Digital learning reading lesson plans that work great for distance learning. This unit features the story, Giraffe Problems by Jory John. Reading response and nonfiction activities, too! Digital Learning Reading Lesson Plans Giraffe Problems by Jory John is a story about a giraffe who doesn't like his long neck. He meets a turtle who is having neck problems, too! The two become friends and learn to appreciate what they have. Students will love this story and will have fun responding to ... continue reading...
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CVC Computer Games! AND MORE
CVC Computer Games FUN! I am so excited to share our latest collaboration! Deedee Wills and I have rolled up our sleeves again! We created CVC computer games. This video will show you how they work. NOTE: You need to have PowerPoint in order for these games to run. In addition to the games, we have lots of fun printables to help you with assessment and instruction. Exit tickets are a great way to monitor and assess your students. These could be used once the student has ... continue reading...
Teaching with Informational Texts: Close Reading Lessons for One Tiny Turtle
Teaching Informational texts with One Tiny Turtle in kindergarten and first grade. One Tiny Turtle was written by one of my favorite authors, Nicola Davies. This book chronicles the life cycle of the loggerhead sea turtle. As with most informational texts, we start by discussing our schema on the subject. We want students to think about what they already know and attach their new understandings to their prior knowledge. Here are a few of the responses we got. Sea ... continue reading...
Zoo Animals | Chit Chat Messages & Close Reading
Zoo Animals unit packed full of resources! Engaging and fun activities. Chit Chat messages, close reading passages, crafts, and more! Zoo Animals Teaching about zoo animals is seriously one of the best times EVER! The littles get super excited and stay so engaged in learning. It can be hard to keep their attention at this time of the year, but it sure helps when they are having fun! I just completely updated this whole unit so it's ready to go for your upcoming zoo unit. Find it by ... continue reading...
Math Part 2: Math Workshop
Yesterday, I told you a little about mine and Deedee's new Math Workshop unit. We are so pleased with the feedback we've been getting on TPT. It makes us feel great to be able to help make the lives of teachers a little easier. :) Because let's face it... Teaching is rewarding but it isn't easy!!! If you read Deedee's blog post HERE you saw that she said she does Math all day long. Ditto! I try to incorporate Math and Reading skills into just about everything I do. Providing the ... continue reading...
Compound Eyes anyone? Insect fun and FREEBIE!
Compound Eyes! We looked at our friends through a bug viewer and then drew what an insect would see. In addition to Nonfiction books we are reading some fun fiction books about insects and working on story elements and identifying the theme of the stories. Here are some fun math prompts that you can download as a freebie. Just click on the picture below. ... continue reading...
Valentine’s Day Unit UPDATES
Hey Everyone, I just updated my Valentine's Day unit and added the Emergent Reader to it. If you have already purchased this unit please go to TPT and download the revisions. Here's a link to the post about Valentine's Day unit. This Valentine's Day unit will be the perfect addition to your Valentine's Day fun. It includes an original story for Shared Reading picture cards. Also, If you don't have this little packet.... go get it. It is FREE! ... continue reading...
Reindeer Lessons & Activities! (Reindeer Book Freebie)
Reindeer lesson plans with informational text with a FREE file. Includes crafts, writing, reading and more for your kindergarten lessons or first-grade lessons. Reindeer Lesson Ideas: Reading Informational Texts Here is a peek into what is included in this Reindeer Unit. Last week was a CUH-RAZY week for my little sweeties. In addition to all of the normal holiday craziness we were still trying to practice and get ready for our Gingerbread man play. We performed the play for the ... continue reading...
A Few of My Favorite Things
Do you have certain items that you use in your classroom that you absolutely LOVE? I would love to hear about them! These are a few of my favorite things. Heidi Songs- Oh, my word! I can't say enough about these songs. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them! I started using them about 5 years ago and I immediately noticed a HUGE increase in my student's ability to read and spell the sight words. I LOVE my Zune! It makes it so easy to organize and play all of my music that we ... continue reading...
Spider Informational Text Activities
Spider informational text activities for kindergarten and first grade? You got it! Done and done! Deedee and I were asked for more informational texts in our Guiding Readers units, so we added a stand-alone edition. As you know, these units are week-long close reading lessons that really allow students to dive in deeper. The teacher does the decoding work, but the thinking work sits on the shoulders of the students. Spiders Informational Text We started this unit of study with Spiders ... continue reading...
Sneezy the Snowman Reading & Science
Sneezy the Snowman Reading Unit for Kindergarten and First Grade is HERE! I fell in love with this adorable book a few years ago, so we decided to add it to our Reading Comprehension/Guiding Readers units! Sneezy struggles with feeling cold, so he tries to warm himself up. The problem occurs when he continues to melt and has to be made brand new again! Sneezy the Snowman: Cause and Effect This book lends itself perfectly for studying cause and effect! We created retelling cards that ... continue reading...
Teaching Phonological Awareness | Syllables
Teaching Phonological Awareness Syllables in kindergarten and first grade. Teaching Phonological Awareness - Syllables Research tells us that reading and writing starts with a strong foundation in phonological awareness. Understanding syllables is a significant part of that foundation. There are three strategies I use when introducing and teaching syllables in kindergarten and first grade. For resources to teach phonological awareness in your classroom, click Phonological & Phonemic ... continue reading...
St. Patrick’s Day Activities & Crafts
St. Patrick's Day activities for kindergarten and first grade. Cute craft ideas and fun math and literacy lessons to help you celebrate. St. Patrick's Day Activities St. Patrick's Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate in the classroom! Maybe you have a leprechaun who visits and leaves his tiny footprints and glitter all around. Or, perhaps your students build traps to catch a leprechaun. The excitement of the holiday is sure to make an engaging day of learning. Check out some ideas from ... continue reading...
La Princesa and the Pea | Reading Lesson Plans
La Princesa and the Pea lesson plans for kindergarten, first, and second grade! Fun reading lesson plans with reading comprehension activities and a craft. La Princesa and the Pea La Princesa and the Pea is a classic story with a Latino twist. It is such a sweet story about a Prince's plan to marry a maiden, no matter what the Queen says or does. This five-day lesson plan comes from our new Engaging Readers Fairytale and Folktales Unit for K-2. Through the daily lessons, students build ... continue reading...
Fun on the Farm: Learning About Farm Animals
These farm animal activities will make learning about farm animals fun and engaging! This unit is packed full of close reading activities, directed drawings, writing, a craft, and more! Farm Animal Activities Learning about farm animals is so much fun! Students learn about the different animals they may find on a farm with these farm animal activities. Students become farm animal experts through close reading passages, discussions, and investigations. Close Reading Passages/Chit ... continue reading...