In my classroom right now, we are finishing up a persuasive writing unit before we dive into test prep.  Leading up to actually writing our own pieces, we spent a great deal of time actually studying the genre of persuasive writing.  We looked at examples...

 compared texts...

and learned about how the format is different is different from other genres.

Once we learned all about the genre of persuasive writing, I started the students with their first big piece.  There are a couple persuasive writing pieces that I do during this unit, but this first one has to be my favorite.  I read the students the book, How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky. (Such a cute book...doesn’t have to be just a holiday read!)

I challenge the students to persuade me of what job/career they should have.  When writing a persuasive piece, I require my students to give me at least three reasons to support their side or argument and at least two pieces of evidence to support each reason.  To help them complete this task, students complete an outline of sorts.

I then model for the students taking the piece from this outline, adding details, and building it into a writing piece.  Finally, we revise and edit our pieces and get ready to publish.

In past years, the students typed up their pieces, printed them out, and that was that.  This year, I found a little Pinterest inspiration from Alexandra Thiessen at The First Grade Sweet Life.  She had the cutest President’s Day persuasive writing piece that she did with her students last year.

Once I saw it, I knew I had to adapt this idea for my fourth graders!

I created some patterns for heads, arms, and hairstyles, but my students took the rest of it and ran!  (Luckily right now, I have student teacher who calls herself the human die-cut machine which helped a lot too!)  They turned out so cute!  Amazingly, they really look like them too!  Here are some of the cutest...

And here they are altogether...

Aren’t they adorable?

Do you like my persusive writing organizer?  You can find it in my Teacher's Notebook store!  Click on the link below...

With only four weeks (not counting Spring Break) until our state testing, I can feel my teammates getting stressed.  In my district, fourth graders must pass all five sections of the C.R.C.T. in order to be promoted.  For my team and I that is usually not a problem.  This year's group of fourth graders is...let's just say...challenging!  We also have more pressure at my school to have students not only pass the test but exceed standards.  Eeek!

Since it was St. Patrick's Day anyway...I decided to surprise my teammates with a little treat to let them know that I'm thinking of them.  I found a treat on Pinterest for some inspiration from "It Is What It Is."  I followed her directions, but I created my own tag because I wanted the wording a little bit different from what Beth has available for download.

I think mine may have turned out just as cute as hers!  The gold at the bottom are Rolos candies then layers of M&Ms (I think M&Ms is still running low on red from Valentine's Day...barely had enough to make all my treats!)  I made enough not only for my teammates but also my nephew's teachers as well.  (Can you believe that cute little basket is from the Dollar Spot at Target!?!  Love Target!)

I am joining my first Linky Party.  This one is for upper grade teachers at...

Click the picture above to go check out this blog! :)

It has been a while since I have posted...1) because being a mentor teacher to a student teacher is hard work (even if she is fabulous!) and 2) my grandmother is has been sick so I have been helping my mom out.  All that being said, between home and school there has been no time!

But today, I went to a fabulous little conference that got me really excited!  My school system has for years had an online high school campus, but now they are in the process of developing a middle grades online program to start next year and an 4th and 5th grade elementary program to start the year after that.  Well, I was selected to be part of the development team for the elementary school program!  I thought I knew a lot about intergrating technology--but boy do I have tons to learn!

Hopefully I will get to share some of the new technology ideas and resources that I learn--my favorite one so far I just got on Friday--
iSpring is an add-on for PowerPoint.  It converts your presentation into a Flash file, so it may be viewed by anyone without PowerPoint.  I am trying to figure out how to post an example.  But it really is easy to use!  I know I am going to be able to use it with my students to publish their PowerPoint presentations.

Speaking of exciting things in the works...I have posted more to my Teacher's Notebook store! 

I am going to post my first free item--it will support the Exploration Passport that I posted today.

Enjoy your Saturday!