Consider Your Child's Ability
While it is very exciting when your students can finally put a sentence together using inventive spelling and your word wall writing board, there will be students that will struggle with fine-motor activities. I have witnessed a significant decline in this area over the years, but we still have to work around it. The link below is a great resource in helping you understand where some of your students might be at in terms of their developmental stage.
Valentine Writing Projects
Valentine Writing Project
During the month of February we focus on the importance of friendship and write about it. Each day they are at school, my students will be choosing a different friend to write about. This will be written in their heart-shaped writing book (a sample page displayed on the left). These will need to be printed on 8 1/2 X 14. Templates found on right.
Brainstorming For Ideas
Preparing for Writing Success and Independence
Modeling any activity you wish your students to complete prior to assigning it, is the key to success. Together as a class we would brainstorm for ideas and I would model the writing process. I would also model how I would plan what to draw. We would also brainstorm for possible high frequency words that could be used and I would ensure these are readily available for the students to use as a reference.
Letter Formation Guide
In observing my students I also learned that they need a letter formation guide with a picture clue of what sound that letter makes because they forget when required to transfer this to a writing situation. I frequently saw them referring to our wall where the letters are posted alphabetically with the picture that is related to that sound (the characters found in the alphabet readers). I made printed copies for them to refer to instead of the word wall. You can download this one.
Student Made Valentine Cards
Students wrote each other cards. I provided them with student names and some text they could use if they were stuck. They completed these at the writing center.
I use my personal IPad and laptop.
Thanks for the ideas. I love the writing progression poster. It is a great tool to share with parents. My kids will enjoy making the friends booklet.
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback!
Elaine
I love you Valentine Teddy Bear colouring, also I think the Names and Pictures of students in the writing corner is excellent – thanks for sharing the idea.
I appreciate your feedback.
Elaine
I use an iPad, a mini-computer lab of 8 Mac mini computers and we are getting MacBook Pro laptops this week! We are also getting a flat screen monitor.
Wow! your Valentine Art activity was really fun, my students loved it, Keep posting.