I love looking around my room and seeing smiling faces while students read. This creates such a special feeling in the classroom. However, learning to read is really like learning a new language. It takes time and can be frustrating for students. So, I love to create fun and exciting ways for students to interact and think about stories and informational texts. For example, the Interactive Reading Comprehension Journals include so many hands-on ways for students to reflect on their reading in ... continue reading...
Search Results for: label/mental images
Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites: Chapters 1 & 2 LOTS OF PICTURES & EXAMPLES
I'm linking up with Elizabeth from Kickin' It in Kindergarten for this book study post. As I'm reading this book I constantly find myself nodding, Yes! and writing in the margins of the book. So far this book is really solidifying my Teaching Philosophy. I've always been a HUGE believer in giving students the opportunities to turn and talk. When students are given the opportunities to put what they've learned into their own words it solidifies their thinking and learning and they stand a ... continue reading...
Playdough Learning Activities for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Playdough learning activities for kindergarten and first grade. Students have fun practicing letters, initial sounds, and numbers to 30 with these hands-on learning mats. Playdough Learning Activities If you're a kindergarten or first-grade teacher, chances are, you use playdough at some point throughout the year! Sometimes having playdough for students to play with when they first arrive is a good way to calm those beginning of the year nerves. What's even better is when they are learning ... continue reading...
First Grade Addition Activities to Make Your Students Experts at Addition
First grade addition activities that follow the research-based CPA approach. From hands-on learning to abstract activities, students become addition experts. First Grade Addition | CPA Approach Psychologist Jerome Bruner developed an essential math teaching technique called CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract). This technique of math teaching builds upon a child's existing understanding, with concrete materials, in order to understand more abstract concepts. CPA is a gradual, ... continue reading...
Frankie Friend Glyph and Free Downloads
The Frankie Friend glyph and activities are part of my Halloween unit that is available on TPT. It includes lots of fun activiites including, The What Will You Be? shared reading text. Click on the book cover below to see the unit. Planning ahead? Click on the Thanksgiving picture below to view my unit on TPT. FREEBIES!!!! Click on the following two images to download the "BINGO" songs and the Frankie Friend ... continue reading...
Gingerbread Fun and Freebies
Gingerbread Fun Classroom activities for kindergarten with a free file. Math, literacy, crafts, and more! Kindergarten holiday play ideas too! Gingerbread Glyphs These are our Gingerbread glyphs. Aren't they cute? I love activities that incorporate reading, math AND fun! The kids cut all of their own pieces so they all turn out unique. This is the book that goes along with the glyph. Glyphs are a great way to incorporate collecting and analyzing data. NOTE: Some of the pictures ... continue reading...
Alphabets and Fonts Clearance
If you love cute fonts then you don't want to miss the clearance sale at Lettering Delights. Many alphabets and fonts are on sale for as low as 50 cents! My favorite alphabet is the one shown in the picture above. It is called Scribble Kids. You can get all my favorites in the bundle called, Top 10 Fonts and Alphabets of 2011. The entire bundle is only $8.00 Please use the pink button to the left of my blog post that Says 9 Free Fonts to purchase them. If you are unsure how to use them ... continue reading...
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH: BASH BASKET 12
Oh, my word y'all I am so excited! Our Back to School Bash begins today! If you missed yesterday's post, you will definitely want to check that out {RIGHT HERE} to see all of the amazing prizes that you could win! Are you ready to get started? Read the directions below and then you'll be on your way! Happy Blog Bash Hoppin' :) Y'all I am so excited to share this product with you. The WHISPER PHONE SELECT is such an amazing tool to use for Guided Reading Groups! I was able to ... continue reading...
Helpful Hints and Classroom Storage
Today's Theme on Blog Hoppin' is Helpful Hints! Most classrooms are small and lack proper storage space and let's face it. Teachers have A LOT of stuff! Classroom storage are very helpful in times like this. I use fabric runners to hide all of my stuff under tables and counter tops. Simply use strong velcro to hold the fabric in place. I also love these little ottoman's from Walmart. They are perfect for the Littles to sit on during Guided Reading and they hold all of the ... continue reading...
Math Workshop {handouts with FREEBIES}
Math Workshop for Kindergarten and First grade students. Hey friends, I hope that you are enjoying your weekend! This is a recap of the session that I did on Thursday at the SDE Kindergarten Conference here in Florida. In this session I explained how Deedee Wills and I structure the lessons in our math units so that the kids gain a deeper understanding of the math concepts that we are teaching. Our lessons follow a 5 step process as outlined ... continue reading...
Engaging Reading Activities (With a FREE File)
Engaging reading activities for kindergarten and first grade! See how we improve reading comprehension through various reading comprehension strategies. FREE sample file too! This is a guest post from Deedee Wills. We are so excited about our Engaging Readers units... you can tell because I. Can't. Stop. Talking. About. It. Engaging Reading Activities: How did it start? Around last November I had a conversation with Deanna Jump about wanting to do more responding to literature with ... continue reading...
American Symbols & Presidents {Includes FREE Download}
American symbols for kids in kindergarten and first grade with a free activity too! American Symbols is one of my favorite units to teach! I took all of the facts about the U.S. symbols and broke them down into fun, engaging lessons. Here are a few pics of some of the activities. American Symbols for Kids: Chit Chat After reading the nonfiction text from my Chit Chat unit we used our newly learned information and context clues to fill in the missing information on our Chit Chat ... continue reading...
Explore Holidays Around the World in Kindergarten and First Grade
Holidays around the World! Travel around the world and learn about 10 different celebrations. PowerPoints, anchor charts, writing responses, and a fun Holidays around the World craft! Holidays Around the World Studying celebrations and different countries around the world is always fun with little learners in kindergarten and first grade. It is so neat to explore different cultures and beliefs in various countries. In my Holidays Around the World unit of study, students have fun learning ... continue reading...
Math Centers for Kindergarten to Practice Numbers to 100
Engaging math centers for you to easily target and differentiate math standards for your kindergarten students. Math Centers for Kindergarten Several kindergarten math standards focus on numbers to 100. Students, of course, need to know how to count and write numbers. They also need to be able to count on from a given number and represent numbers using math manipulatives. These digital and printable math centers can help you provide practice for students to master numeral-focused ... continue reading...
Lunar New Year
If teachers ask students to name a favorite holiday, responses often include Christmas, Halloween, and the Fourth of July. Indeed, holiday celebrations are a significant focus in the United States. However, students often do not realize how countries worldwide celebrate holidays. As the Lunar New Year approaches, it is the perfect time to show students how a well-known country rings in their new year. The Lunar New Year Packet will be an excellent way to ensure students have everything they need ... continue reading...