And The Winner Is......

Five for Friday

Oh what a week!  I am so thankful that we only have school for two days next week!  I need some R&R!  A girl can dream, right?!?!?!?!  ;)

I am liking up with Doodle Bugs to share my Five for Friday!  I know it's Saturday, but......

My firsties made the cutest word family turkeys this week!  I found this idea over at The First Grade Parade!

Click HERE to get the FREEBIE!

I'm getting the Elf on the Shelf ready to go!

Need an Elf On the Shelf?  Get one HERE!

I found these cute jokes to use.  You can find them at Over the Big Moon!  Click HERE to get them!

 

Need I say more?

When I think Thanksgiving, I think PUMPKIN!  I love pumpkin anything!  I'm thinkin' this might have to be on my Thanksgiving menu this year!  It sounds YUMM-O!

I found this treat over at Budget Gourmet Mom.  Check it out!

I am so excited about my giveaway! I'm giving away 9 of my BEST SELLERS!  All of the activities are great for literacy centers, Daily5, guided reading, and reading interventions.  

There's only a few days left before I announce the big winner! Be sure to ENTER! 

Click HERE to enter!

Good luck, Friends!   

Hope you have a relaxing weekend! 

Thanks Giveaway!

I am having a GIVEAWAY for a chance to win 9 literacy activities from my TpT store!

Click HERE to check them out in my TpT store.

Enter today for your chance to win 9 great activities!  These activities may be used for homework, Daily 5 word work, literacy centers, guided reading, or reading interventions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 27th!  

Trick or Treat!

Can you believe it is almost Halloween?  The leaves are falling, the air is getting cool....  and I am sad to say we actually had some of that white stuff falling from the clouds.... I can't even say the word.... it's WAY too early!

My kiddos are so excited about Halloween!  This week, we had many conversations about Halloween costumes and candy!  There are no words to tell you how excited they are about the Halloween party!  Oh My!  We are so lucky to have a fabulous PTO at my school!  The room moms take care of all the party planning!  We are looking forward to a great time!

Here is a treat for you!   Click on the pictures to get your freebie!  

Happy Halloween! 

Sort It Out!

Word study is a big part of our day in first grade! 

Sorting words is an essential skill. Brain research shows human beings learn better when they are able to classify and assimilate things into categories. Teaching young students to do this helps them make sense of the world around them.  I love watching my students make connections with how words work.  Of course the *ULTIMATE GOAL* is to have students reading and writing words containing the features that we have studied.  Using the words in context of their reading and writing deepens their understanding of how words work.

I love using word sorts with my students and have created a sorting bundle for my kiddos to use during Daily 5.  It is now available on TpT! 

Click the image to see it on TpT!

Click the image to see it on TpT!

Click the image to see it on TpT!

Click the image to see it on TpT!

Click the image to see it on TpT!

 In this unit you will find:
• 17 short vowel word families:
-at, -an
-ap, -ag, -ad
-en, -ed, -et
-ip, -in, -it
-ot, -og, -op
-ug, -un, –ut
• 2 pages of sort recording extension pages to write and use the sorted words in sentences (for both two way sort and three way sorts)
• A directions page
• Sorting mats with pictures for each word family

Happy sorting! 

Daily 5: Word Work

I'm linking up with First Grade in Foxwell Forest to talk about Daily 5!

This month's linky is all about Word Work!

First of all, if you have not ready The Daily 5, I recommend that you get the book and read it!  It is a quick and easy read!  

When I first implemented Daily 5, I searched all over Pinterest for ideas on how to organize it.  Everyone has their own twist on it.  I tried a few different ways and found that a board works the best for me!

Here is a picture of my Daily 5 board:

 Each child is assigned a "secret agent number" for the year.  I change the numbers on the board daily to indicate which activities they will do during our guided reading block.  Students go to the activity closest to their number first, then after 25 minutes they switch to activity opposite their number.

I begin introducing Word Work on the first day of school.  I show the kids how to find materials and use them appropriately. Then we practice doing an activity together.  We practice, practice, practice while we build stamina on working independently.  Each day, I ask my kids to tell me something that worked well at Daily 5 and then we share things that didn't go so well.  We then work together to problem solve.  This really helps the kids take ownership in what they are doing and they are better able to remember what to do if a problem arises. 

Here is how I organized the Word Work activities:

Each bucket is labeled with the activity and a corresponding number.  I have all the materials that are needed for the activity in the bucket, along with a completed model for the kids to refer to (I usually take the page that I completed when introducing the activity and put it in a plastic sleeve.)  Each child has a Daily 5 folder with a checklist inside.  Each morning, they look at the checklist to see what activity they need to complete.  In the beginning of the year, students choose one of 12 activities.  Students must do the five word wall words of the week (We call these "Must Do Words!").  Then, they may choose any other words on the word wall to practice.

Here are some of the activities:

Stamp A Word

Hidden Words

Boggle

Word Steps

Are you looking for some new Word Work activities?  Or are you just getting started with Daily 5?  I have just the thing for you! 

Click HERE to get this!

 This packet includes 12 activities, labels for bins, student checklist, and teacher checklist!

Activities include:

Word Steps
Hidden Words
Cell Phone
Scrabble
Word Work Sentences
Rainbow Words
Boggle
Roll A Word
ABC Order
Word Shapes
Stamp A Word
Secret Code

As the year goes on, I may change the activities to meet the needs of my students or to reinforce skills that we are working on in class.  The kids love to play Roll and Read to work on reading fluency!  I have three to choose from sight word, CVC words, and CVCe words!

  

Click HERE to get this!

Click HERE to get this!

I'd love to hear what you do for Word Work!

Going Back to School and BIG NEWS!

I can't believe it's almost time to go back to school!  Where has the summer gone?

I'm linking up with Farley for her August Currently.

  

 Listening to:  I'm listening to my cat "hunt" for "mice."   I love my cat, I really do.  But he has this annoying hobby.  He hunts for these little fake mice.  While hunting he YOWLS at the top of his little kitty lungs. Don't want to burst his bubble, but he doesn't even know what a real mouse looks like.

After the hunt!

Loving:  My new back to school bunting!  So cute!

Click Image to see how to get one!

I got it from Fabulous in First.  You can get it for FREE when you follow her on Facebook!  

Thinking:  The next few weeks are going to be crazy busy!  It's back to school time.... need I say more?

Wanting:  More summer.  This summer flew by!  

 Needing:  To set up my classroom! I'm going in tomorrow and I have so much to do!  I did get some shopping done.....

Back To School Must Haves:  

1.  Mr. Sketch Markers are a MUST HAVE in my classroom.  Use them everyday!  

2.  I really need a new Thirty-One bag. I have one picked out already:

It's the Organizing Utility Tote.  LOVE IT!  It has pockets to hold everything I need and is large enough to hold those ginormous teacher manuals.  

3.  Caffeine!  Coffee or Diet Coke, depending on what time it is!

I have more Back to School Must Haves.  You can see them HERE.

I have BIG NEWS! In honor of setting up my classroom,  I am having a BIG, BACK TO SCHOOL SALE! It starts Monday, August 5th and will run thru Thursday!

Click Image To Shop!

Please feel free to stop by to take a peek!  Don't forget to give me some TpT feedback and follow my store!  :)

Happy Shopping!