1-2-3 Come Do Some Super-Fun Word Work Activities With Me

Sometimes, some of my boys are not quite as enthusiastic about our reading activities as much as the girls are.

However, if we’re reading about sports, especially football, my little guys get pretty excited.

With that in mind, I designed this football-themed -ick and -all word family packet.

It’s chock full of a variety of games, competitions, worksheets, word cards, and even a helmet and football “slider” craftivity.

Use the activities for centers, table top, early finishers, a sub folder, homework, or for whole-group assessing.

For one activity, students choose teams and then work either independently or with their group, to think of as many -all words before the timer rings.  Each word is worth 1 point. 

To get in some math practice, have students figure out how many touchdowns and field goals they achieved with their word list.  i.e. 7 words = 7 points = 1 touchdown.  Any "extra" words can be counted to make a field goal. 

A field goal = 3 points for 3 words. i.e. One team thought of 11 words.  They scored 1 touchdown (7) and 1 field goal (3) and had 1 extra point left.

I've provided score card - posters, if you'd like to keep track and post the results. 

There are blank templates, so you can program other word families, if you'd like to keep this idea going. 

After I got the -all word family football packet done, I wanted to make Bingo cards as another way to review the words. 

However, I had less than 24 words and could not make a Bingo card, so I thought I'd add the -ick word family to the football packet, because you kick a football.

Another fun way too reinforce these new words is via a word search. 

The packet includes the same activities for both the -all AND -ick word families. 

There are pocket word cards, traceable word cards, covers so students can make Itty Bitty booklets, alphabetizing worksheets, plus trace-write-color-cut & glue worksheets. 

Also included is a fill in the word sentence worksheet; 30 different Bingo cards, so your entire class can play; plus words on footballs.

There are also posters, blank templates for you to program with whatever, and 2 "craftivities"  like the football -all word family slider pictured.  Many of these activities work well for your Daily 5 Word Work.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a football theme. It's a set of 10 Frames.

Here's hoping that word work and 10 frame math, with a football twist, will be just the thing to make practice especially fun. 

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

It's another beautiful fall day, so I'm going to go "winterize" my flower garden out back before the snow flies. Wishing you a productive day.

"Football is like life--it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority." -Vince Lombardi  (Go Packers!)

1-2-3 Come Make Some Thanksgiving-Themed Emergent Readers With Me

I've been super-busy tweaking and revamping some oldies, at the same time designing quite a few new Thanksgiving items as well. 

Today I'm featuring 3 of "Diane's Dollar Deals" that are quick, easy and fun emergent readers.

They are great for Daily 5, or your reading-writing centers.

First up is the "Thanksgiving Emergent Reader Strip Booklet".  I call these “strip booklets”, because I can fit five pages or "strips" on a one-page template, for easy printing.

Trimming the pages provides nice fine motor practice strengthening those finger muscles, as children make a “just the right size” Itty Bitty booklet.

Students read the simple sentences packed with 27 Dolch sight words, trace the words, add end punctuation, then rewrite the sentences, remembering proper capitalization, spacing and end punctuation.

Afterwards, children color, cut and collate the pages.

Next is a "Snip and Flip" Emergent Reader Counting Booklet, that reinforces numbers and number words.

I call them this because students snip the top number pages to reveal the group/set of Thanksgiving-themed items underneath.  

Students trace and write the numbers and number words; they read the simple sentences and add end punctuation, then color the pictures in the group/set.

Review adding plus one more to complete the next grouping, as students count from 1 to 10.

For more reinforcement, and to practice another standard, have students count backwards from 10 to 0 by reading their booklet in reverse.

Finally, the last Thanksgiving-themed Dollar Deal  is "Shapely Buckles" a Pilgrim Hat craftivity, where the buckle is actually a little shape booklet.

Choose which shapes are appropriate for your kiddos and have them color, cut and collate into a mini buckle booklet.

When everyone is done, use it as a creative way to whole-group assess.

Call out a shape. Students flip through the pages, find the correct one and hold their hat up.

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. Jot yourself a note and work with these kiddos later.

I’ve also included a set of 2D pocket chart cards to use as a review.

