I've Been Working on My Silent e Rule Game & Activity Pack

I just loaded a new activity game pack to my Teachers Pay Teachers store to complement the song, multimedia file, and book set to "I've Been Working on My Silent e Rule."  So do you want to know my students' favorites right now?  They love "All Aboard" which is a version of Go Fish, "Toot Toot!" a version of Bang, and Build a Board Game.  On Build a Board Game, they use the cards to design a road first, and then begin the game.  When they finish, they can build the road a different way and play again.  Check back next week for more photographs of the games in my actual classroom.

This game pack complements the song "I've Been Working on My Silent e Rule" from my CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin" (c) Copyright 2011. Use the games and activities during guided reading and literacy centers.  All of the game pieces are coded with a small picture in the right hand corner to help with management of pieces.  If one gets dropped on the floor (and we all know how often that happens), the students can match the cards to the games saving teachers valuable time.  Even the whole group activity "Making Words" are coded with pictures by word family.  If they get mixed up, have the children sort them by the picture, and you are ready to teach again.

I Can Read Fluency Cards for practice during guided reading groups. Pass out  a stack of cards to each child in your group.  Their goal is to read the card, put it in front of their stack, while I listen to them read the words.  If they are correct, I take the card.  If they read it wrong, I refer them to the song while they read it again.  I remind them the "e" reaches over the consonant and says, "Say your name!"  Works every time.   We then try to increase our speed, fluency, and accuracy.  I switch the stacks among the children to give them the chance to read all of the words.  The train clip art matches the books and multimedia file to help make a connection to the song.

Student version of "Making Words" with the silent e pattern.  The hand pointer is used to help decode the word.  They use the pointer, touch the e, reach over the consonant, and say, "Say your name, " then sound out the word.  I coded the cards by their spelling pattern (ake, ine, etc.) with a different color of train, so the children can sort the cards if they get mixed up in the pocket chart.  No more asking you what cards go where.  Just say, "Sort the cards by their train colors and start building words." 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ive-Been-Working-on-My-Silent-e-Rule-Games-and-Activity-Pack

Here is a sample of the multimedia file I've Been Working on My Silent e Rule for the Smart Board, IWB, Digital Projector, or student computer.  Help your students learn the rule and apply to words with the silent e pattern.

Click here to view this on TpT. 

Click here to view the book set that complements this song.

Click here to see view the mp3 version.

I've Been Working on My Silent e Rule

Teach your students how to read words with the "silent e" rule. Watch how I use this multimedia file to teach this phonic's rule.

You can purchase the multimedia file from my Teachers Pay Teachers store for $3.00 at

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ive-Been-Working-on-My-Silent-e-Rule-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

While you are there, check out the book set and mp3 file from the song to use in guided reading, independent reading, or the listening center.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ive-Been-Working-on-the-Silent-e-Rule-Song

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ive-Been-Working-on-My-Silent-e-Rule-Books

The Letter H Has Many Friends Video Directions

Need some lessons to use on your Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, or student computers? Want a fun way to help your students learn the digraphs "ch" "sh" "wh" and "th"? Watch this video and see how I use the multimedia file "The Letter H Has Many Friends" from my CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin" (c) Copyright 2011.





You purchase the multimedia file from my Teachers Pay Teachers file for $3.00 at
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Letter-H-Has-Many-Friends-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer
While you are there, check out the book set and mp3 file from the song to use in guided reading, independent reading, or the listening center.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Letter-H-Has-Many-Friends-Books
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-Are-Letter-Friends-Song

Two Vowels Together Rule How to Use Video

Today's post is going to show I how I use "Two Vowels Together Rule" to teach the phonics rule when two vowels are together in a word.  This multimedia file has 5 teaching point pages at the end to teach over 270 words.  Plus I give ways in which to differentiate for non-readers learning their letter sounds, struggling readers, and even those who need a challenge. If you have any questions, please post them and I will answer them.




You can purchase the multimedia file for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, or computer at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Two-Vowels-Together-Rule-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer
You can purchase the book set at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Two-Vowels-Together-Rule-Books
You can purchase the mp3 song at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Two-Vowels-Together-Rule-Song


Put the song and the book in the literacy center for another connection to your whole group time or use on individual CD players or iPods to provide reinforcement and practice of these skills.  I put the 1/2 size books in their "Just Right" book boxes.  The singing helps make them successful and gives them more opportunities to practice the vowel team words in a book format. We also use the teaching points pages during guided reading groups to practice these words.

