Sight Word Organization

I found this cute container at Michael's and I purchased it without a plan.  It took me some time to come up with an idea however I did finally decide to organize my sight words by levels.  I created flashcards and a stick bang game for each level.  

I coordinated each box with matching fruit graphics.  For example, the red container has an apple, all the level one words have apples on them as well.  This makes it easy for clean up when the levels get mixed together.  

 On the stick bang game, I put color coordinated washi tape on each stick to keep the sticks organized as well.  

So far the response from my students has been positive.  I work with many children at lots of different levels and they love the cute graphics and the fun colors.  Several of the students who have moved levels are very excited to go to the new colors.  

The best part of the box is that it fits perfectly between my teaching binders and the shelf above.   

If you would like the covers and flashcards I made you can pick them up at my TPT store.  

Teaching Letter Writing and Story Elements

I use the bookmarks as a guide to help my students with spelling and as a reminder of what I expect in their letters.

On Monday each child picks a book at his/her reading level.  Then they practice reading it in class by themselves and with

their friends each day. They take the books home each night to practice with their families.  I also try to check in during the week.  

On Thursday the students begin to write their letters to me.  When I introduce this project each year I start simple with

one or two elements and we add a new element each week as we feel comfortable writing.

When the students complete their letter they sit down and conference with me. We talk about each sentence and we discuss the positives and what we can work towards next week.  After our conference the children draw a picture on the back of the paper.

You can get your FREE copy of the bookmarks and letter writing papers at my TPT store HERE. 

Author of the Month Helen Lester

I can honestly say the Helen Lester's books are some of my favorite books for teaching young children.  The children love the humor and illustrations in the books.   What I like about the books as a teacher is that each story has a lesson to learn.  

Helen Lester has written so many wonderful books it is really worth your time to look at her website and see which of her books will work in your lesson plans.  

I have been working hard each month creating links for the teachers at my school on our share website.  I also put a couple links for a few free resources I found on Pinterest as well.   I have created qr codes for the classroom with ipads.  

For each of the Helen Lester books I found on youtube I found the cover on google images.  Then I created a qr code.  

I created mini posters that I will hang up by the author board and it will have a dual purpose.  It will look good and the kiddos can get the qr codes to listen to stories. 

I also created some reading challenge sheets for advance students.  You know who I mean, those students who are the first to finish everything.  

   You can find everything FREE HERE!

K is for Kindergarten

One of my readers suggested that I make another cover for my book F is for First Grade but for a kindergarten class.  What a great suggestion!  I don't know why I didn't think of it.  Kindergarten is mainly where the alphabet is taught. 

This is a book I generally have my students make the first week of school to introduce themselves.  I read the book A My Name is Alice.  

As a class we brainstorm a list of things that begin with each letter of the alphabet.  Then during centers the students complete the class page.

So thanks to Elizabeth I added a new cover to my unit on TPT now kindergarten teachers can have their class make this book anytime during the year as they are working on the alphabet. 

F is for First Grade/K is for Kindergarten will be my featured product this month and will be on sale for $1.  

  

F is for First Grader

This is not a new lesson to me, I did a similar lesson a couple of years ago when I taught kindergarten.  I just updated it a bit for first grade. 

On the first day of school I read the book, A My Name is Alice, as a way to begin introducing everyone in class.  

Most of my students do not understand cities or states yet so we just say our names and something we like that  begins with the same letter.  It is a tricky assignment for the first day and it gives me an idea of their alphabet knowledge.

Then each child picks a sticker from my leftover sticker collection for the first letter of his/her name and completes the page for the class book.

Then I put the class pages in alphabetical order and assemble them in a binder.  I do not laminate them, I use page protectors.  I like my binder system a lot.  The books do not tear apart and they are easy to take apart at the end of the year and give back to the students.

If you would like a copy of my F is for First Grade I have it at my TPT store.  

Setting Up My Challenge Area

I fixed up my Challenge area.  I really liked the plastic drawers last year.  I put them at an easy to reach level so the students could easily see what was inside of them.  I used my Silhouette machine to make letters to label my drawers.  I purposely chose the number words to increase the print in my classroom.  

I moved my ipads next to the drawers as well.  I am trying to increase the technology activities in my classroom.  

I made a adorable banner with three items from the dollar section at Target.  

I worked all after noon and I finished the activities for the center as well.

My TPT Store

I tried to think of everything including organizing a teacher's binder.  

I wanted the September activities to be easy and a review from kindergarten so the children feel confident to work independently on these activities.