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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Six Sentence Stories

My friend, at messymimismeanderings entered a six sentence story hop. I love writing, and also the chance to show my skill with words to go along with my last post. The prompt is, "Mark." I don't know him but will figure something out!




My Six Sentence Story


     "Valentine's Day is coming, and I want to set you up with Mark," my friend said.

     I held my breath for longer than I should have but couldn't stomach the thought of another blind date in which the dude had a dead fly in his ear, looked like the model for a poster I once saw asking, Are you a nerd?, and ordered peaches and cottage cheese at the pie shop. "No thank you!"

    Mimi gave me a I'm-not-letting-you-out-of-it face as she pulled out a photo from her wallet and thrust it in my hand. "That's him!"

    The man in the photo reminded me of a younger version of Mark Wahlberg, so I told her to mark me down for Marky Mark.


This is a blog hop. It's been awhile since I've gone hopping, so off I go. If you like my writing, you can purchase my mid-grade novel, Mrs. Zimmerman's Donuts on Teachers Pay Teachers. I also have a lot of instructional material on writing for kids, here. Furthermore, I love to write stories or reading passages with questions for all grade levels, to sell in my teacher's store, Catch My Products


To quote Mimi, I'm . . .

Linking up with Denise at Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Mark.  

Monday, February 1, 2021

Teaching Using Transition Words in Writing

When teaching kids how to write, make sure they include transition words for smoother prose. Without these linking words, reading a passage feels like being in a car where the driver constantly slams on the brakes. I like to introduce transition words by giving an example of a passage with and without transition words.

Compare the following passages:

Without Transition Words

My mom drove down Poplar Avenue in Memphis. Another driver cut her off without using a signal. She crashed into the other car's passenger door. She got a ticket. It looked like it was the other guy's fault.

With Transition Words (or words to link the sentences together)

As my mom drove down Poplar Avenue in Memphis, another driver cut her off without using a signal. Unfortunately, she crashed into the other car's passenger door. As a result, she got a ticket. I don't think that was fair because it looked like it was the other guy's fault.

Notice the jarring feel of the first passage when the reader comes to a period? This is why kids need to use transition words.

Let your students practice this technique by giving them examples that do not have transition words and letting them practice connecting the sentences, together. I like to use the gradual release teaching method where I model instruction with the passages above.

Next, allow your students to work with you to correct sentences as a group.

We Do
My dad loves to drink coffee in the morning. He puts the cream and sugar in his cup. He pours coffee on top of it. He stirs the mixture with a spoon. I don't think he needs to stir his coffee.

This passage definitely needs transition words! What words could the kids add to it? I like to use time frame words such as, first, next, then, or finally. I will let the success or failure of the kids determine how many practice sentences are needed.


They Do
This means that the students partner up as a team to fix a choppy passage. It's often a good idea to pair a kid who seems to understand the concept with a struggling student. If you are not sure who gets this, how about using a fist or five? Allow students to hold up fingers to indicate how well they are able to use transition words from a scale of zero to five (five being the best). However, be aware that some kids are shy about admitting that they don't understand, so you may want to have the kids close their eyes. Once kids are partnered up, try this.

Benny is a great dog. He goes outside and gets the paper for my mom. He does not pull when we go for a walk. Benny never barks. He acts like Ella Enchanted because he will come when called. He doesn't look like he always wants to come.

With a partner the kids will make this passage a lot smoother.


You Do
This is the final stage of the gradual release teaching method. Kids will work independently to repair a passage and either turn these in for a grade or give the kids a writing prompt and grade that on how they use transition words.

My aunt likes to order items from Amazon. She goes on the site and looks for what she wants. She places the item in the cart and chooses where it will go and how she will pay for it. She sent me a soccer ball that glides across the floors, indoors, without breaking things. I like when my aunt sends me gifts.

This is a mini-lesson format. If you need help on completing a full lesson on using transition words, I have several PowerPoints to do this. Having a PowerPoint while teaching is like having a friend at the board to tell you what to do. Plus, these work great for distance learning since they may be screen shared. I always used PowerPoints for my directed lessons and evaluations. They were especially helpful when feeling nervous because my lessons told me exactly what to do, step by step. For example, you don't have to worry about forgetting to assess learning. I know a woman who got so nervous during an evaluation that she forgot a kid's name. Wow!

Check these out:

Teach kids how to write using transition words in test for smoother prose. #iteachla #iteachtoo #tpt

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Transition-Words-PowerPoint-2390853 This resource is a great PowerPoint for 2nd, 3rd grade, or 4th. It also comes in ActivInspire software for use on the Promethean Board and in Google Slides. Teaching at a distance? No problem. Screen sharing PowerPoints is easy!


Teach Teachers Pay Teachers lesson in writing instruction for 4th, 5th grade, or 6th with the core standards bases lesson for classroom or distance learning through screen share.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Transition-Words-PowerPoint-1764096  Although this historically based resource does not follow the gradual release process, it has a lot of great features to teach transition words to your 4th, 5th, or 6th grade students. This complete lesson lists standards, has a set, multiple practice passages, vocabulary work, and even a writing prompt. Check out what buyers have said about it!


Teach using transition words in writing easily with print or digital worksheets on Teachers Pay Teachers for schools first.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Transition-Words-Worksheets-4949670 If you want worksheets for practice, here are some great ones for 5th grade & 6th. These may be printed or used with Google doc overlays for distance learning!



I have 206 great writing resources at my store, Catch My Products, on Teachers Pay Teachers. Click the link above to see these writing resources. 

New resources are 1/2 off for up to 24 hours after the TpT mailings go out. You can find about these by following my store, Catch My Products. If you'd like to receive free resources, be sure to sign up for my mail list here

Monday, January 18, 2021

Fraction Problems for Elementary Kids on Teachers Pay Teachers

February is coming up, so many of you are looking for ways to teach fractions. Kids often struggle with the concepts surrounding these broken numbers. I like to use slices of pizza when introducing the idea of subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. 

For example, say you have one whole pizza and three individual slices under the heat lamp of your store. If you cut your whole pizza into eight slices, you will have eight more slices or 8/8.

So, your 8/8 plus the 3/8 that are left from the last pie, gives the shop eleven available pieces.

8/8 + 3/8 = 11/8

This, of course, is better explained through pictures.

picture examples to teach fractions to kids #TpT #iteachtoo

I have a great lesson for introducing fractions with regrouping by taking students through steps from a made up pizza parlor. Why not check this out?

Teaching fractions is easy with PowerPoint for screen share and distance learning.


Catch My Products is filled with resources to help you and your kids through fraction season. Another resource is my Mixed Number and Improper Fractions PowerPoint Lesson with a Printable Worksheet. I like this resource because I recently revised it with cute clipart from a new seller on TpT, Palmer's Pix. His clipart is adorable, but since he just started, he doesn't have a lot, yet. I'm looking forward to seeing what he creates.


Easy use lesson to teach students to add fractions and mixed numbers. #teachers #blog


If you teach younger grades, I've got you covered, too. I love this little Fraction Exploration PowerPoint that uses an example from Mr. Hats to showcase fractions according to hat sizes. This shop has great hats for men!

Teaching math is fun and easy with PowerPoint lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers. #education #fractions



Be sure to check out all of my fraction resources in order to get ready for your February math lessons!


Teach kids how to work with fractions in February. Fun lessons to enhance understanding and meet core standards of instruction found on Teachers Pay Teachers. #edu #teacher #teachers