Last week we chatted all about BAT WEEK, so I figured it was only fitting to follow-up with some ideas for Spider Week! As I've said before, teaching foundational concepts and skills using these two creatures as the thematic vehicle for instruction is so very fitting for this time of the year. Especially on campuses where any talk of Halloween is forbidden. Bats and spiders are a little "spooky"...which fits right in with Halloween...but not scary (depending on your phobias ;) I'm always asked about how I'm able to incorporate thematic teaching this time of the year while being sensitive to the understanding that Halloween just isn't … [Read more...] about Spider Week
vocabulary
Simple Vocabulary Activities for ANY Word Study
I'm back from a two-day conference in Oklahoma where I got to meet and talk to so many amazing Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers. It was definitely a busy two days, but so much fun!! I absolutely love working with teachers!!! One of the sessions I presented was all about vocabulary. I'm such a huge believer in intentional and explicit vocabulary instruction that not only focuses on academic vocabulary words, but Tier 2 vocabulary words, too. It's so important for us as teachers to provide our kids with instruction that targets vocabulary retention. Not only do we want our kids to know what words … [Read more...] about Simple Vocabulary Activities for ANY Word Study
Writing Interventions, Guided Reading, Behavior, & Vocabulary (with Freebies!)
Yesterday I had the privilege of talking to some of the most wonderful teachers in the world...my Texas teachers!!! Okay, so I'm a little biased ;) Honestly though...it was such a GREAT day in Austin. SO much to cover!! Writing interventions, guided reading, behavior management, and vocabulary! This is how I typically feel after a day full of talking... Hahaha!! I absolutely love it! The exhaustion is most definitely worth it! I promised my Texas teachers I'd pop-in today and leave a few goodies to download :) If you attended my Writing Intervention session, you might remember me … [Read more...] about Writing Interventions, Guided Reading, Behavior, & Vocabulary (with Freebies!)
Holiday Craftivity with a Vocabulary Twist
I know how fast and furious these 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break can be, so I wanted to revisit an old post today to share one of my favorite ideas in case you haven't seen it yet! Not only was this activity absolutely precious, but we were able to weave in a vocabulary lesson with it as well and for the remainder of the year my kids had a solid connection to the focus word (overlap). Anytime that word came up in a book, in conversation, etc., my kids would say, "remember when we made the overlapping Christmas tree?!" And if I stopped to ask what that word meant, they could tell me without faltering. … [Read more...] about Holiday Craftivity with a Vocabulary Twist
All About the Weather! (Activities, Ideas, & Freebies!)
Happy weekend to you!!!! My weekend started off not-so-happy. My littlest bit was sent home Thursday afternoon with a fever. After a round of Motrin and lots of TLC, he was seemingly back to normal. Never ran a fever again. So weird! But his school day fever meant he had to stay home yesterday. I won't lie to you. I cherish days like that. Not the circumstances, but the moments when I can just soak him in just the way he is without any other distractions. I'm feeling a little sentimental...can you tell?! Now that the littlest member of my family is going on a full 48 hours of … [Read more...] about All About the Weather! (Activities, Ideas, & Freebies!)
Columbus Day Fun & a Little Sale :)
I spent the day yesterday helping some of my teacher friends get ready for their Discovery Day! SO fun!!! I love the idea of having "theme days" to teach particular concepts and events. My friends are incorporating the Columbus Day holiday into a day of learning they're calling "Discovery Day". Instead of focusing on Columbus being the first to discover America...which, by the way, is highly disputed...they're focusing on exploring, new discoveries, and Christopher Columbus' explorations. I came up with a few craftivities and printables to help them supplement their Discovery Day plans and thought I'd share … [Read more...] about Columbus Day Fun & a Little Sale :)
Let’s Talk Word Walls
If you’re a teacher, there’s a good chance you’ve got a Word Wall in your room {either by desire or demand}. 9 times out of 10, the Word Wall you spent hours planning, setting up, & prepping is just a piece of wall décor. Am I right or am I totally off base?! Maybe I’m just speaking from experience. Hopefully you know what I’m talking about! I’ve always had a bit of an issue with my Word Walls. They’re not conveniently located. At all. And really, that’s all my fault. I could make it more accessible. I would always start out the year with a BANG….like we all do. I would … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk Word Walls
Personal Vocabulary Books ~ A Freebie!
