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How To Do Spelling H.W. in a Notebook and Visual Plans

After Christmas break, I decided it would be time for my students to do their spelling homework in a notebook.  I usually send home a spelling packet, but I noticed my students were really struggling with writing properly in their writing notebooks.  They were all over the place!  I would help one student, get him/her on the right track and two minutes later he/she would start a sentence in the middle of the paper again. The students really just needed more practice and exposure to writing in a notebook.  So, I decided to go old school and assign the spelling homework to be written in a homework notebook.   I was also hoping this would better prepare them for second grade.   Do you think my genius plan worked and they miraculously learned to write on the lines and start at the red margin?   You are probably laughing at me!  NO it did not work.  The homework was just as all over the place as the writing in class.  What to do?  I needed to send home a clear visual and written expectation for spelling homework.  How were the parents and the students supposed to know what I was looking for, if I had not told them?!  A few photographs later…

This letter is going home with all the students.  I did a whole class model on chart paper, too!  Fingers crossed it works.  Click above to download the letter for free – and sorry,  I will not make it editable or customize it.  I understand you wanting to ask, but I just thought I would save you some time and effort by laying it out there –  that the answer would be a big NO. 
On to the visual plans!  You can click the pictures to download them. 
*This plan book format is called “Erica.”  Click here to check it out in Ms. M‘s A Teacher’s Plan Store.
**My visual plans are inspired by DeeDee Wills’ visual plans.  
I look forward to trying these new activities this week:
DeeDee‘s Penguin Themed Fluency Packet
And Sarah’s Smug Pugs
I already made her craftivity into an art center!  How cute is that pug?  The kids loved the word family doodle book, too! 

 Have a great week everyone!

Filed Under: Free Downloads, Uncategorized, Visual plans

Previous Post: « Visual Plans Post Delayed & Just Be AWESOME
Next Post: Pirates, Penguins, and Pugs: Photos from My Week »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mrs. Sheehan

    January 29, 2013 at 12:41 am

    That is such a great way to save on paper but keeps our kids practicing their spelling words! Thanks for steering me towards that pug file 🙂 That carftivity is too cute:)

  2. ~DeAnne~

    January 29, 2013 at 12:42 am

    I think I saw Fundations in your plans. Is that Wilson's Fundations? Do you do it whole group?

    ღDeAnne
    First Grade and Fabulous

    • Erica Bohrer

      January 29, 2013 at 12:47 am

      Yes, I do whole group and then a bit during guided reading. One of my goals for next year is to get better at it!

  3. FirstGradeBlueSkies (Jennifer)

    January 29, 2013 at 12:42 am

    LOVE those pugs!
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

  4. Julie Marciniak

    January 29, 2013 at 12:46 am

    Erica, I really like your idea of a weekly spelling Notebook. I currently use Scholastic's first grade weekly spelling homework packets, and like that alot but a notebook would also help with writing in journals too! I'm even thinking the black and white composition notebooks for 59 cents at our local retailer would do the trick! Thanks for sharing!
    Julie
    Ms. Marciniak's First Grade Critter Cafe

  5. Bridget S

    January 29, 2013 at 1:05 am

    Your spelling notebook is a great idea! Hopefully practice will make perfect 🙂 Love the Smug Pugs!

    Bridget
    Literacy Without Worksheets

  6. Ramon Abajo

    January 29, 2013 at 1:08 am

    Cute penguin, Erica!

    Best,
    Ramon
    Fonts 4 Teachers
    Fonts 4 Teachers in TPT

  7. Amy J

    January 29, 2013 at 1:56 am

    Thanks for the idea! I have tons of composition books stockpiled but my babies writing in them makes me crazy. I LOVE that pug (and seeing your visual plans!)

    Thank you!

    Amy
    What Happens in First Grade

  8. Deedee Wills

    January 29, 2013 at 2:14 am

    Thank you sweet friend for the shout out!!!

  9. Albuquerque Amy's First Graders

    January 29, 2013 at 4:35 am

    I love the idea of using pictures in the letter to the parents. Often it is hard to describe what you want. Pictures make it much easier to understand.
    Very clever,
    Amy

  10. Kim Jemmings

    January 29, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Erica,
    My first grade team loves the notebook idea, but we were wondering what type of notebook do you use? Thanks for the great idea…and for including the letter too.

  11. Kelli

    January 30, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I love this idea–anything is notebooks is a winner!! Thank you for sharing!

    Kelli
    Tales From a Traveling Teacher

  12. Ms. Richards

    January 31, 2013 at 6:48 am

    What a great idea for spelling! This could eliminate so much confusion.

    Thank you for sharing.
    Krystyn
    Ms. Richards's Musings

    msrichardssmusings@gmail.com

  13. Tania

    February 3, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    I must begin spelling. My kiddos write some funky words and i am about to send them to 3rd grade. Yikes!
    tania
    My Second Sense

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