How I Teach Phonics + GIVEAWAY/FREEBIE!!

Happy Thursday Friends,

 

Today I found a great linky about teaching phonics from Melissa over at First Grade Smiles.

Teaching phonics is something that I love as a first grade teacher and it goes along with a creation that I just made that I wanted to share about.

I always like to hook my students with the phonics skills that we are learning that week. Here are some examples of phonics videos that I like to use in my classroom:

 

Anything with the Electric Company...my kids LOVE these videos

 

I also like the videos "Between the Lions" to teach phonics skills. Some of them are short songs, but they are usually longer videos so I might save them for later on in the week or as a filler if we finish up our work early. :-) This is one for "at".

 

I am a HUGE advocate for Making Words in the classroom. According to Patricia Cunningham, "Making words provides a structured way for students to experiment with words and investigate how the sounds of language are put together" (Cunningham, 1994).  As you know more skilled readers look for those familiar word patterns in unknown words to help them decode. We spend a lot of time focusing on those word patterns and how to manipulate them. This is how my students become successful readers. I refer a lot to Fountas and Pinnell also when it comes to reading instruction. I feel this best sums up where to focus your goals when you are planning your instruction:

 

I just created this Making Words Mega Pack for my classroom that provides 115 different word patterns to practice making words with! It has short and long vowel families, blends (beginning/ending), digraphs, diphthongs, and r-controlled vowels. With this pack, I feel like I am set for the year when it comes to providing my students with word family practice. It can be used in small or whole group instruction, Daily Five, or additional practice at home. Here's a look at this product in action!:

 

 

You can find this in my TPT store!!! 

 

 

 



 Click on either image above to check it out in my TPT store!

 

Here are some additional websites that I use as resources for phonics:

 

Florida Center for Reading Research

 

Reading A to Z

 

Heidi Songs

 

Reading Rockets

 

I also love using anchor charts as a visual representation of the word patterns that we are studying that week. Here are some great examples of anchor charts that I have found (I don't draw so nicely, so I am not showing examples of mine lol).

 

 

Off on a tangent real quick...I just found this awesome idea for displaying anchor charts from Christina over at Sugar and Spice. It involves a magnetic towel rod...seriously check out this brilliant idea HERE!

 

 

Besides making words, we also use our decodables from our reading series to highlight familiar word patterns as we read. My students can then take them home and refer to them as they reread these decodable texts to build fluency. Here are some pinterest inspired center ideas that I've found for practicing phonics in our classroom:

Word Sorts with Familiar Word Patterns

 

Vowel flip books...inspired by Mrs. Schmelzer's Class

 

Anything with food...I use food to teach reading, writing, and math! This idea was from First Grade Wow. 

OKAY...drumroll please...it's GIVEAWAY time!! I will pick 2 people to win my new Making Words Mega Pack (valued at $12.00). Enter in Rafflecopter Below! It will end Sunday at midnight.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

And of course, a freebie for you! This is an example of my -at making words from my Making Words Mega Pack. Click on the picture to download from Google Docs!  

 

 Have a thrilling Thursday!!!,

 





Favorite Pins Friday + WINNERS!!!

Happy Friday Friends!,

 

I just got a harsh reality check this week...I go back to school in a month?!?! Say WHAT?!?! I don't know what it is about this summer, but it's FLYING by fast. I haven't ordered anything for the new school year yet and I have to still work on planning for my maternity leave! Stop the craziness puh-lease!!

Well I'm stopping by today to share some more of my favorite pins for the Favorite Pins Friday linky party with Cara at The First Grade Parade!

 

 

1. Birthday Treat Cups

 

This is by far my favorite pin this week. I pinned this from Elizabeth Supan and I nearly jumped for joy when I saw it!! I have been looking to do something different than the traditional birthday bags. How stinkin' cute are these?!?!?

Of course I am going to make different tags for these cups, but I CANNOT wait to make these!!! It has candy in it, shredded paper for the "whipped cream" effect and a red tootsie roll pop for the cherry effect! LOVE!!

 

2. Math Journals

 

The back to school sale madness is ON!! I am fully in shopping mode! I bought 10 black and white composition books at Walmart to get cut in half, because I saw this awesome math journaling idea from Living, Laughing, and Loving that I want to try this year!

