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

“When two vowels go walking the first one does the talking.” Is a simple & very popular rhyme that helps children read a variety of words with a vowel digraph. (Such as CVVC)

However, so that children are not frustrated, it is extremely important to add “…sometimes but not always.” after they recite the rhyme, as there are lots of exceptions to the rule. I've included this sentence in my poster set.

To build vocabulary, improve fluency, as well as spelling, I teach the “rule breakers” along with the words that follow the rule. 

This has been so successful with my own students, that I decided to design the "Vowel Villains"  & When To Vowels Go Walking" packet.  

I found it an especially appropriate title, as the word villain is a rule breaker!

Instead of being frustrated when they are tripped up by a rule-breaking word, my students get very excited because they’ve found yet another “convict word” to “jail”! 

Believe me, your students will LOVE this approach to word work.  Choose from a large variety of super-fun "rule-breaking" options.

My kiddos were constantly on the look out for CVVC words.  

They enjoyed determining if a word followed the rule or not, and took delight in finding “culprits” that they could add to the jailhouse.

Another thing that I include in the packet is some Rhyme Time activities.  There are posters with matching 2-on-a-page worksheets for time-saving printing.

Rhyme time, is another quick, easy & fun way to build vocabulary and help students find more examples of words that fit the rule.

Here are some of the things that the packet includes:
* 3 large “When two vowels go walking…” anchor chart posters, with a smaller version showing all of the posters on one page, along with matching bookmarks.

* 7 large vowel digraph posters to use as headers for a word wall.

* “When 2 vowels go walking…” finger puppets.  A set of boys, plus a set of girls in both black & white, as well as color.

They provide a super-fun way to introduce the rhyme & help children remember it.

* A set of 8, Mix & Match, “build-a-bookmark” patterns (boys & girls, black line & full color).

I’ve included completed samples, so you can quickly & easily make examples to share with your students to help explain what you want them to do. 

As you can see by the photograph there are lots of ways to mix & match the heads, feet & bodies to come up with a cute "Walking Vowel Bookmark".

* 338 (10-on-a-page) word cards for ai, ea, oa, & ee; including a blank set of cards so you can program with more words, plus a tip list of what else you can do with the word cards, including the“Kaboom” game. 

These words are also listed on anchor chart posters.

* A variety of “rule breaking activities” including a rule breaker song to the tune of London Bridge

* 74 rule-breaking word cards, with a blank set to program more.

* An assortment of “Lock them up” worksheets, with answer keys;  ai, ea, ie “I broke the rule” posters, along with a set of rule breaker,“build-a-bookmark” convicts, in color plus black & white.

* And as always, directions, tips, samples, links & photographs

I sincerely hope that your students enjoy learning tricky vowel combinations with these interesting techniques, as much as my students have.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to check it out: "Vowel Villains & When 2 Vowels Go Walking...Packet". It's a whopping 135-pages, and just $4.95. 

Today's featured FREEBIE comes from the packet.  It's the 3 "When 2 Vowels Go Walking..." poster set." I really enjoyed creating the graphics, & hope you like them too.  Click on the link to get your copy. 

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

My bones are achy, so I'm hobbling around with my cane that I haven't used in months, reflecting on how much we take for granted when we are healthy & buzzing around. 

Wishing you an energizing day, filled with lots of memorable moments.

"You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy.  Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae." -Paul Walker

1-2-3 Come Make Something For The Teacher With Me

I know that Teacher Appreciation Day/Week  is over.  I personally think Hallmark, or whomever thought of this wonderful concept, needs to rethink the time frame.  

Let's face it, today's families are operating at the speed of light, with so many activities and things to do, that they can't even write them all in a square on the calendar.  Consequently, Teacher Appreciation Day,  often slips by without people even being aware of it.

However, parents' minds often turn to thinking of something kind to do for their child's teacher the last week or day of school. 

With that in mind, I designed several keepsake gifts that are very heartfelt.  If you happen to volunteer in the classroom, you could spearhead making a surprise memory book for the teacher.  Since it involves writing, it's certainly educational.

I've included a note home to parents to help expedite things.  "Paper love" is something that I always appreciated and have cherished over the years.  Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Memory book. 

For my sample, I glued the pages in a notebook, but you could mount them on construction paper, laminate, trim and collate into a sweet booklet.

Another option, is a keepsake card.  Print the poster and mount it on a large sheet of construction paper. 

Send the note home (I've included one for this packet too.) Include a piece of construction paper, so that parents can trace and cut out their child's hand print and help them write a note on it.  

They send it back in the envelope provided and you arrange them around the card.  Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Appreciation Card. 

If you're a teacher reading this, and would enjoy a Memory Book from your kiddos, share the idea with a fellow teacher. 

If they like it too, you could swap classes for 15-20 minutes.  You make a memory book for them, with her/his students and (s)he makes one for you with your children. 

The 1st three pages are in color, as well as black and white. Have students each choose a different color marker to write their name on the "This book was created by" paper, which acts like an autograph page too.

So there's plenty of variety, I've also included 15 different clip art options, for students to choose from to complete their writing prompt page. 

There are some for boys and some for girls.  All are in black and white so that they can color them. 

For that finishing touch, have them glue their school photo and sign their name at the bottom. 

The book ends with a special thank you, surrounded by appropriate quotes. 

Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Memory Book. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  My "Pin it" button is at the top of the page on the menu bar.

"A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils." -Ever Garrison

1-2-3 Come Hang Up A Poster With Me!

The school year is coming to an end and many will be cleaning and sorting their classrooms.

I always made a list of new things that I wanted to look for, or things I wanted to make, during summer break. 

My husband found it amusing that even though I was finally on vacation, my teacher-mind never turned off.

Although I rested and enjoyed summer, I was always cutting, pasting, and "playing school" for a great part of "vacation."

Planning how I would decorate my classroom and acquiring those goodies, was one of my favorite things to do.

With that in mind, I decided to design some new classroom posters.

I used posters to not only decorate my room, but to inspire, challenge students to think, and remind them to make wise choices.

I turned many into anchor charts, that would help review a variety of concepts in a concise and interesting way.

I also used posters to ignite discussions, that would lead to interesting writing prompts, which my students of various ages, seemed excited to give their opinions about.

I've added 10 new posters this week.  I hope you find something that you're looking for.

To view/download the posters pictured, click on their links: Im Possible, I Choose, Wake Up, Don't, and Actions Speak.

To zip on over to the poster and anchor chart section, click on the link. There are over 100!

Simply scroll through and select whatever you like.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." -Maria Robinson

1-2-3 Come Appreciate A Teacher With Me!

During teacher appreciation week, I liked to give my grade level and other teacher friends a little something in their mailboxes to make them smile.

I designed this particular "I've Got Everything Done!" poster, with that idea in mind. 

Any teacher can certainly relate and hopefully chuckle.

Click on the link above, to view/download the poster.

I just want to say thank you to all of the teachers and teacher-parents who have visited my site. 

I appreciate the fact that you are on the Internet trying to find fun, yet standard-based lessons for your kiddo's, and I'm delighted you stopped here.

Thanks for all of the energy, enthusiasm, and effort you put into helping a child learn.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day, Week, Month.

Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

I also have over 100 other classroom posters and anchor charts available.

Click on the link to zip on over to those FREEBIES.

"The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas, as in escaping from the old ones." -John Maynard Keynes