A Winning Lesson With Word Art!

Verbs are something that can be a bit boring to teach, so liven up your lesson with Word Art!

I made these New Year word art pictures using a list of positive verbs and then turning them into a picture using Tagxedo.

Turn it into a reading and writing lesson by showing your students the posters and my alphabetical list of 88 positive verbs.

Read the words aloud and have students circle the ones that they want to promise and do in the New Year.

They need at least 1 for each letter of the alphabet.  Challenge students to make their own word art poster and list. This is a nice way to incorporate technology in your day.

Students can also make a New Year’s dictionary of their promise words.  I've included a cover, simply add lined paper.

For more skill building, I’ve included trace and write pages. 

Fill in and laminate a set and then cut them apart and store in an envelope, so students can arrange them in alphabetical order.

Make up 2 sets so students can play “Speed” against each other to see who can alphabetize the words the quickest.

Any of these activities make fun Daily 5 Word Work lessons. Encourage students to look up any words they don’t know and to use their new vocabulary.

Make a copy for your word wall.  Make sure you do your own to use as a sample.  If students do the word art activity, you have an awesome January bulletin board.

Have them mount their finished work on various colors of blue construction paper.  Arrange on a background of aluminum foil and sprinkle some paper snowflakes on the corners of each one.

At the end of the month or school year, ask students to re-visit their list.  Have they done all of the words they circled? Have they added anymore?

This evaluation can then become a writing prompt of why or why not, and how they can improve etc.

Click on the link to view/download the New Year Word Art activities packet.

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful. I hope these New Year's ideas have helped and that you have the best New Year yet.

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." -Hal Borland

Happy New Year!

New Year Fractured Tales, are a delightful way to review parts of speech: nouns, verbs and adjectives.

Students roll dice to see which word they will use to fill in the blanks from the word bank list.

They can work independently or with a partner.

After children have filled in all of the blanks, students draw a before and after illustration.

Have students read their story to another person, or exchange it with their partner.

New Year Fractured Tales, makes a nice Daily 5 "Word Work" activity.

As another writing extension, challenge students to make up their own Fractured Tale using the same format.

Click on the link to view/download New Year's Fractured Tales.

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"We will open the book, it's pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." -Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Scroll down for another New Year's article and more New Year lesson ideas.

New Words For The New Year!

My newest New Year FREEBIE is an alphabet book of all the words I could think of that have to do with New Year's.

Although Q, V and Z were a bit tricky, I did think of words for all 26 letters.

It's a fun way to review the alphabet, (Common Core State Standards: RF.K1d, L.1.1a) as well as increase vocabulary.

Students trace the upper and lowercase letters as well as trace and write the new words.

Print a copy to laminate and cut up, to use for your January Word Wall.

The Happy New Year ABC Word Booklet makes a nice Daily 5 "word work" activity for students to do during the 1st week back from vacation.

Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year ABC Word Booklet.

I've also made a Happy New Year bookmark you can leave on your students' desks as a little surprise when they come back from break.

Click on the link to view/download it.

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I hope your New Year is filled with everyone and everything that you love. 

May you be blesed with health, happiness, peace, and love.

"What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year." -Vern McLellan

I LOVE quotes, and hope you enjoy the ones I post at the end of each blog article. 

If you're looking for some New Year's quotes to use in your class, click on the link.  I've compiled all of my favorites. 

I have a feeling that a lot of teacher's are going to be looking for New Year's lessons today, so I've written 2 more articles.

Simply scroll down to read them. Enjoy.

Ringing In The New Year With Fun Lessons!

Are you looking for some New Year-themed activities to do with your students on their first day back? 

My Happy New Year Easy Reader Time Booklet, is a fun way to review telling time to the hour as well as reinforce reading and writing skills and review Common Core State Standard: 1.MD.3

Students trace and write the digital times and then draw hands on the analog clocks for that time.

There are opportunities for some writing practice as well. Students complete the sentences and explain what they did on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

I’ve also included a Telling Time To The Hour certificate of praise.

When everyone is done, read the book as a whole group, to reinforce concepts of print and other reading standards.

Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year Easy Reader Time Booklet.

I’ve also made some Happy New Year cards.  They can be left on students’ desks, as a note from you and then later used as a bookmark.

Click on the link to view/download Happy New Year cards.

If you need some January calendar cards I’ve also made a set of those using the clipart of Laura Strickland.

These make a nice addition to your calendar or put them up on your word wall.  I’ve included some that students can color which would make a nice independent Daily 5 “word work” activity.

Click on the link to view/download the January Calendar cards.

If you’re looking for more New Year activities, click on the link and it will take you to the New Yea's section of my shopping cart.

As always everything is FREE.  Enjoy and Happy New Year to you and yours.

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“For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice; to make a beginning." -T.S. Elliot

Happy New Year's Eve everyone.  May you be blessed with health, happiness, peace and love.

Star Light Star Bright...

Motivate your students and build self-esteem, with these star certificates.

I've also included a poster to hang to show who the star student of the day/week is.

Because students trace the words in the sentence and then complete the sentence of why they are a star student, this makes a great writing prompt.

