Children love to scribble and draw with pencils, crayons, paper and maybe even on the walls.

I know my grandkids would scribble something on a piece of paper and I would say. "Read this to me." and they would "read" it back usually saying it says "I love you or I had fun or maybe something silly, but they knew what they wrote and what it said.

It is on this premise and experience that you and I know that kids have ideas tucked away in their heads ready to spill out on paper or walls!

With that being said, this is Part One of a Series of Blog Posts about how to encourage your students or children to write more at home and at school using some basic principles I have learned through my years of parenting and teaching! Ideas that you can put into practice immediately after reading this post!

Writing is so important for all children, yet can be so difficult for some.

They want to know how to spell but you as a teacher want to get them to get their ideas on the paper so their ideas...those thoughts, those experiences flow onto the paper easily without hesitation and still what echoes throughout your classroom, "How do you spell dog. How do your spell because? How do you spell where???"

So how do you support your students to feel confident and take risks with their writing? Good question right?

One way I found and I am sure many of you already use this method is to encourage “Kid Writing” everyday...everytime children are writing at home and/or at school.

Some kiddos are hesitant to take risks and write without knowing how to spell, but if you make it non-threatening and support young writers with positive feedback on what they are writing, they will take risks and begin to use creative spelling to spell more difficult words writing the sounds they hear.

This is a win-win situation.

As you circulate around the room, have the kiddos read what they have written. I always asked if it was okay to write adult spelling below their writing so I remembered what they wrote. If that doesn’t work, then write it on a sticky note with their name. Anyway you do it you are learning so much about your students!

Why is this Important?

✎ You can learn so much about a student’s phonological awareness and other writing skills simply by analyzing Kid Writing!

1. Does the student have beginning sounds, ending sounds, digraph, affricates and/or medial vowels?

2. Do they have an understanding of what letters spell a word but maybe they are not in the correct order?

3. Are they using some conventional spellings of sight words?

4. What do they know and what do they still need to learn?

5. Do they have capitals, end marks or an understanding of words and sentences?

I can tell from this sample:

The writer has some conventional spellings of my, his, love and is.
I notice the writer needs to work on blends and digraphs as the writing is missing "br" and "th" in the word brother, also "br" in Brady. "Pr" is missing from practice.
The writer has learned that that the "ea" vowel combination says "e" but it is not used properly in the word he.
Also, the silent "e" in the word name is not used. That is something to work on as well.
The writer does not hear the difference between "n" and "m": at the end of words.
She is more on a Phonetic spelling level., but does understand some conventional spelling words and patterns.

What do you notice?

So much data can be collected to discern where each child is to drive small group writing, phonics and reading instruction!

How can we encourage parents with supporting their children at home with writing?

✎ Now you have your students on board with "Kid Writing" but what about all the parents grinding their teeth with their children spelling words incorrectly at home?

1. Talk to parents: I always chatted at back to school night or in a special meeting, if needed, explaining what spelling expectations I have or the district has for the grade level taught.

2. Send an example of 'Kid Writing" like the one here to show them first hand why this type of spelling is desired.

( this is a free resource in my TpT Shop)

3. At back to school night or conferences show exactly what you can learn using a sample of "Kid Writing" and show what phonemic skills and concepts that example demonstrates.

✎ Have parents consistently encourage writing at home.

To do this send home a list of ways to encourage children to integrate writing in their everyday life.

Here are some ideas to include in your list or for parents to try:

Write lists for gifts they might want at some future point.
Write thank you notes to grandparents, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers...anyone really!
Keep a daily or weekly journal to write about their experiences...what they like to do or don't like, how a sports game or ballet class went.
Keep a feelings journal.
Create the grocery list for family shopping.
Create a "to-do" list for the week.
Have your child write a list of chores that need to be completed.
Create a writing spot in your house or classroom where kids can simply write with various media: pens, colored pencils, markers, magnetic letters or whatever. Don't forget to include different types of paper!
Encourage writing to friends who live far away or not far away!
Label things around the house or draw pictures and hav your children label the picture.
Praise you children for what they do know..."Wow, you knew that beginning sound or ending sound...Way to go!"
Write some journal entries together where you write a sentence and then your child writes a sentence.
If your child wants something, have them write you a note convincing you to get what they want.
Respond in writing to a favorite book, movie or television show...even what they like about a favorite video game!
Make a list of what they observe on a car, airplane or train trip...even what they see around the house, restaurant or even while at a sibling's play, dance or game.
Create a non talking day where everything you need or want has to be written down!
Give your students or children some fancy pens and props to use while writing.

