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Where the Wild Things Learn

Diving into January-Plans for the first week back!

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I’ve been in denial for a few days, but I think I should finally come back to the real world and admit that school starts back up tomorrow {Unless we get snow/cold days. fingers crossed because it just might happen!}

I know my kiddos will be as anxious, out of the loop with routines, and exhausted as me this week, so I wanted to create a fun but meaningful week of lessons!

We will be covering two topics this week: Figurative Language and Sequencing.

I am planning the sequencing for the first few days, then diving into figurative language at the end of the week. This way, if school is cancelled, we won’t be starting half a unit. I will blog about all of the FUN we have with Figurative Language later this week {it is my FAVORITE thing to teach and every year my kiddos write it down as one of their favorite units.}

So how do you teach sequencing to anxious kiddos at a variety of levels? You make it winter themed and fun!

The other day I was spending quality time with my Pinterest board, and discovered this little gem that I pinned a little while ago.

I am going to take this idea and adapt it for my fourthies. 
A few weeks before break, we switched our classes around. Before, we switched by homeroom. I quickly discovered that this year I have reading levels ranging from 8th grade to 1st grade in my room, and this was going to be extremely hard to differentiate when they were all in one room. So, we grouped our students in more homogenous classes, and we switch this way. So I have one group in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. Within the classes I do small group A LOT, so my groups are very level/skill specific. Back to the lesson…
I went to the library and got a few snow themed books that are great for each of my groups! I have 4 groups in each class, so here are the books I will be using in order of difficulty for my groups (the lower of my upper class will be using the same as the higher of my lower class):
{This one may seem a little easier, but with little words it opens up a WORLD of possibilities for my higher kiddos to make connections and inferences to do their sequencing}
During small group I will be reading the book with the group, and we will discuss the events, inferences and connections they make.
At their next station, they will be working independently on a sequencing worksheet to show their individual knowledge of the events in the book, and to use to make their final copy group snowman. Here’s the graphic organizer I made for them to use and you can get it for free by clicking here or on the picture below!
At their third station, students will be working on Study Island, completing a sequencing assignment.
Their fourth station they will be doing my Jump Start January Centers!

The following day, I will give each group their 3 white circles and top hats to assemble. During one of their stations they will work together to complete the snowman with their events in order! We will present them to the class and hang them in the hall! 🙂 I can’t wait to see how they turn out {I promise to share pictures!}
How will you get your kiddos back in the groove? I hope we all have a great first week back!
Check back later this week to see all the fun we will do with Figurative Language and how we will tie it to winter, too with these fun books!

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Comments

  2. I teach 3 different groups of 4th grade ELA and we have our classes grouped similar to the way you do now. It makes such a big difference for everyone! You've got some great ideas for sequencing and those all look like great books! Thanks for the suggestions!
    Courtney
    Polka Dot Lesson Plans

    Reply

  9. What a great way to get your kids back into the groove at school! I love all the winter themed books you are using. I am going to have a hard time getting back into the swing of things myself. I am on my 3rd snow day this week! We had an ice day the last day before break, so I have had the longest Christmas vacation ever!

    Stephanie
    Forever in Fifth Grade

    Reply

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