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Greetings!
Another month hasn't come and gone. It's not time for another issue of the BIG IDEAS! This is something different--something extra. We're trying out something new. We want to put the spotlight on a teacher who has done something extraordinary--something so fabulous that we wanted to highlight it separately. We're going to call this extra publication the BIG IDEAS! Spotlight.
We hope you enjoy this first edition! Please let us know what you think. And as always, email anytime to share with me the creative teaching ideas you are developing for your readers and writers.
Have a wonderful last week or so before Christmas!
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Spotlight: 6 Traits Idea! |
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6-Trait songs upgrade
Elizabeth Werner, 4th grade teacher at Reagan Elementary  (Brownsburg, IN), initially used Ruth Culham's 6-Traits songs to introduce the writing traits to her students. But her students wanted something more modern. Being a musical learner herself, Elizabeth saw the value in meeting her students' learning needs. She began listening to some popular songs that she knew her students were familiar with. She listened to the choruses and began to consider how she could rewrite the trait songs to fit these new tunes.
When she introduced the new songs to her students, they loved them! After hearing the class perform them, Lori Medjeski, Reagan Elementary's Instructional Coach, spread the word. And when other Brownsburg area teachers heard about the songs, Elizabeth was asked to have her class perform them for the primary students. Knowing this could be a repeating request, Elizabeth decided to have her students create music videos that all teachers could view at any time.
 To make the videos both a musical and visual experience, the fourth graders used props and occasionaly costumes to convey each trait's function in writing. What a great way to introduce the 6 Traits and provide students with a real audience! (Also, notice the backdrop for each video--Elizabeth's growing 6-Traits bulletin board! Perfect placement!)
To say this 6-Trait video project was a success would be an understatement. The videos became so popular that the corporation put them on their shared drive so everyone could access them! And now, Elizabeth and her fourth graders have graciously offered them to you to share with your students. Download a copy of the lyrics and access each individual music video below.P.S. A spceial shout out to the amazingly talented students in Mrs. Werner's class! You did an outstanding job! KUDOS! And Elizabeth, when you're ready to retire from teaching, you may find a career in the music biz! |
| Your Ideas! | |
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Do you have something you'd like to share with other teachers?
Do you have a literacy strategy, activity, or unit that you'd be willing to share? Send me an email to explain the gist. We would love to include photos, videos, mini-lesson ideas, student samples, and whatever else you'd like to send! Thanks for sharing!
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