I know that "worksheets" is a bad word. But, we all need work for kids to do from time to time. What I like about this activity is I have something tangible to know that they have read the sentences. Plus, their artwork is fabulous.
I include sight words we have worked on as a class and CVC words that kids can decode. I think they did great on these!
You can get three for free here. Or, click here for the full packet of 8 is $1.00.
I am not a huge fan of sending homework home over breaks. The one exception in reading. My kindergartners are used to reading 45+ minutes a day throughout the day, so my hope is they can continue their forward momentum by reading one book or one phonetic reading passage a day. I assigned books through Epic books and sent home 14 reading passages I purchased from TpT. Anyone who brings it back will have a special lunch in the classroom with me. If it turns out all but a handful of kids bring them back, I will do two separate lunches so not only those kids who didn't participate are left in the lunchroom.
Epic Books is my all time favorite free website. Parents can access it for free during "school hours" which includes break. www.getepic.com.
The reading passages I sent home were part of a packet from Moffat Girls for $6. Click here for the packet.
My reading logs are free on my TPT store. Click here for yours!
Birthdays are so special for our younger students. In fact, many of them think it's a holiday. But, birthdays can be a PAIN for teachers, especially when you are surprised the day of with over the top gifts for the class, treats that some kids can't eat, or the dreaded two birthday treats on the same day.
Many teacher avoid this by celebrating birthdays once a month for all the birthdays. That's not for me. It's too special for kids to have to wait and share with others, at least in my opinion.
So, what I have done to try and avoid crazy birthday treat disasters, is to send out monthly emails, directly to the families of kids with a birthday that upcoming month. This has helped tremendously. For the uber organized, you can even schedule send the whole year, so you don't have to think about it after the beginning of the year. Below is an example of my current birthday email, which I keep as a Google doc:
Hello!!!
If you are receiving this email, I noticed your child has an upcoming birthday in the next few weeks. Just a few reminders/info:
If you are sending birthday invitations, I kindly ask you to address them with names and have your child give them to me. We will put them in the students' Friday folders. If you don't want to put names on, please just let me know if it's something like all the boys, the whole class, etc.
Birthday treats are allowed any day: on your child's actual birthday or a date close to it. Please give me a bit of notice that you will be sending something in. Sometimes we end up with two birthday treats on the same day.
We have 25 students in class. We have several food allergies including all nuts (tree nuts and peanuts), gluten, eggs, and dairy. With the eggs and dairy, they can be baked into a cupcake or cookie. Some great ideas that should be safe for all are popsicles, fruit snacks, gluten free baked goods, and lollipops. Because of the allergies, treats need to be store bought so I can verify any allergens. Little goody bags are also fun! We ask that there is nothing more than either treats or goody bags for your child’s special day.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime.
This is a free resource in my TpT store. Click here if you would like to download yours today.
At a recent PLC meeting, my teacher friends were sharing their professional goals. Many of them were focusing on mindfulnesses with their classes and having great success. I was left thinking "When? When can I add this to my day?" I wanted to be consistent and not overwhelmed. I decided to start every week as Mindful Monday during morning meeting. It sets the stage for the week ahead. The meeting consists of simple ways to be mindful and promote positive mental health. We include a positive affirmation with for the week and a mindfulness activity or video. Then, we talk about the two things (the affirmation and the mindful strategy) throughout that week. Simple start for sure, but doable! The key to everything in teaching is consistency. Start slow to go fast!
Below are the affirmation posters we use. The whole set of 18 can be purchased on my TpT store for $1.50. Click here for the set.
From Mindless to Mindful (introduction to mindfulness)
This is one of the few at home projects we do throughout the year. We start by reading Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. Then, we send a turkey template home, along with sample ideas to help inspire families. The results are amazing. The students share their creations with the class. There are many great packets on TpT. One of my favorites is here. It's a freebie. Below are some awesome examples from our kids.
I make these every year and it is so simple and easy for the kids to do. You just need construction paper and googly eyes. Getting a group photo with all their hats on is always a cute memory for the school year.
This year, we invited parents in for an Open House, and the parents made hats, as well. Got lots of cute photos to post on class Dojo. Fun memories for all.
Click here for a free template on my TpT store.
In November, we take it to the next step by allowing students to write their whole sentence on their own. I keep an anchor chart of sentence starters for students who choose to use them. A key focus is having students read their words back to themselves to make sure their sounds make sense and all words are represented by at least one sound.
To see the progression from the beginning:
I love to read books that inspire me as an educator. I like many of them, but only love a few. The books below are the best professional books I have ever read and can apply to just about any level teacher,
The Book Whisperer by Donalynn Miller
This is my all time favorite education book. Donalynn is my reading teacher inspiration. When I am reading her books I want to have that same impact on my students and coworkers. I often think if every teacher of reading could read her books and adopt just a small portion of her ideas, we would change the trajectory of reading success in the United States. Teachers like Donalynn Miller are complete game changers.
I work with many teachers who struggle to implement self selected reading into their day. "When??? I don't have time with all the curriculum" is the biggest roadblock I hear. I think reading the Reading Whisperer is a great step to seeing how crucial it really is to give students reading time and choice and voice. All the curriculum in the world cannot compare to independent reading.
