1-2-3 Come Do Some Saint Paddy's Day Activities With Me   

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, so I've been busy designing a few things for that week.  Today's blog features 4 of my favorites, plus the featured FREEBIE of the day.  

First up is the quick, easy and fun "Pot Of Goals" writing prompt craftivity.    Students complete the "goal" coin sentence prompts.

Coin Prompts: "I want to...", "I want to be...", "I want to go...", "I want to learn...", "I want to see...", "I want to read..."

Younger kiddos can dictate a one-word response, while older students also include a reason why. 
So that you can program your own, I've also included a set of blank coins.

Mount on rainbow-colored construction paper, and hang in an arch in rainbow-color order, on a large wall. 
Your title can be: "A Rainbow Of Wonderful Writing". 

Next is a shamrock glyph, which is a super-fun little something to do on St. Paddy's Day, or whenever... 

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.  They are a quick, easy and interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

Since this is one of my report card standards, glyphs also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't, and are also an interesting way to get to know your students; plus completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different!

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.  I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging them to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, to practice another math standard. 

A Shamrock Venn Friend  is also a super-fun way to get to know your students better.  These too make an adorable bulletin board for March, and are a visual way to practice "comparison-contrast" writing.  

Introduce the lesson with the "What's a Venn diagram?" poster, then have children partner up.

To help them do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

Each student does their own "different" portion of their shamrock. Afterwards, the two-some glues their shamrock to the “pot of gold”, and takes turns filling in the “same” section oval, which is then glued to the top of the pot.

For that finishing touch, students color their leprechaun, add a school photograph on the leprechaun’s face, then glue it to their side of the Venn diagram.

For added fun, and to practice another standard that mixes math with literacy, I’ve also included a graphing extension. 

Finally, the St. Paddy's-Themed CVC Word Packet is a personal favorite. 

To break things down, the packet focuses on 100 CVC words that begin with the letters "L is for leprechaun"; "M is for March"; "P is for Patrick", and "S is for shamrock.”

The packet includes:
* A Celtic shamrock craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter S
* A leprechaun craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter L.

* I’ve also included dice and spinner games, plus …
* A whole-group "Feed the leprechaun” review game, with a matching, mini- independent "Feed the leprechaun" activity.

There are…
* Long and short vowel sorting mats,  5 bookmarks for CVC word writing, 26 alphabet shamrock cards, with 20 extra vowel shamrock cards, plus  4 CVC worksheets with 4 anchor chart answer keys.  I've also included . . .

* 100 black & white “trace & write” CVC word cards, with covers to make Itty Bitty booklets, 100 mini-CVC word cards, and 100 full-color CVC word cards to use for flashcards, pocket charts, games, puzzles etc.

Finally, there's a "Super Shamrock Sentences” worksheet, 4-page tip list of ideas, games and activities to use the various word cards for, plus a certificate of praise for "wonderful word work." 

Today's FREEBIE also has a St. Paddy's Day theme. It's a set of 16 number "strip" puzzles, which help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, plus skip counting by 10s to 100.

I've included full-color puzzles to use in a center, as well as some black and white ones, so that kiddos can make their own. They are vertical as well as horizontal.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.The sun is shining and even the tall, ugly piles of dirty snow have started to melt. 

Hooray!  Spring is finally on its way.  Wishing you a carefree day filled with springtime fun.

"Spring: The season of rebirth, renewal and regrowth!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some CVC Activities With Me

If you're looking for some fun FREE activities to practice CVC words, you've landed in the right place.

I just completed a St. Patrick's Day-Themed CVC Word packet, that's filled with a variety of choices your little leprechauns are sure to enjoy.

We all realize that the more ways you can emerse your students in reading words, the more fluent they will become, but thinking up something "different" to keep things interesting, is time consuming. I've done the work, so you don't have to; so let the stress-free "leprechaun learning" begin.  

Run the consonant shamrock tiles off on green construction paper and the vowel ones off on a lighter shade of green; laminate and trim.  Toss each set into a Ziplock Baggie.

To set up an independent center, students choose 2 consonant cards and then a vowel card to make up as many CVC words as they can think of in 1 to 5 minutes of time.  

For writing practice, and to get credit for doing the center, have students write down their CVC word creations. For dictionary work, have them look up the words that they created to see if they are real or nonsense. 

