Blogger Buddies Linky, 3/12

It's Wednesday and that means it's time to share something fun or inspiring that you saw on another blog this week. Remember, primary teachers hold hands and share AND they are very good at following directions.

1. Share something on your blog that you liked on a friend's blog. 2. Ask permission before you snag photos from the friend's blog. 3. Always put the friend's blog button and link it. 4. Always put the linky image linked to smartkidsgammons.blogspot.com 5. Make sure you link up below!
Here's my share from ABC's and Polka Dots. 

I'm sharing a wee bit of a writing activity that seemed just right for this lucky time of year. Jill says she just pulls names and assigns each child a friend to write about. You can even download the page HERE. 

Thanks, Jill! I feel lucky I found your blog and your writing idea.

An InLinkz Link-up

Stages of Beginning Writers and "L" FREEBIE

At my school, the first few weeks are filled with state and local assessments. Whew! I'm glad those are done. While they are super time consuming, I admit they are valuable. I've learned that my kids are low on phonemic awareness and may need more work with letter names and sounds than last year's group. My school uses Saxon Phonics and the first letter is Ll. This week we worked on the first page in our Animals A to Z books. Take a look at the different levels of my writers:

Writer who hears initial sounds...

My song is about my teachers.

Writer who hears initial and ending sounds...

My song is about giraffes.

Writer who hears the vowels and is starting to use some sight words and conventional spelling.

My song is about the jungle. (What is in the jungle?) He likes the trees and the sky.

I love the challenge of coaching kids with their writing every day!

By the way, if you are interested in these prompts, you can get them in page or booklet form.

Here is the L page to get you started.

Mercy Watson Fact and Opinion

Our love for Mercy Watson books continues. We've read all six books now and we're waiting for more! 

Here's a peek at our latest writing activity related to these books. Oh, how I wish I could include a video link...My kids love to act and speak like Eugenia—the grumpy, older sister who often gives her opinions about what pigs should and should not do. It is absolutely hilarious to watch a child raise her fist, stick out her mouth (as if toothless) and say, "In my opinion..." 

You'll have to imagine my kids drama, but here is a look at their writing. On the left side of each page, you'll see facts about real pigs. On the right side of each page, you'll see Eugenia's opinions about pigs.

Fact: Pigs can be white and brown and pink.
Opinion: In my opinion, pigs should not wear necklaces.

Fact: They can be pink with black spots.
Opinion: Pigs do not belong in houses.

Here's the chart we made as a class that helped them along with their independent writing.

If your kiddos also enjoy these books, please leave a post!