Since I'm planning on basing my writing curriculum off of the 6+1 Traits of Writing, I thought I'd post my bulletin board to accompany each trait.  This was a bulletin board that I created last year using my Cricut - I started using the traits later on in the school year.  This year I am doing a beach-themed classroom, so I've been sketching out some ideas for my new writing bulletin board.  Thankfully, I have a sister who is uber-amazing at decorating, so she tends to take my ideas and run with them!  Looking forward to getting into the classroom to start this process.

Language Arts

Little bit of background:  My Language Arts Block is structured using The Daily 5 by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. When teaching reading strategies, I use CAFE (also by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser).  My writing lessons come from 6+1 Traits - I have used this a little last year, but am going to very much be relying on it this year.  My word work lessons come mostly from the Four Blocks.

So for the last 2 weeks I have been soley focusing on Language Arts.  I am mainly keeping the bones of my block.  I'm just organizing it all more into one document so I can see them all together.  The main area that I am really changing is the writing, as I mentioned above.  I have been really enjoying getting my mini lesson ideas from 6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide For The Primary Grades by Ruth Culham. 

So right now, it's more of amalgamating all of the components of curriculum that I like into The Daily 5 framework.  Hopefully soon I'll be able to attach the 'finished' mapped out product.

A Time for Review and Reflection

During the summer I spend a great deal of time, as I'm sure that any teacher does, reviewing and reflecting upon the school year that just ended.  After I take stock of what worked and what didn't, what needs to be tweaked and what needs to be trashed, I start wading through new curriculum, old curriculum, teacher blogs and numerous websites. 

So I have decided to start a blog to contain all of my thoughts and findings in one central place.  I also have the mentality of why re-invent the wheel, so I feel that this can also be a place where I can share some things that I have found and created for other teachers who may be searching for new ideas or information.

I can't promise that I will be very regular in my postings, but I would like to update at least weekly, so be sure to check back periodically to see what may be new.