Sunday, December 30, 2012

FREE Read It-Build It-Write It "Blends" Literacy Station Activity

Below is a sample of a FREE 10 page Literacy Center Activity that I just posted on TeacherspayTeachers.
Your students can choose a card that has words with "blends"--they will Read It-Build It-Write It. I like to laminate both the cards and the game boards. Students can use letter tiles or other manipulatives that have letters written on them to build the words and they can use wipe-off markers to write the words. This is a great hands-on activity that will help your students learn important literacy skills.
Just click on the TpT link to download FREE.
This activity is also available with other skills such as CVC words, Magic e, Vowel Teams and more.






Sunday, December 16, 2012

*STAR* Teacher---Becca Owens

Today's *STAR* Teacher from Norman Elementary is...
 
Becca Owens
Kindergarten
 
 
 
 

How many years have you been teaching?
5 years
 
What is your best or most rewarding memory?
My best memories are watching my students light up from understanding a new skill for the first time, like reading, writing their name, or a math skill. One more is watching them get excited as a group for earning a reward – such as a brownie point from another teacher! I use brownie points in my classroom, they earn one when another teacher compliments their behavior, work ethic, or attitudes, when our brownie pan in our classroom is full…I have to make them a pan of brownies!
 
What is the funniest memory?
There are so many! In Kindergarten there is never a dull moment! I think that the funniest memory I have was when I was at the grocery store and saw one of my students. They said, “Mrs. Owen!!!! What are you doing here? You go shopping? You are supposed to be at the school! Who let you leave?!” It is amazing that kids really think you never leave your classroom, and when they see you for the first time out of the classroom they are in complete shock!!!
Can you share a reading strategy or best practice?
One of the best things I do during reading is I have my students use their finger to track exactly where they are at. If they get stuck on a word on that page, I have them re-read until they read it fluently. I have them tackle the ‘hard’ word until they get it because if they keep reading, chances are that they are going to get stuck in the same place when they read it the second time before taking a test or retelling what happened in the story.
 
What advice do you have for teachers just coming into the field?
Dear Newbies,
When starting out your career, and when you are a veteran teacher remember to be very open minded, be flexible, and treat each day as a new day. Do not dwell on the things that happened the day before, do not worry about the fire drill that is going to interrupt your math lesson. Utilize each minute of every day to the fullest – make every minute count – and always remember that your students are like sponges just waiting to soak up whatever you are willing to give them. With that being said – be a positive role model – you are what cranks their gears --- and they will go home and pretend to be you! One more thing...do not be afraid to ask for help...we were all there once!
 
One more thing…
Today I had a funny thing happen and couldn't help but to share...
On Monday after we got quite a bit of snow I told my students that they needed to start dressing like an onion and to wear lots of layers because it was so cold. I also said that it was easy to take layers off but when we don't wear layers we can't put them back on if we get cold. I sent a note to go with what I said, stating that they needed to wear layers - like an onion. One student went home and said, "Mom, you need to go to the store right now...Mrs. Owen said I needed to dress like an onion tomorrow, she is going to expect me in an onion costume!" Mom looked at him and said, "What in the world are you talking about?" Later on, she looked in his folder and understood what he was saying. It is funny how students really take what you say SO literal! I laughed so hard when I heard this! I just love my Kinder-Friends!
 



Pictures from Becca's Classroom

Mrs. Owen implements the Debbie Diller style workstations within her classroom. This is an activity that helps students learn ABC order, helps with handwriting, and beginning sounds. This is a Picture Dictionary search activity.



 Literacy Station




  At this station students ‘paint the chalkboard.'They are supposed to put a sight word in the paper holder, then paint the word underneath it. They love this station!





These are marshmallows! Mrs. Owen wrote letters and sight words on marshmallows and put them in a gallon Ziploc bag. Students pulled one marshmallow out at a time, said the word or letter, then got to "shoot the marshmallow" into the bucket! If they didn’t get the word or letter right, they put it back in the bag and it was their partners turn.




This is the calendar area. Above the calendar Mrs. Owen has a chain link with student work hung on clothespins – a great display!




Teaching verbs to her students was a lot of fun! They all know what a verb is after coming up with one, using it in a sentence, and acting it out!



Teaching tally marks can be difficult sometimes, but with a visual like this it helps students to understand the concept of a bundle. Mrs. Owen also teaches a song to her students to help assist them when writing. Tally Marks: 1, 2, 3, 4 number 5 shuts the door 6, 7, 8, 9, number 10 draws a line.




Mrs. Owen had her students disguise a gingerbread man so that he wouldn’t get eaten! Students really got into this project and used their imagination!


 
 I had the opportunity to visit Becca's classroom and videotape a lesson....
It will be posted soon---technical difficulties :-)
 
I really enjoyed my visit to Becca's classroom. As I post her stories & activities it's made me remember (and miss) the years I spent as a kindergarten teacher. It is amazing to see how much that our little ones grow and learn during their kindergarten year. It's an awesome responsibility that kindergarten teachers have. And teachers at Norman Elementary do an amazing job at laying the foundation for academic success.
Thanks for sharing Becca and keep up the great work!
Vicky

FREE "Grouping Sets of 10" game for K-2

 
 
"Gouping Sets of 10" game is appropriate for K-2 & RTI and meets
the Common Core Standards: Numbers and Operations in Base Ten.
Click on the TPT link to download for FREE (11 pages)
 
 
This game is perfect for your Math Stations.
 
