How Do You Start Writer's Workshop?

Each year, "back to school" means spending countless hours pushing furniture around my classroom, hanging bulletin board paper, and spending more time on ladders than on the ground.  I also distinctly remember it as the only time when "adult music" blasts all day long.  Once the kids arrive, Dr. Jean it is.

But after classroom set up and parent packet copying comes the time when you sit down and look at your plan book and try to get back in the swing of things.  And that's the hard part.  I finally, after three years, put my beginning of the year writing plans into a comprehensive document!  I'm not going to lie...I started this three years ago.  And then...school would start.  And I'd forget about it.  Confession:  I have been printing the unfinished "ugly version" (no clip art, no cute fonts) of this just so I could use the lesson plan part.  But it's finally done!

Introducing...

Common Core Mini Lessons and More: Writing {Getting Started Unit}

This unit is JAM PACKED with 124 pages of writing resources to help you establish writer's workshop routines and help your students get into the habit of working independently.  I came up with a list of skills that I like to teach my students, and then came up with an order, anchor charts, checklists, and other accessories.  

Mini lessons include:

- What is Writing Time?
- Adding Details
- Stretching Words
- Using a Word Wall
- Using an Alphabet Chart
- What Writing Time Looks/Sounds Like
- Sharing Writing
- When I’m Done
- Extending Writing Across Several Days
- Using Known Words to Spell New Words
- Using Complete Sentences
- Long Words vs. Short Words
- Using Spaces
- Using End Marks
- Using Capital Letters
- Using an Editing Checklist

And...you have the opportunity to get it on sale!  Be sure to shop the big sale!

August Currently and Free Nail Polish

Well...in the words of the wise and talented Cara Carroll...

Couldn't have said it better myself!  The way I see it, I've been doing my readers a favor, because why post if I have nothing new to report?  I might as well wait until I can share something of value.  I have spent the summer doing a lot of planning and coming up with goals and timelines for *finally* finishing some of the product on my ideas list, as well as some fun new freebies for you all!  One will be released within the next week and is perfect for back to school...that's all I will say about that.  ;)

It's time for Currently!

Link up with Farley!

Listening:
To Pandora for now.  Planning to go outside in a bit, but right now Pandora is keeping me entertained.  Speaking of which, have you ever used Pandora in the classroom?  Angela from Hippo Ray in Second Grade did a blog post on it and ever since then, I've been intrigued!

Loving:  Sunshine.  Vitamin D.  A healthy glow.  And the freckles that come along with all that of course.  It's my favorite part of summer.  Sometimes I feel like a solar powered Energizer bunny because of how much I love my sunshine.  (Disclaimer:  I do take sun safety seriously and use LOTS of sunscreen!  Everything in moderation!)

Thinking:

About the best plan to attack classroom set-up.  Thoughts?  Right now, I'm thinking:

1. Move big furniture/rugs.  Get perimeter of room set-up.
2. Arrange desks in middle of room. 
3. Set up walls (whiteboards/bulletin boards, word wall, posters).
4. Set up outside of room (door, wall space, locker tags, etc.)
5. Get materials on shelves organized.
6. Get papers and teacher desk area organized.
7. Print everything I have collected this summer.
8. Laminate as needed.
9. CUT.
10. Label student items (cubbies, desks, lockers, nametags, labels, etc.)  This HAS to be last because you ALWAYS have students added right up until the first day of school.

Did I forget anything?????????????????  :/





Wanting:

My August Julep Maven box.  It's been shipped and is on its way, but waiting is hard!  Love at first sight. Coming from a girl who gets bills and credit card advertisements in the mail, I felt so spoiled to see this arrive!  I have seen Kate from The Small Things Blog get Julep boxes before, and I always kinda secretly wanted that little purple box to show up at my door.  And when it does, you feel like ROYALTY.

The best part?  Once you get monthly boxes you can customize...for example in July I picked colors from three different boxes!

Everyone claims that it is the best nail polish and that it "wears like a gel", and after trying mine...that's all I can say too!  The pictures don't do the nail colors justice.  I love them!  The reason I decided to try it is because they have a promotion going on right now where new customers can get their first box free hoping that they'll continue to pay for monthly boxes to arrive.  Extending is strictly optional...cancel by the 24th of the month to stop shipments.  Like I said before, I have always thought about starting a coupon blog, so I guess now is my chance to share the love.

To get a free box:
Visit Julep and select JOIN MAVEN.
Take the beauty quiz or click SHOW ME ALL STYLES.
Select MAVEN MONTHLY plan.
Use code FREEBOX at checkout and the price will drop to $0.00!  (Pay only shipping - $3.99)






Needing:
A classroom fairy.  To help with the heavy lifting and high reaching and just expedite things in general.  And maybe bring me a Starbucks :)  A girl can dream, right?

1st Day:
Approaching too quickly.