3. Phonics Notebooks

 

I am learning more about interactive notebooking lately and I love this phonics notebook that I pinned!!

 

 

Source

 

I definitely want to do something of a similar format for my firsties!! What a better way to go over word families? :-)

 

4. Pirate Fun!

 

Every year for our Meet the Teacher, I like to go all out and make my new students feel excited and welcome in our classroom. I send them a pirate welcome postcard in the mail and I always give them a pirate goody bag full of loot when they come in and I thought that it would be fun to add these into the mix! I repined these from A Kindergarten Life for Me.

 

 

How adorable are these?!?!?!

 

5. Organization Station

 

I am desperate to be organized this year, especially with a 2 month maternity leave. This will be our 2nd year in 1st grade that we are implementing the Common Core State Standards. I love this pin for organizing activities based on each standard! A flip of a page and there are your resources...VOILA!

This idea is from Common Core Galore and More.

 

6. A great reminder...

 

As we all get ready in the next few weeks or months to go back to school, I stumbled across this pin that I wanted to share...

 

 

This is so true! Even with all of the stress and unappreciation that teachers put up with on a day to day basis, I still feel like there isn't anything else I am meant to do, but TEACH! I still have that passion that I did when I first started. I just love this career!!

 

Now to announce the winners of my "Write Like a Rockstar" giveaway.....

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Congratulations ladies! I already sent the packets your way!! I also announced 2 additional winners on my FB page!! Do you follow me on Facebook?!? If not, click HERE. If you would like to take a closer look at it, click on the picture to check it out in my TPT store!

 

 

 

I have another giveaway of an awesome product that I am finishing up very soon that you can enter to win here and on my FB page for extra chances. You won't want to miss it!! 

 

Have a fantastic Friday!!,

 





Write Like a Rockstar GIVEAWAY + FREEBIE!!

Hey there friends!,

 

I don't know about you but teaching handwriting is something that drives me bonkers every year. I feel like my students don't pay attention to the rules and I'll admit...I get bored with teaching it myself.

I was thinking to myself, how can I make this more interesting for my students?

Here enters the "rockstar" approach!

Who doesn't want to be like a rockstar?!? So "Write Like a Rockstar" was born!

Click on the picture to see it in my TPT store!

 

This set includes posters which show students how "rockstars" write. It also includes letter formation posters for upper and lowercase letters with catchy musical rhymes that I made up. It teaches students to use different placemarkers to form their letters. The top line is the music note, the middle dotted line is the guitar, and the bottom line is the drum. It also includes a "Write Like a Rockstar" practice workbook and certificates of completion at the end of the program.

Here's a preview:

Now I feel a bit more rejuvenated about teaching the "dreaded" handwriting to my students.

Now you didn't think I was going to leave you hanging, did you? I am giving away 2 packets to my followers. Just enter in Rafflecopter below and I will choose the winners in a couple of days!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

FOR AN EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN:

I'm having a pin it to win it contest on my Facebook Page. Like Learning Is Something To Treasure's FB page HERE and enter for an additional chance to win!

 

And of course a FREEBIE, click on the picture below to download the Rockstar Writer certificates for FREE!!

 

 Have a groovy day!!,



Favorite Pins Friday!!

Happy Friday Friends, We've Made it AGAIN!!,

 

Well normally it would be a Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching, but it is on hiatus for the month of July...so sad! :-( But there's a new linky here with none other than the fabulous Cara from The First Grade Parade. It's the Favorite Pins Friday!!

 

If you are a pinterest fanatic like I am, I would love if you could come and follow me. Click the link or see the right side of my blog and click to follow me on Pinterest. This is going to be a tough choice, because I have a ton of pins to sort through, but here we go!

 

Some of my FAVORITE teaching pins...

 

Have you seen this star student desk?!?! OMG...I am in L-O-V-E!! Now, where to find a desk like this? I am searching away!!

 

 

I feel a future Monday Made-It project with this cute classroom sign that I pinned!! I adore it!!

 

 

I saw this idea floating around last year, but was reminded how much I wanted to do this for classroom rewards. It's scratch off reward tickets- DIY from Simply 2nd Resources!

