The 2.00 Summary

I took a workshop last week and one of the ideas presented was so neat. It can be adapted in many different ways! I plan to use it in my book clubs in the upcoming weeks!

The $2.00 Summary:
A way to retell a lesson or write a summary in a quick and short manner using words and a little math. You have to use specific details because each word is worth money. You cannot go over $2.00!

Each word is worth 5 cents!
Free words: the, and, of, is, a, an

Example:Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live in a boxcar, but now they live with their grandfather. He takes them on a cruise in the Caribbean and suddenly a mystery begins. The children work together to solve the mystery.

The total summary is $1.60.

This can be used in a lot of classes! In reading, children could write after reading a short story or various chapters in a book. Have partners write one together the first few times!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Winter Writing

Winter Writing Wonderland 

Are your kids distracted by the snow? Do they keeping asking you if they can go outside to make a snowman?

Well, take their indoor idleness and turn it into a poetry writing lesson that encourages your kidos to use sensory images and alliteration to the fullest!


Have your class come up with a list of all the wonderful things about winter. (the snowflakes, snowman making, snowball fights, sledding, skiing, hot cocoa and soup, a toasty blanket in front of a fireplace)

Model for your students a 5 to 8 lined poem using sensory images and/or alliteration examples. I draw a large snow cap on chart paper and write the poem inside. I title my poem "Chilly Choices."

Chilly Choices 
by: Literacy Teacher 

Snowy Saturday
Sledding with speed
WHOOSH! 
Down a slippery snow covered hill
Winter wind whips across my cheery red cheeks
Snowballs whiz above my head
CRASH ! 
Silly me topples over a snowdrift.... 
Time to try again. 

Kiddos write poems on their own winter hats! Then read aloud to the class, and place them around the room or on a bulletin board. 

Back to School Read Alouds

Here are my three favorite books I have read aloud on the first day of school. I also included the writing activity I have use with each story. All these books can be used in Grades 3 - 5! 

A Fine Fine School by Sharon Creech is a humorous story about a girl who loves school, but then the principal wants the students to come to school more and more. They have to go on the weekends, holidays, and during the summer. Someone has to tell the principal this is just too much school!
After this read aloud, on chart paper, we make a list of reasons why our school is a fine, fine school. Then students write a poem or short paragraph about why they think their school is a "fine, fine school." They publish their writing on paper of a school house I have reproduced. I then hang them outside the classroom for open house.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is the story about a name.

Chrysanthemum thinks her name is perfect until the first day of kindergarten when her classmates laugh at her name. I read this book aloud to talk about feelings and self esteem. As a class we make a T-chart and list how the characters try to make Chrysantemum feel better about her name and how they hurt her feelings. After a class discussion about how we should treat our classmates, I have the class write an acrostic poem using their name. I post them in a bulletin board that I keep up the whole year called, " What's In A Name?"

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg is a book about how the main character, Sarah, does not want to go to school. It tells the story how her first day jitters as she imagines how the day may go wrong. A cute story with a surprise ending. (This is my personal favorite!)
I read this book first thing in the morning. We talk about the surprise ending and share how each one of us felt before we arrived at school. Then students write a paragraph about their "first day jitters."

Happy First Day of School! 
Happy Reading!