Some of the key standout quotes from this book:
"Anyone who calls herself or himself a reader can tell you that it starts with encountering great books, heartfelt recommendations, and a community of readers who share this passion." (I annotated this quote with that it is so true in my own personal life)
"Readers in remedial settings read roughly 75% less than their peers in regular reading settings...students who do not read regularly become weaker readers with each subsequent year"
"Is reading weighted down with so many requirements for performance that reading is connected in students' minds with an obstacle course or work, and, therefore, with stress?
"No matter how long students spend engaged in direct reading instruction, without time to apply what they learn in the context of real reading events, students will never build capacity as readers." AMEN!
"No single literacy activity has a more positive effect on students' comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, spelling, writing ability, and overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading."
Donalynn outlines how she gives all her students a goal to read 40 books throughout the school year. The chapter about this is my favorite because what she is doing with students is so powerful and a true gift. She discusses that there is no consequence for falling short. She mentions a student read 22 one year, which was the lowest amount any student achieved. But it was TWENTY TWO books! That child read twenty two novels. Complete success.
Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
If The Reading Whisperer is my favorite professional book, Teach Like a Pirate is the closest second place you can get. I just LOVE it. It's a short read and can be applied to any teacher, any grade level. I want to work with Dave Burgess. His enthusiasm is infectious just through his words in his book.
Teach Like a Pirate is all about enthusiasm and engagement as a teacher. Pirate is actually an acronym: Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transform, Enthusiasm.
Some highlights:
"I am passionate about not letting them [students] fall victim to the horrific educational trends that would have us turn children into test taking automatrons who are able to spit out facts and trivia but are unable to speak about anything of significance or meaning."
"People are drawn in and love to be around those who are passionate about their lives. Passion is all about being on fire in front of your class."
"Your ability to completely give yourself up to the moment and fully "be" with your students is an awesome and unmistakably powerful technique."
"It is far more important to create a unique experience for them on the first day than it is to be sure they know how many bathroom passes they will have each semester and when it is OK to use the pencil sharpener."
"Education can be used to uplift and inspire or it can be used as a hammer to bludgeon and beat down."
"For many students, school is filled with monotony, drudgery, and soul-killing suckiness....There are really only two possibilities: either your class can be a reprieve from all of that or it can be a contributing factor...I want my class to stand out in a sea of sameness....Something remarkable is worth talking about. Worth noticing. Exceptional. New. Interesting. It's a Purple Cow."
The Wild Card by Hope and Wade King
This book is awesome. I know some teachers feel overwhelmed by some of their over the top ideas like room transformations, but I am telling you, this book is great. And one year I got up the nerve to actually do a room transformation because of this book: turning my classroom into a glow in the dark space odyssey and it was one of the best decisions I have made. The look on their faces when they came in was precious. It wasn't easy. It wasn't cheap. It wasn't quick. I wouldn't do it more than once a year.
Some favorite quotes:
“You have to teach standards; that’s a given. But standards don’t determine how you deliver the content—and it’s your delivery method that drives engagement.”
“Every child’s metaphorical hand includes one very important wild card—a person whose influence is unpredictable and whose qualities are uncertain.”
This isn't my original idea. Saw it on IG and had to try it. Lifesaver!
I ordered a multipack of washi tape with several colors. The washi tape needs tape around it to keep it on. My kindergartners needed zero help using this and now all the Chrome books are charged every day. My only tip is not to put two similar colors next to one another.
Every October, we read Go Away, Bug Green Monster by Ed Emberly. It is always such a hit with kindergartners. After reading it, I model making my own monster and then give them the paper to make it. They need very little guidance and it turns out great. The beauty of this project is all level of learners can produce a great monster and it makes a great hallway display!
I know kids should be intrinsically motivated to learn and do all the things we want them to do.
BUT, sometimes a little extrinsic motivation is justified, at least it has been in my 23 years of actual classroom practice.
Starting in early October, I start a reading raffle incentive program to get kids to read at home more often. It's a simple system:
I send a paper book home at each child's reading level with a raffle ticket. (If kids don't know all their letters or how to sound out words, I start with letter or word lists). They practice at home and when they are fluent with the book, the parent/guardian signs the ticket and the student brings the book and raffle ticket back. I listen to a page or two, and put the raffle ticket in a basket. Then, that same day I send the next book. Each day I pick five-ish tickets and those students spin a prize wheel. They LOVE the prize wheel. So do I!
Pros to this program:
Cons to this program:
In October, I take journal writing up to a little more challenging level.
In September, I guide students word by word, using our word wall and short, phonetic words, to write a simple sentence. They learn so much in September from capitals, to periods, to spacing, to counting words.
In October, I give them a sentence starter (with word wall words) and then they have to write the last word on their own. I pick words in which we have learned at least the beginning and ending sounds for. Some kids stop after the initial consonant. Some kids have beginning and ending sounds, and some kids can do all sounds.
I circulate giving feedback, and of course using Mr. Sketch scented markers to give a smiley face or star when I check it with specific feedback. The daily practice and feedback is crucial to helping our emerging writers feel confident!
After about ten minutes, students share with a partner and give compliments to each other. It's one of my favorite times of the school day.
