Have you started writing opinion pieces as part of the common core? This was our first year to teach opinion as a writing genre and I have really loved it. Usually, we do how-to as this time of the year but that has gone away. I was kinda upset about not teaching how-to anymore because there is so much that you can do with it. But I now love teaching opinion. (There’
This is one of my favorite writing pieces that I have ever read. I’ve read it to tons of people just because I love it so much. Obviously, she was very opinionated about this topic. I was out at a conference with the kids did this so I’m impressed that she wrote so much with a sub in the room.
If you can’t read it, this is what it says:
In my opinion, it is better to be a reindeer than an elf because an elf does not get to guide a sleigh and see people’s houses. A reindeer can. People believe in reindeer more than elves. People sing about reindeer. Reindeer fly with Santa not elves. Reindeer have babies. Elves do not. Reindeer can fly really really really fast. Reindeer run really really really fast too. Reindeer can guide Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. Elves can’t fly and are not strong enough. Reindeer take it easy. Elves do all the work. Reindeer can fly to a lot of houses. Elves can’t. Reindeer are the best.
So cute! Anyways, I just had to share that because it gave me such joy. I have made several other opinion prompts for Christmas and some Christmas books. You could probably also use some of them without the books.
Clipart from DJ Inkers and Scrappin Doodles
THANKS for all you do!
βHeather
Swinging Through Second Grade
hdawntn@hotmail.com
These are awesome! Thanks!
Christina π
Check out my blog!
Apples, Books, and Crayons
applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com
These are great! Perfect for the next week before break!
I love this activity and all your things! I'm new to 2nd grade this year and your blog has been a life-saver. I've always taught kindergarten, but I'm really loving 2nd! Thanks for all your hard work and for sharing!
~Wendy
sdwd727@gmail.com
Love these! We just started opinion writing this week, so your timing is perfect! Thank you π
Kate
EduKate and Inspire
These are fabulous!! I will love to use these with my kids over the next two weeks!!
Very cute! Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic! Perfect timing! We just started opinion writing this week. Thank you for making next week easier for me.
Christmas blessings.
I agree, I would totally rather be a reindeer than an elf! Thanks for sharing these! I'm going to use them over the next two weeks.
Sara π
Smiling In Second Grade
Thank you for sharing something new about an opinion piece! This was really great!
Amy Howbert
Little Miss Organized
amyhowbert1@gmail.com
Oh these will be great for next week! Thanks for sharing, Sara
WOW, Christina! This is definitely a gift for all of us-your happy followers!
These are awesome!!! We read all of these! You are the best, thanks so much for this! Just in time for the holidays!
Nicole
A Frenzy of Fun in 1st Grade
Thanks. These will be great to use the last {short} week before break!
We have been opinion-writing too! I used to teach persuasive writing and then it went away but came back as opinion writing. I enjoy it and think the kids do too. This week we are exploring the world of book reviews. Hello Amazon and Spaghetti Book Club! Next we will be writing our own reviews and maybe adding them to the World Wide Web. π Thanks for the cute freebies!
Thanks so much!
gobstoppersrock@gmail.com
Thanks for making life in the classroom a bit easier! You are awesome!
Have all these books! Can't wait to try your prompts.
Thanks so much! Just what my kids need.
These are wonderful! Thanks so much for creating them.
http://sandyslearningreef.blogspot.com/
Thanks courtney! these look great π I love when i find just what i was looking for online. Thank you for finding the time to do this for other teachers!!
Carla
Thank you so much! I was working on writing lesson plans for next week. You saved the day once again.
Thank you for some meaningful but fun activities
I love this! This is exactly what we are working on right now and I love how you tied it into Christmas! thank you so much!
love this! we were going to do would you make a good elf, but i like yours even better! Thanks for the great freebies!
What perfect timing! I just read this to my class today. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity! Merry Christmas!
Angie
Thanks, these are great. Perfect for a quick write.
Those are so cute. Thank you.
Terri
thefirstgradeprincess.blogspot.com
Love, Love, Love! Thank you for sharing!
Kristy
kristyteach@gmail.com
Thanks, Courtney! π
Elementary Adventure
So cute…looks like I have some more holiday books to pick up! =)
Thanks for sharing these. We are also working on this type of writing and it is always great to get new prompts.
These are so great! Thank you! It's also nice inspiration for other non-Christmas opinion writing prompts. Thanks for sharing!
These are great and just what we've been working on. Thanks!
Thank you for these! Using one today!!
Thank you for sharing! These look great!
Teachin' First
Thanks for sharing these fabulous opinion writing activities!
I'm a little late on downloading this, but I can't wait to use it at some point in my classroom! Thank you π
Laura
LauraJBreunig@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing!
I love the book ideas too. I can't wait to use next year.
Opinion pieces are new to us also. Looking forward to using these next year. Thanks so much for sharing.
Love these!!!! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing these. My second grader isn't much of a writer (homeschooled), but he'll be working on this tomorrow!
Thanks! These will be great for our common core writing standards. π
Awesome!!! I just wish I had found your blog before Christmas – maybe some January ones??? π
Awesome!!! I just wish I had found your blog before Christmas – maybe some January ones??? π
As a guest teacher, I'm pinning your blog because of the great ideas and because it gives me some insight into what students are working on (beyond looking at the state standards)!
I love that you're making writing fun for your students. I was formerly a journalist and one community newspaper would work each Christmas season with second-grade classrooms. The editor and teacher would come up with a theme and have students write a one-page paper which the newspaper would publish just before Christmas, usually accompanied by a class photo.
As long as you have signed photo releases on file for each student already, this is a lot of fun. Students are motivated to do their very best work and less resistant to editing their work. People in town love to read what they wrote, especially if students are encouraged to be imaginative and aren't simply copying an example.
I always enjoyed watching how thrilled students and their families were to see their work in print! Often the assignment centered on Christmas wishes (or for Valentine's Day, the students tell what "love" means), but your idea about elves vs. reindeer would work really well!
Thank you so much for your creavtive ideas!
Mooseltoe writing was exactly what I was looking for with a cute graphic. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for creating such wonderful freebies!
I can't wait to use these with my second graders! They will have fun writing with these prompts. Thank you so much!
Great prompts
Thank you. This is just what I was looking for.