Category Archives: Small Groups | Centers

Small group ( 6 or less) and independent centers for students to practice skills and strategies.

Are your students ready for CENTERS?

How to add games for independent centers!

We have been in school for 4 weeks. I know…we began JULY 31! I spend 3-4 weeks working on whole class routines & schedules. Then we spend a week or two working on centers ( without me actually taking reading groups) so I can monitor HOW they are doing during independent centers. AND THEN????

We begin INDEPENDENT CENTERS without the teacher!!! WHAT??? Yes!!

Release the KRACKEN!

Release the Kracken

And yes..we begin small group reading.

I used to call it GUIDED READING.

But I have added Guided Reading Skills & Strategies.

Sometimes, we work on words. Sometimes we work on skills.

Sometimes we read. Sometimes we write.

I use my assessments to guide my instruction.

I know WHO needs WHAT.

So what are the other kids doing?

MUST DO’s & May Do’s.

And this week..enter their FAVORITE CENTER SO FAR!

( Yes…in their WHOLE LIFE…as they say!)

Here is the FUN game for centers!

And they are LEARNING! WIN! WIN!

Short vowel dominoes

SHORT VOWEL DOMINOES

294 CARDS! WOWZA!

294 domino cards for short vowel practice. Domino games can be differentiated by vowel sounds, picture cards, or word cards. Fun activities for student learning. Games help students stay engaged while practicing short vowel CVC word families.

They LOVE THIS! They beg for more time! Get your WORK done so you can PLAY!

YES! I love it when a plan works!

And so here we go!

Small groups for me..independent centers for them.

WIN! WIN! All around. Check out the video!

Fall, Apples, & Johnny Appleseed

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It’s ALMOST HERE!

FALL

via GIPHY

FALL!
The leaves will be changing, sweaters & boots come out of the closet, & PUMPKIN SPICED LATTE!

The world will be “balanced” again!

To celebrate the
COMING OF THE NEW SEASON

I have a new apple activity for fall!
I LOVE APPLES!
Apple pie, apple cake, applesauce…apple everything!

September is the MONTH of celebrations!
We celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s birthday too.
We make… APPLESAUCE!

To add to this year’s celebration..
I have a NEW product.

Apples are the BEST!

September Literacy Booklets for Apples and Johnny Appleseed.

Booklet style..2 on a page..B/W

21 PAGES of Reading, Graphic organizers, Word Work, Grammar, labeling, & Writing!
All in ONE BOOKLET!
Great for Whole Class, Small groups, Partner Work, Independent practice.

Early Finishers WILL LOVE THIS!

Fall themed.

If you need more Literacy Products… follow 1stgradefireworks

I hope you can enjoy

APPLES ARE THE BEST!

Follow my PINTEREST boards for

FALL FUN

Happy Fall, ‘Yall. Surviving September and October. And a FREEBIE!

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Happy FALL, ‘Yall

This has been a CRAZY Fall month!

We started in August.

We are SO LUCKY to get 2 weeks FALL VACATION

the first two weeks of OCTOBER.

IF you can survive SEPTEMBER!

We just finished Fall multiple

( and I mean MULTIPLE ) assessments.

Some whole class, some one-on-one.

AND then TEACH!

Don’t forget… report cards for ALL.

(Make multiple copies and then some!)

Fall Parent Conferences.

I had 100% attendance this year!

This has NEVER happened to me before!

I can get close… but 100%???

( Pat on the back ).

Finish 1st quarter lessons & skills.

Introduce 2nd quarter skills.

And… a new student on Thursday

before Fall Break!

Of course!

And so this Fall Break was WELL DESERVED! #tiredteacher

We have no “BIG” plans.

Family is local ( we are catching up with family).

So, I thought this Fall break,

I would work on my TPT store,

1stgradefireworks

a “little bit”.

Thank you, Misty Miller and Shelly Rees.

You helped MOTIVATE ME!

1stgradefireworks logo

And so the Fall creative juices started flowing.

I kept asking myself, “What do I need this year?”

I asked friends, “What do YOU need this year?”

And here is what WE came up with.

TADA!

Phonics Morning Work BLENDS, Short/Long Vowels, & Digraphs

Math Morning Work Activity Pages

Phonics and Math Practice Pages

FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!

Happy Teacher

Preview skills. Review skills. Assess. Interventions. Homework. Centers.

Whole Group. Small Group. Independent.

ALL DONE! WAHOO!

And a FREEBIE for YOU!

Click HERE

Enjoy your FALL.

Take care of yourself.

You can’t pour from an empty cup. 🙂

Wendy

FALL is HERE!

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How do we know it’s FALL? The weather is still HOT!

We have long evenings on the patio. We BBQ outside because we don’t want to heat the house. And the AC is still going!

That doesn’t sound like FALL!

Here in California, it’s still HOT!

