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    • word consciousness
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    • creative writing
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    • numbers
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      • teacher appreciation
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toys! toys! toys! — list writing

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Most children–even those who might dodge homework and would rather pick up a baseball instead of a pencil–are interested in writing a Wish List for Santa at this time of the year.

I know my kiddos get all starry-eyed any time they get their hands on a sales circular when the Sunday paper arrives. So I decided to have Maddy and Owen go through the fliers and make a Wish List for the holidays.

I had them use the skinny, unimposing, kind of unusual rolls of receipt paper that my amazing mother-in-law brought over for us a while back, and I just wanted Maddy and Owen to write, write, write.

  • Toy List Writing: The sales circulars were spread across the table, and I said, Okay my friends. Let’s look through these advertisements and circle everything and anything that we want. I mean–any and every toy you think you’d like to have. Circle the toy and words near them.

The directions were simple enough, and Maddy and Owen–as one could imagine–went toy-circling crazy.

Maddy’s list.
Yes, it includes a dog and a cat. No, she will not receive either.

After we examined the toys, talked about what they had their little gimmie-gimmie-gimmie eyes on, I said, Now let’s use these markers and write down all of the toys we want. The rolls of paper are skinny, so your lists might get pretty long.

Maddy understood and immediately got rolling, but Owen needed a little more direction with what words to write down on his list. Soon, it became more of a ‘who can write the most words’ kind of event, but as fast as it began, it was over–when we heard naughty Golden and Guinea making strange noises and speeding around in their cage.

Hey–it was something while it lasted. . .

My goal here was not letter-writing; that’s a whole other super-important lesson for another day.

It was not gratitude, giving, or kindness; I didn’t have time for that today, although now looking back it might have been nice for them to make lists for gifts they’d like to give friends and family members–and it might have been just as easy.

Really, my focus for the ten minutes I had was to get Maddy and Owen to write. Plain and simple. I wanted them to practice their letters–uppercase or lowercase, I didn’t care–just find the important words and copy them. That’s it.

So that was our teeny-tiny–borderline pathetic–bit of learning for the day, but I’ll take what I can get at this crazy-busy-fun-nutty-completely-magical-and-exciting time of the year.

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:almost too cute to eat– princess & the frog cupcakes
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Quick! Thereโ€™s still time to see if your area is registered to participate in this yearโ€™s National Civics Bee! #ad

Click the link in my bio to learn more and to grab a TON of free resources for families and educators. 

This yearโ€™s registration deadline is approaching, but you still have time! 

What better way to get students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities? 

https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

#CivicsBuzz #strongcommunities #middleschool #civicsbee #teachersofIG
View
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Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

The National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

Iโ€™m thrilled to have partnered with @mom_select and @civicsbuzz for this exciting campaign! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™

#CivicsBuzz #middleschoolers #teachersofIG #communitypartners
View
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Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

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View
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How can people with dyslexia learn to read? ๐Ÿค”

Here are the 3๏ธโƒฃ elements that reading instruction should contain in order to be most effective for students with dyslexiaโ€”

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #readingteacher #teachreading #dyslexiaawareness
View
Open
Lately when I find four leaf clovers, Iโ€™ve been leaving them. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

#yougotthis #keepyoureyesopen #itsthelittlethings #kilpattyluck
View
Open
Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
View
Open
What are some of the common signs of dyslexia?

Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
View
Open
True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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