Halloween Word Work Fun!

There are just too many great ideas on Pinterest to ever make them all!  However, I found this idea (as well as other versions) the other day and just HAD to make something similar for my Halloween-loving son.  Click here to visit the original post.

For this one, I used black beans and red lentils (The look was just too Halloweeny to resist!  But they are really too heavy.*).   I also made a set of Halloween and beginning sight words for the seek and find, as well as 2 versions of recording sheets.  You'll find that one page of cards is EDITABLE so you can add your own words.  Click on the picture below to download your free set!   Just remember to copy the cards at about 70% of the size.  I made them too big :(

Anyway, I just LOVE the way this set turned out.  My son loved it, too!  He was writing  and trying so hard to sound out the Halloween words!  The effort I saw him put into it makes me think that this type of word work would be quite a hit in the classroom, too!   I plan to make more sets of these for each holiday or season using fuse beads and some fun little toys.  Think of all the words students could practice this way!   

There are only a few things I will change:  

1)  My container is a little large and, therefore, heavy.  I did not anticipate the weight of it, so I plan to look for lighter packing materials (such as fuse beads) in the future.  I also plan to look for plastic juice bottles or something similar. (Think:  wide opening, small container.)  

2)  To only have each word appear once did not work well.  My son became a little frustrated when he could not find the last few words.  So, I took the words out and replaced them with cards copied back-to-back.  That way, each word appears twice.  It would also be best if the cards could be rolled or attached to objects.  They tend to stick together . . . 

Happy teaching!  

Bitty Books: Addressing 10 Standards with 1 Sheet!

 

My first set of Bitty Books is finally finished!   I am so excited to get to post them today!  I did my first "trial run" yesterday (i.e. I had my kindergartener and preschooler make their own) and it was a great success.  My son, an interested reader who can ALMOST merge letter sounds, LOVED them!  

However, these types of books are not new to my classroom.   I have actually been using them for years, they just weren't as "fancy."  I have always had beginning readers make word family books using strips of paper stapled together and  a pencil.  These just add a more finished look to what we have always used, as well as cutting, gluing, and tracing components.  

But, my favorite aspect of these books is that THERE IS ONLY ONE PAGE TO PRINT!  For the amount of ink that is used, you really get your money's worth:  matching picture to print, tracing, writing, cutting, gluing, saying letter sounds, AND reading!  These books cover 10 Common Core Standards with one sheet of print!

And, since they are BRAND NEW, this set of books is available for only $1.50 for the next few days (thru 10/20/13) in my Teacher's Notebook store!  Click on one of the pictures below to take a look!

As always, 

Happy Teaching!  

Practice for Beginning Readers: Reading Folders

She was so excited when she held up one of the books and said, "Look!  I can read it!  I can read the whole book!"  

The student who said that knows some sight words and is just beginning to merge letter sounds to form words.  She was referring to one of the books from my kindergarten sight word set that she had in her reading folder.  Isn't that what we all want to hear from our beginning readers?  

I usually have students take home the little books that we make.  However, for a few years, I gave each child a folder and we kept the books in there to reread during transition times.  It worked very well and provided each child with individualized, repeated practice.  Then, for some reason I don't remember, I stopped using the folders for the last two years.  But this year I have a class that I think will particularly benefit from rereading the books, so I brought back the reading folders.  I am so glad that I did!  

I send some of the books home and we keep others for the reading folder.  During transition times, I might ask them to get their reading folder and take it to their desk to read.  Depending on the time we have, I go around and read books with a few students.  Whether or not I get to read with a particular student, I can still hear them reading!  

Of course, the folders make differentiation easy, too.  Some students might have version 1 of my sight word books in their folder, or version 2, or a beginning reader from another set.  A few students also have CVC word family books.  It really depends on the skill that student is working on.  This semester, some are focusing on merging letter sounds, others on sight word recognition, and one group is working on fluency.   

If you aren't already using reading folders--or, like me, you have stopped using them--then let me encourage you to give them a try.  They are really working well for my class this year and even make transition times a little easier.  They also provide an alternative activity if we have a spare ten minutes.  

Happy teaching!

You can click on the pics below to take a look at my new set of sight word books for kindergarten.  This set includes 25 different books with 2 versions of each.  It covers topics like:  pumpkins, apples, pets, farm animals, favorite foods, the seasons, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Santa, friends, colors, baking, and more!  

GIVEAWAY! Leap Reader with Books and More!

Sorry, but this giveaway has ended :(   Check my blog and Teacher's Notebook for more giveaways in the future!  

At the beginning of the year, I purchased a Tag Reader* and some books for my classroom.  My thoughts were three-fold:  1) to bring more technology into my classroom, 2) to revitalize the listening center, and 3) to provide students with yet another interesting, engaging way to practice reading.   

I cannot tell you how popular the listening center is now!  I have preK and K and even my youngest students enjoy using it to read words and listen to stories.  The Tag reading system has become one of my favorite classroom centers.  I am so thankful to have it this year!  