Won't Forget No More YouTube

Take a look at how I use the multimedia file for "Won't Forget No More" for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, or computer.  This song teaches the alphabet and letters/sounds.  The multimedia file has review pages at the end to use as a game.  "Won't Forget No More" is from the CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin" (c) Copyright 2011.



You can purchase the multimedia file for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, or computer at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wont-Forget-No-More-for-the-Smart-Board-of-Computer
You can purchase the book set at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wont-Forget-No-More-Books
You can purchase the mp3 song at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wont-Forget-No-More-Song

Put the song and the book in the literacy center for another connection to your whole group time or use on individual CD players or iPods to provide remediation for students on a Response to Intervention plan (RTI).

Jingle Bell Word Families YouTube

Here is an example of how I use the multimedia file "Jingle Bell Word Families" on my Smart Board.  The song teaches the "ang, ing, ong, and ung" word families.  It also teaches the phonemic awareness skills of rhyming and substitution of sounds. This multimedia file can be used on a Smart Board, any Interactive Whiteboard, or computer that has Quick Time.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jingle-Bell-Word-Families-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer
If you don't have access to this technology, you can purchase the book version along with the mp3 song to teach your class.  Remember to add in the motions to make it more kinesthetic.  Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic connections mixed in with fun helps children retain more information.  Use the 1/2 size books during your guided reading session.  The teaching points on the multimedia file are also at the end of the books. 


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jingle-Bell-Word-Families-Song
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jingle-Bell-Word-Families-Book-Set

I'm Working on My Strategies to Read YouTube

Take a look at how I use the multimedia file to teach reading strategies to my students on my Smart Board. This file can be used with any Interactive Whiteboard or computer. You need to have Quick Time on your computer to read the file. The song is from the CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin. 



http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Im-Working-on-My-Strategies-to-Read-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Im-Working-on-My-Strategies-to-Read-Song

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-Are-Letter-Friends-Books

Blends Are Letter Friends on YouTube

Take a look at how I use the multimedia file "Blends Are Letter Friends" for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, and computer. The song is from the CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin."



http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-Are-Letter-Friends-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

Check the books and song that go along with the multimedia file. Use the book set in whole group reading, independent reading, read-to-self, guided reading, and as a homework song folder file.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-Are-Letter-Friends-Books
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-Are-Letter-Friends-Song

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If You Know Your Letter Sounds on YouTube

Check out my multimedia file for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard, or computer.
Visit my store for the book set which contains a big book, 8 1/2 X 11 book for independent reading or whole group, a 1/2 size book for individual student book boxes for guided reading, a listening center book for easier timing with the print/song, and a homework file to put in a song folder.

Copycat Letter Boogaloo Video Instructions

Well my first post to YouTube was an experience.  My name is good and bad.  It's great if you need to remember it.  It's not so great if you search it on YouTube.  Lessons learned, many viewing it thought they were going to watch the comedian. LOL!  I received some interesting comments throughout the day.  In fact, I had to remove a couple.  Wow! 
Today's post is going to show how to use the multimedia file Copycat Letter Boogaloo.  My children love to do this song and add motions to it.  And it really transfers over to their reading and writing.  

You can purchase the multimedia file for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard (IWB), or for your student computers.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Copycat-Letter-Boogaloo-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

Other current products for Copycat Letter Boogaloo are the book set with an 8 1/2 X 11 book for whole group or the listening center, a 1/2 size book for guided reading or for independent reading, and a song chart to put in a homework song folder for a home-school connection and the mp3 version of the song.  Coming soon - Copycat Letter Boogaloo Activity/Game Pack.  Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers to receive information when I upload new activities.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Copycat-Letter-Boogaloo-Books
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Copycat-Letter-Boogaloo-Song

Thanks for visiting my blog.  Leave a comment if you have any questions or want to tell how you use this in your class.

I Know My Vowels You Tube

I'm making my debut on You Tube to show how I use the multimedia files on the Smart Board or any Interactive Whiteboard.  My first video is dark so you can see the board better.  I will try to work on the quality of my videos over the next couple of weeks. If you load the multimedia file on your student computers, the students will use the mouse to click on the arrows and buttons to start, stop, or move the page of the song.


