Writer's Eye and Reader's Cafe

Today was the first day this year for me to be away from my sweet kiddos. I spent my day in Common Core  training, secretly wishing I was in my classroom reading and writing with my kids. I am anxious to see how my first day with a substitute went. 

While I was out, I left a fun writing activity for my kiddos. I cannot wait to see their finished products! Before hand, I created my "Writer's Eye" (I) as explained by Jeff Anderson in Mechanically Inclined. (I also have seen it on Julie Ballew's amazing website A Literate Life.) This will be one more resource for them to use as begin working our way to writing our narratives. As we have launched into writing, we have spent many hours talking about where writers get their ideas! Using our writer's eye to look closely at ourselves is a perfect way to gather the ideas that just may lead to that perfect story. 

Yesterday, we revisited Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter.  We discussed how the character Eva had to really be observant to help her become a better writer! Sometimes it is the little things around us that can make the best story. Another great example of using observation in our writing is Twilight Comes Twice by Ralph Fletcher. LOVE, love me some Ralph Fletcher! Such an amazing writer and teacher of writing! I share so many of his ideas every year!

I am really looking forward to the coming weeks as we focus on sensory detail and figurative language. So many great mentor texts ahead of us as we continue adding ideas and strategies to our notebooks. 

OK...so I know I am a little late in the game, but I have finally started my Reading Cafe board. It is not exactly where I would prefer it, but with limited space, I am glad to have it up at all. :) With hardly any wall space in my room, I tend to take over the hallways...

Well, ready to call it a night! Off to steal pin a few more ideas from Pinterest as I drift off to sleep.

Happy Reading!