Writing Workshop Archives - Inspire Me ASAP

Fidget Spinners Opinion Writing

Melissa Kozerski — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:37:40 +0000

Fidget spinners…do you love them or hate them? Are they tools for learning or just toys? Should they be allowed in classrooms? That is the debate! Students read about fidget spinners, develop their own opinion, and write a paragraph expressing their opinion of whether fidget spinners should or should not be allowed at school. This is an authentic, engaging, and motivating way for students to write an opinion paragraph!

Suitable for third and fourth grade, or also second grade if you plan to read aloud the passage to your students.

The resource includes the following:

1. Should Fidget Spinners be Allowed at School? Article: A one-page reading passage about fidget spinners, which can be used as background information for your students. Teachers can display this passage on the board, reading aloud or chorally as a class. Teachers can also photocopy the page, distribute, and have students read independently, in a book club, or with a partner. You can also display the next page, posing the debate question, on the board, as a way to set the stage for learning.

2. Fidget Spinners Debate: A one-page reading passage showing both sides of the “fidget spinners in school” debate.

3. Success Criteria for Opinion Writing: A list of statements students can read to determine their success on this writing project.

4. Graphic Organizers for Prewriting and Planning Opinion: These graphic organizers help students to clearly state their opinion with an introduction, three supporting reasons, and a strong conclusion.

5. Peer Editing Checklist: With guidance from their peers, students develop and strengthen their writing as needed by editing, using this helpful checklist.

6. Writing Checklists: Two different writing checklists are included. One generic checklist can be used for a variety of different writing genres, while the other checklist is specifically for an opinion writing piece.

7. Opinion Writing Rubric: This one-page rubric is a powerful way for students to self-assess their writing. The teacher can also use the rubric to assess writing.

8. Writing Conference Template: As the students complete their writing, you can conference with them using this template. Provide one compliment (a star) and one wish (a suggestion) to improve the opinion writing.

9. Final Copy Paper: There are two different versions of lined paper for students to choose from as they write their final copy.

Dragons Love Tacos: Procedural Writing Lesson

Melissa Kozerski — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 01:14:41 +0000

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin is the PERFECT story to teach about procedural, or how to, writing. This engaging resource includes writing samples with success criteria, graphic organizers, anchor chart printables, editing and writing checklists and rubrics to help you teach your students about procedural writing in a fun way.

Students write their final draft and publish their writing with an adorable dragon craft, which makes a colorful and creative display of your students’ writing! This is an an authentic, engaging, and motivating way for students to learn and write about procedural text!

Here’s What Is Included:

1. Writing Samples: I like to show my students an example of a high-quality writing sample that meets all the success criteria. There are two different writing samples. One is very basic and well suited for first and second grade. The other writing sample includes more details and is more appropriate for third and fourth graders.These slides are in black/white and color, so that they display nicely with your technology.

2.Success Criteria for Procedural Writing: A list of statements students can read to determine their success on this writing project.

3. Graphic Organizers for Procedural Writing These graphic organizers help students to organize their ideas, before they start to write their first draft. There are three different options to choose from.

4. Templates for First/Final Draft- There are different versions of lined pages for students to choose from as they write their final copy- primary and intermediate lines, horizontal and vertical pages.

5. Color Printables for Anchor Charts- Posters to print and display as you teach different mini-lessons on procedural writing.

6. Self/Peer Editing Checklist: With guidance from their peers, students develop and strengthen their writing as needed by editing, using this helpful checklist.

7. Writing Checklist: Students can self-assess their writing, to make sure they meet the success criteria.

8. Writing Conference Template and Rubric: As the students complete their writing, you can conference with them using this template. Provide one compliment and one wish (a suggestion) to improve their writing. You can fill out the rubric when students are finished with their final draft.

9 Student Dragon Templates for Bulletin Board: There are 4 pages of templates for the dragon. There is a black/white and color option. Students attach their final draft to the dragon.

10 Teacher Templates for Bulletin Board- “How to Make Tacos for a Dragon” is printed in a font that makes it very eye-catching when displayed on a bulletin board.

Please ask me any questions prior to purchasing!
Thank you,
Melissa

Unicorn Opinion Writing

Melissa Kozerski — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:39:42 +0000

Would you want to own a unicorn? What is YOUR opinion? Students form their opinion and create reasons to support their opinion. Students use a graphic organizer to brainstorm their ideas, write their first draft, edit their writing, peer edit, and meet with the teacher for a writing conference. Students will write their final draft and publish their writing with an adorable unicorn craft, which makes a colorful and creative display of your students’ writing! This is an authentic, engaging, and motivating way for students to write an opinion paragraph. These writing resources can be used as a book companion to the adorable book, You Don’t Want a Unicorn, by Ame Dyckman.

Below is a list of what is included in this resource:

1. The Great Unicorn Debate: A one-page reading passage showing both sides of the “owning a unicorn” debate.

2. Slides to Display on Your SmartBoard: These slides are in color so that they display nicely with your technology. One slide poses the debate question and the other slide provides sentence stems for your writers who need more support.

3.Success Criteria for Opinion Writing: A list of statements students can read to determine their success on this writing project. In addition, I provided two writing samples that meet all the criteria.

5. Peer Editing Checklist: With guidance from their peers, students develop and strengthen their writing as needed by editing, using this helpful checklist.

7. Opinion Writing Rubric: This one-page rubric is a powerful way for students to self-assess their writing. The teacher can also use the rubric to assess writing.