Today's blog will focus on the song "I Know My Vowels" from Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin (c) Copyright 2011.  These multimedia files work much better than Power Point files because you have more control over the file and the interactive writing on the board.

Multimedia File for the Smart Board, Interactive Whiteboard (IWB), or Computer

Teaching Points Page at the End of the Multimedia File
Use as a whole group activity or as a literacy station

I use the multimedia files during whole group phonics, but also as an independent literacy center during Readers' Workshop.  I let 2 students interact with the board at a time.  They take turns finding the vowels on each page.  To make it differentiated, my students also look for little words hiding in big words and different phonics patterns. They also practice writing the words or change them to make new words.  (Ex: a higher level student might take the 'k" off of the word "know" and change it to "now."  I always use the words, "What do you notice?"  This question is very powerful as it gives you great insight into what your students know.  Give it a try! 


You can purchase this multimedia file at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Know-My-Vowels-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

Want books for independent reading for your students' book boxes?  The listening center?  As a homework song folder? Purchase the book set at my TPT store.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Know-My-Vowels-Books
While you are there, you can also purchase the mp3 version of the song to place in the listening center or on an iPod, and take a look at the I Know My Vowels Activity Game Pack with many games/activities to support the song. I have included a flag in this pack for your students to decorate.  My students carry their flag as they march around the room to the song or multimedia file.  We spin in a circle when the cheerleader spins. And of course, we cheer with the vowels too.  After the students get used to this activity, we bump it up and go on vowel hunts with our flags to use as an anchor support.  The students record their words in their word books. When we have made this a secure goal, I send the flags home with the students for a home-school connection.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Know-My-Vowels-Song
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Know-My-Vowels-Activity-Pack

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Thanks for stopping by!

Strategies for the Outlaw Words Activities

This blog post will continue to discuss word wall words that do not follow the typical phonics rules.  The following are some of the activities that I do with the song, books, and activity kit from the Outlaw Words:

These are the actual phrases from the song put in a pocket chart.  They are color-coded to match the words in the books and on the multimedia file for the Smart Board, IWB, and computer.  I used colors and short phrasing as a strategy for helping students remember these hard words.  "What do you want?"  is used as anchor to help the children keep track of where they are in the song.  

Large word walls serve their purpose in the early childhood classroom.  When you make smaller, more focused word walls, it helps students zone in on where to locate these words instead of scanning through 50-150 words on the big word wall.  My students have the song memorized so when they are writing in Writers' Workshop and want to write one of the Outlaw Words, they will sing the song, smile, and get up to go get the strip.  I tell my students that good readers and writers know where to find help and will look for those words in our classroom.  I also explain that after they locate and write that word many times, their brains will grow dendrites or make a connection and BAM!!! they will know how to read and write the word.  They like the BAM!!! part.


I also make 3 copies of the strips from the Outlaw Words Activity/Game pack to use during the song or multimedia file.  I pass the strips out to the students.  There are 34 words in the song with 12 phrases.  I pass out a phrase strip to each child (some get 2) and they stand up when they get to their line in the song.  If you have the "These are the Outlaw Words! strip, they will be standing up 12 times during the song. Keep that in mind when passing out the strips.  You want children who need more movement to have one of the strips closer to the bottom of this chart.  After we sing it the first time through, I have them switch strips with a friend, and we do it again.  The "what do you want" strip is the most popular and can cause some children to hold on tightly to that strip!


STOP FREEZE or BANG GAME

Outlaw Word Puzzle Set for Spelling CenterI put each line of the song into one plastic baggie.  Students spell one line of the song at a time. I provide a small anchor chart also provided in the activity pack to provide support for learning to read the words too.  The students memorize the song and use the visual color-coded supports to learn to read and spell the words.

GO FISH OR STOP FREEZE FOR LITERACY CENTERS
Students draw 5 cards and place in the card holder.  I use a large clip chip from the Dollar Store and place 2 foam semi-circles together inside the clip.  This holds the cards in place making it easier to play the game.  Student asks another student if he/she has one of the words in his/her hand.  If yes, students gives him/her the card.  If no, student says, "STOP FREEZE!" and the other student draws a card from the extra pile.  Play continues when are cards are gone.  Player with the most cards wins.

These are 4 out of the 12 activities in the "Outlaw Words Activity/Game Pack" on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Here are the links for the Activity Pack, Books, mp3 song, and multimedia file for the Smart Board, IWB, and computer.


