Take A Closer Look at September Blog Hop

Hi everyone! 

Remember our blog hop last month before the big BTS sale? 

The one where 10 of us gave a freebie sample of our best sellers?? 

Well, we are at it again! This time, we are offering up a freebie sample of our favorite September product! 

So that means I have to name a favorite product for September.  Hmmm! Since many of you are teaching about fall and apples, I am sharing a sample of my Apples Reading Fluency for Little Learners.  If you are not familiar with my blog, here is the most important thing you should know.  I love using songs to teach reading.  I make up songs all.the.time - for everything.  Procedures - Phonemic Awareness - Phonics - Sight Words - Reading Strategies - Writing Strategies - Math . . .  And then I use those songs to teach literacy skills.

Why?  Because these songs become meaningful print for students to make connections.  Singing helps increase oral fluency, which in turns helps build reading fluency.  Singing the words takes away the "fear factor" when encountering new texts.  If they can sing it, they can be supported in reading it.

My FREEBIE is a copy of the predictable text words to the song to use in a literacy center, during guided reading, or as homework.  The predictable text helps support emerging readers.  Parents enjoy hearing their children sing the song, and it engages them too. Have your students color the apples to match the text.  They can also underline the color words with markers or crayons to match.  Throw in an apple pointer for tracking the print, and they are ready to go!

Here is a sneak peek at "Take a Bite" which is included my Apple Reading Fluency for Little Learners.  I just finished recording a mini-video to go with the song that can be played on a computer and also added an mp4 file to use on an iPad.  And for those who DON'T have tech, the packet contains the printable book in many different sizes, a pocket chart activity, and the mp3 song to play the music too.   

My students receive a fluency folder at the first of the year that contains songs to use as a warm up for guided reading.  These fluency folders stay in their reading boxes to use when reading independently, with a friend, or during small group instruction. When it is time for guided reading, they get their book boxes, and pull out their fluency folder.  They read their songs and poems along with familiar text.  They know to get started right away and not waste time.  They have a mission.  We are readers.  We are building our stamina.  We are building fluency.

My students also use these song sheets to play "What do you notice?"  This activity is differentiated for students.  Some children may notice individual letters.  Some children may notice that many of the words "match." Some children may notice a familiar sight word.  Some children may notice a phonics pattern (silent e in bite).  Have your students highlight what they notice to help them read the text.  Here is a quick glance at what else is this packet.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Sign up by email at the top right of my blog to receive other ideas for your classroom. 

ARE YOU READY  . . .  HOP on over to Jessica's blog Second Grade Nest.  She has a great FREEBIE just for you!

Johnny Appleseed and Apples

It's fall and almost time to celebrate Johnny Appleseed's birthday.  I went back into the recording studio and just finished 2 new mini-videos, book sets, and activities to use with your thematic unit on apples.

The first is a video called "Let's Pretend We're Johnny Appleseed."  It contains what plants need to grow, shows the life cycle of an apple tree, and contains fun sequencing motions to keep your students moving.  This set also includes the song, printable books, and activity cards in both color and black and white.

Here is a sneak peek of the video and previews from the packet.  I used the adorable clipart from Whimsy Workshop Teaching.

For more information click HERE.  Your children will love acting out the motions while learning literacy skills too.

The 2nd mini-video is called "Take a Bite." It's a fun way to get children ready for apple tasting time and to choose which one is their favorite apple.  A printable book is also included in this packet along with a pocket chart activity too.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Apples-Reading-Fluency-for-Little-Learners-871488

For more information about this printables click HERE. This clipart is by Krista Wallden from Creative Clips.

Both are on sale through this week.  If you plan on purchasing both, I have bundled them together to save money.  You can find that link HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Fall!

Circle Time Games

GRAB YOUR STUDENTS' ATTENTION! NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT - I FOUND THEM at the Dollar Tree!  Yes, that is an unusual way to start a post.  But if you have attended my sessions on games in the classrooms, then you know that I post updates when I find new grabbers.  I usually find them at Michael's, Toys R Us, and Target during seasonal times of the year (Halloween, Christmas, Easter).  This time . . . THE DOLLAR TREE!

Here are 20 ways to use these grabbers in your classroom.  If you need a visual you can watch the video on this post when I was a guest on a local television news show.