There are so many more ideas that you can come up with to add.

Remember this is the first part of a series focussing on writing at home and at school. There is so much more to come...so don't forget to check back for more. I have so many ideas tucked away to add a little pizzazz to writing at home and at school!

See you next time!

Right from the get-go as soon as you can, make sure parents understand the importance of working together to ensure their child's academic, social and emotional growth.
Try to restate this idea every time you speak with parents/guardians, write an email, send a message through a text or anyway you communicate with parents/guardians.
At the bottom of homework sheets, e-mails, or even at the end of a conversation, I always would write or say,

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Click here for the one Month vanishing BUNDLE available until September 18th.

Forever Freebies are the BEST! These are resources that you cab grab anytime during the year to use with your Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students. They are ready to print and use and will add some fun to your everyday learning! Grab These Here

Need Back to School Resources? Check out these Back to School Freebies HERE. These are available ALL Year but are especially for BTS!

There you have it a Back to School SURPRISE!

That's all folks! Smile...Grab the Freebies and have fun!!

Here are 5 ways to teach, reinforce and encourage responsibility in your classroom from DAY ONE plus a few resources to get you started.

If we want our students to be responsible, we also need to demonstrate responsibility by modeling positive behavior and expectations.

1. Demonstrate responsibility through your actions.

Show that you are organized, ready to begin your day on time, be prepared for everything (think on your feet) and show respect for others in your words and actions.

I know, I know...there are THOSE days that this plan flies right out the window and it becomes "The Day Jimmy's Boa ate the Wash!" We all have those days, but you know what I am saying...simply try your best!

One way to do this is to to talk about how you decide what you are doing each day. Maybe you have a schedule posted where all students can see it.

Share your decision-making processes and the importance of accountability.

Students often emulate the behaviors they observe in their teachers.

So how do I do this?

Accountability or taking responsibility for your actions and accepting the consequences of your choices. It's important for children to learn about accountability so they understand cause and effect.

Explain the purpose: Explain why you've assigned a task or reading.
Set expectations: Be clear about what "good preparation" looks like and might even sound like.
Praise children for taking responsibility by praising specific big or small actions. For example, you could say "I noticed you completed your job this morning. That shows responsibility! " I really appreciate how you put your name on your paper your bed without a reminder!"
Model your classroom expected behaviors the first day of school: Show or have a student model how they are expected to walk in the classroom, where they need to put their bookbags, lunch etc. You might even have a Morning Classroom Procedures Chart as a reminder. Show them the first day or second day and role model throughout the week. i always got a little silly with it to get a chuckle.
Make time to explain the consequences. For example, if your name is not on your paper, I will not know who the paper belongs to. If your paper is not in your folder, then you might lose your work. If you throw a pencil, someone may get hurt.
Allow students to see that we all make mistakes, but that is okay. We learn from our mistakes.

Here are some organizational ideas that ARE READY TO PRINT, REVIEW AND USE.

An organized library with labels so students know what is where is so important for students and knowing classroom procedures for taking and returning books to and from the classroom library should be reole-modeled and practiced before giving your students free range of those precious books!
Take a closer look at these HERE!

Classroom supply labels help YOU as well as your students. if classroom supplies are in a specific spot, it saves time and supports students to find something they need in a timely fashion.If you have a supply manager or individual supply monitors like paper passer etc. as one of your classroom jobs, that is even better.
I NEED THESE!

Send home a brochure with all the information about your procedures in one place. This is easy to edit and use as well as a great way to keep parents and students organized at home. It can be kept on the refrigerator or in a special place in the student's home
Home and school ready to print and use communication forms to keep parent/teacher lines open, which in turn will create a strong positive classroom community. Home and school communication sheets, which includes self-portraits, weekly student self-reflection sheets and weekly news frames for students to communicate to their parents about what they have learned, liked, fun times and goals they are working on in school! YES! THIS IS PERFECT FOR ME!

