What are some analogies you have used to make connections with the students? For example:

I am the Costco sampler person. I give you a little taste (the content limit of standards) and hopefully you will buy more (looking deeper into the subject)

I am an academic mechanic, I have to diagnose the issues and solve that problem.

I will be absent next week and need to write plans for teaching point of view (first and third person) to fourth graders. Anyone have activities to share?

Has anyone published a class book with their students? I have done this in the past and it is a good way to help students with opinion writing and to see what they have learned about a particular subject. I use a company called Student Treasures. This is there website: https://studentreasures.com. I am showing pictures of 2 books that I have published with my students. I usually invite parents to my classroom for a book party and each student reads their page. They really enjoy it and it builds community.

How do you get 2nd graders interested in writing? I like to use pictures and have students write down what they see. I also like to use story starters.