November Resource Round-Up: Research Writing Resources & Gratitude Warm-Ups and Materials
November Resource Round-Up: Research Writing Resources & Gratitude Warm-Ups and Materials
They say one of the best cures for anxiety is gratitude. Finding the positives and seeking light in any situation is one of the many coping strategies for working within the classroom. It remains one of the strongest sources for grounding in motherhood, and it comes up the most in the month of November.
When stressed, we seek sources of positivity.
Without asking, I know you are stressed. It’s November. Perhaps you had a fall break or maybe you are waiting to get to a Thanksgiving Break to get some time for yourself or your family and friends. The monthly new content in the Writing Mindset Member Area circles around the ideas of gratitude and giving, but also, more specifically it offers you some things to help find positivity.
Writing Focus| Research & Inquiry Writing
Specific Points of Teaching
Research Paper Flow Map Outline (Entire Project Graphic Organizer)
Research Report Checklist (Entire Project Checklist)
Introducing, Citing, and Explaining Evidence
Grading Ideas
Research Single Point Rubric for Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentences and Incorporating Evidence
Essay Correction Codes for Format and Evidence (First Draft-Based on the 6 Traits of Writing)
Essay Correction Codes for Format and Evidence (Second Draft-Based on the 6 Traits of Writing)
Self-Editing Checklist for Students (Introductory)
Lesson /Assignment Ideas
Research Project Idea #1: College tours project. I did this project before our kids would go to Western Michigan University each year. They would research a college of their choice, take a virtual tour, fill out a fake application to college, and then I would send them acceptance letters.
Research Project Idea #2: Animals and habitats. A cross-curricular project might involve doing a project with animals. We had an animal unit in our curriculum so each student would choose an animal, research the habitat, and then take that information into their science classes to continue the project.
Research Project Idea #3: Historical research paper. This unit in the past often went alongside teaching about the Holocaust in World War II. Check out my older student packet here for inspiration. I also did a project with students about The Roaring Twenties that is set up in a similar format.
Research Project Idea #4: Oral history project. Students can dive deep into the interview process to talk to family members about where they come from. This one may be tricky to organize, but researching a part of our own history has an immediate engagement piece for students.
Research Project Idea #5: Activism Research/ Problem & Solution
Research Project Idea #6: Student Choice
Research Project Idea #7: Natural Disasters
Disaster Mini-Research Google Slides Presentation (Make a Copy)
Sports Fiction Book Recommendations | Middle Grade and Young Adult Books
Visit the book recommendation page for more must-read books!
Didn’t have time last month to check in on your classroom library? No worries. You can still grab the Lee and Low Books Classroom Library Inventory to use as a ready-to-go checklist.
Gratitude Resources
Gratitude and Giving Warm-Ups
Click here for pdf resource or click on image.
Grab a set of regular quick write screens here if you prefer standard quick writes.
Need warm-ups for the month of November? This download includes 22 days of visual prompts with images. Teaching tips included.
Gratitude Tickets for Students and Teachers
Click here for pdf or click on image.
Gratitude Log 30 Days
click here for pdf or click on image.
Coffee Teacher Planner and Canva Link 2024
Taking things day-to-day? Grab these bonus sheets that focus on daily planning. I love the one that breaks down the day into quarters. 1st and 2nd quarter go wrong? Don’t worry, coach. You can give yourself a pep talk at halftime.
Click here for a PDF or click on the image.
Interested in Writing Grants or Doing a DonorsChoose Project? Now is the time.
Donorschoose has a great event around Thanksgiving. Now is the time to post a project. Let me make it easier for you. You can see an example project of mine. Please feel free to borrow the setup for your own project depending on the needs of your classroom.
Need to brainstorm? Use the grant outline
Click here for the pdf or click on the image.
Mini-Webinar for Journaling for Your Own Learning
Discover Your Inner Student Through This List of Learning Journaling Prompts
Grab the Manifestation Journaling Task Cards from October
Visit the Journaling for Teachers page.
Make time for self-care in your journal this month with manifestation journaling task cards. Words are powerful-especially the words that we are saying to ourselves on a daily basis.
The Manifestation Journaling Task Cards make manifestation easy. Using any journal or notebook, you can use the task cards to guide your journaling so that you can start to shift to a place of positivity by starting to live your dreams and reality. Manifestations are more than affirmations because they come from a place where you are giving yourself permission to live your dreams in the now.
This is the power of words in action.
How to Use the Cards:
Journaling with these manifestations can be a powerful way to focus your intentions and manifest the life you desire in various areas. When you use these statements in your journal, treat them like they are actually currently happening in your life. These are more than affirmations. They are powerful statements to help you alter how your mind views your present life. They are based on the following areas of life: Significant others/spouses, family and friends, career and business, finances, spirituality, mental health and mindfulness, fun and recreation, physical health and fitness, personal development, physical environment, and hobbies.
This stack includes 20 statements to get you on track to positivity. A duplicate set in black and white is available for easier printing.
Click here to download the PDF or click on the image. Visit the Journaling for Teachers page for more ideas.
Writing Teacher Self-Care: Consider doing a Nanowrimo Project
National Novel Writing Month is in November! You can spend some time thinking about your project and getting excited. The goal of National Novel Writing Month is to write everyday. The traditional way to complete the challenge is to set a certain number of words to hit each day. In theory, you could write an entire book in one month!
There are also other ways to challenge yourself as a writer: Book proposals, poems, journaling, start a blog, memoir work, sketchnotes, research projects, or even social media content. Writing counts as writing!
Nanowrimo is an excellent outlet for self-care as it creates a hobby. When teaching, I found myself not really allowing myself to have hobbies outside of teaching because I felt like there was no time. This hobby contributes to your teaching and is a fun outlet to practice your “teacher as a writer” skills.