Monday, February 23, 2015

Writing - Dry Erase Boards!

We use dry erase boards for practicing proper letter formation, correct spelling of learned sight words, mathematical skills, patterning, practicing proper usage of end marks - punctuation.
Here is one way we use the dry erase boards!
I have students use CVC picture cards. They have to name the picture and use the word in a correct sentence. Children know that the expectation is to spell all sight words correctly and "sound out" the harder words.
Children really love this and they build self confidence as writers and readers.
I am really proud of them!

Help your students master letter names and letter sounds, read and write!
Check out my store for LOTS of products focused on learning how to read and write, learn sight words, nouns, digraphs, phonics and phonemic awareness AND SO MUCH MORE (MATH and also seasonal products)!!!






Reading!

Reading is key to students' success. Reading skills are an integral part of each and every task and needed across curricula.
I use a variety of strategies to help my little ones to become successful and confident readers.
One fantastic strategy is "Shoulder to Shoulder" and it is a G.L.A.D. (Guided Language Acquisition Design) strategy.
If you have the chance to attend the GLAD Training, do it! It is amazing!!!
For this specific reading strategy, students are working in pairs. Please remember to pairs students up based on reading skills BUT not Low/High but rather High/Medium,  Low/Medium, High/High AND NEVER High/Low. 
Why? Well, having a high performing student and a low performing student will only lead to disappointment, frustration, a lack of self confidence. 
Students sit down on the floor / on chairs and face the opposite way, shoulder close together, almost touching. They read the same book, take turns, one reads/one tracks and/or they read together.
By not looking at each other, they focus on the text and task at hand. It really works!
Independent Reading
It is critical that children have ample time for reading. I use individual book boxes with a variety of books in each box: decodables, "just right books", challenging books, books children are interested in. Variety is key!
Students read independently. It is important to monitor for appropriate and expected behavior and make sure that students actually spend the time reading.
Partner Reading
Students choose to read with a friend. They may choose their partner and book.
Whole Class Reading
This is fantastic for introducing new decodables and new sight words. I use whole class choral reading each and every time we have a new decodable. I model how the voice changes based on punctuation. We segment and blend harder words, quickly read the sight words, and RE-READ each sentence/page "smoothly and without bumps" after we have decoded all the words. I also do this before letting students reading in pairs, with a buddy or independently. This way, they are already familiar with the text and are more successful and confident. 
Help your students master letter names and letter sounds, read and write!
Check out my store for LOTS of products focused on learning how to read and write, learn sight words, nouns, digraphs, phonics and phonemic awareness AND SO MUCH MORE (MATH and also seasonal products)!!!















Saturday, February 14, 2015

Earth Day!

Here is a fun project for "Earth Day".
First, we read lots of books about recycling, protecting the Earth; we brainstormed ideas on how to protect the Earth; we used a KWL chart, etc.
This project is fun, hands-on and turns out beautiful.
We used black construction paper, glitter, glue, scissors, paints.
Students painted the planet first, then traced their hands and part of their arms and cut these out of white, peach, light or dark brown construction paper.
Each child used glue to make a starry background for our planet. They sprinkled lots of glitter while the glue was still wet.
They each chose how to position their hand: under, over, at and able, holding the planet.
I love this project and hope you like it, as well!
Give it a try!

Check out my very comprehensive Earth Day product focused on Math and Literacy skills. It offers interactive, differentiated and CCS aligned activities/printables!







Are you looking for a comprehensive, fun, engaging and interactive Spring product that addresses Common Core Standards in both Math and Literacy?
Here is my product (144 pages). Click on the title to go straight to the product page!

Spring Literacy and Math Activities Galore. CCS Aligned.











Here is a great Easter decodable focused on sight words and pronouns. Kids will LOVE reading it! It provides excellent reading practice and the opportunity to understand the correct use of pronouns in context.
Click on the title to go directly to the product page!

Easter - Emergent Reader. CCS Aligned.


Here is an Easter product with lots of engaging, interactive and fun activities focused on writing and patterning. Students have many opportunities to write, learn sight words, correctly use punctuation and also learn patterning, all with a cute Easter theme.
Click on the title to go directly to the product page!

Easter Writing and Patterning Fun! CCS Aligned.











Love Bug - Valentine's Day Project!

Happy Valentine's Day, All!
Here is a quick and very cute project.
It is a project for Valentine's Day  - a headband!
I prepped the red headbands with the pipe cleaners (taped them) before giving them to the children.
For this project, children used red poster board paper, black construction paper for the bug's head, white construction paper for the eyes, pipe cleaners, markers, glue, scissors, hearts.
First, they colored the words "Love Bug!".
They cut a piece of black construction paper for the head and made eyes out of white construction paper. They colored the pupils with markers. I measured their heads and stapled it together!
Voila!  Cute!!!

Are you looking for fun, engaging and interactive Valentine’s Day activities for your students/children?
Scroll down, LOTS to see - everything you need: phonics, phonemic awareness, nonsense words, writing, reading, patterning, emergent readers, even one in Spanish!

PHONICS AND PHONEMIC AWARENESS
This is the perfect addition to your Phonics and phonemic awareness activities, all with a cute and fun Valentine’s Day theme. Click on the title to go straight to the product page.
This product helps your students improve phonics skills through engaging, differentiated and interactive activities. Students work on beginning, middle/medial and ending sounds, digraphs, rhyming, writing and long vowels.
Writing and patterning activities are all included in:
Click on the title to go straight to the product page. Students work on: improving vocabulary, reading fluency, use their schemata when describing Valentine’s Day related pictures, patterning, improving reading and writing skills, comparing and contrasting, using 5 Senses and other graphic organizers. Differentiated approach based on your students’ skill level.

Click on the title to go straight to the product page. Students learn how to tell time to the hour and half hour through engaging and interactive activities.


Click on the title to go straight to the product page. Students practice reading, tracking words, identifying sight words, rhyming, and identifying beginning sounds in words.

Valentine's Day - Emergent Reader. Spanish Version.
Click on the title to go straight to the product page. Students practice reading, tracking words, identifying sight words, writing, all in Spanish.