Since this center is one of my favorites, I would like to share my excitement by giving a set away!  You can win one Leap Reader* box set (This is the latest version of the Tag Reader* that I have. It comes with one book.), one set of short vowel books, and two other high-interest reading books.  The set is worth over $80!  

This set would make a wonderful, engaging reading center for your classroom.  It could also provide great practice for your own child or homeschooler.  The age range written on the Leap Reader and books is 4-8 and 4-7 years.  

And . . . since I only like to enter contests where I feel I actually have a good chance of winning something, I want to increase your odds, too.  There are 2 Second Prizes!  Each Second Prize winner will get to choose ANY 2 items--COMBO packs included--from my Teachers Notebook store!   (Depending on which 2 items the Second Prize winner picks, this prize could be valued as high as $48!!)

To enter, please scroll to the Rafflecopter app at the bottom of this page.  You might have to wait a minute for it to load.  Be sure to read the contest rules before entering.  The contest runs from Saturday, September 28, 2013 through midnight CST on Sunday, October 6, 2013.  One Grand Prize winner and two Second Prize winners will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter and emailed on or shortly after the contest ends.  The Grand Prize will be mailed to the winner.  Each of the Second Prize winners will receive their items via email.  

(Please see our Privacy Policy to read about how your information will be used.)

Thank you so much for reading my blog, following my Facebook page, and keeping up with my store!

Best of luck!

*This giveaway is in no way endorsed or promoted by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.  I just chose this set for the giveaway because I LOVE their products!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here Comes Halloween! Celebrating with a FREEBIE!

So, we are busy decorating the house for Halloween (yes, already).  As I shared in the last post, my middle son LOVES Halloween (and the color orange), so it just has to happen.  In fact, he got very upset today because he thought we weren't planning on decorating the lawn!  "Of course we are doing the front yard!"  I told him.  I am pretty sure that involves a trip to the store for some inflatable decor.  

Anyway, my son is already celebrating, so I'm just in the mood to make Halloween materials.  Here's my latest FREEBIE, a sight word matching game covering the pre-primer Dolch sight words.  I have found that simple matching games work very well for  my preK and beginning kinder students.  We play these at home and at school with 4 or 5 matches at a time, adding matches as the children get older and/or more advanced in their reading skills.  These games also get good reviews from the parents because the directions are clear and the children feel successful when they find matches (even if they still need help reading the words).  

I plan to send this game home as a "homework" activity.  If it's popular, I might also make a set for the reading center.   Click on the picture at the top or HERE to get a copy for your classroom.  I hope your students enjoy it!  

Happy Halloween a little early,

A FREEBIE and a Giveaway!

My middle son absolutely LOVES Halloween!  He loves the color orange, the Monster Fighter Legos, and trains with a Halloween theme.  So, I had to make a game just for him.  He is beginning to read three-letter words, so I think it will be a great way to encourage him to read.  

My son reads CVC words as we play the new game.  The sentence cards are for his sister!

I happen to have 2 main groups of readers in my class this year:  those who are working on merging sounds to read 3-letter words and students who need fluency/blends/long vowels practice.  I have the same 2 groups at home, too!  My son is reading CVC words and my daughter needs the sentences.  So . . . I simply made this game to address both levels.  I also added an editable page where those of you who need something different can add your own words or sentences.  Click on the picture below to take a look:  

I just reached 1000 Facebook fans!  In appreciation, I want to offer this as a freebie for the next 2 days, Monday & Tuesday Sept 23rd and 24th.  Thank you so much for your interest in my store!  After that, it will be a paid item, so grab it while you can!   Your feedback on the game will be greatly appreciated.  

AND . . . I am doing a BIG giveaway on Teacher's Notebook.  I am giving away not one, but 2 sets of my "Cut-and-Glue Sight Word Sentences for Kindergarten and First Grade COMBO Packs" (a $20 value)!  Click on the picture below to take a look and enter.  Please take a moment to follow my TN store if you aren't already.  I have frequent giveaways on TN and some Daily Deals that you won't want to miss!  

Again, thank you for reading!

Cut-and-Glue Counting Bracelets for Fall and Halloween

My Cut-and-Glue Letter Sound Bracelets have been quite popular lately, so I just HAD to make a set of bracelets for math!  This pack covers numbers 1 to 20.  For each number, students cut out the appropriate quantity of objects and glue them on their bracelet.  There are 2 sets of bracelets, one with a fall theme and another with a Halloween theme.  

Of course, we also had to try them out at home this morning.  My kindergartener and preschooler each made a bracelet to represent their age.  

These bracelets are a fun way for students to practice number identification and counting.    They also address 4 of the Common Core Standards for kindergarten math:  

K.CC.A.1 Count to 100 by ones.

K.CC.A.3 Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
K.CC.B.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
K.CC.B.5 Given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.

Click on the picture below to stop by my store and take a look.  They are 50% off thru Thursday!