Another Day in Blooming Grove

I just got back from another morning in Blooming Grove- and can I just say I am amazed! Remember- I have spent my last 4 years with Kindergarten writers who don't know yet how to use their alphabet to communication a story... now I am with first grade writers to start the school year- first grade writers who know their alphabet very well (way to go Blooming Grove Kinder teachers) and many sight words! So now we are working on the craft of writing a lot sooner than I have ever been able to before. Today's mini-lesson was for Writer's Gum. You will see the video at our next session on Mini-Lessons. Writer's Gum is a mini-lesson about stretching out words. It was so fun, and I giggled in my cubby watching their little faces as they participated in the lesson. I want you to know that we have 5 rules posted and they are referred to often! When a child is out of their seat and showing me their story, I just point at the rules and repeat... Stay in your seat to write! I love RULES for WRITER'S WORKSHOP! And first graders of course who care very much still about following the rules! We have done the BRAG BOARD, and today was our first chance at SHARE CHAIR! As students write, we are just walking around and encouraging students along. Making notes for future mini-lessons. I am going to do a mini-lesson next time on rereading our work- and how important spaces are to help us do that. I really am so impressed with Becky's class though and their hard work. Again, I know that it is because of the way writing was modeled (this is me patting myself on the back) and the slow way that we got them going! Becky is going to start to work on grouping the writers- into groups for conferencing purposes. So we will have a plan of kids to get to each day when they write- make sure we are getting to everyone and not always the same kids. I am in this journey with you this year ladies.. and I am LOVING every minute of it!