There’s also a matching cover, so that your students can make an itty bitty booklet, as unlike the buckle activity above, these pages also include the shape word, which they trace and write.

Finally, there’s a set of picture cards, as well as word cards, so that students can play a Memory Match and/or an “I Have; Who Has?” game. 

Today's FREEBIE. "A Feast of Fictional Fun" is an oldie but goodie, designed years ago before I had all of the clip art, fonts, and design programs that I use today. 

However, I think your kiddos will enjoy the creative writing prompts.  I've also included a class book, travel journal and diary pages.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your kiddos enjoy practicing a variety of standards with the Pilgrims. 

I got up early to get this posted, but now it's time to get ready for church. I'm thankful for the Pilgrims who paved the way for our religious freedoms.  Wishing you a peaceful day. 

"It's not enough to attend church and pray every Sunday; you have to act." -Abbe Pierre

1-2-3 Come Learn About Pilgrim Children With Me

If you want your students to get excited and interested in learning about Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, do it from a child’s perspective... today’s kiddos studying about children in the 17th century.

Believe me, you’ll certainly grab their attention. Shocker; no electricity and lots of work to do!

Thirty-one children actually sailed on the Mayflower, with two born along the way!

I spent a great deal of time researching children during this time period, to create this packet, which can be simplified for PK kiddos, and ramped up for older elementary students, who will really enjoy the writing prompts.

The packet includes:

* A dozen Venn diagrams, which are an excellent way to present a great deal of interesting background information, while children practice comparing and contrasting.

* Several graphic organizers, KWLs, graphing extensions and worksheets.

* A variety of writing prompts, including an assortment of letter writing craftivities.

* A dozen games that were played during that time period, so it can be supposed that Pilgrim children might also have played them. Surprisingly, a few your students may still play today!

* 2 super-fun measurement activities that will make sailing on the Mayflower and living in a tiny Pilgrim house more real to your students.

* A Pilgrim TP tube craftivity.

Older students can staple it to the side of one of the writing prompts, to add a bit of 3D pizzazz to your bulletin board display. 

and as always . .

* Photographs & completed samples so that you can quickly & easily make examples to share.

Click on the link to zip on over to have a look see at this 86-page packet chock full of interesting activities: Pilgrim Children.

Here's hoping that your students enjoy learning about Pilgrim children, as they practice a variety of standards.

Today's featured FREEBIE goes right along with this Thanksgiving packet.

Click on the various links for my photographs of the Mayflower II, Plimoth Plantation, Wampanoag Village, and Plymouth Rock that I took, on a recent vacation in Massachusetts.

Sharing these with your kiddos also brings the 17th century to life, helping make things more real, the activities more meaningful and the writing prompts more vivid and authentic.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.  Time to get ready to go celebrate our oldest son's birthday. 

Where have 35 years flown off to?  One seems to go from potty training to driver's training in a heartbeat, then the rest even faster.  Wishing you a love-filled day.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey

1-2-3- Come Make A Thanksgiving Wreath With Me 

Here's a little fall-themed, leaf craftivity, with a variety of writing prompt options.

For November, students can write something that they are thankful for on each leaf. 

For more room, have them complete the writing prompt in the center circle. 

I've included a pattern for that, which you can run off on fall-colored paper. 

I've also included Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Thanksgiving" poem, as another option for the center, so you can fit the poetry genre into your reading block.

"Fall is . . ." is another writing prompt option.  Students can write various adjectives that describe fall on the leaves, and/or write what fall is to them, inside the circle.

Younger students can simply cut and glue leaves to make an autumn welcome wreath. I've included a "Welcome Fall" center circle as well. 

There are also plain and patterned leaves to choose from, as well as a bow option. 

I’ve included my completed samples to help you make a choice.

Adding a school photo as well as some glitter, adds extra pizzazz and that finishing touch. Completed projects make a lovely November, or fall bulletin board too. 

For more writing practice, I've included two, leafy, bookmark-size writing prompts as well, plus my 2 completed samples, so you can quickly make an example to share.

Besides the Ralph Waldo Emerson Poem, I’ve also included a page of his interesting quotes.

