I’m linking up with I’m Lovin’ Lit this week to share a way that I, Lisa, make learning more interactive when teaching quotation marks.  

I had some really witty second graders in my very first class.  Some of the things they said were hilarious.  

At the time, teaching quotation marks was a second grade standard in California.
With Common Core, it is now a 3rd and 4th grade standard. 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2.c  Use commas and quotation marks in dialogue.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2.b  Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.

I love addressing as many standards naturally into the classroom whenever possible, I consider it part of my “As We Walk Along the Way” philosophy of teaching.  Then when I directly teach about the concept, some students connect it as prior knowledge.

I got an idea that would help me document the funny things students in the class say and have them practice writing quotation marks. 

I created a Class Quote Book. 

Whenever someone in the class heard another say something witty, they could write down the quotation – thus practicing using quotation marks. 

 After they submitted their quotation to me, we would review it and then we would revise it. When they had a draft with the quotation marks correct, we would find time for them to type it on the computer. 

Then the student got to chose someone to illustrate it, or they could illustrate it themselves.

The book grew as the year went on.  It was mostly student-driven, although I would encourage it along the way when students said really funny things I would comment, “That should go in the quote book,” and students would run to get a piece of scrap paper to write down what the other student said.

There were some kids that really wanted to contribute to the book and would listen for statements that were quote book worthy. To treat everyone with respect, I would always ask the students being quoted if they wanted their words included in the book.

At the end of the year, I had a book of funny memories to help me remember that class and it was a great, easy display for Open House.  

And now, dear Reader, you can get interactive with this mouth-watering raffle we have for this month.

I have a friend named Zariq, that I love spending time with.  She tells memorable stories and helps me laugh when I need to most.  She is also the type of person that I can be real with and she shows me grace with my flaws.  

I met Zariq in college and she is also a teacher.  

Zariq’s husband, Mike, makes the best chocolate chip cookies.  I’m not just saying this because I know them, these cookies are just really good.  You may have noticed on the side of our blog we mentioned loving cookies right after our love for Jesus. 🙂 Jonathan and I have actually done taste tests comparing all of our favorite chocolate chip cookies and Schott’s Cookies won.

Mike has experimented with every ingredient to find the best. (I heard a funny story about the day he taste-tested multiple different vanillas to find the best vanilla for his recipe.) 

After perfecting his secret recipe, they decided to start selling them. 

Schott’s Cookies was created.

A fun thing about their cookie company is they will deliver hot, fresh cookies to your door if you live within a certain radius of their hub of operation.  

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