They can put an R for real or an N for nonsense after the word.  If they are not familiar with this new word, they can also write down a definition as well.

Besides arranging these cards in an independent center, play a game as a whole-group review. Toss the shamrock cards into a container and have children sit in a circle.  They each choose 2 cards from the consonant container and 1 from the vowel container.  They put a real CVC word together, show and share it with the class and then use it in a sentence.

Younger children can sort the letters into vowels and consonants after they have arranged them in alphabetical order.

The packet also includes 100-mini CVC word tiles.  To limit things, only L, M, P and S   CVC words are included in this packet, because I wanted to narrow the activities specifically for March.  L is for leprechaun, M is for March, P is for Patrick, and S is for shamrock or Saint.  

Print, laminate and trim the tiles.  Students can choose 5-10 and arrange them in alphabetical order.  If they have a word they don’t know they need to look it up.
I’ve also provided a “Super Shamrock Sentences” worksheet, where children choose 3-5 word cards and then use them to make up sentences.

Make an extra set for an independent short and long vowel sorting activity.  I’ve included sorting mats for this.

For more CVC word practice, I've included a spinner and dice game.

Children can play independently, or with a partner.  Using a pencil and paperclip, they spin on an L,M,P or S consonant to begin their word.

Their second spin is for a vowel for the middle letter. They write these letters on their worksheet, then think of an ending consonant to make a CVC word.

The dice game is played in a similar way.  For more practice, I've also included 5 bookmarks, where students can record the various CVC words.

There are also traceable CVC word cards and covers, so that students can make 4 Itty Bitty booklets. 

I've included 4 larger sets in color to use in a pocket chart, as flashcards, or to play games with.

For more ideas and games for these mini CVC words, or the traceable large and small CVC word cards, check out the “What Else Can I Do With The Word Cards?” tip list, that's also in the packet.

For a quick, easy and colorful CVC bulletin board, run off the Celtic shamrock.

Students color, trim and glue to a sheet of construction paper. (For a varied board, offer just enough rainbow colors for them to choose from.)

Children write an "S is for shamrock" CVC word in each space on their shamrock.

Caption possibilities: Lucky to be Learning; A Rainbow Of Wonderful Word Work; Come See Our Colorful CVC Collection of Words; 1-2-3 Come Create CVC Words With Me!

Another cute bulletin board "craftivity" is the leprechaun head coloring page.  Students write all of their "L is for leprechaun" CVC words on the hat and beard, and then color it. 

There's a completed sample to help explain things, and then use as an anchor chart.

Another thing you can do to practice the CVC words, is to play "Crunch-Nibble-Muunch! Feed the Leprechaun Some Lunch!"

Simply print the leprechaun's head on white card strock, trim and cut a hole where the mouth is, so that students can "feed" him the mini CVC word cards or the shamrock letter cards.  

Glue to the top of a Boutique Kleenex box. I've included some sweet signage to decorate your box with.

Pass out the cards to your students and then call for a word or letter.  The child holding it, shows it to the class, reads it, then feeds it to the leprechaun.

If you want your students to make their own hungry leprechaun, use the 4-on-a-page  template and run it off for them to color. 

A quick, easy & inexpensive way to make a "container" for your students to "feed",  is to seal long envelopes shut, then cut them in half. 

Children color and then glue their leprechaun to the back of their envelope covering up the folded section. They write their name on the front.

Run off whatever sets of CVC mini word cards you want them to practice.  They trim & stack in a pile. Children choose a partner and take turns feeding their leprechaun whatever words they can read, define, &/or use in a sentence. 

Words they have difficulty with, go in another pile to work on later.  This is a super-fun Daily 5 word work activity for your kiddos. 

The packet also includes several worksheets, with anchor chart answer keys, plus a certificate of praise.  Click on the link for the St. Paddy's Day-Themed CVC Word Packet.

To see all of my CVC FREEBIES, click on the link.  I have over 40 games, worksheets, and craftivities.

The CVC Bingo game packet is a very popular download. 

There are 9 sets of 20 DIFFERENT bingo cards, so there's plenty for each child in your class, with two-on-a-page for quick printing. 

If you'd like the bingo game to go along with the St. Paddy's Day-themed CVC packet, print off sets 4, 5, 6, and 7, which cover the L, M, P, & S  CVC words. 