Give older students an additional writing assignment; have them choose a quote and explain it, then tell if they agree or disagree.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look.  Autumn Leaf Wreath.

Today's featured FREEBIE is some sweet turkey-themed one-to-one correspondence cards. 

I've included a full color set, a blank set to program with higher numbers, as well as a black & white set, so that students can draw, glue items, or press on X amount of stickers, as a worksheet activity.  

I use a tub of buttons and a dish of flat-backed rhinestones.  My little girls especially enjoy playing with the "jewels". 

Well that's it for today.  Time to get ready for my grandchildren.  They will certainly bring sunshine to this rainy, cold & dreary November day.  

Wishing you a day filled with lots of love and memorable moments.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

1-2-3 Come Do Some Turkey "Stuffing" Activities With Me

Looking for some easy-peasy, Thanksgiving-themed activities, you can do with your kiddos, that cover a variety of standards in a quick, easy & fun way?

Then I think you'll enjoy these print & go, "Stuff Me” Thanksgiving worksheets.

There are 14 “Stuff the Turkey!” worksheet options, plus a blank template for you to program with whatever.

Students “stuff” their turkey with either upper or lowercase letters, numbers, a variety of word choices (8), like words that begin with the letter Tt as in turkey, spelling words, adjectives that describe Thanksgiving, as well as blessings, or reasons to be thankful.

Set a timer for 1-3 minutes. Students write in as many _______'s as they can before the timer rings.

Choose a week’s worth of worksheets, so that students can also get in some data collection & addition practice too, by having them keep track of their totals on their “Stuff” recording sheet.

When you have done as many skill sheets as you want, have students add things up to arrive at a grand total.

My kiddos enjoy this activity so much, that they ask to do more.
I think they love being timed, which is great practice for later testing.

Children also feel empowered, because you’ve already explained things once, so they can get right down to business because they already know what to do.

You could also opt to simply do these without a timer.
They're great for early finishers or for homework too.

I’ve included a certificate of praise for the students with the highest totals, as well as a poster to jot down the winners’ names underneath.

Display completed work on a “Gobbling Up Knowledge” bulletin board.

I’ve included several posters to use as the center of your display. Hooray for all your smart little turkeys! 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see at this 25-page packet: Stuff the Turkey!

Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet little turkey craftivity.  It's a personal favorite that I've done with my students, as well as my grandchildren. 

From the feathered hand prints, to the traced shoe (body), this is sure to become a special keepsake.

"I'm a little turkey as cute as can be.  I'm very thankful for my wonderful family!"

Well that's it for today.  It's Veterans Day, so my hubby has off.  (A grateful "Thank You!" shout out to all of the courageous veterans out there!) 

Not sure what we'll do, but it's nice having him home. I'll endeavor not to pull out my "Honey please do" list.  Wishing you a love-filled day.

"While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms." - Randy Neugebauer

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

I'm working away at the ever popular alphabet wheels. I featured Aa is for Apple in September, and Pp is for Pumpkin in October.

For November, I just completed Ll is for Leaf, Tt is for Turkey and Vv is for Veterans.

Since we continue to work on the alphabet throughout the year, it's nice to add something new to my Alphabet Center activities each month.

Because of the seasonal themes, the Alpha Wheels are  a perfect addition, and my kiddos LOVE making them.

I enjoy them, because they are a quick, easy & fun way to practice letters, and build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.

They feature 6 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black & white, as well as full-color.

Use a colorful one for an independent center and use the black & white pattern for a whole-group or individual word work activity, where kiddos make their own.

You'll find that your students will look forward to making and collecting them. 

For writing, vocabulary building and alphabetizing practice, I've also included a worksheet where students trace & write the words then put them in alphabetical order.

Click on the pictures or hot links above, to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look.

I sincerely hope these alpha-wheels make letter practice more fun for your kiddos. 

Fittingly, the featured FREEBIE today, is an alphabet packet, with a set of alphabet cards & poster which you can play games with.  I hope you find it useful.

That's it for today. A work crew is coming in to put a new window in my office, so I don't get to "play" today, but it's time and money well-spent, as I won't be freezing all winter!

