Real Teachers Learn: Writing and Retirement time!

**Disclaimer: In a series of unfortunate events, I couldn't find the blog I wanted to link, couldn't figure out how to image capture on this computer, couldn't locate the pictures I had, and my computer stalled for about 30 minutes... I fought with it for over and hour, and somehow got this posted, so I'm not sure who won. Anywho... not quite what I had in mind, but I'm going with the flow.

First up, it's Workshop Wednesday with Ideas by Jivey so I'm **trying** to link
up to share just a few quick resources. I'll start with... I really don't like writing (and yes, I see the irony in blogging about it). It's not that I don't like what I write, it's just that I hate the physical (hand)writing of papers. Computers were a great invention. If only I had computers for my students to use during writing time, and then we wouldn't have to make multiple drafts and all that jazz. This discussion might be for another day.

Previously I blogged about a brief system I use for creative writing time. The only major change I'm making for next year is that I will put it together in a notebook instead of a file folder. Before we begin, I do a status of the class to see what everyone is working on. Some students are working on a piece, but some are in need of ideas.

One of my favorite ways to get ideas is from Back to School Night at the beginning of the year. I give parents five blank address labels to write down writing ideas for their student. Then I put those on the inside/outside cover of their writing folder (notebook) for ideas. Almost every student in my class has used every idea their parents left for them!

Scholastic's Story Starters is a great website for creative writing prompts. I actually just saw this in use in a 3rd grade classroom the other day and the students loved it. We are using this in the future!

We have another great blog with writing prompts that I just spent way to many minutes of my life trying to locate, so I'll have to get back to you on that one...

And it's retirement time!
...I mean, not for me, because that would be really soon and I just don't make that much $$. It does sound dreamy sometimes though, doesn't it?

It's the end of the year which means some teachers are getting close to their final few days of school FOREVER. Our school puts together a memory book with scrapbook pages from each class, and every year I'm busting my booty to find something to (thoughtfully) throw together. This year I decided that is silly and I should have something on hand for this yearly event...so here it is! It's a quick and easy (I feel like I say that a lot...) activity for students to complete and put together in a little booklet. We are going to do it in scrapbook page format using the little retirement idea slips and half page book cover- I'll post a picture when we have it completed in case that doesn't make any sense. Click on the picture to find it at my store.