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Category Archives: Reading

Finding a Routine at Home

I am missing my routine already. Maybe your are too. Here is a plan for gathering ideas for your children’s ‘new’ daily routine.

I put together a brainstorming sheet so you can come up with ideas that suit your individual child and family situation. You can brainstorm ideas in four areas: creativity, outdoor activity, academics, and service. This pdf includes a checklist for your child (you could say something like ‘no video games until the checklist is finished’). I also created a sample brainstorming sheet filled in with different ideas I might use. This morning, I noticed that many of the online websites that I’ve seen recommended are having issues, probably too much traffic. Some of you may want ideas that are not on the computer so that your kids are off screens for awhile and so that you can accommodate all your learners. Some of your kids may be overwhelmed by too many choices so keep it simple, you can always revisit the choice/brainstorming sheet.

pic of checklist

(click the pdf below)

I hope this helps. 

IMG_8251 (2)It is intended to create structure while keeping things fun and keeping kids accountable without parental nagging (thus the checklist :). Your kids need you to be a calm in the current storm.

Sample Brainstorming for Parents

Brainstorming for Parents

(I am hoping to post a video in the near future, demonstrating some of the ideas. I would love your feedback.)

Movin’ and Learnin’ Letter Sounds

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Calling this activity “Letter Dash”. Some SK students are reviewing letter sounds and sight words. As I call out a sound or word the students grab it and bring it quickly to the table.  So cute to see some students run over to another student and first help them find the appropriate letter.

Another Great Review Game

I like this one, it’s fun. It’s called “PIG”. The idea is that a student can choose to turn over 1 – 3 cards but if a PIG card is chosen then the 1 – 3 cards get put back. (I keep out the used PIG cards to avoid the situation that there is only PIG cards left.) This game has shown me which children like to be risk takers!

Pictured here is a game to review reading 2 digit numbers. I have another set with multiplication facts. It could be used for sight words or letter identification or….

You might notice that the numbers and pig are done lightly in pencil – this is intentional – I have students that love to try and cheat!

This set has about 20 cards with two digit numbers and about 6 PIG cards.

    

Sight Words

Hanging’ up the laundry …

Task Boxes

I am interested in the idea of ‘task boxes’ and have been pinteresting and googling.  Here a student works independently on a task box.  The function of the boxes has been math skills, literacy skills, and fine motor skills.  The box contains a photo (for a visual instruction) and after demonstrating a couple of times the student should be able to work independently.   I can see many good skills being practiced this way!

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End of the Year

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Looking down the hallway at all the ‘puddles’ to jump over. All puddles with sight words learned this year.
What a joy to see the growth and learning and excitement!
Looking forward to the journey that lies ahead.

An Easy Way To Help Those That Get Overwhelmed

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A ‘custom-made-kid-folder’ gets things done one row at a time. A paperclip holds the worksheet in the correct position, to line up with the sections of the folder.

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The Vowel Club

We decorated a banner for the vowel club (with washi tape 🙂
The best part was the amazement on the faces of my three kindergarteners when I told them that every word has at least one member of the club included! What fun to teach these little guys!

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Early Intervention with Initial Sounds

I thought it would be great to let these “little guys” move while they practice the initial sounds of words.  This idea is adapted from one of the many free activities at The Florida Center for Reading Research.  Great stuff at that site.

 

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Informal Reading Test

Informal Reading Test

I have not written in awhile. Life pulls me along sometimes and I never want to feel pressure about a blog.

Speaking of pressure, we have reached the end of the term and I usually test each student’s reading level. The problem is, I don’t want to use the same test all the time or within a short time frame. This term I found an informal reading test for both oral and silent reading that was easy to use and FREE! I spent some time enlarging the reading passages for the students.

It is called the Jennings Informal Reading Inventory.

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