1. Play follow the directions game using 1, 2, 3 or 4 step directions. 
2. Spell your name. K (squeeze left grabber) a (squeeze right grabber) t (squeeze left grabber) h (squeeze right grabber) y (squeeze left grabber) and then pass to the person on the left.  Play continues until everyone has a turn.
3. Count the syllables in your name. Ka (squeeze left grabber) thy (squeeze right grabber)
4. Blend compound words. sun (squeeze left grabber) shine (squeeze right grabber) sunshine (squeeze left and right at the same time)
5. Spell your word wall words. Refer to #2
6. Segment phonemes in words. cat (squeeze both at the same time) "c" (squeeze left grabber) "a" (squeeze right grabber) "t" (squeeze left grabber) Pass to the person on the  left and continue around the circle.
7. Blend phonemes into a word. "d" (squeeze left grabber) "o" (squeeze right grabber) "g"    (squeeze left grabber) dog (squeeze both together)
8. Delete the first phoneme.
9. Substitute the first phoneme.
10. Do math combinations:  5+5=10
11. Skip count by 2's.
12. Count to 5.  
13. Count to 10.
14. Count backwards from 5.
15. Count backwards from 10.
16. Pattern games. Squeeze left out, squeeze right up, squeeze left out, squeeze right up
17. Practice phonics' patterns. ay (squeeze both together) "a" (squeeze )  
18. Say your letters and sounds. b (squeeze left) says "b" (squeeze right)
19. Place value.
20. Practice learning left and right.

Now go find those grabbers at the Dollar Tree and have FUN while teaching!

Thanks for stopping by!

Math Manipulatives on a Budget

Last week I stopped by my favorite Dollar Tree store to look around for ideas for math centers.  Jackpot!  I always get stopped at the front with the seasonal items. But this time, I continued on to the less known baby aisle to pick up some baby plates for another activity.  And what did I see?  BABY LINKS!  So I thought of some math activities to go with them.  I like the small links that you get at the teacher stores, but these were different.  They are the big chunky links that provided sensory feed back too.  And just wait until you see all the different ways to use these.  They come 10 in a packet for $1.00.  I purchased five which gave me 50 big chunky links.  That's an awesome set of manipulatives for $5.00.

Now if you know me, I am big on differentiating centers so students can use similar or the same materials and work with them on their own level.  And I also work with PreK-1st grade students.  So what can you do with these manipulatives seen in the picture bellow?  Keep on reading :)

SORTING

• Sort them by color (top-left picture).
• Sort them by their sensory bumps and grooves (top-right picture).
• Link them together by their attribute for great fine motor practice.

PATTERNING

• Make a pattern by color.
• Make a pattern by sensory bumps and grooves.

ONE-TO-ONE CORRESPONDENCE

• Count and link to match a number card.
• Link them together to build a number.
• Roll a die and build the number.
• Turn over a playing card and build the number.

MAKING COMBINATIONS

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

But WAIT!  I started thinking about how I could make them separate or show combinations.  I went over to the toy aisle and grabbed a couple of boomerangs.  Perfect!  I wrapped some duct tape around the middle of the boomerangs several times to make a middle sorting side.

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR STUDENTS
Choose from the ideas below to match individual needs.

• Students place total number of links on the left side.  
• Student removes some from left side and places on right side.
• Student says the number combination.
• Student draws a pictorial representation of the combination.
• Student writes a number sentence for the combination. 

WORKING WITH 5

• Student places 5 rings on the left side.
• Student rolls the dice.
• If lands on 6, roll again.
• Student removes the number of rings to match the number or dots on dice and places them on the right side.
• Student says the number combination.
• Student draws a pictorial representation of the combination.
• Student writes a number sentence for the combination.

WORKING WITH 10

• Student places 10 rings on left side.
• Student turns over a card.
• Student removes the number of rings to match the number on the card and places them on the right side.
• Student says the number combination.
• Student draws a pictorial representation of the combination.
• Student writes a number sentence for the combination.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end.  I hope you have some new ideas for differentiating with these links.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Dollar Store Math Center

Games! Math Centers! Games!  I love to go to the Dollar Tree and walk the aisles looking for bargains and activities for my students.  Who doesn't love to make a math center for just $1.00?  This post is part of the BRIGHT IDEAS LINK UP. 

 If a picture is worth 1000 words, then this 3 minute video will help explain how to play it even more.  I differentiated this activity to use with PreK to 3rd grade students.  Just think of all the possibilities for playing this game!

Materials needed:

• Plastic sorting tray (Dollar Tree)
• Dice

Let's recap what all can be done with this tray again.  