 




I have just posted some other fun Math games on TpT.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

FREE CVC Dice Game K-2 & RTI

 
 
Click on the TpT link to download FREE



 
7 pages: 1 directions, 3 game boards, 3 pages of cvc cards

*STAR* Teacher---Tracy Hansen

Today's *STAR* Teacher from Norman Elementary is...
 
Tracy Hansen
2nd Grade




How many years have you been teaching?

13 years

 

What is your funniest memory?

One year while my Mom was helping to serve my 1st graders our Thanksgiving feast, one of my students asked her if she was at the first Thanksgiving. Kids are always good for a laugh!

 

Can you share a reading strategy/best practice?

I like to do a lot of partner reading. Students have to pay attention as their partner reads in case they get stuck so they are constantly using their reading skills as they read and also when they are helping their partner.
Reading Area
 


Partner Reading

 
 
 
Can you share a math strategy/best practice?

Anytime I can incorporate a math skill into a game, I do. My students love to play games and it is a great way to help reinforce the skills as well.
 
Math Stations







 

What advice do you have for teachers just coming into the field?
Seek out other teachers who have taught that grade level. It is a great way to gain and share ideas. Veteran teachers also know lots of “tricks” that they don’t teach you in college!
 
Christmas Writing



Classroom Theme
 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I treat my students the way I want my own children to be treated…with care & compassion. I reinforce having respect for each other and always expect my students to try their best.
 
Tracy--thanks for sharing  your classroom, experience and advice.
Vicky

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Parent Workshop & After School Movie

Parent Health & Nutrition Workshop
December 4th

 Focus: "Meals On A Budget"
 
 
Parents of PS-5th grade at Norman Elementary had the opportunity to attend a Workshop that included a presentation on how to prepare meals-on-a-budget. Participants chopped veggies to take home to add to a soup recipe. Each person in attendance received a packet full of healthy recipes and several lucky people won a door prize.

We also had an after-school movie (Golden Winter) and a visit from Santa and his elf to pass out goodie bags & a Christmas book. At the end of  the evening a meal of pizza and salad was served.


 
After School Movie: Visit from Santa & Elf
Every student received goodie bag & Christmas book.





Parent Health & Nutrition  Workshop: Cutting veggies




Parent Workshop Prize: Crock Pot


Parent Workshop Prize: Baking Dishes
 
 
Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more information on Parent Workshops.
Vicky Bowman

Saturday, December 1, 2012

*STAR* Teacher---Deanna Goodman

 Today's *STAR* Teacher from Norman Elementary is...
 
 
 Deanna Goodman
Kindergarten
 
 
 
 
How many years have you been teaching?
 
16 years
 
 
What is your best or most rewarding memory?
 
My best memories are seeing my students face light up when they finally realize they can read.
 
 
What is the funniest memory?
 
This memory is about me. I had gotten my haircut and decided to put on eyeliner and mascara for school the next day. I was so excited when one of my students asked if I had gotten my haircut. I replied, "Yes, thanks for asking." Their next response was, "Well you look a lot better." I just wonder what I looked like before!
 
 
Can you share a reading strategy or best practice?
 
We do lots of activities with student's names in the beginning of the year. Once we start reading, I use props to help students with different strategies.
 
We use 6 reading strategies to help us read:
 
1)  I use a pair of sunglasses to help us remember to "Look at the picture."
2) A tube of lipstick to remind them to "Get your mouth ready."
3) A slinky to help us "Stretch out the sounds."
4) A jump rope to remind us to "Skip over that word."
5) Some play coins to remind them to ask "Does it make sense?"
6) A catchers mitt to remind them to "Catch the pattern."
 
My students love this!
 
Name Wall
 


Name Activity

 
 
LA Activities
 





Math Activity
 

 
 
 
 
What advice do you have for teachers just coming into the field?
 
My advice is to stay current on what's happening in education and don't be afraid to ask for help.
 
 
 
Thanks for sharing your memories and the great ideas Deanna.
Vicky
 
 
 
 
 
 


FREE Word Sorts

FREE Literacy Games that connect to the Common Core Standards
 
FREE Magic *e* Word Sort 
 
FREE Word Family Word Sort
 
Take a peek below...then click on the TpT link to download for FREE.

 
 
 
FREE 6 page Word Family Word Sort
 





FREE 8 page Magic *e* Word Sort
 





New items  below are posted on TpT. Click on link to view all. 

 
"Blends" (_r) Word Sort  ( 6 pages)
 





"Blends" Word Sort (5 pages)
 





"Diagraph" Word Sort (6 pages)
 





"Vowel Team" Word Sort (6 pages)
 





Word Sort: ou, oi, ow, aw (7 pages)