Blog Posts

K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session

Hi Writers, Summer is beginning, and it is time to say good-bye. It has been so much fun creating writing pieces with you. Let's finish our opinion pieces and share them with other kids, so students have fun all summer long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA34NMImUtQ Thanks, Maddie and Joseph, for sharing your writing with all of us. We… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session

Blog Posts

Celebrating Literature in a Virtual Environment-Part 2

It IS possible to celebrate books virtually and to spread book love without physically being present with a student.  We could not believe the excitement that students exhibited when presented with the Charlotte’s Web checklist for our virtual book celebration.  The students eagerly and enthusiastically chose their topics for exploration and begin the process of… Continue reading Celebrating Literature in a Virtual Environment-Part 2

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Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session

Ranger and Hoppy cooling off in the river. Summer break is almost here, and it is time for writing camp to come to an end. Thank you for watching these videos and sharing your writing with me. I have loved learning with you. Here is our final lesson about writing book reviews. Remember, the reviews… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session

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Shared Reading: Kindergarteners Engage in Text at Home

How do we keep kindergarteners engaged in text each day in a remote learning environment? How do we keep kindergarteners coming back for more when there are many other things to distract them around their home? Shared reading! Click below to access videos of shared readings based on nursery rhymes and fun songs! You'll have… Continue reading Shared Reading: Kindergarteners Engage in Text at Home

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A Stone Sat Still

Brendan Wenzel's latest book, A Stone Sat Still, is a perfect book to share during this challenging time. Using a variety of creatures and changes in nature, Wenzel teaches us a powerful life lesson in perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11LB4A-pjI Brendan Wenzel talks about A Stone Sat Still It’s long been said that perspective is reality. This pandemic… Continue reading A Stone Sat Still

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 41

Hi Writers, Let's finish our essays with powerful endings that impact our readers. Thanks to Mrs. Curtin's class, we have some thoughtful endings to study. https://youtu.be/Vyz-bOgzkVc http://www.studentssendinglove.com Please remember to share your writing with your teachers. If you would like me to see your writing, please add it to our Padlet Board and I will… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 41

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 40

Ranger had a run-in with a porcupine. Hi Writers, Don't worry, we got the quills out and Ranger is fine now. I wish he would learn to leave the porcupines alone. Let's work on our essays to the heroes and helpers in our communities. https://youtu.be/Ok9vcLAdQCA Here is the writing I showed in the video. I… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 40

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 39

Students from the Brown School wrote essays to show how much they appreciate their custodians. http://www.studentssendinglove.com Hi Writers, Did you know that essays can be gifts to send out into the world? This week I am writing essays to celebrate all of the heroes and helpers in our communities. I hope you will join me.… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 39

Blog Posts

Celebrating Literature in a Virtual Environment – Part 1

This is the first in a two part series about Book Celebrations in the Virtual Learning Environment.  Both posts were written by Kate Merten and Ann Williams. Check back on 5/28/20 for part two! At home learning is the new normal for the remainder of the school year,  and we are all working very hard… Continue reading Celebrating Literature in a Virtual Environment – Part 1

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Ick!: Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings and Defenses by Melissa Stewart

Ick! Might be a word some educators might use when asked to describe parts of the remote learning experience. But one thing is for sure, remote learning has given us the opportunity to get to know our students in new and exciting ways. I've learned that one of my students is a diehard nonfiction fan.… Continue reading Ick!: Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings and Defenses by Melissa Stewart

Writing Camp

K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 10

Hi Writers, Let's learn to make our characters talk in our writing. I can't wait to see what you create today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDaVum24xqk Here are the lists that students created! Please add your writing to our Padlet Board if you would like me to see it. Don't forget to show your writing to your teachers. HAPPY… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 10

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Online Resource: Kids Ask Authors Podcast

The closure of schools over the past few months means many students have missed out on author visits, book signings, and other connections with writers. In a time of social distance, how can we continue making meaningful connections between students and authors? Children’s book author/illustrator Grace Lin has stepped in with a new podcast: Kids Ask… Continue reading Online Resource: Kids Ask Authors Podcast

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 37

Ranger and Hoppy enjoying the spring weather. Hi Writers, Let's add more to our letters to our future selves. Today I'll teach you how to think of the life lessons you've learned while you stayed at home. These will be lessons you will want to remember when you read this letter many years from now.… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 37

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The Journey by Francesca Sanna

Francesca Sanna’s The Journey is a beautiful, powerful book that delivers a timely message to readers.  It describes the journey of a brave family who must flee from their home to escape a war.  Francesca Sanna created this picture book after interviewing refugees in Italy. Educators can use this book to teach a variety of… Continue reading The Journey by Francesca Sanna

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5: Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger – Session 36

Mrs. Blumberg's Anchor Chart Hi Writers, This weekend I watched lots of teaching videos. I love the way Mrs. B teaches kids how to write a letter to their future self. I'll be working on my letter this week and sharing my thoughts with you. https://youtu.be/0hlsrzcYvGQ I hope you share your letters or whatever writing… Continue reading Grades 2-5: Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger – Session 36

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Creating a Buzz Around Books

      Creating a Buzz Around Books May 10, 2020 The laundry hums in the bathroom and I can hear someone walking around upstairs. If I'm distracted, the students probably are as well. One of the many concerns that we have as educators in this time of connected learning is keeping engagement and reading… Continue reading Creating a Buzz Around Books

Writing Camp

K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 8

Hi Writers, Let's learn how to say more when we write so that our readers will enjoy our writing even more. I hope this video makes you smile and helps you make something today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFuCxiMdY4w So many kids are sharing their writing with their teachers and adding it to our Padlet Board. I hope you… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 8

Writing Camp

K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 7

Hi Writers, Let's learn a new way to think of a writing idea. Remember, if you know what to write, please write it. If you don't, you can try one of the strategies we learned or the strategy I teach today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnmY2YyLb-k Don't forget to share your writing with your teacher. If you would like… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 7

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 35 – Editing Choice Board

Hoppy ran across a stream and couldn't get back. Good thing my daughter was happy to go across and carry him back. Hi Writers, I created an editing choice board to help you make your writing the best it can be. To give it a try, watch my video and then click on the boxes… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 35 – Editing Choice Board

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 34

Hi Writers, Thanks to my friend, Mrs. Shepherd, I learned how to make choice boards on Google Slides. To give you more choices as writers, I created a revision choice board. This board is interactive and you can choose what you want to learn. I can't wait to hear how you revise your writing. https://youtu.be/voZ_E4jLf8I… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 34

Writing Camp

Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 33

Hi Writers, Tessa, a fifth-grader, is writing moments from her life to capture this unique time in history. We can learn so much from other writers. I hope you find craft moves to try after reading Tessa's writing. I certainly did. https://youtu.be/GBO2d0czuSs Every day when I open our Padlet board, I smile. There are so… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 33