8. Writing Conference Templates: As the students complete their writing, you can conference with them using this template. Provide one compliment (heart image) and one wish (a suggestion, rainbow image) to improve their writing.

9. Final Copy Paper: There are different versions of lined pages for students to choose from as they write their final copy- primary and intermediate lines, horizontal and vertical pages.

10. Unicorn Templates for Bulletin Board: There are three pages of templates for the body of the unicorn. There is a black/white and color option. There are four pages to print and display as the title of your bulletin board. You can print these on colorful card stock paper. There are also colorful printables to create an anchor chart.

11. Unicorn Inspirational Printables: Print these quotes (5 pages total) on colorful paper for a great looking bulletin board display!

Want to see how I used this resource in my classroom?

Click here: Unicorn Opinion Writing

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat- End of the School Year Edition

Melissa Kozerski — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 16:28:55 +0000

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…End of School Year Edition!

If you are looking for an activity to help calm the jitters of your kiddos with it being the end of the year, this is for you! This is the perfect activity to get your kids up and movin’ and grooving’ around the classroom, giving them a much needed brain break and/or movement break!

Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. They all use the same format, just different questions based on the month/theme.

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…Spring Edition

Melissa Kozerski — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 16:23:42 +0000

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…Spring Edition!

I like to use this during indoor recess, when my students are not able to go outside because of the cold or rainy weather. This is the perfect activity to get your kids up and movin’ and grooving’ around the classroom, giving them a much needed brain break and/or movement break!

Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. They all use the same format, just different questions based on the month/theme.

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…February Edition!

Melissa Kozerski — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 15:44:00 +0000

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…February Edition!

I like to use this during indoor recess, when my students are not able to go outside because of the cold, cold weather. :( This is the perfect activity to get your kids up and movin’ and groovin’ around the classroom, giving them a much needed brain break and/or movement break!

Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. They all use the same format, just different questions based on the month/theme.

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…Winter Edition!

Melissa Kozerski — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 15:27:36 +0000

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat…Winter Edition!

Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. The Back to School Edition uses the same format as the winter Edition!

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Melissa Kozerski — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 15:12:54 +0000

Creative Writing: Write, Rotate, Repeat, BUNDLE

If you are looking for creative ways to give your students a much needed brain break or movement break, look no further! This bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat Monthly themes- over 550 pages total!

Want more information about this idea?
Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. All monthly themes have the same format as the Back to School Freebie.

Creative Writing for the Beginning of the School Year

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Student Self-Reflection

Melissa Kozerski — Mon, 09 May 2016 22:30:48 +0000

It's that time of the year again...time for report cards! I love to have my students fill out this self-reflection since our standards based report cards do not have a spot for characteristics of learning. This is a valuable tool to show parents at conferences or to send home with the report card.

The Ultimate Writing Resource for any Teacher

Melissa Kozerski — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 01:21:13 +0000

How do you feel about teaching about the different traits of writing? Whether you love it or can leave it… I will help you TEACH it! This resource will give you strategies and ideas for teaching about ideas, organization, sentence fluency, word choice, and voice.

A list of what is included for the different traits of writing is listed below.

Ideas:

-Recycled writing ideas

-Writing about memories

-Getting writing inspiration

-In/out and top 10 graphic organizers

-5 Star Writing

-Bright ideas

-Just right topics

-Ideas from authors/friends

-A,B,C’s writing chart

-Using your imagination for a story

Organization

-Titles vs. labels

-Great grabbers

-If you give a mouse a cookie…

-The Important Book

-Lost and found

-How to be a solid shape

-Fold, pass, repeat

Sentence fluency

-Colorful writing

-Pass the pencil

-Sentence fluency check

-Sentence stretching

Voice

-Character’s voice

-Feelings, feelings, feelings (writing about emotions)

-Greeting cards lesson

-Letter writing

-Different perspectives

-Match my voice to my topic

-My non-fiction voice

-Lost at sea writing prompt

Word choice

-Color swatches lesson

-The____’s family house of colors

-Crayon box creations lesson and creative names for different colors

-Creating onomatopoeia

-Figure language

-Descriptive writing activity

-Idioms

-simile lessons

As always, please contact me with any questions:

Thank you! :)

Melissa

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Winter Holiday Edition!

Melissa Kozerski — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 06:18:57 +0000

I like to use this activity right before our winter holiday party, when my students are anxiously anticipating the room parents to come in and start the festivities, and they are too excited for me to teach a lesson. This is the perfect activity to get your kids up and movin’ and groovin’ around the classroom!

***This file does not specifically mention Christmas, nor does it have questions about Santa. Instead, the questions are open ended and worded with the title “winter holiday.”****

Check out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. They all use the same format, just different questions based on the month/theme.

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Thanksgiving Edition!

Melissa Kozerski — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 06:10:44 +0000

I like to use this activity the last day before our Thanksgiving break, in the afternoon, when my students are usually so excited for what is to come that it makes teaching a lesson sometimes very challenging! This is the perfect activity to get your kids up and movin’ and groovin’ around the classroom!

heck out my Back to School Edition (It’s a freebie!!) of this Write, Rotate, Repeat activity. They all use the same format, just different questions based on the month/theme.

Write, Rotate, Repeat: Back to School Edition!

***Note***
This file is also part of a BUNDLE. Click on the link below to check out the Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE. The bundle includes a total of 9 different Write, Rotate, Repeat monthly themes!

Write, Rotate, Repeat BUNDLE