Wishing you a relaxing day.

1-2-3 Come Do a Veterans Day Activity With Me

Keeping in mind that teachers have very little time to add extra activities to their already crammed day, I designed this Veteran's Day packet with lots of easy-peasy activities, for math and literacy.

They cover a variety of standards such as shapes, numbers, skip counting, 3D cylider shape, ABAB patterning, upper & lowercase letters, plus LOTS of writing options.

These can be done as independent centers or with a whole group, and are great for table top activities, early finishers, centers, homework, or a sub folder.

There are craftivities, games, graphic organizers, vocabulary-building activities, puzzles, worksheets, & writing prompts, plus interesting information about Veterans Day and poppies.

The creative writing prompts, are made more meaningful if you inform students that you'll be sending their completed projects to real veterans

I've included a link with a complete list of all the retirement homes for every state.

You can imagine the smiles a packet of "paper dog tag thank you notes" will bring to some lonely veterans. 

The dog tag writing prompt is my personal favorite.

There are lots of choices that not only work for Veterans Day, but also Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays as well.

Such as the military puzzles, and the shape, number & alphabet games.

The colorful puzzles are perfect for a center, while children can choose one of 12 black & white options, to create their own.  

The number cards go all the way up to 120, and I've included a 3-page tip list of all sorts of activities that you can do with them, including lots of games.  

Likewise, the patriotic "danglers" can be used at other times too. 

As with all of my "craftivities" I try to include writing prompt options.

Making windsocks throughout the year, really helps my kiddos understand that 3D shape, as well as add that word to their vocabulary. 

I've included an alphabetical list of 86 patriotic words that students can choose from to write on the stars. 

Older students can complete a "Thank you for...." writing prompt on the strips.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see: Veterans Day Activities For Math & Literacy. 

In honor of my dad, who drove a tank in the army, and in celebration of veterans, I'm knocking $3 off for a limited time, so this whopping 113-page packet is just $6.95. 

Here's hoping your students will really enjoy making a little something special for our courageous veterans.

The featured FREEBIE today, is a set of telling analog & digital time, to the hour & half hour, turkey-themed cards. 

I've included a tip-list of how to use the cards, an assessment worksheet, plus a cover and black & white page to make an Itty Bitty Telling Time booklet. 

I hope you find this useful.

Well that's it for today. Time to get cracking, as the Polar Seal guys are coming to replace the window in my office tomorrow, so I'll be out of commission!

But woo hoo; no more freezing all day long because of a huge 50-year old window with a breeze!  My sill actually gets covered in ice & bits of snow on the inside! 

Wishing you a warm & cozy, snuggly kind of day.

"People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

1-2-3 Come Do a Thanksgiving-Themed Writing Craftivity With Me

All I ever have to do to get my kiddos highly motivated and excited to write, is put a little bit of craftiness into the project.

With that in mind, I designed these "Thankful Wheels”, which do just the trick in getting them happily, right down to business.

Beforehand, gather children around your whiteboard.  Brainstorm a list of the things that they are thankful for.

We discuss synonyms like grateful and appreciative as well.

Write these on the board, so that students can refer to the list for correct spelling, as well as choose which ones are appropriate to them.

As a pre-writing activity, children make their list of 6 things that they are thankful for, when they are content with the final draft, they write this on the Pilgrim-topped paper, trim and assemble their wheels, then illustrate and color them.

In keeping with Thanksgiving, there are 4, wheel-top designs to choose from: A Pilgrim boy or girl, or a Native American boy or girl.

Younger kiddos do the simpler 3-piece wheel, where they only have to think of 3 things that they are thankful for.

For more writing practice, have students label their pictures.

So that my kiddos get practice speaking, I always have them share one thing about any of the projects that we do.  

This is also an interesting and fun way for them to continue to get to know their classmates.

As always, I've included my completed, full-color samples, so that you can quickly make an example to share, helping to explain what you want your students to do.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look at the “I’m Thankful For . . .” writing prompt wheels & toppers.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of Thanksgiving-themed 10 Frames.  I hope you find them useful.   

