cheat Sheet for Bloggers: https://blogging.com/grammar-cheatsheet/
This blog explains how to use commonly misspelled words for anyone who writes.
Holiday Writing: A writing activity for the week before any holiday is for students to listen to and read stories from the popular Chicken Soup series. Explain to them that they are going to make their own books designed to be a holiday gift for a family member. The book is titled "Chicken Soup for the Holiday Soul," and the students make a cover just like the Chicken Soup books, a table of contents, and a dedication page. Stories that they might include are: Best Holiday Gift I Received, Best Holiday Gift I Ever Gave, Favorite Holiday Family Tradition, What the Holidays Mean to Me, and so on. Have the students include some fun poetry, like acrostics, and silly lists like Top 10 Best Things to Get in Your Holiday Stocking.
How Good Grammar Saves Lives and Other Reasons It's Still Important: www.wizcase.com/blog/how-good-grammar-saves-lives-and-other-reasons-its-still-important/
How to Write an Ode: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-an-ode-4146960
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/
Make Beliefs Comix: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
"Create Your Own Comix Strip" The characters offered at the web site are diverse and show a wide range of people with special needs, too. There is also a MakeBeliefsComix app for iPad users that can be downloaded at the iTunes store.
Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Purdue University: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
National Spelling Bee: http://spellingbee.com/
Paragraph writing - Have students write one paragraph: 5 sentences, S1 gives claim, S2,3,4 explain and S5 is a clincher. Many times these paragraphs are written on 3x5 cards. These are easy to grade and can be done quickly.
Paul Brians: http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/index.html
"Emeritus Professor of English, Washington State University"
Pizzaz (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling): http://pages.uoregon.edu/leslieob/pizzaz.html
Prewriting list making - In their writer's notebook have students divide a page into three columns. The first column is titled "Name/Noun". The second column is titled "Description/Adjectives" and the third column is titled "Anecdote". Begin with the first column and ask the students to name the members of their immediate family-- the people they live with, then extended family, then friends, pets, places they lived, favorite places etc....you'll run out of time before they run out of names. Give them 7 minutes for this. Then go to the second column and ask them to write description of what the people, places, things look like. Give them about 7 minutes. Then have them write a short anecdote for each one--something memorable.
When you are done tell them that this is an ongoing section and that if they have any additional time they can go back and work on it. Then have them choose a topic they'd like to discuss more, circle it and move on to another page. Have them prewrite only on that topic. Looping works best in this instance. That's where they write about the topic for 7 min then circle something they want to explore more and write about that for 7 min then circle another thing and write for another 7 minutes about that.
Scaffolding Writing for Language Learners: www.middleweb.com/45229/scaffolding-writing-for-language-learners/
Silhouettes - Students make silhouettes of their heads on black paper and then chose words, phrases, etc and put them into a poem that is about them. That is glued on the portrait with a Guess Who? at the end.
Spelling and Word Study: https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-topics/spelling-and-word-study
This is a series of videos. "Learn more about the English spelling system, how spelling supports reading, why children with dyslexia and dysgraphia struggle, which words should be taught, and word study intrutciont that works."
Spelling Football
Divide into two teams. Take turns giving each team a spelling word. A correct spelling advances the team on the football field. First team to reach the end zone scores. Use overhead to draw a football field and use overhead colored counters to move teams down the field.
Spelling Practice
1. Surround words - Write your words on graph paper and outline in colors.
2. 1234 Spelling - Count the vowels and consonants in each word. What do you notice?
3. Ransom words - Write your words by cutting out letters in a newspaper or magazine. Glue onto paper.
4. Pyramid words - Write your words adding or subtracting one letter at a time to form a pyramid shape.
5. A Song & Dance - Pretend you are a cheerleader, a dancer, a comedian, etc., and perform a 2 minute routine. It can be a ballet, a rap, knock-knock jokes, full of music and movement. No clowns allowed.
6. Feed the Glundersnedd (from poetry4kids.com - fantastic poetry) - (or an imaginary monster) - Decorate several spelling words as food. Draw a picture of the monster and the words he will eat. Write the reasons why the monster prefers the words. If the words are soap and little, you might say,
"My monster prefers bubbly slippery letters like s,o, and a, but he chokes on the p every time. He always eats little last because the l's and t's are like toothpicks to clean around his pointy teeth."
7. Spelling Families - Draw a spelling family of words. Draw their house with the words playing in the yard, looking out the window, working on the house. If one spelling word is batter, the spelling family could be words that end in -er, words that have double consonants, words that have two syllables,
words that have more than one meaning - batter up, cookie batter...
8. Dr. Seuss Was Here! - It's up to you how you imitate the dear doctor. You can make up a silly story rhyme with your words, or illustrate a page to go along with the rhyme. Surprise the class.
