GAMES and Puzzles!
Today is NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY!
IT BUILDS YOUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY!
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Today is NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY!
Keep reading for a FUN FREEBIE
Freebie for Followers
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And a FREE Balanced Literacy resource to help you get STARTED
Because 2022 was so BAD….we get DO-OVER!
We get a “LITERACY ” do-Over”!
Rethinking Literacy in 2023
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*DISCLAIMER… I know the Science of Reading is the NEW “go-to” for teaching Reading.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT! I am learning. I have been teaching reading to FIRST GRADERS for 30+ Years. AND I AM ALWAYS LEARNING. SO… I hope YOU are open to new ideas & “reusing” OLD ideas to help our “littles” learn. If this helps YOU – Yeah! ( Jan. 2022).
The Why? The What? and The How?
Balanced literacy has been defined as “an approach designed to help individual students learn how to process a variety of increasingly challenging texts with understanding and fluency.” (Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)
Fountas & Pinnell have been the guiding resource for Balanced Literacy. Today we listen.
It is an approach to teaching. NOT a curriculum. It is HOW we teach our students to be independent readers and writers. It is NOT what books we use to teach them.
Balanced Literacy has been defined in “components” or “pieces” of literacy instruction.
The 8 components we will focus on are:
Each week we will focus on one area of Balanced Literacy and share experiences, teacher tips, and resources to support and expand our Balanced Literacy repertoire. Start 2022 with the plans to implement BALANCED LITERACY!
Last week we discussed Read Alouds. This week is about Shared Reading.
Shared reading, involves quite a bit of pausing to teach or engage kids in practicing a skill. When doing a read-aloud, go through the book a bit more quickly, stopping less frequently.
The other most important difference between shared reading and a read-aloud is that during shared reading, kids have their eyes on the print. During a read-aloud, you may show the pictures to students, but they are not usually able to see the words clearly. Since students can see the text during shared reading, you are able to teach things like decoding more easily.
It is a 15ish minute block of time within that model that should be practiced daily. Simply stated it’s the “We do.” part of the gradual release model. This element is crucial. It’s time for the teacher and students to practice together.
A Poem, a Big Book, A chart. Any text where the teacher and the students can see the text, and read it together.
Shared Reading vs Read Aloud
It is important to teach what “really matters” connected to a shared text. “We always want students to leave each reading experience enriched by the language and the text because of the shared approach, so we shouldn’t find hundreds of vocabulary words and instructional opportunities in a single text.
Some of the many benefits of shared reading
Here some great educators share their resources.
What is Shared Reading?
Shared Reading
These literacy posts may help in YOUR Balanced Literacy journey.
These resource books for TEACHERS may be helpful for YOUR reading.
Shared Reading with Big Books
Kids with Capes
Stay tuned for next week… Week 2 Guided Reading.
Please share with friends.
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Most centers are my nemesis.
My nemesis. Setting them up. Making sure they are running CORRECTLY. And then storing them for another year! UGH!
But. What if you had a PHONICS center that was SELF CHECKING, kids enjoyed so they did it OFTEN, and it could stay out for a longer time because KIDS WANT TO PLAY WITH IT!
Yes, please!
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WINNER! WINNER!
Long Vowel Picture Puzzles
The Puzzles are of one picture.
Long Vowel Picture Puzzles long a
The kids have to build a word AND make a picture.
It is self-checking because if the picture is not put together correctly,
they are not done. The kids can use the completed words in
journal writing, word lists, or word family word walls.
The best part…they LOVE IT!
Long Vowel Picture Puzzles long I & o
How about picture puzzles with 4 letter LONG VOWEL words?
Most have SILENT E, but a few ( ee/ea/oa ) are included.
All of the WINTER-themed picture puzzles are ready to be
printed, laminated, and cut for easy center prep!
Great for Guided Reading, Early Finishers, and/or independent center activities!
