THE WRITING PROCESS

How about some tips for encouraging all those budding authors in your classroom?

Who Knows the Writing Process?
(Children repeat each line to this chant as you open your arms wide and clap as you step from side to side.)
Chorus:
Who knows the writing process?
I know the writing process.

First step. (Hold up one finger.)
Brainstorm. (Hands on the side of your head and shake down.)
Chorus

Second step…(Hold up 2 fingers.)
Write it down…(Pretend to write with index finger on palm.)
Chorus

Third step…(Hold up 3 fingers.)
Edit your work…(Shake finger.)
Chorus

Fourth step…(Hold up 4 fingers.)
Publish your work…(Brush hands together.)
Chorus
Oh, yeah! (Hands on hips with an attitude.)


Handy Edit
Teach children how to edit their work with this “handy” idea.
(Make a fist with your right hand to begin.)
1. If you started your sentence with a capital letter you can stick up your thumb.
2. If you read the sentence and it makes sense you can stick up your index finger.
3. If you remembered to put punctuation at the end you can stick up your pinky finger.
4. Then you can say, “I love my sentence.” (Turn your fist over and you will be making sign language for “love.”)

Chew and Write
Give children a piece of sugarless gum. Once they write their name they can open the gum and start chewing. They are allowed to chew the gum as long as they keep on writing!

Colorful Details
Encourage students to add color and detail to their illustrations by asking them to use as many colors in their books as they are in age.

A COLORING WE'LL GO

Do you remember how happy a new box of crayons made you when you were a child? There was always a lot of “hope” in those sharp, new crayons. I was never a great artist, but I was thrilled with the “possibilities” those crayons offered!

*A good rule of thumb for encouraging children to use many colors in their drawings is to ask them to use as many colors as they are in age. If they are four years old they should use at least 4 different crayons; if they are five years old they should use five colors, etc.

*As you read books to the class, explain the illustrator’s name. Have children notice details in illustrations. Why is it important to add details? Remind them when they draw pictures they are illustrators, too, and they should add lots of details to make their pictures more interesting.

*Encourage children to close their eyes and think about what they want to draw before they begin coloring. “Get a picture in your brain and then you’ll know what you want your picture to look like. It’s like telling a story with your crayons.”

*Keep a box for “lost crayons” on a shelf so children have a place to put crayons that get misplaced.

*Use mint tins or other small containers to store crayons when boxes fall apart.


A Coloring We’ll Go
(Tune: “A Hunting We Will Go”)
A coloring we’ll go.
A coloring we’ll go.
Hi ho, it’s fun you know,
A coloring we’ll go.

Use straight and curvy lines.
Use straight and curvy lines.
With yellow, purple, green, and orange,
We’ll make our picture fine. (Chorus)

The details we will draw.
The details we will draw.
Imagine all the little things.
The details we will draw. (Chorus)

We’ll fill in the page.
We’ll fill in the page.
Use as many colors
As you are in age.

A coloring we’ll go.
A coloring we’ll go.
We’ll put them in the box and close the top
When we’re through, you know.

Check out this video my webmaster made to go with the song.



https://bit.ly/drjeanAColoring

JINGLE BELL CLUB AND DOLLAR STORE "STUFF"

Jingle Bell Club(Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.

Gel Stickers

Free play on windows or a mirror. These can also be used on a cookie sheet for sorting, making sets, addition, etc.


Santa Chair Cover
What a special treat to use for reading or writing!

*Children could also sit in the chair and write a letter to Santa.


A Coloring We'll Go
I am the last person in the world who would encourage coloring books over creative art, but the truth is that some kids just like to color. I was working with some child care centers years ago and I was "against" worksheets or coloring sheets. I went into a teacher’s room and to my dismay there was a group of girls sitting at a table coloring. They were chatting and have a grand time. The teacher said, “They beg to do worksheets and use coloring books.” Oh, well! So, put a holiday coloring book and crayons in a center as a reward if children finish their work early. It might entertain them and it certainly will do no harm.

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Jingle Bell Club(Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.

Here are a few more items I picked up at the dollar store.

Gel Stickers

Free play on windows or a mirror. These can also be used on a cookie sheet.


Santa Chair Cover
Those of you who do flexible seating could use this as a special treat.  

*Children could sit in the chair and write a letter to Santa.


A Coloring We'll Go
I am the last person in the world who would encourage coloring books over creative art, but the truth is that some kids just like to color. I was working with some child care centers years ago and my rules were no worksheets or coloring sheets and no screen time. I went into a teacher’s room and to my dismay there was a group of girls sitting at a table coloring. They were chatting and have a grand time. The teacher said, “They beg to do worksheets and use coloring books.” Oh, well! So, put a holiday coloring book and crayons in a center as a reward if children finish their work early. It might entertain them and it certainly will do no harm.

Science -Winter Nature Center

Materials: magnifying glass, clip board, paper, pencils, tub

Let children look at the items with a magnifying glass. Can they make a list of all the items they find in the tub?

Can they write descriptive sentences about what they find?