Have fun and thanks for visiting my blog and checking out my TPT store.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Outlaw-Words-Activity-and-Game-Pack


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-Song



http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-Books 

New Year Strategies for Sight Words

I've had requests from conference attendees on how to use the Quick Time files on their Smart Boards or Interactive Whiteboards (IWB).  Read below for a "How to Guide" on operating the files.  If you follow the steps below, you will love the ease and management when compared to a Power Point file.  Don't have a Smart Board, IWB, or student computers?  Keep reading after the "technology" directions, and I will show you how to do it "low tech."


How many of your students struggle with learning those words that do not follow the rules.  Many are high frequency words found on many word walls throughout the United States.  Last December, while on an airplane, I was going through my students' checklist of known sight words from our word wall.  It was very consistent that most were missing the words that could not be read phonetically.  

When my students struggle, I try to think of a strategy that will help them learn, recall, and retain information.  Singing, movement, hands-on activities, along with integrated technology can help children learn and retain new concepts including those troublesome high frequency words.  We call them Outlaw Words at my school because they "do not follow the rules."  

So in the holiday tradition, The Twelve Days of Christmas just popped into my head and "The Outlaw Words" song was born.  I took the words from my word wall list that did not follow the rules and put them to this familiar tune.  I ordered them so they would be repeated frequently to help with memorization.  I also color-coded them in phrases to give it a visual connection too.  The result was a new song from my CD "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin"  (c) 2011.  

Here is a picture of the multimedia file (4 of the 14 slides) that I made to go with the song.  I show it on my Smart Board, but it is applicable to any IWB  (Interactive Whiteboard), as long as you have Quick Time on your computer.  It can also be used with a digital projector or student computer.  The IWB allows students or teacher to control the file by using the tools at the bottom of the screen as in the following pictures. On your student computers, the students use the mouse to click the play-pause button.

This is the 6th slide. When we get to the "what do you want" part, the children stand up, throw their hands in the air, and shout - "What do you want?" - Then quickly sit back down.   Since that line comes into play 8 times, it keeps the children moving and learning, giving them much needed movement opportunities.  And of course, it is their favorite part of the song. Kathy Griffin (c) Copyright 2011

Slide 13 - The song continues in a repetitive fashion. We sing the song various ways:  together, by rows, boys vs. girls. They like the competition.  I remind that readers look at the words while reading. Sometimes we point to the words across the screen as they appear. Kathy Griffin (c) Copyright 2011.

Refer to the red box for strategies we use in our classroom to
reinforce learning the "Outlaw Words." Using this multimedia file on the Smart Board or IWB makes  a great literacy station too.  I partner my children up, and they look for phonics patterns, practice spelling the words, or change the words to make new words all while operating it independently. During literacy centers, I turn the volume off, so they work directly with the words. Kathy Griffin (c) Copyright 2011

Remember that when you purchase the Quick Time file, it can be put on your student computers.  Then your students will have a chance to practice during Readers' Workshop or during "Read to Self" or "Listen to a Book" if you are doing the Daily Five.


You can purchase the Quick Time file of The Outlaw Words from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store for $3.00. I am selling each multimedia file individually, so you can purchase "what you need - when you need it."  


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-for-the-Smart-Board-or-Computer


"Low Tech" The Outlaw Words - BOOKS!!!


So you want all of this technology, but don't have it yet?  No worries!  You can purchase the mp3 version of the song to play in your listening center or on your CD player.  I made a book set that includes an 8 1/2 X 11 size version for whole group of the listening center, along with a 1/2 size book to use during guided reading.  There is a flip book version included which students can cut apart and make a fun flip book of the song along with a song file folder that I use to put in my students reading folder. The mp3 song is $1.00 and the book set is $4.00.  I found CD players at Target for less than $10.00 and let individual students who need extra practice use these CD players during Read to Self or Independent Reading time.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-Books

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outlaw-Words-Song


GAMES!!!!


You have to have games to go with everything:)  I made a Game and Activity Pack and am releasing it for a short time at $5.00.  It includes the following:

There are 139 pages in this game/activity pack.  That averages out to 39 cents an activity.

These are actual sample activities from the packet.  You can purchase this packet on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store:


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Outlaw-Words-Activity-and-Game-Pack


Check back again for pictures of the activities during my Readers' Workshop time and learn how I use another song from "Growing Dendrites with Kathy Griffin."


Thanks for stopping by!