More Penguins . . . More Write Around the Room!

It seems that your students are a lot like mine . . . they like to get up and move!  I've heard back from quite a few of you with positive comments regarding my Write Around the room activities.  It's really just a great way to get them out of their seats in a productive way.  I would have posted this one sooner except my husband's ancient laptop has gone in for (what we hope is) repairs.  That means sharing the one computer, but he has messages to prepare on the weekends for the middle schoolers at our church.  But hey!  It's finally done and I hope you and your kids enjoy it!

As we study synonyms our little penguin friends are going to keep us on our toes in search of matching pairs.  Each student will have the list of words without a synonym pair.  The goal is to find all the penguins running (posted) around the room and match the penguin's word to one of the synonyms on the word list.  Simple directions, but they still have to do some thinking!

Here it is . . . enjoy!

Click here to get it from Teachers Notebook.

"Synonym" Toast Crunch!

Oooh!  It's been a minute since I've posted a new product!  Sorry!

Here's a freebie for you.  We're about to start synonyms so here's a fun game I made a couple of years ago.  Really . . . if you put anything into a game format, the kids go crazy over it!

This game is called "Synonym Toast Crunch".  It's played similar to war.  Each player get's an equal share of "toast" cards face down.  They will also have a stack of "Crunch!" cards next to them ready to use.  On the count of 3 they throw it down between them.  If the two cards make a synonym pair, the 1st student to slap a "Crunch! card on top of the words and yell out "Crunch!" gets to keep the pair. After the 1st round of cards, students will reshuffle the unpaired cards and redistribute them to continue the game.  This continues until all words have been paired up.  The student with the most pairs of synonyms at the end wins!  You may now crown the winner . . . "Captain Crunch!"  HAHA!
(I know . . . I've been labeled corny and cheesy way too much to deny it.)

Hope you enjoy!

(Or click here to get it from Teacher's Notebook.)

Winter Writing Prompts

I love to write . . . when I have the time, that is!  That's why I love to teach my kids Writing.  I teach them in the hopes that they too will come to love this form of expression. 

I've noticed over the years that some students are just bursting at the seems with ideas of things to write about.  Sometimes when we make our list of writing ideas in the back of our Writing Notebooks, some students have difficulty getting started on a writing piece because they have so many ideas they want to add to their lists!  I've also noticed, however, that there are some students who can't seem to come up with an idea on their own . . . they need a little help getting started.  Give them a prompt and watch them go!

Here are some Winter themed writing prompts I came up with to help some of them get going.  I like to use these prompts in my Writing center during Guided Reading centers.  I just print out enough copies and let the students cut out a prompt and glue it in their own notebooks.  Less work and less copies for me (and y'all know how important it is to save on copies!).

These are free to you . . . so click and download away!

Party Penguin Parts of Speech

These penguins are so cute, I had to bring them back for more!

In this package there are 4 different centers to practice Parts of Speech.  It covers nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs.  Everything is ready to go, as usual . . . print, laminate, and cut out your pieces!  (This is where my OCD quirk would require my trusted paper cutter for pretty lines.  Haha!)

You'll get a file folder game, memory game, Write Around the Room activity, and a Pocket Chart sorting center.  It also includes follow up worksheets to go with the activities.

Click the preview below to get it!

Enjoy!

Simply Learning Centers . . . Check It Out!

Simply Centers is now Simply Learning Centers and is now up and running full force!

Visit this awesome new blog for resources for Literacy AND Math centers grades K-8!!

The site has an easy to navigate format.  Look on the left hand side for quick and easy buttons that take you straight to posts labeled for the grade level and subject area!

Visit it often because it's constantly being updated. Click the button below to go now!

Sight Word Game Boards

Here's a fun way to get your kids to practice their sight words!

We use the Fry 1st 100 Sight Words (which overlap with the Sitton Sight Words).  If you've seen my Place Value game boards, then you're familiar with how these work.     All you have to do is print a copy of the game board for 2 (or more students to share).  They will also need some sort of place marker (like a counter, colored bear manipulative, etc.), 1 die, and 1 colored marker or crayon for each player.  The player will roll the die and move that number of spaces.  He must read the sight word in the space where he lands.  The other player(s) must confirm that the player is correct.  If correct, the player may color the space.  Each colored space claims the word and gives the student a point.  The space may no longer be played again and must be skipped.  If incorrect, however, the student must return to the space they started prior to rolling the die.  The board loops around so once students make a round, they will loop around again playing only unclaimed spaces.  The game ends when all spaces have been colored.  The student with the most colored spaces wins!

There are 3 game boards in the collection.  My kids love to color directly on the sheets and keep them, but if you prefer not to make a lot of copies, print the game boards and slip them into plastic sheet protectors!  Your students can claim their spaces with dry erase markers.

Enjoy!