How many of you have already gone back to school? One question I'm often asked at the beginning of the school year is, "When do you start guided reading?!", so I thought we'd chat about how all that gets started in my classroom today :) The beginning of the year is important not only for establishing rules and routines, but also for assessing our students. We need to know where are babies are so we can determine how and what we need to teach. We're all given grade level objectives and standards to teach, but our kids also need differentiated instruction to meet their individual needs. Where does this fit in?! Most of my … [Read more...] about Launching Guided Reading Small Groups & Independent Centers
alphabet
Learning the Alphabet – Phonics FUN!
Let's talk a little bit more about phonics, shall we?! Last week we talked a little about some important Phonics non-negotiables. You can check those out HERE. I also shared a couple of fun games & independent activities I like using in the classroom for phonics instruction. Today's post is dedicated to my Kindergarten teachers. Kindergarten is where it all begins. We set the tone for the rest of our learning experiences in Kindergarten. We wipe noses, zip pants, tie shoes, dry tears, and instill within our kids a love of learning. Bless the Kindergarten teachers of the world. I taught … [Read more...] about Learning the Alphabet – Phonics FUN!
Phonics Friday
Happy Friday, y'all!! Yes! Today is our 2nd installment of Phonics Friday! Last week we talked a little about some important Phonics non-negotiables. You can check those out HERE. I also shared a couple of fun games & independent activities I like using in the classroom for phonics instruction. Today's post is dedicated to my Kindergarten teachers. Kindergarten is where it all begins. We set the tone for the rest of our learning experiences in Kindergarten. We wipe noses, zip pants, tie shoes, dry tears, and instill within our kids a love of learning. Bless the Kindergarten … [Read more...] about Phonics Friday
Alphabet Questions Answered!
Happy Saturday, y'all! Anybody else feeling like this today?? Hahaha. I wish that were true. I did laugh at the thought of doing housework, but I'll be running around with the family all day, so I actually have to get out of my pj's. Darnit. Moving on. Y'all had some really good questions about my last post on Small Group Alphabet Instruction, so I wanted to answer those for you here in case anyone else has the same question :) I hope this helps!!! The only video I have is this one of my antsy son. I asked him to recite the alphabet with motions the way he was taught by his … [Read more...] about Alphabet Questions Answered!
Small Group Alphabet Instruction (AKA – The Longest Post EVER)
Yesterday I posted all about how I introduce the alphabet in my classroom. I told y'all a little bit about what I do during small group and showed y'all a little sample of what that small group instruction entails.... Now let's go ahead and dive a little deeper. Before I get started, let's quickly talk about some invaluable resources I've used in my classroom to help teach and reinforce letter recognition and letter to sound linking. These are materials I use during small group, tutoring, and I keep these out in literacy tubs as well. This isn't everything I use...it doesn't even really touch the surface...but … [Read more...] about Small Group Alphabet Instruction (AKA – The Longest Post EVER)
All About the Alphabet
When I hosted a little Coffee Talk a few weeks ago, one of the things a few of y'all wanted to know about was how I introduce the alphabet to my Kinder friends. Instead of answering with a little blurb, I felt like this was a concept that deserved a lot more than just a little explanation. So let's get started, shall we?! Before I start, I think it's important for you to know that I wholeheartedly DO NOT believe in "letter of the week" alphabet instruction. Although letter identification and letter to sound relationships should be taught systematically and thoroughly, the sequence and spacing of instruction doesn't need to … [Read more...] about All About the Alphabet
I Notebook…Do You?
Do you notebook?? {Is it okay that I just made that a verb??} Well...all that to be said, I DO. I notebook. There. I said it. I notebook and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I started out small this past year. Dabbled in it, if you will. I used Deanna's Interactive Reading Journals and they worked out beautifully. I got my feet wet and I LOVED it. I wanted to incorporate more interactive notebooking because I saw how much my kids LOVED it...and how engaged they were...and how they seemed to retain SO much more and make SO many connections while learning. Not gonna lie...it was awesome. … [Read more...] about I Notebook…Do You?
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!! One of my non-teaching friends posted this on Facebook today and it made me laugh out loud... Hahaha!! It's definitely a calling! Speaking of teacher appreciation, I'm pretty much surviving this week thanks to all of my Pinterest finds. I have 4 teachers to buy for and there is SO many great ideas out there on ways to show your teachers you appreciate them without breaking the bank. Here's what we've done so far... Speaking of random {were we speaking about random?!?!}...I got the most AMAZING package full of goodies delivered to my doorstep yesterday and I … [Read more...] about Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!