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Feb 20, 2013

Beginning the Creative Writing Process for Storytelling

Good Day readers. For some time now I've been patiently waiting to open the magical door of writing to my first grader. You might be asking yourself, "Haven't you started that already?" My answer is both yes and no. Yes many hours are spent writing in our home but it mostly consists of writing two sentence paragraphs answering questions on worksheets, simple writing in workbooks, and an occasional report. But what I'm talking about is Creative writing. My first grader, Junior, is a perfectionist. Call it first child syndrome, a 'beaver-type' personality but he does not enjoy writing because he cannot write at the pace he thinks without becoming overwhelmed because he has too many thoughts-it's chaos!

This is something I personally struggle with as well. I have too much to say, unorganized thoughts, and RUN-ON sentences. Ha ha, we are so alike. The point is that writing is awesome. A good story can transport you into another world. Writing allows your imagination to soar and can be enchanting. I would love to open this door to him without making it confusing, overwhelming, or exhausting.

This spring quarter we will open that door by learning a few simple rules in the writing process. Stepping our way through lessons that will aid in bringing out the very best in my students' story telling and thus open a new door into their writing and imaginations! I cannot wait to see the story telling potential of my little ones!

THE LESSONS:
 
The first lesson in the beginning writing process is Story Mapping. Story mapping helps students to break down the elements of a story; characters, setting, problem, and solution.

The second lesson Somebody, Wanted, But, So foldables as a form of pre-writing. This beginning framework is then built upon in the drafting stage.

The third lesson introduces Webbing where students learn that not every idea needs to be utilized in the writing process but also to show the possibilities of ones story.

Printable Lessons and worksheets:
Story Mapping Lesson
Story Map worksheet














Somebody.Wanted.But.So Teacher lesson
SWBS worksheet













Webbing Teacher Lesson
Webbing worksheet 
Webbing Example worksheet













Of course you all know that these teaching methods have been around for centuries but this is just my way of making these lessons zippy and fun. With hope these simple lessons will positively influence my children toward a lifetime of creative writing.

In addition, while I did create my own PDF versions of these lessons I must give credit where credit is due! The foundations for these lesson can be found at:
Joy in the journey of homeschooling,
Jenna

Feb 1, 2013

February Food Calendar!

Yeah, it's February, my favorite winter month of the year!
I really do enjoy February for many reasons. First, when I was young it was usually the best month to go snowboarding. Now I love it because there are many family birthdays, which means lots of cake (I LOVE cake). Also February is the month of love which means cutesie crafts and cookie baking that I get to do with my kiddos! But before we get into all that here's my families food calendar for the month. Enjoy!

February Food Calendar

Sweet n Sour Pork is our new family favorite. 
 For a list of my 20 favorite afternoon snack ideas check out "Snack Attack"

For a satisfying and nutritional meal plan for the Paleo Diet check out NOM NOM Paleo
where I find a lot of my recipes.

Also I pulled many of my recipes from my favorite cookbook The Cooking Light Gluten-Free Cookbook
When cooking Gluten-Free watch out for a lot of extra starchy foods and remember sugar is still sugar and even if its non-wheat flour that doesn't mean its healthy for you carbs are still carbs.

Happy Dinner Time with your Family
Jenna

Jan 29, 2013

Superbowl Countdown Week Packets!

Superbowl Packets for Oodles of Fun Learning this Week!
Hi folks! To shake things up a little bit this week be are beginning a new theme: Football. Every subject themed around football. Why football? For me, football is not that big a deal but the Superbowl is this Sunday and having two boys I thought it would a fun way to integrate two things they like sports and school. Therefore we are using two football packets created by some awesome and very talented first grade teachers!

First a unit I found created by Katie King. She's actually had a give-away but I didn't win. Never-mind that you can buy this unit with over 40 pages of work in the subject of math for $5 bucks! Check it out! We're also using another unit-pack with activity centers and printables created by Kelley's Fantastic Football Packet
See how awesome and creative the cover page is? But wait there's more!

Each day your student will be up to their ears in fun learning games that keep their attention and as all teachers know keeping their attention is hard but crucial ;)
 This unit pack includes:
  • Half Time Snack (counting coins)
  • Line 'Em Up! (non-standard measurement practice)
  • Keeping An Eye of the Clock (Time to the Half Hour)
  • Rah Rah Skip Counting (2s, 5s, 10s)
  • Place Value Match-Up! (Place Value and Greater Than/Less Than)
AND Printables
  • 5 Speed Drills
  • Place Value
  • Greater Than/Less Than
  • Even/Odd
  • Subtraction
  • Skip Counting 2s, 5s, 10s


And if that's not enough there are even more GREAT units you can easily printout for your students all in support of teachers. Check them out.

Enjoy a fun week with a different kind-of unit topic.
Jenna





Jan 22, 2013

Water Cycle: Oceans

POST LAB
OBJECTIVES:
  • Exploring how the oceans became salty.
  • Discovering the components of salt water.
VOCABULARY:
  • elements
  • erosion
  • evaporation
  • oceans
  • salt 
(I highly recommend using a children's dictionary to go over vocabulary words so they clearly understand each word)
MATERIALS:

Jan 20, 2013

Water Cycle: Oceans

Dissolving Salt in Water
OBJECTIVES:
  • Dissolving salt in water.
  • Observing how salt crystals form.
VOCABULARY:
  • evaporation
  • salt
MATERIALS:
  • salt 
  • Epsom salt
  • trays
  • warm water
  • pan
  • rope-like string (mop string) 
  • measuring beakers
  • two jars or beakers. 
Students experiment with salt crystals.

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