2. Incorporate Classroom Jobs:

Giving students specific jobs, such as organizing supplies, helping with attendance, or leading a group activity, helps them understand the importance of contributing to the classroom community and taking ownership of the activity they are assigned. They understand if the lunch count person doesn't do their job or the paper passer forgets that it disrupts the procedures and take more time.

3. Set Clear Expectations:

Establish rules and expectations for behavior and academic goals or learning objectives. Consistently reinforce the expectations so students understand the effects of their actions and how these actions support a calm and positive learning environment.

Establishing classroom expectations, routines and rules with your students and discussing the importance of each rule and why we need those boundaries, supports positive classroom management and builds a strong classroom community with responsible learners

When students understand the expectations and procedures of your classroom, you will see a difference. During the first few weeks of school as these ideas and concepts are established, your students will safe, less confused and calmer knowing how the classroom runs.

Check out some classroom expectations resources here. Please scroll down to see all!

4. Encourage Goal Setting and Self Reflection:

Support students in setting social and academic goals. Every so often have each student reflect on their growth and progress with these goals and how they can achieve them or be better with them. This teaches them to take responsibility for their learning and personal growth.

These behavior and academic goal setting sheets for students are perfect for encouraging and supporting your students with setting personal goals and creating a plan to achieve these goals. They can keep them in a personal growth folder and see how much they have grown each semester, week or month!

THESE are READY FOR YOU to SEE HERE!

5. Encourage a Growth Mindset:

Encourage students to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Allow students to see the power of YeT and that everyone and grows at their own pace. How they need to keep trying until they are PROUD! This approach helps students take responsibility for their learning and outcomes.

Hang these posters and pencil icons around the room to refer to as needed to keep those positive vibes present and promote a growth mindset all year long.

Grab these GROWTH MINDSET and POSITIVE MINDSET POSTERS HERE...

These are my favorite posters. They are bright and colorful and can add a little sparkle to any classroom or school hallway!

I hope you back to school is filled with laughter, smiles and lots of sunshine!

Remember even on a cloudy day, the sun is still shining!

Here is a sample of what they might look like in YOUR classroom.

Here are a few extra Back to School September resources you might like to start the year!

Before I dive into the background of this post, I want to share with you...

5 Reasons Why All Children Can Benefit From Social Stories and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Activities

1. Improved Emotional Regulation:

Social stories and SEL activities teach children how to identify and manage their emotions, which in turn helps then handle stress, anxiety and frustration more effectively...that is not to say these emotional feeling will disappear, but when they come, children will understand what to do to handle these "MUDDY FEELINGS."

2. Enhance Social Skills:

These stories and activities support students to understand and recognize social cues, develop empathy, and learn appropriate behaviors for interacting with others. This is so important for building positive relationships and effective communication skills. Teaching children to "USE THEIR WORDS" and react in a more positive way to negative situations is key to deal effectively with various emotions that come into play.

3. Increase Self-Awareness:

SEL activities encourage children to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings, which is so important in today's society. These reflections foster greater self-awareness, which is the foundation for personal growth and making informed decisions in all areas of life.

4. Better Academic Performance:

My experience and research has demonstrated that students who participate in SEL activities, perform better academically because they are able to focus their energy on the task at hand and understand their feelings. They develop a growth mindset, which enables them to realize that is okay if they need more time or that they are not there...YET! These improved social and emotional skills teach resilience, to keep trying, support motivation, which leads to better academic learning outcomes.

5. Long Term Mental Health Benefits:

Early exposure to social and emotional learning builds a strong foundation for mental health. Children who learn these skills are better equipped to cope with challenges and understand what they can do to help themselves cope with certain challenges. If learned at a young age, these skills will stay with them throughout their lives.

The Background or Skills Needed Were Always There, But Became More Prevalent NOW!

I remember years ago when my son and I would cuddle in a rocking chair and read books...lots of books. Some of his most favorite books that we read over and over again were part of a series called Sweet Pickles by Richard Hefter. I have to admit. I loved reading them over and over again.

The ones we loved the most were Accusing Alligator, Very Worried Walrus, Me Too Iguana, Who Can Trust You Kangaroo, Moody Moose Buttons, Turtle Throws a Tantrum, Jackal Wants Everything and Yakety Yak Yak Yak. You can make some great inferences and predictions by these titles.

