Introducing Little Readers!

Hello Friends!

Spring Break is here! It is a much needed break for my little mister and I. Although the weather hasn't been the best, we have filled our days with friends and fun!

I have been meaning to write this post for well over a year! The materials that I have created have now been in place in 7 Kindergarten classrooms for two years. I am so excited to share them with you!

I truly believe this resource is so great for our littlest learners! I struggled a long time pulling little books to help my kiddos with sight words. These books are simple, but build on each other and get a little more difficult as the year progresses; however, they are developmentally appropriate for all of our students.

You can purchase them on TPT, the entire set is $30. I have them individually uploaded, as well.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Little-Readers-2704712

The set is going to be on sale for $24 through April 1st.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Very Crazy Week

This week is going to be C.R.A.Z.Y!!! Tuesday is our 100th Day of School, Wednesday is probes, Friday is Valentine's Day....oh, and did you realize that it is a full moon week? I don't know about you but I can usually tell when it is a full moon week within the confines of an elementary school. It's a yowza, for reals.

I am going to have a lil' sale to celebrate this awesome week! Maybe you'll be able to find a little something to make your week easier :0)

         

Here's to CrAzY week!

Shannon

Saturday-Sick, Sunday-Sight Words

Ohmiword, this has been one of the worst weekends E.V.E.R!!!!

At 1AM on Saturday, Coop started coughing and the next thing I heard was vomitting. He choked on the ick he was coughing up. Nothing can wake you up like cleaning up a crying toddler and a crib can. The little guy was wide awake then. We read for an hour, that's right...my lil' guy who is near two will sit for an hour just listening to me read. I left his room and he refused to sleep. Around 2:30, I brought him into my bed for the first time since I brought him home from the hospital. He slept for an hour. I then woke to him "meowing" at my face, LOL. I proceded to sing every song I know for close to 45 minutes.

He choked and vomitted twice after that. Off to the doctor we went. On our way, I got the chills and a fever, ugh! He has a sinus infection. Fortunately, he is in fine spirits :0) On our way home, Coop started saying "uh oh" and the next thing I knew...vomit, E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. Yuck, yuck, yuck!

We're re-cooping. Today was a day of play, cuddles, songs, and lots of books...plus some wild weather here in the burbs of Chicago.

After finishing up my report cards, I decided to revamp my beginning sound sight word decoder puzzles. Originally, I had only made a handful, but my kiddos have always loved them! So, I remade them and included 38 sight words. Words that are included are: the, to, and, you, it, in, said, for, up, look, is, we, go, little, down, can, see, not, one, my, me, big, come, blue, red, where, jump, away, here, help, make, yellow, two, play, run, find, three, funny. Students take the laminated cards and use a dry erase marker to write the beginning sound of each picture. After writing each beginning sound, a sight word is revealed!

They're laminated and ready to go! Click the pic to purchase.

Here's hoping our week is less eventful than our weekend!
Shannon

The Frog Inspired Room

I think I've like frogs forever, not real frogs of course, real frogs are just interesting to me. Now cute cartoon like frogs are or I should say have been, a whole other story. When I finally got my first classroom, way back when you could ride a pterodactyl to school, I had a few frog things in my room here and there. Carson Dellosa took advantage of my affinity for small, green amphibians and suddenly it took on a life of its' own. I've got a frog calendar, frog word wall, frog behavior system and lovely frog themed gifts for all occasions. 

Over the years, I've gotten rid of some of it or just no longer display it. Unfortunately, I cannot get rid of it. I call my students Kinder-Hoppers from day one. I found that naming my group gives them a sense of pride and belonging. They associate themselves as Kinder-Hoppers in Room 17. They take ownership of our classroom because it belongs to them. If you've never tried to give your group a name, you should really try it out. Also, if your classroom number is under the number 31, celebrate that day...e.v.e.r.y. month. I don't mean have a party or anything, but I make a big deal out of 17 whenever it hits and they LOVE it! Where was I going with this? ....um...the reason I can't get rid of it is because siblings count on being a Kinder-Hopper and a few years ago at the end of the year, I said to my little loves that they wouldn't be Kinder-Hoppers much longer, to which my little Lily said, "Once a Kinder-Hopper, always a Kinder-Hopper." I cried. Seriously. Then her Mom painted me that saying with a frog on it. I cried and cried and cried. There you have it, frogs are there to stay.

So, I showed some pictures of my "Classroom Revamp" which really has less to do with frogs, it's more of an adapted color scheme which I adore. I printed it all out and can't wait to hang it all up! This week keep your eye on my blog...I'm going cray, cray with the pics! Well, I've had some requests, so My Revamp stuff is up and for sale!

Here are some pics. I've divided it up in case their isn't something you want. Don't want you spending cash you don't need to :0)

That's all I've got for now. Coop is running the show over here...I can only work when he takes his little power naps :0) Hopefully, I will be able to get my Thanksgiving Unit up...we'll see!

Back to School Sale...

Sight Words

I'm not quite sure why I love teaching sight words, but I do. I really enjoy finding and making new games and materials to teach them. Keeping everything interesting and enjoyable is quite a task.


Two summers ago I worked on our schools Sight Word Committee and here are some of the materials I created.


All documents contain fonts that are copyright DJ Inkers. Virtually all documents contain graphics that are copyright DJ Inkers. They are used with permission. Please visit http://www.djinkers.com/, for wonderful clipart and fonts.
Word Wall Activities

Teaching Sight Words Weekly Format

Sight words for word wall

I have utilized Kelly's Kindergarten http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Games/GamestoMake/games_to_make.htm for many games that my students love. Sight word Uno has been hands-down the biggest hit EVER. I have used Kelly's format to go with special times and themes throughout the school year. I print color copies on cardstock and laminate them, and I print out black and white copies for the students to use at home. Here is an example of the Ocean version of Sight Word Uno.
Sight Word Ocean Uno (color)


I also utilize the old stand-by's; Concentration, Pig, and Roll, Say, Keep. Kathy Gursky's School Bell Site has  lots of activities. http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/Contents.html
Pig Game (Feb Homework)

Meltdown
Flip It Down

In my room, when we play sight word Bingo, I have the students create their own boards. It gives them practice with copying words, as well as, handwriting. 
Here is an example (Valentine Bingo).
Valentine Bingo