I checked my calendar…

FALL BEGINS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 at 8:44am PST.

IT”S FALL

SO FALL IS HERE! I am ready! Falling leaves, sweaters in the morning, windows open in the afternoon, pumpkin-spiced mocha in the morning…. AHHHHH. My happy place!

But switching my classroom activities from

Back to School to FALL can be so daunting!

WAIT! I CAN HELP!

Here are my FALL activities available from my TPT store.

Try one! Try ALL!

Kids LOVE them & I have seen tremendous growth in

math and literacy scores!

Check out ALL the great Fall Activities…

FREEBIE at the end of this POST! HAVE FUN!

1stgradefireworks

October Activities ALL IN ONE BUNDLE!

PUMPKINS, BATS, & SPIDERS

October Literacy Booklets for Pumpkins, Bats, & Spiders.

FINALLY, It’s FALL

Fall-themed literacy centers.

MORE FALL ACTIVITIES: CLICK HERE

October Centers

MATH TASK CARDS
True or False?

Let’s Talk TURKEY
Math & Literacy Centers

AND… ( DRUMROLL)…

A FREEBIE for YOU

Candy Corn Fact Family MATH Task Cards

FREE Math Fact Family Task Cards

Thank You for hanging in there for this long post.

I just want you to see what’s available from 1stgradefireworks that can make YOUR LIFE so much easier!

Have fun! ENJOY the FALL!

Follow 1stgradefireworks:

Pinterest Instagram TPT BLOG FB

Happy Fall, ‘Yall! From NorCal… :)

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It’s FINALLY Fall

Of course in NorCal it’s going to be 102 degrees TODAY! The pumpkins can’t even be harvested because it hasn’t been COLD enough at night for them to turn ORANGE! Silly weather!

To those of you who are in the “HURRICANE” messes … prayers!

To help our kiddos stay “FOCUSED” during these times… Here are some great activites to keep them learning!

Stay positive, keep a smile on your face, and COFFEE in your hands! Keep learning, my friends.

( Check out the FREEBIE at the end of this email.)

Writing BUNDLE ( 245 pages)

Writing Bundle for Primary Students

Does Writer’s Workshop SCARE you? It scared me!

This BUNDLE has made a HUGE difference!

Support writing from words, then sentences, and into stories.

HUGE Writing BUNDLE for the Elementary Classroom

Includes:

I Can Write A Sentence

Picture & Word cards for students to create sentences.

Beginning sentence formation using Sight Words and picture cards.
Pocket Chart – sized for easy manipulation.
Punctuation cards added.
Support EL, Emergent readers and writers, interventions, and assessments.
Grades K-2
UPDATED for 2022

Journal writing Papers with vocabulary for writing support.

Monthly writing papers for writing centers, homework, classroom activities, grammar, descriptive words, and sentence formations.
Each paper includes a vocabulary box for EL students, emergent writers, and those who need “extra” vocabulary practice.
Total Packet = UPDATED 145 Pages

Write a Complete Sentence – 3 Steps to Success

How to help your students to write complete sentences?

How about 3 steps to SUCCESS?

This packet of picture visual cards is sorted into:

NOUNS, VERBS, and NOUN PLACES for students to select cards and create their own sentences.
40 NOUN cards (80 pictures total)
40 VERB cards ( 80 pictures )
30 NOUN PLACES cards are included.
Teacher suggestions for implementing the product. I suggest using them at a writing center for the scaffolding of writers and nonwriters.

Daily Language Practice …

FIX IT Sentences

Helping students EDIT their own sentences,

Let’s help students EDIT their OWN writing! HOW?

Daily Language Practice activities for editing practice.

It is hard to teach students to FIX their writing.

Daily Language Practice activity pages for daily practice.

Can be used with ANY Language Arts program!

Daily Sentences to be “fixed”…

Corrected for punctuation, capitalization, grammar, sight words, etc.
Editing practice activities for morning tubs, small groups, writing centers, and fun common core literacy centers!
Daily grammar, practice sentence editing booklets

92 total pages with 4 sentences per page.

Suggested use:

Print back-to-back, cut in half, and bond for the entire school year! Easy Prep!

Time saver – great for morning routines, whole groups, small groups, and independent work!

AND… DRUMROLL… FREEBIE TIME!

Math Matching Game –

Adding 3 Numbers

Adding 3 Numbers –
FREE Matching Game Questions? Email me: 1stgradefireworks@gmail.com

Happy Fall, my friends!

Be Happy. Be Safe. Be Positive.

If you have ANY questions… email 1stgradefireworks@gmail.com

Check out my TPT Store for MORE GOODIES!

Clip Its? What’s a CLIP-IT?

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Who needs an EASY TO RUN Literacy Center where kids are practicing skills YOU HAVE TAUGHT THEM…

AND

THEY ARE LOVING IT?