• Recognizing numbers
• Counting all
• Counting on
• Adding 2 numbers
• Adding 4 numbers
• Adding multiple numbers
• Subtracting
• Comparing numbers
• Working with place value
• Multiplying 2 numbers
• Multiplying more than 2 numbers

MORE IDEAS

• Student bounces a blank die.  
• Builds the number using manipulatives.
• Makes the number out of play dough or wiki stick.
• Writes the number.
• Student uses a blank die.  
• Bounces it into a compartment.  
• Counts up to 10.  
• Counts up to 20.
• Student uses a blank die.  
• Bounces it into a compartment.  
• Records the next 3 numbers.
• For example, the die lands on the 4.  
• The student records 4 then writes 5, 6, 7
• Student can also record 4 and go backwards.  4, 3, 2, 1
• Student bounces one die.  
• Compares the two numbers.  5 > 2
• Student bounces one die.  
• Adds the two numbers.  
• Records the number sentence and then writes the fact family. 
• Student bounces one die.  
• Adds the two numbers.  
• Determines if it is an odd or even number.
• Student draws a representation of it in a math notebook.
• Student bounces one die.  
• Uses the number from the compartment and the number from the die to make the largest number. 
• Records the number in a math notebook then builds it with base ten blocks.  
• Student then draws a representation of the number too.
• Student bounces a blank die into 3 different compartments. 
• Records the numbers.
• Puts them together to make the largest number.
• Writes the expanded notation.

CAN YOU PROGRAM IT WITH SOMETHING BESIDES NUMBERS?  ABSOLUTELY!  

• For Younger Students, draw shapes in the compartments.  
• Student uses a blank foam die to bounce. 
• Student names the shape.  
• Student builds the shape out of pipe cleaners, play dough, or wiki stik.
• Student draws the shape.
• As a Literacy Center
• Program the compartment with word families. 
• Write consonants on foam dice.
• Bounce and blend.
• Is it a real word?
• Is it a nonsense word? 

Have you thought of another way to use this after reading my blog and watching the short video clip?  Leave your ideas in the comments section for others to read at the end of the link up. Collaborating is so much FUN!

If you liked this Bright Idea, please consider following me on Face Book, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Pinterest.  Or you can sign up by email at the top right side of my blog.

Check out these other wonderful ideas from some amazing bloggers!

An InLinkz Link-up

Pete the Cat Fun Theme Activities

Raise your hand if you read Pete the Cat books and do many "Pete" activities at the first of school. I do!!!  This is a fun way to end an author study (Eric Litwin and James Dean) on Pete the Cat books the first week of school.

Which Pete the Cat book is my FAVORITE?  Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes! It is a wonderful first mentor text for helping children learn about speech bubbles, rhythm, predictable text, sequencing, and the author's purpose for writing the story (moral).

Disclosure:  Amazon links provided for your convenience.

Since I've posted so many activities to go along with Pete the Cat books on my blog (read to the end for links), my friends and colleagues know that I am a HUGE fan.  Enter the shoe above.  My friend Kathleen who lives many, many miles away from me sent me a text with a picture of a piñata shoe that she found at TARGET.  Hold on until the end of this post before you head there :)

Kathleen was brainstorming ways to use it with her students.  So what do teachers do best?  They collaborate!   Kathleen, Vanessa at PreK Pages, and I began planning.  Keep reading for links to my other posts, free printable, and  PreK Pages - Where's Pete game.  

Now Vanessa was SAD because she couldn't find the shoe at her Target (mine had 6).  I cheered her up by coming up with a way for her to make her own Pete the Cat Piñata out a box.  I started out with a cereal box but ended up choosing the Swifter box since it was wider. 

Step 1:  Draw a black line on one side of the box to use as a guide.

Step 2:  Cut on the black line.

Step 3:  Hole punch the sides.  Make sure you go down far enough for it to be sturdy.  Measure where your holes are on each side so they match.

Step 4:  Open up the bottom of the box and remove the tabs as shown above.  This will make it easier for the students to open up the piñata when they hit it.

Step 5:  Use painter's tape or duck tape to cover the box.  It took me about 5 minutes to wrap the tape around it.  I just taped one layer with blue painters tape since the cardboard is sturdy.

Step 6:  To keep the tape from sticking to the top of the shoe (underneath side), I cut a strip of white construction paper and taped it underneath the top where the hole punches are.

Step 7:  Use shoe string to lace your shoes or I used some white elastic loom bands to tie through mine.  You use what you have at your house :)

Step 8:  Insert your piñata prizes, and tape shut with Scotch tape.  You can use stronger tape if you choose, but the Scotch tape worked fine for me.  I taped it 4 times across the bottom, and it took about 7 swings to get the bottom to fall open.  Tie a string around the middle bands so you can hang it.  You also have the option of taping it shut with a string and having someone pull the bottom open instead.