9. Highway Safety - Using dotted line paper, write the words into three groups: safe, unsafe, and dangerous drivers - those that dip below the line and above the dotted line. If your spelling words are our, are, tip and lip, which falls into the ditch or into the other lane? Which is more dangerous - lip or
tip? Why?
10. Pay for your Words - If the consonants cost a nickel and the vowels cost a dime, how much would you have to pay for your spelling words? Compare the most expensive with the least, etc. Make up money problems to solve. Tell your parent the strategy you could use to solve the problem.
11. Other Handed - If you are right-handed, write with your left, or vice versa. Look up vice versa.
12. Choo-Choo Words - Write the entire list end-to-end as one long word, using different colors of crayon or ink for different words. Be creative choosing the engine and the caboose words.
13. Silly String - With a long length of string, "write" words, using the string to shape the letters.
14. Back-writing - Using your finger, draw each letter on a partners' back, having the partner say the word when completed.
15. Telephone Words - Translate your words into numbers from a telephone keypad.
16. Flash-writing - In a darkened room, use a flashlight to draw letters in the air.
17. Newspaper Words - Search a newspaper page, circling each letter of a word as you find it.
18. 30 Second Words - Write a TV commercial using all the words from your list.
19. Popsicle - Make words using Popsicle sticks.
20. Secret Agent Words - Number the alphabet from 1 to 26, then convert your words to code.
21. Etch-A-Word - Use an Etch-A-Sketch to write your words.
22. Morse Code - Convert your words to Morse Code.
23. Dictionary Duel - Write your spelling words sorting into three groups: the beginning section of the alphabet, A-H, the middle, H-P, and the last, Q-Z. Then ask someone to call out a word. Find the first letter of the word as quickly as you can. If you look up the word moon, where in the three sections would you open the dictionary? How close did you open the book to the first letter?
24. Cartoon Words - Use some of your words in a cartoon.
25. ABC order- Write your words in alphabetical order in your best handwriting.
26. Rainbow Words - Write your words in three colors.
27. Backwards Words- Write your words forwards, then backwards.
28. Silly sentences - Use all your words in a few sentences.
29. Picture words - Draw a picture and write your words in the picture. Make a dictionary out of it.
30. Words without Vowels - Write your words replacing all vowels with a line.
31. Words without Consonants - Same as above but replace consonants with lines.
32. Story words - Write a short story using all your words.
33. Scrambled words -Write your words, then write them again with the letters mixed up.
34. Wordsearch -Make a word search with a friend or parent, then trade and solve.
35. Crossword - Complete a crossword puzzle made by a parent.
36. Puzzle words - Use a blank puzzle form. Write your words on the form, making sure that the words cross over the pieces. Then cut them out (color) and put them in a baggie with your name on it. 37. Words-in-words - Write your word and then write at least 1 word made from each.
38. Delicious words - Write your words in whipped cream or anything you can eat!
39. Good Clean Words -Write your words in shaving cream on a surface that can be cleaned safely.
40. Dirty Words - Write your words in mud or sand.
41. Pasta Words - Write your words by arranging alphabet pasta or Alphabits.
42. Reversed words - Write your words in ABC order -backwards - from Z to A.
43. 3D words - Use modeling clay rolled thinly to make your words.
44. Magazine words - Use an old magazine or newspaper and find your word. Cut and glue onto paper.
45. Sound Words - Use a tape recorder and record your words and their spelling. Then listen to your tape, checking to see that you spelled all the words correctly.
46. X Words - Write two words having one common letter so they criss-cross.
47. Bookmark - Create a colorful, artistic bookmark and carefully write your spelling words on it.
Steps for Creating an Ode
1. Select a person, place, or thing that you want to write about.
2. Write phrases describing how your item makes you feel and why you feel this way.
3. Write many phrases telling unique qualities of your subject.
4. Now, explain why your subject is important to you and why you adore it so much!
5. Join some of your phrases into lines for your ode. Remember they don't have to rhyme!
Now revise your lines following these steps:
- take away any lines that are too similar
- add more feeling to any meaningless lines
- pick a good opening line or sentence
- order the remaining lines into their best sequence
- select a good closing line that clearly expresses your feelings about that subject
Rewrite your ode in a final draft.
Typos
Students bring in typos from newspapers or magazines for extra credit. Also, if they find examples in their reading books of the writing techniques studied, they get extra credit. For example, give 2 points to students who locate a vocabulary word in their reading and 2 points for using the word correctly in a writing selection.
Tri-fold of a personal hero
Students pick a person they know well as their hero. The person has to be a least four years older then them and have at least three of the attributes of a hero, which have been determined by the class. They pick moms, dads, grandparents, and other special people in their lives. They write a poem, a descriptive essay on why this person is a hero, and a narrative of a special memory they have of this person. They bring in pictures and produce a tri-fold. This tri-fold is then sent to their hero as a present.