This was in 1977-78 and as a parent I wanted to be assured that my kids understood social emotional interactions and were prepared for friendships and the ups and downs that can happen with family and friends.

Little did I know that 12 Years later, I would soon be using these cute characters to decorate my reading station and reading many of this series to teach positive character traits and social skills to my first graders!

Move forward to 2020...Covid came and Covid went. Covid came and Covid went.

Kids worked remotely, children worked at school and some experienced a hybrid schedule and many schools were shut down completely for a good amount of time.

I was happy I was retired and pretty much living at my daughter's house to help her and her husband maneuver being a principal and teaching from home with a toddler.

I thought how will teachers and parents ever be able to do this, but because teachers will be teachers and parents will be parents, they finished with flying colors and I was so proud of all the teachers and parents I knew!

It was confusing to say the least and as a former teacher and current grandparent, I tutored on Zoom with s

neighborhood kids and my grandkids! I really DO NOT want to relive the severe COVID days, but they had a huge impact on all of us.

Let's think about this..there was something missing during this time! What was it? Yes! Social interaction... with peers, teacher role models even parents as many of them were also working from home.

So now our children or students are back to school full time and what I hear most from teachers and parents or even teachers who are parents is:

My children/students missed at least a year of school, they are behind in not just academics, but also with character education development including social emotional skills. (I am sure you are hearing these exact statments on the news as we speak.

So now teachers are faced with another job which is differentiating academic skills for various levels within each grade and teaching and supporting social emotional learning. This is not new to teachers but the levels within each classroom in these areas are more spread out and teachers need resources that can be differentiated for all learners!

Now, you are probably wondering where I am going with this...well...many children (not all) can have difficulty with these social/emotional skills in normal situations.

So my point is every child can use support with understanding positive character traits as well as social and emotional skills. I AM SAYING THAT ACADEMICS IS IMPORTANT, BUT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT IF NOT MORE!

These skills are NOT just for students who are identified as having issues in this area of learning.

Children are tethered to their electronic devices and are connected to their friends in a different way than when we were young or our own children were younger.

I have watched kids posing for Instagram, dancing on TikTok and constantly communicating electronically with friends and family. I am not saying this needs to totally stop, but maybe we need pull back on the reins a bit.

Interpretation? We need to spent some time at home and at school teaching and focussing on social skills....what's appropriate and what's not and there in itself is a problem. YES that has changed too!

I am the first to admit that I spend more time than I need to on social media. It has been a trend and we have all jumped on the bandwagon and when we promise to jump off the wagon...we jump right back on.

Does this sound familiar? YES? Then you need what I am about to share with you!

Social Stories are a Great Way to Teach Young Children Positive Behaviors and to Recognize Negative Behaviors

Using Social Stories or activities gives children/students concrete examples of positive choices they can make when faced with everyday situations in school and at home.

These teachings are NOT just for school use. They can help every parent and teacher who have faced challenges with types of behaviors at home and at school.

A social story can be an effective way to teach students and children appropriate behaviors for different social situations.

Explicit social skill and character trait instruction by using social stories can give teachers a way to demonstrate expectations in a story format. Once the social piece is in place, the students are more ready to learn academic skills.

I started creating Social Stories long before Covid. Stories for my students to learn and understand expected behaviors as well as to suggest strategies to support behaviors that need to be regulated or reactions to triggers that are not as big a deal as children perceive.

Some of the lessons I have created are:

Tattling

I Can Show Respect

Recess Expectations: Indoor and Outdoor Recess

Indoor Recess on Cold Days

Sometimes I Don't Get What I Want

Voices We Can Use In School

I Can Ignore Distractions

Hands are Not for Hitting

Bus Safety

Blurting, Calling out and Interrupting

Classroom Rules and Expectations

Cafeteria and Lunch Expectations

Manners Matter

Because I believe so strongly that we can't assume that children have and understand these important skills, it is important to teach these skills and behaviors so that our children can be their best selves, have positive interactions and outcomes and be active members of their classroom community and family.

With that being said, if you would like to take a look at these social lessons and stories to see if they might work for your students or own children or grandchildren, click each title above and VOILA you will be able to check them out!