For more traceable CVC word cards to "feed" the leprechaun, download the 338 CVC Word Packet, then pick and choose the CVC cards that are appropriate for your kiddos.

I also have an entire board of Word Work activities on Pinterest, filled with more ideas, and educational FREEBIES.  

Well that's it for now.  Thanks for visiting.  Today actually feels like spring is in the air, as temperatures should reach into the high 50's today.  Woo Hoo! 

Here in Michigan, which is still snow-covered, that's a heat wave!  Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend.

"The joyful heart sees and reads the world with a sense of freedom and graciousness." -John O'Donohue

Up Up & Away With This Springtime Review "Craftivity"!

The windy days are here to stay for a while, so making a kite seems to continue to be an appropriate and fun way to review report card standards.

Review the basic shapes by using them as “tail ties” and have students glue them to a piece of yarn that’s attached to their kite.

Reinforce colors and a pattern as well, by making them in bright rainbow colors and have students glue them in that order.

To add a bit more pizzazz, I typed my students’ names in the WordArt program on my computer. This is super easy, so it would also make a nice computer activity for your kiddo's to do themselves.

They cut their name in a cloud shape while we reviewed some wind facts as they snipped away.

You could have students journal a writing prompt on the back or list some springtime - weather word-wall words,

This kite “craftivity” can be found in the 133-page Spring Art & Activity Book.  Click on the link to view/download it for lots more fun ideas.

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more teaching tips.  Do you have one you'd like to share?  I'd enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to comment here especially if you use one of my ideas.

Feel free to PIN too.  I truly believe in sharing.  Thanks for visiting.

Will March Go Out Like A Lion Or A Lamb?

The end of March is drawing near and I have some SHEEP and LION activities to help you end the month in a fun way.

-eep and –eap word endings can be confusing for students.  Help clear things up by making this “hands-on” sheep slider.

Run off the sheep template on white construction paper and have students jazz them up with wiggle eyes and 2 cotton balls.

If you have students pull apart the cotton balls into a nice fluffy pile, the sheep fleece will look more realistic, be a great fine motor skill and avoid the problem of having students simply glue whole cotton balls to their work.

I’ve included a Trace & Write – Sheep Rhyming ABC Order Worksheet as well as the traceable word cards.

Click on the link to view/download the Sheep Slider Activities.

I never have enough time to cover nursery rhymes as a separate unit, so I plug them in with whatever theme I’m doing, whenever they fit, as an added genre during story time.

Click on the link to view/download 4 sheep nursery rhymes including a nursery rhyme bookmark.  I’ve also included YouTube videos that are perfect for Smart Boards.

If you’re looking for some easy readers your students will enjoy:

The Shape Of My Sheep, which reviews the 6 basic shapes.

Where Have All The Sheep Gone? and Where’s The Lion? which reinforce simple subtraction skills.  Click on the links to view/download them.

A fun writing extension  asks your students “Are you more like a lion or more like a lamb? Why? This March writing prompt is turned into a class book and can be found in March Class Books. Click on the link to view/download it.

Make another class book by having your students guess whether they think that March will go out like a lion or a lamb and complete a page for the book by finishing the prompt, illustrating it and gluing their school picture to the page.  

If you'd like to include a "craftivity" with writing, have students make a lion or lamb paper holder and display their work on a bulletin board, before you collate their work into a book.

Keep things simple and merely use construction paper, or make students' work pop and have them add spiral noodles for the lion's mane and pulled cotton for the sheep's fleece.

Adding a pair of funky glasses and wiggle eyes also adds a cute 3D effect.  I printed the ones in the picture from Lee Hansen's graphic website where you can download free clip art, paper crafts, and scrapbooking items.  Click on the link to check out this interesting site.

There’s a graphing extension included to record the results.

Besides this writing prompt, there is also one that's a great activity after you read the above Mary Had A Little Lamb Nursery Rhyme.  Ask students what animal they'd like to bring to school if they could bring any animal.  Encourage them to think outside the box and not just think of the usual "show & tell" pet like a puppy or cat.  Students complete the sentence with their animal and illustrate the page.

Click on the link to view/download this March Lion or Lamb activity packet.

If you want some spring art activities like a lion and lamb puppet or mask made out of a cereal box, you'll find them in the 133-page Spring Art & Activites book and if you want some quick & easy table top worksheets or centers the 88-page Lion & Lambs unit will certainly have something.

