Fingertips
October is the perfect time to collect “fingers”! Yes, fingers; the rubber or plastic kind that children or adults can put over their real fingers!
You can find a nice assortment during Halloween time: monster, Martian, witch and skeleton fingers are some of the most popular.
Why Fingers?
I keep a few sets on hand so that my students can slip one on their pointer finger, to make reading extra fun anytime, but especially during this magical month.
It’s an entertaining way for your students to “follow along” as children popcorn around the room, taking turns reading aloud.
They make pointing to the correct object, shape, equation etc. during assessments, less intimidating and more enjoyable as well.
Where to Find Them:
I found a bag full of 24 glow-in-the-dark creepy fingers at Michaels Crafts for only $2.99. Watch for their sales or print a coupon online.
My Dollar Store carries plastic fingertips in blue or red all year long. The nail polish is an added bonus and gets thrown in my prize box.
Oriental Trading has some great Martian and monster fingers and the bony skeleton ones can be found at most party stores!
What To Do:
A goofy finger sitting on your students’ desk is a spooky surprise during this fun-filled month. What a great way to introduce a reading lesson.
You could also reward your students after they have finished their Table Top lesson and let them choose one out of your pumpkin basket to keep, so they can practice at home.
I have a creepy bowl that’s fun to fill. A hand that is attached to the bowl, grabs down as it feels movement. The bowl says “Thank you. Happy Halloween.”
I demonstrate what’s going to happen, so as not to freak out my Y5’s, but my older students enjoyed being “scared” and touched by the hand.
It’s just another exciting day in Mrs. Henderson’s haunted classroom.
Follow Along With These Booklets:
Why not have your students make some of these adorable October reading booklets. When everyone is done, don those fingers and read them aloud as a whole group!
The FREEBIE of the month is The Flame On My Candle, perfect for your Fire Safety studies. Also free is, Pumpkin on the Vine, which helps your students read and write, as they enjoy cutting and gluing the matching pictures to their booklet.
I have many booklets on spiders, pumpkins, scarecrows, bats, black cats, fire safety and Halloween.
Simply click on the link and choose from a wonderful assortment to get your students excited about learning to read. October Booklets
One of my very favorites is ABC Haunted House
I hope you found this tip helpful. If you have an idea you’d like to share, I’d enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com
I wish you a fun-filled fall
