Character Ed Sample and Year Long Unit Posted

My school requires us to do character ed throughout the school year and have lessons related to the Character Counts themes (trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, caring, citizenship, and fairness).  Check out my year long lesson plans and activities related to read alouds at my TPT store!  There are 2 suggested book titles for k-2 per month with suggested lessons, activities, and/or crafts linked to the read alouds...That's 20 + lessons and activities!!!

Since Martin Luther King Jr. was remembered and celebrated in January, we read a book titled, The Crayon Box That Talked.  We read the book and compare/contrasted to a similar poem (click here for sample).  Then each child illustrated a crayon to show how each one is unique.  We then displayed them in a "classroom crayon box."  I like doing this for MLK day, but the same project can be used in the beginning of the year to show how each child is different, but together we make a great team!

Click on the above picture to go to Character Education Sample (The Crayon Box that Talked)

The Crayon Box that Talked lesson/idea/activity!



Click here to see my year long Character Education Unit at TPT!



Month by Month Thematic Writing

January's Words... Isn't that penguin just the cutest???

2 Options for Written Response

At our writing station I have 2 choices for the students: work on writing from writers' workshop time or write using the thematic writing words and stationary.  Most of them use the thematic writing words and write such creative stories!

I have created 10 thematic writing pages for 10 school months (September-June).   Each month has a list of words for students to use when practicing writing. They can use the thematic words provided to help them write sentences, paragraphs, and/or stories related to each month.  I have also included three different response sheets to use depending on the developmental stage of your students.

Click Here for a Free Sample (January)

Click Here To Purchase The Entire 10 Months from TPT

Buddy Reading!

I am loving the Buddy Reading station during my literacy station time!!! I have always been petrified of Buddy Reading, but the Daily 5 has helped me so much!!! I was always nervous that the kids would be talking about recess or their new shoes, but that is definitely not the case this year... yeah!!! Here are two pictures. One is the anchor chart we used in the beginning of the year. The second and third pictures are of two buddies reading together. Since they get to read anywhere in the room, they may not be able to see the anchor chart. So I took a picture of the chart, laminated it, and each student has one in their "book bags." They also use these cards to QUIETLY look for a buddy to read with. They simply hold it up to show that they are in need of a buddy. I love it so much that if my firsties finish their work early throughout the day, they are allowed to buddy read... I would have never done that other years!