Extension product included:
FREE Valentine Long Vowel Picture Puzzle ($2.00 value)
Long Vowel Picture Puzzles
Click HERE to see this GREAT center.
YOU WILL WANT THIS! 🙂
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WENDY
Have you been to a “Cookie Exchange”?
You bring 1-2 dozen cookies.
You take home a variety of cookies…
as many cookies as you brought.
and these
And so…
those of you who know me…
well, I have..
I just don’t ENJOY it!
* I made a batch of persimmon cookies last weekend.
I felt I had to before the persimmons rotted.
YUCK!
Bad BAKER!
I gave them to the chickens!
And so… What to take to the family cookie exchange?
Make it…..don’t BAKE it!
TA DA!
Enter..
Check out my COOKIE Pinterest board for MORE ideas!
And so…
Will it be a Pinterest SUCCESS?
or
A Pinterest FAIL?
Here we go!
Supplies.
Lay out the Nutter Butters.
Break the pretzels into antlers.
Mix powdered sugar into
ROYAL FROSTING.
(It dries like CEMENT…it holds everything!)
I think ..Pinterest SUCCESS!
The grandkids LOVE them!
So was I a COOKIE EXCHANGE cheater?
Maybe. But you know what?
Merry Christmas!
I do not own this video. This video belongs to SantaKlaws67 http://www.youtube.com/user/SantaKlaws67
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN!
I work at a low socioeconomic, Title 1 school.
This time of year can be very hard for some kids.
Some families DON’T celebrate Christmas.
Some families can’t afford gifts.
Some are VERY proud and won’t accept donations.
So…Santa doesn’t come to EVERY house.
via GIPHY
So today..we had
THE TALK.
THE talk about what December, Christmas, and Santa
are REALLY about.
GIVING & HELPING!
Today…we became
HELPER ELVES!
I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Folks..LIFE IS BUSY! Christmas time is BUSY!
Sorry to be the one to tell you that.
BUT…
30 days …from TODAY (11.25.22) 4 SUNDAYS! YES, 4 SUNDAYS…
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
So??
Think
MARATHON…NOT SPRINT!
(I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LISTS! )
List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you
WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.
Now…
PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.
(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to
EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).
It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…
just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.
Reality people!
If money grew on trees…
So…there is officially 1 more PAYCHECK until Christmas.
( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )
Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase
and divide by EXTRA $$.
***If you have been SAVING for Christmas, which you WILL DO for NEXT year, add that too!
That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase and the amount you have to spend.
That’s important because
now you can begin looking for a gift
for the PERSON…not just a checkoff on a list.
Now….start talking, texting, asking others…
ASK!!!!
What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????
Add this to your LIST!
( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )
Now…start looking…
online? Look for FREE shipping!
(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)
Friends & Family …FAR AWAY??? ( Sorry )
SHIP TO THEM!
Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!
SHIP DIRECTLY! FREE!
STOP!
YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!
They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!
And NOT going into SEVERE debt!
Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!
OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for.
After you purchase…keep the receipt!
I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back..
RETURNS? Easy Peasy!
After you purchase…
or it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER
IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂
WRAP IT AND ATTACH A NAME TAG!
( This from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten and was wrapping WAY TOO LATE INTO CHRISTMAS EVE! )
After Thanksgiving..
but NOT necessarily,
“Must Purchase For”
on my list!
( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )
Now I have a better idea of “extras”…
Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?
What kinds of gifts can you give for NO MONEY?
How about a picnic at the park? A TEA PARTY for kids? A trip to the library to read books? Take a young child to the ZOO???
Gifts of “ONE TO ONE” time…ARE THE BEST!
And you can schedule them AFTER the holidays.
The gift that keeps on giving!
Whatever fits YOU!
RELAX!
NO GUILT!
It’s about telling the people you care about..
THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU!
Enjoy the season.
Spend time with friends & family!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!
And when JANUARY comes around..
SMILE!
(And maybe a mani / pedi for yourself?)
But…remember…
Have FUN!
What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????