A Quick and Quiet Writing Activity

Hi Friends!
So...I don't know if your cuties have been behaving a little bit like mine lately, but Oh. My. Goodness.  Spring has definitely sprung...for everyone and we're all wound a little tight right now.  (Teachers included...'tis the season for uncertainties and changes for next year...if you know what I mean.)  So we had an afternoon this week where I just needed a few minutes of peace and quiet.  I know...I'm asking for too much in a first grade classroom, but I would have been happy with just 5 minutes.  It was our intervention time and since we're still having a very hard time writing complete sentences (in March...insert frustrated tone), I believe God intervened and put this idea in my head...and actually made it work for us.

Here's what you'll need if you want to give it a try:
Dry Erase Boards
Dry Erase Markers (of course)
Eraser
Kiddos with a buddy or a small group (2 kiddos working together worked better though)

All we did was this...One child wrote a question on their dry erase board and the other had to answer the question in a complete sentence.  Now, if either friend didn't understand what was written, they had to shrug their shoulders, or make a face or some other action that let their partner know that they didn't understand and then some revision would take place.

We couldn't communicate with our voices at all.  Sure...it may sound a little harsh...what 1st grade classroom shouldn't have a constant hum happening inside it, but again, we needed a little peace on this particular day.  I was only expecting this peace to last maybe a moment...but we went a full 20 minutes without a peep and as I walked around the room, everyone was on task and when our time together was done and I asked them if they liked doing it, they said, "Yes!"  So if you're in the mood for a little quiet or need something to fill a bit of time so you can catch your breath, give it a try!

This coming week is our last week before our Spring Break...thank goodness.  We're overdue for a bit of a break I think!  :)

Did I tell you that my first graders are tweeting?  I'm hoping to connect with other first grade classrooms next year to develop some friendships so if your class is tweeting, give us a follow and we'll follow you back!

https://twitter.com/1stGradePirates

Have a great weekend!