We did a think aloud over "Froggy's Halloween". The kids really enjoyed this book and listening to me share all of my costumes through the years. Of course... they started sharing all of their past costumes and what they would be this year and what would be best for Froggy's costume. They were trying to predict what he was going to be at the end of the book. I always try to do think alouds to get the kids to relate it to themselves. :)

My kindergarteners love to "write" in their journals! I do a think aloud on the SmartBoard, demonstrating what a good journal might look like at this time of the year. I start off with drawing a picture. I ask the kids to give me ideas about how to make my pictures have more details. Then, I label things in the picture (i.e. myself, a tree, a book, etc.) with the help of "turtle talking" or "stretching" out words. I may also challenge myself to write a sentence, using sight words we know, about my picture. I usually have the students help me figure out what words to use or help me write the words that they know.