However, having a solid Monday routine, especially when teaching first grade, makes the day go so much smoother.  Every Monday (or Tuesday if it’s been a long weekend, yahoo!) my students do “Weekend News” and they really do love it.

At the beginning of the year I start by modelling it for them.  I am lucky enough to have a document camera so I write my news under there and it is projected onto my white board.  This is where I teach those beginning writing strategies such as directionality, spacing, proper letter formation, how to uses a word wall, and so on.  It also allows me to share a little about me and my life and they really seem to like that.  At the beginning of the year the writing is usually quite minimal but I encourage them to try their best and to just write down what they hear.  I also encourage them to label their picture, at the beginning ANY and all writing is good!  Obviously as the year progresses so does their writing. Weekend News is the perfect way to show their progress.  Every weekend news is hung on their clip in the hallways where their friends, other teachers, and their parents can read it when they come to visit.  After each reporting period I take it down and send it home- the parents are always blown away by the progress, it truly is so neat to see how far they’ve come! Oh, and one more bonus- your bulletin board always has something on it and you don’t need to worry about crafting something up for each season #winning!

You can download the template I use here!

Happy Teaching!

The post TTT: Weekly Writing appeared first on Teach Me Style - A style, beauty and life blog..

This year I am SO excited because I am finally organized enough to participate in Valentines for Vets! Each year, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) invites Canadian schools, individuals and organizations to make Valentines for Vets.  They then distribute the valentines to Veterans in long-term care facilities across the country on February 14th… how adorable, sweet, kind, and heartwarming is this!?

Since Remembrance Day has already passed, I’m sure you’ve had many class discussion around the subject of war, veterans, and peace, so what a positive way to revisit the topic.   My students LOVE making valentines. Between the stickers, doilies, colored paper, and glitter… love is literally in the air!

The Valentines are due on February 1st- so don’t miss out!  I put it in my calendar a year in advance so I won’t forget.  You can find more information about Valentine’s for Vets, including where to ship them, here!

Follow me on pinterest for some Valentine’s Day teaching inspo  –>Here!

Spread the LOVE. XOXO

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