Here are some FREE printables to use as wrist bands in your piñata for an alternative to candy.  There are many different versions to fit the needs of PreK, Kindergarten, 1st grade, preschool, and home schoolers too.  Print them on white paper for your students to color or print them on different colored paper.  The children can also draw pictures to sequence the story.  Tape the wrist band around your students arm as a prompt for sharing their fun day with their families.  There is also an "Ask me about my day" band too. I use my crinkle-cut shape scissors to cut out the wrist bands.


So what do you want to do now?  Head over to PREK PAGES for the Where's Pete School Tour and recipe. (Mmmmm!)  She has a cute sequencing printable for you to use too.

Here are links to my other Pete the Cat activity posts.  Have FUN!

Back-to-School Games with Pete the Cat
Following Directions with Pete the Cat

Listening and Learning with Pete the Cat

Five Days of Groovy Cat Fun

Pete the Cat Comprehension and a FREEBIE

Pete the Cat Math and a Flip the 5 & 10 Frames FREEBIE

Using Pete the Cat to Teach Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives 

Measuring with Pete the Cat

                                  

    

Back to School Games with Pete the Cat

Teaching procedures the first weeks of school require your students to listen and follow directions.  Teachers need a toolbox full of games, songs, and activities to help our young students build their stamina for listening and following directions.  Playing games that help your students learn each other's names will foster a collaborative learning community too. 

Pairing favorite books with activities helps children have a connection to their learning.  Pete the Cat books are my favorite for the first of the school year games and activities!  Young children just love him too.  So what better way than to engage them into listening and following directions than Pete himself.  I begin by reading Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.

This game can be played several ways.  You will need one button to hide.  I use my Pass the Pete can or Pete Pointer for this game.  Directions for making Pass Pete are HERE.

DIRECTIONS

Children sit in a circle. 

Take off one of the buttons.

Have the children place their hands behind their backs and close their eyes.  NO PEEKING!

Place the button in one student's hand.

Children open their eyes.

Have everyone put their hands in the lap with fists closed, so the button stays hidden. 

Start the chant.

WHO HID THE BUTTON FROM PETE'S JACKET?

(Your Name) hid the button from Pete's jacket. (class)

Who me? (teacher)

Yes you! (class)

Couldn't be! (teacher)

Then who? (class)

(Choose a student who does not have the button) hid the button from Pete's jacket. (teacher)

Who me? (student)

Yes you! (class)

Couldn't be! (student)

Then who? (class)

(Student picks another student) hid the button from Pete's jacket.  (student)

Who me? (student)

Yes you! (class)

Couldn't be! (student)

Then who? (class)

Play continues until button is found.   The player that has the button says, "I did. It's true!"

FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS

To make it easier the first time, model how to play the game by hiding the button in your hand.  Start by going around the circle beginning with the child on your left.  Say the chant as in the directions above until you get to "Then who?" The student on your left that you named says the name of the student on her left.  Play continues around the circle until it returns to the teacher.   The teacher says, "I did.  It's true!"  

FOR OLDER STUDENTS

Play this similar to Doggie, Doggie Where's My Bone.  Send a child to an area of the room where he can't see circle time or have him turn around.  For understanding these directions, the child's name is Josh. Hide the button as in the steps above.  Call the student (Josh) over when the button is hidden.  The student (Josh) gets to lead the chant trying to find the button.

(Names a student) hid the button from Pete's jacket. (Josh)

Who me? (student named)

Yes you! (Josh)

Couldn't be! (student named)

Then who? (class)

Student repeats until the button is found.

The student that has the button will be named Tessa for understanding these directions.

Tessa hid the button from Pete's jacket. (Josh)
Who me? (Tessa)
Yes you! (Josh)
I did. It's true! (Tessa)

Tessa now gets to be the student that hides her eyes and guesses.

If you like these Pete the Cat activities, check out:

Following Directions with Pete the Cat

Listening and Learning with Pete the Cat

Five Days of Groovy Cat Fun

Pete the Cat Comprehension and a FREEBIE

Pete the Cat Math and a Flip the 5 & 10 Frames FREEBIE

Using Pete the Cat to Teach Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives 

Measuring with Pete the Cat

And stop by PreK Pages for even more Pete the Cat ideas. 

GROOVY CAT WEEK

                                  

    

                                       Links are provided for your convenience.

Thanks for stopping by!