Yesterday I showed y'all a fun little vocabulary activity we do in our classroom before/during/after reading. I thought we'd continue with a little vocabulary fun today so that I can show y'all one of my favorite little resources...our Vocabulary Mini Books!!! This was a class favorite this past year! Since we're in Kindergarten, we started off with a GIANT version of this book. Basically, we copied these pages on chart paper and did this activity whole group. I would use these books for one word and then complete 1-2 pages per day. I felt like this helped us to stay on task and really dig deep into word … [Read more...] about Personal Vocabulary Books ~ A Freebie!
Vocabulary Can Be Fun, Too!
Hello friends. My name is Cara and I'm a WORD NERD. I love words. Everything about them. I pore over them. I **try** and make myself more interesting by using those "fun" words in random conversation. Words are FUN. Entertaining. Convivial. Delightful. Enjoyable. Fill in the blank here :) I want my kids to love words as much as I do. I want to hear them using "big" words in their everyday conversations. Not that I expect my kids to use insanely challenging vocabulary all the time, but there's no reason they can't "speak smart"! Last year one of my goals was to … [Read more...] about Vocabulary Can Be Fun, Too!
Work on Writing – A Writing Center Makeover
How many of y'all struggle with your writing center? I know I do. Every year. I want my kids to be engaged and excited about every part of the writing process. I want them to LOVE to write. I want them to CHOOSE to write when they have free time. This is not always the case for every child, but I'm DETERMINED that it will be!!! Writing is a HUGE part of our day. We write for EVERYTHING. We have about 30-45 minutes for Writers Workshop...then there's Shared Writing...and of course the Writing Center. And we're writing in all other academic areas as well. You'd think it's easy to … [Read more...] about Work on Writing – A Writing Center Makeover
And We’re Off…
Am I the only one that stresses thismuch about the regression of my kids after a long break?! I do this even after 3-day weekends. It's a sickness. I worry they'll forget absolutely everything I've taught them and they'll come back from break starting over at square one. Thankfully, that was not the case today {insert dramatic sigh of relief here}. In fact, I'm excited to say a lot of my babies progressed these last two weeks!! {Doesn't it always seem like a little light bulb goes off after winter break??!? Why do I worry?!??} I did running records on all of my kids today and ohmiword. Completely and … [Read more...] about And We’re Off…
Vocabulary Craftivity with a Holiday Twist
I was reading a book to my sweeties earlier in the week that had the word “overlapped” in it. One of my littles stopped to ask me what that word meant {I always love it when they stop to ask stuff like that!!!} Anyway, I tried to explain it as best as I could and then continued reading. That little momentary pause for explanation got me thinking about making my vocabulary instruction more hands-on. Now, that wasn’t necessarily a vocabulary word I was trying to teach, but since we discussed it, I figured ‘why not’?! I’m always trying to find meaningful ways to make instruction more hands-on. That night, I took … [Read more...] about Vocabulary Craftivity with a Holiday Twist
Dictionary Skills Activity
Okay…so my kids don’t have them YET, but they have been introduced to this wonderful little resource. Resource is a BIG word in my class. My kids know that if they’re having trouble with something, they need to use a RESOURCE for help. Lately, they’ve been really curious about words and their meanings. I LOVE that!! When they’re reading to self, I’ll often have kids who bring their books to me and say, “what does that mean?!?!” as they point inquisitively to the word in question. While I really try to encourage them to use their context clues, sometimes word meaning can be a little tricky to figure out! SO…it was time to teach my kids … [Read more...] about Dictionary Skills Activity
