I often get asked how I'm able to fit things into my day and I'm hoping this helps give you an idea of how that looks. Let's go ahead and start with the plans. I'm fortunate enough to be able to help teachers plan for their days while pushing in to assist and mentor. We talk a lot about "fitting it all in" and I hope this helps you to see what that looks like. I tend to OVERplan because I'd rather have more than enough to get through the day(s). You can download them HERE for a closer look. Whew. Now let's break it all down. MORNING WARM-UP Most kids are still filtering in during this time, … [Read more...] about Visual Lesson Plans – How I Fit It All In
phonics
Launching Guided Reading Small Groups & Independent Centers
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
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, Fluency, & a Deal of the Day!
Today we're talking all about fluency and phonics. First we're focusing on phonics and then we'll get into the fluency portion. And if you love practicing reading fluency like I'll do, you'll LOVE today's deal of the day!!! Do you have a specific phonics curriculum you follow in the classroom? Saxon? Horizons?? Or do you just make it up as you go? I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious. I've only taught in one district where we were required to follow a phonics curriculum. If I'm being honest, I didn't think it was effective or appropriate. I feel like it's more important … [Read more...] about Phonics, Fluency, & a Deal of the Day!
Guided Reading Activities
Hello from New Orleans! I'm in Louisiana today for the SDE 1st Grade Conference. Fun stuff! So excited to meet the teachers here, share a few things, and (fingers crossed) eat some beignets :) Have you heard that TpT is having their sitewide sale today and tomorrow?! Here's a throwback to me in first grade to celebrate!! Hahaha!!! You can check out my holiday resources and more in my shop. Don't forget to use the promo code SMILE at checkout to save 28% on your total purchase! This past weekend I added a few new things to my store. If you already have my Guided Reading Phonics Bundle … [Read more...] about Guided Reading Activities
Stoplight Sounds (Freebie!)
So, I was in Wal Mart the other day (I promise this isn't the start of a bad joke ;)) I was grabbing a few things from the travel section and found these great little containers. 97 cents a piece. Of course, there was no way I'd use them for travel purposes, but I knew they'd make a GREAT activity for the classroom! I picked up a red, yellow, and green because I knew I wanted to do something with a stoplight theme. They had orange and blue containers as well. As I was driving home it dawned on me. STOPLIGHT SOUNDS!!!! I could use the lids to segment sounds ...beginning (green)/ middle (yellow)/ end … [Read more...] about Stoplight Sounds (Freebie!)
Phonics Friday – The Short Vowel Edition
I know most of my Texas teacher friends started back to school this week. If you're in the same boat, HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU!!!! Whether you started back this week or a few weeks ago, you've definitely earned your weekend!!! FRIYAY !!!! Now let's get on with Phonics Friday, shall we?! One of the first phonics skills I cover at the beginning of the year is vowels. I introduce both short and long, but focus mainly on the short vowel sounds until that concept is mastered. However, I think it's important for our kids to know BOTH sounds since they'll encounter those sounds/vowels in their reading. When I … [Read more...] about Phonics Friday – The Short Vowel Edition
Phonics Friday – Small Group Phonics Activities
These last few weeks have been 50 shades of cray. I'm not sure if I told y'all, but we got a roommate :) She's actually a friend of my niece's and she was starting her first semester of student teaching here in town. She had never been to Texas before and was a little wary of living so far from home (Indiana), so she was going to be staying with us until December. Remember how hard it was to student teach all day & not get paid?? And then rush home, get changed, and wait tables until midnight?? And then wake up at 5:30 the next day and do it all again? Or was that just me?!?! We were excited … [Read more...] about Phonics Friday – Small Group Phonics Activities
Fluency & Phonics Friday
If you're been joining me this week for my birthday SALE-A-BRATION, welcome to day 5 of our little weeklong event! I think this is the most consistent I've posted since starting this blog 5 years ago. I need to get better about that. I forget how much I love it sometimes!!! Today we're talking all about fluency and phonics. First we're focusing on phonics and then we'll get into the fluency portion. Do you have a specific phonics curriculum you follow in the classroom? Saxon? Horizons?? Or do you just make it up as you go? I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious. … [Read more...] about Fluency & Phonics Friday
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
Phonics Friday!
Welcome to Phonics Friday! My plan is to post every Friday with some fun Phonics based activities and ideas. With a holiday weekend next week and being in Vegas the week after that, I'm not promising consistency (at least for the next couple of weeks). But I do plan on posting more ideas for you to add to your ever growing list in the weeks to come!!! Just like every other theory/trend/philosophy/belief in education, there are always two schools of thought. We either think the idea/theory/trend/philosophy/belief is important and relevant and believe wholeheartedly in implementing it into our classroom OR we don't think … [Read more...] about Phonics Friday!
Musical Matching – A Blending Game
Hey y'all! How's the week going so far?! If it's anything for you like it is for me, then it's crazy...and jam packed full of Halloween insanity {I'm talking about the kids, of course;)} I love, love, LOVE Halloween, but I know you feel me when I say that celebrating it at school with the kids is nothing short of....well...crazy. Fun, absolutely. But crazy nonetheless. I feel ya, friends. I really do! But let's go ahead and keep it business as usual until all Hallow's Eve and remain thankful that Friday's festivities don't coincide with a full moon {can I get an amen?!!??!} I wanted to … [Read more...] about Musical Matching – A Blending Game
Do The Digraph!
Okay. I was recently re-introduced to a childhood favorite while skimming through Netflix trying to find a movie for my boys. Do any of y’all remember this show??? Don’t judge. I grew up with two younger brothers and one TV in our household. I grew to love it. But it wasn’t until a few days ago that I realized just how awful it was. And now I can’t get the theme song out of my head. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with my post, except to tell you that I’m singing “Do the Digraph” to the tune of the theme song, “Do the Mario”. Addicting people. Awful and addicting. You can thank me for … [Read more...] about Do The Digraph!
-OR Activity
We learned about the –or & –ar chunks last week and I used Abby’s fab craftivities to reinforce the sounds. We made the DARLING pirates {from her Pirate Mark unit} for our –ar words and the kids flipped. They LOVED ‘em!!! And I used her popcorn tub template {from her Let’s Get Poppin’ With Adjectives unit} to reinforce our –or words. SO much fun!!! … [Read more...] about -OR Activity