 

 

As some of you may know, I have a pirate theme in my classroom. I go all out on it! I will have classroom pics on here once I get closer to back to school. I usually do little goody bags for meet the teacher, but these bags from Sailing Through First Grade are 10 times cuter than the ones I was doing. I can't wait to make these!!

 

 

My favorite baby pins...

 

As most of you know, in a few short months, I am expecting another little bundle of joy in my life. I am very excited to have pinterest to inspire me with cute baby ideas this time around! Here are a few of my favorite pins...

 

 Now, I'm having another little girl, so I can't get enough of all of the frilly cute clothes. Look at these shoes from Etsy!!

 

So stinkin' adorable! Enough said!!

 

I also love this idea to document all of the "firsts" that our baby will encounter!! This pin comes from Lily and Bliss.

 

 

And since I have a daughter who is already 4, I want her to feel included in this life changing event. I love this idea for big brothers or big sisters from Ducks in a Row:

 

 

Included were a big brother/sister t-shirt and activities to keep them busy while at the hospital or once the baby comes home! I am definitely making this for my little one!

 

Favorite food pins:

 

Along with being pregnant, my new favorite hobby has been eating lol. Here are some of my favorite food pins:

 

1. Mounds Brownies from What2Cook:

 

 

Say what?!?! Oh my heavenly!! I am definitely trying these while I have an excuse to!

 

2. Creamy Basil Chicken Tortellini

 

 

I can't wait to try this because I love chicken and I love tortellini! It sounds absolutely delish!!

 

3. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes from No. 2 Pencil:

 

Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?!? I can't resist these pancakes though. I love anything cinnamon. It'll be like a little slice of heaven!

 

Well those are a few of my favorite pins for today. Come and join me next Friday for some more of my favorite pins from different categories. :-)

 

 

Have a great weekend!,

 



It's Throwback Thursday + SALE!!!

Happy Thursday & Happy 4th of July!!!,

 

It's Throwback Thursday time with Cara from The First Grade Parade!!!

 

 

 Since some of you are already preparing to go back to school, I thought I would post an oldie from that time of year last year. I know when I think of back to school time, I think of Vistaprint creating. Here's a post on some ideas of Vistaprint creations that I've done for my own classroom:

 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Vistaprint Creations!!

It's the most expensive time of the year! I swear I spend more money during the summer for the next school year than I do on Black Friday & Christmas shopping, but I.love.it!! I was sooo happy when Katie from Dirty Hands and Lesson Plans blogged about an awesome Groupon deal the other day. It was $17 for $70 worth of Vistaprint. I didn't even blink...I headed right over & picked one up.
*I am linking this up to Christina's linky party at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge!!

Have you used Vistaprint before?

 If you haven't, you are missing out. Vistaprint is a printing company that offers many freebies & you just have to pay for shipping. There are items that they charge for too, but everything is very reasonable. Here are some examples of items that I've made for my classroom:

I hang this up at the beginning of the year & for Meet the Teacher.

This is my class birthday shirt. If it's a student's birthday, they wear the birthday shirt. I make sure I wash it in between each use. They love the recognition!!

I send these postcards in the mail once I receive my roster. The kids love getting these in the mail!!

I use this poster for practicing sight words, math problems, & other skills we are working on. It is their "entry pass" into the classroom.

I use these labels for good test scores or quality work. :)

I hand these magnets out at Open House for my parents to keep on their refrigerators.

I use these postcards for data collection. We do FAIR testing in Florida so I laminate them & write on them using permanent marker. I use Magic Eraser when I need to update scores.

This magnet goes on my door for back to school time.

We learn new word families every week. I keep this magnet on the board and write on it with dry erase marker. It comes right off!

This hat has helped me minimize interruptions in my classroom. I love it!

I did adapt some ideas above from pictures I saw of other Vistaprint creations around the web. If you haven't already, head on over to Vistaprint and check it out. They really have a lot of great deals you don't want to miss out on!

In other news, I'm having a 4th of July sale at my TPT store!! 20% off everything in my store for today only!!

Click on the picture above to check out some of my deals!