When students come back after break, tell them that you think they are all stars, and that as their teacher, you will help them shine their brightest.

Have them think of their favorite star quality and then fill in the blank.

When they are done, they can color the picture; they'll be proud to take it home, and share their accomplishments with their family. 

Click on the link to view/download the Star Certificates.

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"Twinkle Twinkle little star, you've learned so much, you've come so far!"

1-2-3 Come Count With Me!

I just finished 2 new number booklets.  I hope you and your kiddo’s enjoy them as a learning or reviewing tool.

My Counting Booklet helps students learn to count to 10.

It’s a great way to help students recognize numbers and number words as well as reinforce tally marks + groups/sets of things.

Children trace and write the number and number word, fill in the tally marks and then color the number.

Words are repetitive so this is a nice easy reader as well. 

When everyone is done, read it aloud to reinforce concepts of print.

Click on the link to view/download My Counting Booklet.

Let’s Learn About Numbers is also a great review or a nice way to introduce children to the various kinds of numbers.

The booklet defines things, and helps students learn what a number is, as well as the various kinds of numbers, such as odd, even, whole, counting, cardinal and ordinal.

Click on the link to view/download Let’s Learn About Numbers.

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“I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow.” -Woodrow Wilson

Learning Numbers Can Be "Snow" Much Fun!

Snowman number puzzles is a really fun way for students to review the various ways to identify numbers as well as learn number words.

Make several sets and have students choose a partner and play "Speed" games to see who can assemble the puzzles the quickest.

Run off the set that ='s a student's age and have them make a keepsake when they glue the pieces together and attach their photo to a red heart.

The 37-page packet includes:

• Blank templates for you to make higher numbers or upper and lowercase alphabet matching snowmen as well as dream up other games.
• A spinner and directions + tips for more games and activities
• 20 number and word cards  to play Memory Match games + covers to make an Itty Bitty snowman counting booklet.
• 11 snowman number and math skill sheets that work on counting by 1's, 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's, as well as reviewing upper and lowercase letters, + blank templates to make up more difficult "What comes next?" or "What's Missing?" skill sheets.
• and a certificate of praise.

Click on the link to view/download the Number Puzzle Snowman packet.

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"Live in such a way, that if someone would tell a lie about you, no one would believe it." -Unknown

Let's Escape Today Through The Wonders Of Technology!

A huge shout out and big CONGRATULATIONS to my twin Kathie, for launching her inspirational website frompapagod.com

This is a pix of her and I playing in the snow when we were little.

If you're looking for comfort via lovely scripture-based poetry, that will help you through another day, click on the link and check it out.

For you Christian ed teachers and home school parents out there, Kathie has Tiny Tales. 

My favorite is The Mysterious Light House story.

Download or print anything for FREE.

The moving photographs and pictures on her site are simply amazing!

A must see to believe it.

I hope you enjoy your adventure, or as Kathie calls it "a wonderful journey" through the pages of  frompapagod.com

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"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy 2013!

As with yesterday’s blog article, I wanted to post 2 more writing activities for the New Year.  My Y5’s LOVED trace and write activities.  Being able to 1^st trace the words or sentences made it easier to then write them on their own.

They felt empowered and self-esteem was built.  I’ve made trace and writes for each month.  They are a terrific writing center activity that can easily be accomplished in a few minutes.

Because these involve the New Year, this would also be a nice extension for your calendar time. Click on the link to view/download New Year Trace & Writes.

Making class books is a fun way to get students excited about writing.  You also have an opportunity to review such Common Core Standards as reading right to left, and from the top down.

I also point out to my students that the first word is capitalized, and in this case, ask them to point out what other words are capitalized and why.

Be sure to point out that there are spaces between the words and that each sentence ends with appropriate punctuation.

You can make 3 different class books using these 3 writing prompts, or combine them into one big booklet. Having students glue their school photo to the page makes the booklet more of a keepsake, as well as helps identify the writer.

You can also have students sign their name to their illustration as they are an artist as well.

When everyone is done, collate the book and then read it to your class, or have each individual student read and share their page when you come to it.

Click on the link to view/download New Year Class Books. Pinch & Pokes are a great way to help students gain finger strength.  Use a large tack or golf tee.

Students lie on their tummies on a carpet, to increase upper body strength, and poke a hole in each dot. This is another fun way to help students learn that you are in a new year.

Click on the link to view/download the 2013 Pinch & Poke New Year activity.

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

“The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom, but rather, leads you to the threshold of your mind.” –Kahlil Gibran

Ring In The New Year With Writing!

Are you looking for a few New Year’s activities to do with your students when they come back from break?

A Venn diagram is a terrific way to have students compare and contrast.

They are a great precursor for writing prompts to help students organize their thoughts too.

Click on the link to view/download the New Year’s Venn diagram.

Graphic organizers are also a huge asset in helping students get down to the business of writing.

Children enjoy the easy task of jotting down ideas in the various boxes.

What a fun way to jump-start a New Year’s writing prompt.

Click on the link to view/download the New Year’s Graphic Organizer.

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"If we succeed in giving the love of learning, the learning itself is sure to follow." -Sir John Lubbock