Wacky Web Tales: http://www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html
Fill in the blanks to write a fun story.
Web English Teacher: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html
Wordsmith: http://www.wordsmith.org/
World Wide Words: http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm
"Investigating the English language across the globe"
Write a Group Sentence
Divided students into groups of 4-5. The rules are: They cannot talk. Each person adds one word to the sentence. They can use only one piece of paper and one pencil and it must be passed from one student to the next. The sentence must make sense and come to an end. They have one minute to write their sentence. You set the goal that you want the sentences to consistently get longer with consequent tries. Lead the activity several times with the rule about no talking. Then try one time allowing the groups to talk as they compose.
After the "game" is over you can discuss quite a few things. You can talk about teamwork. It is usually not easier to make a longer sentence when everyone talks but most of the time the sentence content is better. You can discuss goals. Usually the kids attempt to make a silly sentence.
You can talk about if there was anything that was said that surprised you.
Write a mystery story, then create the story on PowerPoint, using the buttons. Students have a title slide, a couple of background slides about the crime, then a button that leads to suspect files, a button that leads to clues, etc. Finally as you progress they have a solution button where you can find out who did it and why.
In PowerPoint all you have to do is go to tools and insert buttons and then link the button to whatever number slide you want. It's best to create all slides, then to go back and insert the buttons. Finally you need to go to slide transitions and click the check off of "move on mouse" so the buttons only will operate your movement through the story.
Students can find pictures of celebrities as their suspects, clip art, and forensic or CSI type of websites for actual pictures of thumbprints, shoe prints, etc.
Write a letter to the editor
Have students study the editorial page of the newspapers--looking at elements common to letters that get published.
Have them then choose an issue and write/type a letter to the editor.
Send the letter.
Write on, NY!: www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/write-ny
"Guide for Aligning Local Curricula to the Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards"
Writer's Workshop
*Use 3 things for organization of student work.
First, a writer's notebook. This is kind of like a scrapbook of ideas. Students list ideas they have for writing. They may do journal writing to a prompt, free writing, with the option of later turning it into a story. Also they might just copy a poem they like, draw and label a picture, or cut and paste a cartoon. Basically anything can go in it that might inspire them to write.
The second thing is a writing folder where they keep handouts, revision and editing checklists, examples of certain types of writing, and their current writing project.
The third thing is the portfolio. Published pieces of writing end up here. A 3-ring binder can be used for this.
For the teacher's organization, have a pocket chart to keep up with status of the class. The stages of writing are listed and student names are placed beside the stage they are in.
"Status of the Class" lets the teacher know each day how each student is progressing. Instead of taking the time for each student to report where they are in the writing process, make markers that are about the size of bookmarks and have a stack for each step in the writing process. When students come into class they pick up the marker that matches where they are in the writing process and put it on the top of their desk. The teacher can do a mini-lesson and then when the students go to work, the teacher can walk around the room and check off where the students are in the process and pick up the marker. The teacher can then have a short conference if the student hasn't moved on in the process or if they need some help.
Also, to document conferences keep a binder, divided into sections for each child. Anytime there is a conference, make a few notes about what the child was working on, how he's doing, and what he's having trouble with.
*Use 3 subject notebooks. Students can usually use them the whole year and it's nice to see the progression all in one place. Glue any very important papers they will use right inside of the cover or on the dividers.
In addition to the notebooks, try to get old wallpaper books...the kids can use the paper to make unique covers for the books that they publish. Also numerous different kinds of themed paper (the printer kind you get at an office supply store) and blank paper books. To get the kids started they have to motivated and all the "cool" ways they can publish helps. Cut lots of paper in different sizes so they can make big books, mini-books, etc.
*A typical 60 minute writing workshop class might be structured like this:
10 min. mini-lesson
1-2 min decide what to work on/transition
30-40 min writing time/practice: Teacher is conferencing
5 min share/reflect
WritingFix: http://writingfix.com/
"Home of interactive writing prompts"
Writing portfolio
When the time comes for students to select specific types of writing to put into the portfolio, use colored dots. For instance, personal narratives might have a red dot, transactive or persuasive pieces have a blue dot, pieces written out of content have a green dot, etc. When it comes time to organize the writings into stacks and select specific pieces, direct students to make their selections by color.
Writing Prompts for Older People
What are the lessons that you've learned in life?
What are your biggest regrets?
What are your spiritual beliefs?
Who is the most important person in your life and what have you learned from him or her?
Writing With Writers: http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/index.htm
"Students work with authors, editors, and illustrators in exclusive workshops designed to guide them in developing their skills."
Writing World: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml