You know those great little games that you put into your Reading and Math Centers? The ones that get your kids all excited and can now play independently after teacher demonstrations and play time at centers?
What do you usually do with those games when they've finished them at centers? Some of you probably file them away again. Some of you might even admit they get stacked up in a corner somewhere until you have time to put them away . . . like at the end of the year!
Here's what I like to do with those games:
I leave out 2 tubs in my room - 1 for Language Arts and 1 for Math. When we have moved past a skill and are done using a game (usually file folder or little bagged game) I put it into the tubs. I teach my students that they can come back to play these games after they've finished all their current work (and any unfinished work they have left over from the past). Not only is it a motivator for my students, but it's also a constant review!
I go through the games from time to time and take some out or replace some for more current review skills. The 2 biggest perks here are that 1) they already know how to play so it's independent work, and 2) it keeps past skills fresh in their minds!
I also put a few other items in the tubs to keep the kids practicing like flash cards and copies of a QWERTY texting keyboard for students to practice "typing" their spelling and sight words. I used this great ipad/iphone freebie from Mrs. Gilchrist's Class!
Happy "Game-cycling"!
Showing posts with label centers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label centers. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Tuesday Teaching Tips - Introducing Centers
Ever try to introduce new centers to students, expecting them to catch on and work independently while you meet with reading groups only to find that your little guys didn't quite understand? Whether you start reviewing centers work which reveals that they somehow missed the boat or your "focused attention" with your reading group gets interrupted with a shortie hanging out by your side (or the more obvious vocal interruption), when your students don't understand the center you end up with unwanted results. You may find students off task or realize after you've collected the assignments that the time was . . . well . . . wasted.
One trick I found that helps with this is a Friday Preview.
I usually start my new centers on Mondays. There's so much going on on Mondays that there isn't too much time to introduce and model new centers extensively with enough time left over for my students to get some quality time at their new centers. Last year I started using many different Reading Responses for my Independent Reading center focusing on different skills or literary concepts. The skill I chose for the Reading Response usually correlated with a recent focus/lesson, so this response would be putting it into practice. I started to build a whole group mini lesson into my Friday plans where I would introduce the actual Reading Response form on my document camera. We would use a story we read whole group either that day or that week (so that it was familiar to all and fresh in their minds) to complete the reading response together.
Not only did we practice the skill together, but students could now visually see how to use the reading response form properly!
I used the same format of introduction for file folder and board games. It made a world of difference for the students which was reflected in their work habits and the work they turned in. (Not to mention that they could no longer claim they didn't know what to do since we had already done it together!)
One trick I found that helps with this is a Friday Preview.
I usually start my new centers on Mondays. There's so much going on on Mondays that there isn't too much time to introduce and model new centers extensively with enough time left over for my students to get some quality time at their new centers. Last year I started using many different Reading Responses for my Independent Reading center focusing on different skills or literary concepts. The skill I chose for the Reading Response usually correlated with a recent focus/lesson, so this response would be putting it into practice. I started to build a whole group mini lesson into my Friday plans where I would introduce the actual Reading Response form on my document camera. We would use a story we read whole group either that day or that week (so that it was familiar to all and fresh in their minds) to complete the reading response together.
Not only did we practice the skill together, but students could now visually see how to use the reading response form properly!
I used the same format of introduction for file folder and board games. It made a world of difference for the students which was reflected in their work habits and the work they turned in. (Not to mention that they could no longer claim they didn't know what to do since we had already done it together!)
Friday, July 19, 2013
Beginning of the Year Beginning Sounds
Every year when the school year starts again I get a wake up call at how far we take our students over the course of one year. You would think that I would be used to it after 11 years of teaching 1st grade, but I always forget! When students leave my class at the end of the year, they are reading and comprehending what they read. The content of their books is rigorous enough for them to look for a real plot and dig deeper into stories to work on comprehension. After summer is over, however, my new batch of ex-Kindergartners roll in and I realize that it's time to start all over again!
Most times starting over again means starting from the basics of reading and writing with skills like beginning letter sounds. (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.2d Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three-phoneme (consonant-vowel-consonant, or CVC) words, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.2c Isolate and pronounce initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in spoken single-syllable words.) While they work on this a lot in Kindergarten I find that after a summer off, it helps to brush up on this. You also have your handful of other students who may struggle with this in reading and writing and need more than just the first few weeks to practice this skill.
I created this Beginning Sounds Activity pack to help you start the year off right! The packet includes many different ways to practice identifying beginning sounds. It starts with a centers activity in which students match the beginning letter sound to picture cards.
This center is followed by a second center in which students must write (and practice proper letter formation!) the corresponding beginning letter sound.
Students can then move on to another center that steps the challenge up a little by combining beginning letter sounds in a puzzle to create a new word!
Follow these center up with fun practice pages that can be taken for daily grades as well! These pages include matching, cut and glue, mystery message, etc. There are also reference posters and answer keys for you and your students. The final piece of this activity pack is an assessment for you to get a quick and accurate grade to see how well your kiddos have mastered the material.
I hope you enjoy this activity pack. I designed it in graduated steps to help make it easier for you to introduce, reinforce, and assess your kids all in one package!
You can snag this Beginning Sounds Activity Pack from my TPT store!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Random find
Well I've been MIA for a while! I've been out of town (well, out of the country) on a missions trip to Nicaragua. I had the opportunity to help in the school the missions organization started in a very poor area. What an experience! More to come on that later.
For now I just wanted to share my quick and random find!
I was shopping at Nordstrom Rack and found these awesome headphone splitters for $8.97! It splits 3 ways which is perfect for my listening center! The splitter I use from school may split 6 ways but I never put that many kids in that center. I'm pretty tired of the school splitter and headphones because the get waaaaay tangled and always fall apart. The main reason, however, that i am annoyed with the school equipment is because the kids forget to check both the volume on the splitter AND on the headphones, so they always interrupt my reading groups because the think the listening center is not working! I hope that this and a few super cheap headphones will solve my problem. Thanks, Nordstrom Rack, for replacing my old running shoes and possibly providing me with a solution to Listening Center pet peeves!
For now I just wanted to share my quick and random find!
I was shopping at Nordstrom Rack and found these awesome headphone splitters for $8.97! It splits 3 ways which is perfect for my listening center! The splitter I use from school may split 6 ways but I never put that many kids in that center. I'm pretty tired of the school splitter and headphones because the get waaaaay tangled and always fall apart. The main reason, however, that i am annoyed with the school equipment is because the kids forget to check both the volume on the splitter AND on the headphones, so they always interrupt my reading groups because the think the listening center is not working! I hope that this and a few super cheap headphones will solve my problem. Thanks, Nordstrom Rack, for replacing my old running shoes and possibly providing me with a solution to Listening Center pet peeves!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Owl Theme Now Available!
My new Sight Word Game Boards are now available in your favorite OWL theme!
Get it here!
Get it here!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Place Value Quickie
Gonna make this one super quick!
Here's a quick Place Value game. All you need to do is print a game board, 1 die, and a crayon for each player. (Oh . . . and some sort of game piece. I often use those little counting bears since I always have some lying around!) Roll the die and move your game piece. Look at the tens and ones pictured and say the number it represents. If correct, color the space to claim it! Keep playing around the looped game board until all spaces have been colored. (Do not count or play colored spaces after you loop back around.) The player who has the most spaces colored at the end wins!
Need to differentiate? Require students to give the expanded form ("4 tens + 8 ones equals 40 + 8. That makes 48!") or have them write the expanded from on the whiteboard!
Click on the preview picture to snag this quick and easy game!
Here's a quick Place Value game. All you need to do is print a game board, 1 die, and a crayon for each player. (Oh . . . and some sort of game piece. I often use those little counting bears since I always have some lying around!) Roll the die and move your game piece. Look at the tens and ones pictured and say the number it represents. If correct, color the space to claim it! Keep playing around the looped game board until all spaces have been colored. (Do not count or play colored spaces after you loop back around.) The player who has the most spaces colored at the end wins!
Need to differentiate? Require students to give the expanded form ("4 tens + 8 ones equals 40 + 8. That makes 48!") or have them write the expanded from on the whiteboard!
Click on the preview picture to snag this quick and easy game!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Medial Sounds
Done with Beginning and Ending Sounds? What about Medial Sounds?
In this fun game students will visit their friends from Safari Elementary again! This time it's recess! Help the students at Safari Elementary form teams according to their medial sounds. Each card has a word with a long vowel medial sound, but the long vowel is formed in different ways. This game is great as a center and includes a recording sheet. Extend the activity by highlighting the letter combinations that make the vowel long!
Click on the preview to get the game . . .
In this fun game students will visit their friends from Safari Elementary again! This time it's recess! Help the students at Safari Elementary form teams according to their medial sounds. Each card has a word with a long vowel medial sound, but the long vowel is formed in different ways. This game is great as a center and includes a recording sheet. Extend the activity by highlighting the letter combinations that make the vowel long!
Click on the preview to get the game . . .
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Geometry Ready to Go!
We've been working on Geometry - Basic 2D shapes. Over the years I've created different activities for students to get engaged and challenge their thinking when it comes to knowing their basic shapes. Now I've bundled them into a ready to go pack for you to use with your students in Guided Math! The lessons and activities can be used in whole group, small group, and at centers! It covers the basics of 2D shapes, overlapping shapes, and comparing shapes. The contents are ready to go and can also be used in conjunction with the manipulatives you already have in your classroom! Check it out! I hope you enjoy!
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| Click the preview to get the pack! |
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wish "Grant"ed!
Until last year I had never applied for a grant. I was always too intimidated, imagining that grant writing was a long, tedious, and "official" process. I mean, aren't there classes and seminars available to help you write grants?
Despite my fears, I decided to apply for a few grants at the end of last school year. The 1st grant was offered by my school cluster. I took a look at the application form, answered the questions, listed my requests, and submitted it. About a month or 2 later . . . grant approved! I receive just over $300 for classroom materials for my grade level!
The grant approval gave me confidence to apply for the next grants available from my schools PTA. There was no harm trying, right? So I applied for another grant for technology materials for my grade level (Interactive Whiteboard software from Lakeshore Learning) and a separate grant for my classroom to purchase books from Scholastic to expand my classroom library. Due to the high volume of applications for these grants, I only got a portion of the funding I asked for, but that was still just over $200 for my grade level and about $150 for my classroom library!
I wasn't able to access the funds until this Fall, but guess what came in the mail last week?!!? Take a look at all the materials I was able to acquire for my grade level through these grants! (I have yet to receive my classroom library books.)
Don't be afraid to apply for those grants. It's well worth the time. Besides . . . what's the worst that could happen? They say no? =)
Despite my fears, I decided to apply for a few grants at the end of last school year. The 1st grant was offered by my school cluster. I took a look at the application form, answered the questions, listed my requests, and submitted it. About a month or 2 later . . . grant approved! I receive just over $300 for classroom materials for my grade level!
The grant approval gave me confidence to apply for the next grants available from my schools PTA. There was no harm trying, right? So I applied for another grant for technology materials for my grade level (Interactive Whiteboard software from Lakeshore Learning) and a separate grant for my classroom to purchase books from Scholastic to expand my classroom library. Due to the high volume of applications for these grants, I only got a portion of the funding I asked for, but that was still just over $200 for my grade level and about $150 for my classroom library!
I wasn't able to access the funds until this Fall, but guess what came in the mail last week?!!? Take a look at all the materials I was able to acquire for my grade level through these grants! (I have yet to receive my classroom library books.)
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| Games, Centers, Interactive Whiteboard Software, and Teacher Resource books purchased with grant money! |
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| Teacher Resource Books |
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| Games ready-to-go! Perfect for Centers! |
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| More games ready-to-go . . . perfect for Centers! |
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| Interactive Whiteboard Software! Some even have a printable assessment on the disk to go with the program! |
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Fun Flash Cards!
Check out my new product on TpT! These French Fry Addition and Subtraction Facts provide a fun way for students to practice their addition and subtraction facts! These french fries serve as self-checking flash cards when pulled out of the french fry sleeve. First students will answer the addition and subtraction facts. (This week my class will be concentrating on composing and decomposing numbers to 10 in Math.) When done they'll need to cut out the french fries and assemble the french fry sleeve (just cut, fold, and glue). French fries are slipped answer side down into the sleeve so that answers are hidden until the fries are pulled out!
I'm going to put this in a center next week. When the project is done they'll have fun flash cards to take home to practice! The better they know their addition and subtraction facts, the easier other Math skills will come if they don't have to concentrate on those basics! Students can always challenge each other with these French Fry Facts! I do these every year and my kids always love it!
I'm going to put this in a center next week. When the project is done they'll have fun flash cards to take home to practice! The better they know their addition and subtraction facts, the easier other Math skills will come if they don't have to concentrate on those basics! Students can always challenge each other with these French Fry Facts! I do these every year and my kids always love it!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Labelling Your Classroom?
School starts Monday and I''m working hard trying to finish preparing!
In my search for labels for centers I found this great website called Environments. The site is free to join but you do need to create a username and password to access the goodies. You can create labels for centers using their stock of photos which display children at work at the different centers. Great for early learners and second language learners! You can also create book plates, classroom labels, daily activity signs, job signs, etc. It's worth a look so check it out!
In my search for labels for centers I found this great website called Environments. The site is free to join but you do need to create a username and password to access the goodies. You can create labels for centers using their stock of photos which display children at work at the different centers. Great for early learners and second language learners! You can also create book plates, classroom labels, daily activity signs, job signs, etc. It's worth a look so check it out!
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