Well that’s it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I got up early to post this, so now it’s time to get ready for church.  

I’m extremely thankful to God for all of my many blessings.   Wishing you a peaceful day.

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

1-2-3 Come Practice Place Value With Me

Today I'm featuring two quick, easy and interesting ways to practice math skills and standards.

The first is a super-fun way for your students to practice place value.

It's perfect for November, as I use a Pilgrim hat for the place value mat. 

The game is also a quick & easy way to whole-group assess.

Make a few Pilgrim hats for an independent math center, or make a class set, so that you can practice together.

If you're short on time, send the hats home with a parent volunteer to assemble, then laminate & trim, so that you can use every year.

Here's how to play:

* Students take turns calling out a number.

* Children count out the appropriate amount of number tiles and place them in the corresponding place value columns on the Pilgrim hat, raising their hand when they are done.

* You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.
* Jot yourself a note, so that you can work with struggling kiddos later.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Place Value Pilgrim Hat packet. 

The other math activity is "Turkey Battle".  I designed it after the ever-popular game of Battleship.

It's played in a similar way, and practices strategy, skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s, as well as addition, ordered pairs, data collection & analysis.

However, the game can be simplified for PK kiddos as well, so they can practice all those life skills involved in playing a game.

The packet includes everything you need to play the game, with large, as well as small "battle boards" & pieces.

Make several games for a partnered math center, or a class set, so that everyone can play.

There are several ways to win the game. Children decide which rules they want to follow, then the teacher sets a timer for 5-10 minutes. 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look: Turkey Battle.

Today's FREEBIE is a sweet, turkey craftivity made from a family's hand prints.  I

t's sure to become a cherished keepsake. Click on the link to grab your copy: Turkey Prints

Well that's it for today.  I hope you and your little turkeys enjoy these activities. 

It's chilly this morning, so time to toss another log on the fire. 

Hopefully the colder weather has set the sandhill cranes in motion. 

We're going to the bird sanctuary to see literally 1,000s make a stop over, as they migrate south.  Wishing you a memory-making day. 

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." - Rabindranath Tagore

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fall-Themed Math Activities With Me

Oh my goodness this packet took a lot of time to put together! I hope you find it super-helpful and time saving, as it's chock full of quick, easy and fun math activities, that cover a variety of Common Core standards.

They are very versatile, so you can differentiate, making the lesson easier or more difficult, to fit your needs and grade level. (PK-1st).

Use them throughout the month for early finishers, extra help for strugglers, brain breaks, centers, review, table top lessons, assessments, homework, ESL help, or "just for fun” plug-ins when you have a few spare minutes. Tuck a few in your sub folder too.

Pick and choose what's appropriate and put together a Happy Thanksgiving packet to send home over break.

There are worksheets, several craftivities, puzzles, as well as dice, spinner & paper-pencil games, for the following:

* Counting
* Sequencing
* Ordinal numbers
* Telling digital & analog time to the hour & half hour
* Counting to 100 and 120
* 100 chart activities and games
* Skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's
* Sorting odd and even numbers
* "What's Missing?" worksheets
* "I Spy a Number" worksheet-games, for numbers 0-10 and 10-20, with a blank worksheet to program with higher numbers.
Perfect for whole-group assessing.
* Fact families
* Number words
* Strategy
* Coin counting
* 2D Shapes
* 10 frame activities
* Place Value
* Groups/sets
* Fill in the missing ad ends
* Addition worksheets and games
* Subtraction worksheets and games
* Tally marks
* Greater than, less than, and equal to
* +1 more worksheets
* +10 more worksheets
* "Dots and Boxes" game
* Graphing
* Listening & Following Directions

Wow! That's just about a little bit of most everything!

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see at this whopping 177-page, November Math Packet for PK-1st.

The featured FREEBIE today, also has a Thanksgiving theme. 

It's an educational placemat that you can use for your Thanksgiving feast, or if you don't do one at school, use it on that last crazy day before break.

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

I'm anxious to get some smaller Thanksgiving packets completed, before I run out of November! Wishing you a relaxing day.

"If months were marked by colors, November in New England, would be colored gray." - Madeleine M. Kunin