Whether your students are meek and mild lambs or roaring lions, I hope you found something here to keep them engaged and interested!

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more springtime tips.

Show Me A Pattern

A quick way to whole-group assess patterns is with these “High Flying” kites.

Run them off on a variety of brightly colored construction paper.

Students cut them out, punch a hole in the bottom and tape on a yarn tail.

Pre-cut a variety of brightly colored “tail” strips so that students can show you ABAB, ABCABC, AABBAABB, ABBA, AABAAB etc patterns.

Students raise their hand when they have completed placing a pattern on their kite string.

Afterwards children can choose a particular pattern that they like, write it on their kite and glue the strips to the string.

Mount them on a bulletin board, or hang them back-to-back from the ceiling for a super spring decoration in the hallway.

They look great hung in a row at the top of the wall as a pretty border as well.

Make it a special keepsake by having students glue their school photo to the kite.

You can also turn this into a partner game by using the pattern cards.

Students choose a partner, flip over a pattern card and see who can make that pattern the fastest. 

The one who does so, gets to keep that pattern card. When all of the cards are gone, or when the timer rings, the one with the most cards is the winner.

Click on the link to view/download Pattterning With Kites

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for another teacher tip.

Do you have one you can share?  I’d enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com Or…feel free to leave a comment here, especially if you use one of my ideas!  Thanks in advance for your time.

Spring Spirals

I love decorating for the various seasons and holidays.  It energizes me.

Children’s creations make the best decorations and displaying them is extremely important in building self-esteem and helping students take pride in their accomplishments.

Other teachers and students enjoyed going through my hallway “art museum” filled with “mess-terpieces”.

Their comments to my students were also very encouraging. I find that schools look more interesting, fun and inviting to visitors, when they are festooned with student "craftivities".

An announcement by our principal + warnings by teachers to “Keep your hands off the dangling decorations!” did a pretty good job of helping to keep things from getting slapped down.

Spring Spiral Shamrocks are one of those awesome tempting danglers.  A spiral offers great fine motor cutting skill practice.

If you are dealing with Y5’s and younger cut the spiral out so that they have a circle to hang on to when they cut. Remind them to stay on the “road” and continue to cut on the line as they go along.

Demonstrate this and show how you turn your circle as you cut showing  how the “road” will then spiral and dangle down.

Because I made lines across so that children know when to stop coloring, a few little ones might be tempted to cut across, so explain these lines as “stop” features for coloring and that they are NOT to be cut.

Because I teach about rainbows and rainbow color order in March, I like to combine those concepts with shamrocks to get more “bang for my time.”

You can make your ceiling display colorful by giving your students an assortment of rainbow-colored spirals to choose from, or you can have them color their spirals with crayons or markers.

Just and FYI that this is a lot of coloring for a little one as in order for the colors to be dramatic, you need to color both sides.

It is easier to color the spiral before it is cut out, but then in order to color the back, it needs to be cut out in order to see where to color.  This is definitely a task for older students.

You can add more colors of the rainbow with the center shamrock as I included a smaller shamrock template for the middle.

Simplify things and make it white or another shade of green or a variety of rainbow colors.

I wanted to show all of the rainbow colors so to create the cool effect pictured, I peeled broken crayons, sharpened them over my shamrock, put a piece of wax paper over the shavings and then pressed an iron on low heat on top of them, you’ll get an instant melted rainbow and lots of oooh’s and ahhh’s from your students.

I teach my students a short rainbow song to help them remember the color order of the rainbow.

Every year when we are working on a rainbow activity they burst into song.  This “craftivity” includes the song.

You can also add 3-D pizzazz to the back of your shamrock by cutting out 2 additional shamrocks, folding them in half gluing them together and then gluing the 3-D shamrock to the back of your flat one.

This additional step is also recommended for older students.  Punch a hole in the top of the shamrock, add a yarn loop and dangle from the ceiling.

If you want to put up a caption: ________________________’s class is spiraling into spring!  You can also skip the spiral and just do the melted crayon shamrock.  It makes a lovely March bulletin board.  Caption: __________________'s class is melting into spring! OR... Wishing you a colorful spring!

Click on the link to view/download Spring Spiral Shamrocks
Be sure and pop back tomorrow for What's In The Hat? A quick and easy shamrock review game.