My Writer's Workshop

I was very interested in having a daily group writing activity because I have never tried it before. I am a beginner, and I wanted to share with other beginners on how I am incorporating writing into my daily routine. 

I started with Kindergarten friendly prompts, and I hole punched the paper, and trained my students on putting their papers in their binder. This is what their binder looks like. 

I have a 30 minute time slot set aside for the students to write then share. 

I also have writing goals set for my students based on their last entry. Here is my goal wall.

As they continue to improve their writing, they will all end up at the bottom of the goal wall. YAY! 

Procedure: 

1)The students sit at their table and listen to the prompt.

2)Once the prompt is read aloud, I start the relaxing music, and they start to draw a picture to go with how they answer the prompt. 

3)They have to pay attention to their goal, as they write.

4)Once they are finished writing and drawing their picture they put their head down for a break.

5)I scan the room for students who are not finished, and take a mental note. I give 5 more minutes. 

6)I let the students use their own resources to complete their work. (I do not hover)

7)I use our 'Random Name Selector' on our SmartBoard for Share time. 

8)Students stay at their tables.

9)The students read their complete sentence.

10)I write what they say, with a marker, on their paper.

11)The students applaud for their friend.

12)The student puts their paper in their binder, as the next person is called to share.

13)Everyone shares, and we all clap, and then we go to Specials. :) 

Share:

I have had this karaoke machine since 1998! I even had the microphone stand to go with it. (My parents are the coolest!) I decided that it would be the most awesome share experience for my Kinders. Here is our set-up.

They love it!!!

 They take this time very seriously. :) 

Once they are finished with everything, they store their binder neatly in their chair pocket, ready for the next day. 

I am so excited to finally have a Writer's Workshop! With experience, I hope add small group instruction for just writing. (That would be ideal!) 

Happy Writing!!

Interactive Notebooks

I can't tell you enough how much I love these things! They are so fun, targeted, and creative. My students even love to color with designs. :)

I chose these Simply Kinder Interactive Notebooks because they are predictable. My kinders are able to do these with no problems. There are 5 pages for each letter, so my class does one page a day. 

My Procedure: 

After my students complete their morning work, they color a page of the notebook that they will cut later. They get their pages from their "pouch." I put the papers in their pouch in the order I want them done (morning work in the front, then Interactive Notebook page, then their morning center)

I even have time set aside in my daily schedule for interactive notebook stuff. :)

I also have all my Glue Sponges out for my kids to use. They make gluing all the tiny pieces easier. 

When 1:55 p.m. comes around, I have the students finish coloring and then cut their pieces. I show them where in their notebook to glue, and then they glue their pieces in their notebook together. 

Organization: 

I have Notebook Helpers at each table. They are responsible for keeping the notebooks nice and neat. 

Here is how they are kept on the tables:

As we learn about a shape, word, letter, or vowel sound, we put it in our notebook. There is no order to them, in my class. Although, I did find a rubric for free on TPT :) I can't wait to see the Notebook full! 

Here are some additional examples of the notebook pages (I love Kindergarten work!):

Happy Notebooking!!!