Listen for the giggles and the “I GOT IT!”

Makes a teacher’s heart HAPPY!

Also,

All you need are the Word Cards and “CLIPS” and/or “CLOTHESPINS”.

THAT’S IT!

Easy Peasy.

Clothespins for Clip-Its

Clip-Its BUNDLE.
7 Packets ALL in ONE Helping students practice reading ( sounding out) short vowel CVC words.
Students “read” CVC word and use a “CLIP” ( clothespin – not included) to clip to the picture on the bottom, that matches the word.
Multiple opportunities for literacy practice.
Can be used independently, with a partner, small group, or teacher and a whole class.

CVC Clip-Its for Literacy Centers

Clip-Its BUNDLE

Check out the Bundle!

BUNDLES SAVE $$

Clip-Its BUNDLE. 7 Packets ALL in ONE!

It’s National PUZZLE Day! Do YOU play GAMES??

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GAMES and Puzzles!

Today is NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY!

Wahoo!

Fun times with friends.

Do YOU play games and puzzles in YOUR classroom?

I HOPE SO!

What better way to practice academic skills & strategies?

The BEST way to learn social skills of sharing, taking turns, winning, and losing.

AND..most importantly…

IT BUILDS YOUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY!

Keep reading for a FUN FREEBIE

Freebie for Followers

Checkers

Boars Games for kids

Chutes & Ladders Board Game

Candy Land Board Game

I also have the children make their OWN games.

We play the “matching” game… A LOT!

Use spelling words, vocabulary words, math facts…whatever!

I give 1/2 the class 1 sheet of colored paper.

I give the other half

1 sheet of colored paper, too

BUT a different color!

We fold it into 8 rectangles.

EVERYONE writes the same words on their paper.

THEN…cut the cards apart!

When we are ready…find a partner

WITH DIFFERENT COLORED PAPER!

Turn over all of the cards.

Pick one of YOURS,

then choose one of your partners!

With different colored papers

…no mistaking whose is whose.

When game “time” ( set a timer ) is done

..pick up YOUR cards!

No mixing them up!

Take the cards HOME & PRACTICE!

Here WE ARE at WORK:

Kids in classroom playing learning games

Kids in the classroom playing learning games

Partner students in classroom playing learning games

Partner students in the classroom playing learning games

Kids in the classroom playing learning games

I hope you play games and do puzzles!

Have FUN!

Here are some MORE blog posts about

CLASSROOM GAMES!

PLAY ON

The Day the Boys Found Dice

I Spy With Word Walls

GOTCHA!

Games for ASSESSMENTS?

What TIME is it?

Here are some games

for YOUR classroom:

CVC Scoot Game

CVC SCOOT

Who Am I Flapbook Game

Who AM I? Flapbook GAME!

What’s a SMORT? A SMART Sort!

SMORTS…What’s A SMORT?

A SMART SORT!

Shelves of Board Games

Check out my

GAMES for GIGGLES

Pinterest board

for MORE fun GAMES!

FUN FREEBIE

Freebie for Followers

Signature

Flexible Seating: Stools, rockers, rugs, and seats…For READING??

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Why flexible seating?
When I was in elementary school

( Way back in the DINOSAUR days )

1970’s

We sat in rows.

Many rows.

All of us looking straight ahead.

At the teacher, at all times!
No flexible seating, here.

We kept our hands & feet to ourselves.

We kept our books in our desks.

And we read QUIETLY to ourselves.

Shhh…whisper!

We read.

Some people enjoyed it.

Some people just pretended.

Most did what we were told.

We didn’t ask…WHY?

Is there ANOTHER WAY?

How to bring flexible seating options into my classroom?

Because at home…

I would lay on my bed and read for HOURS!

(picture by Dreamstime.com)

And that is how I LOVE TO READ!

I want my students to LOVE to read!

So I have “changed it up!”

I have added flexible seating options in my classroom for kids to

read in a comfortable, relaxed, enjoyable experience.

Every day after lunch my first graders do

READ TO SELF.

If you have not read the book

DAILY 5

from “The 2 SISTERS” YOU NEED TO!

My first graders read to themselves.

Not to me,

Not to a partner,

JUST TO THEMSELVES!

Therefore…READ TO SELF!

I set the BIG TIMER!

I use THIS one.

We start the year at 6 minutes. Read.

We work on increasing our reading STAMINA.

Read longer.

Today, we are at 18 minutes!

18 minutes of uninterrupted reading

of books THEY choose!

BUT there is MORE!

They don’t sit in rows.

They don’t sit at their desk.

We have flexible seating choices for reading.

READING ROCKERS

TALL STOOLS

SHORT STOOLS

SHORT STOOLS at SHORT TABLES

CHAIRS by themselves

READING RUGS

CORNER NOOKS

FLAT OUT ON THE FLOOR

And when we are done?

Stools under the tables.

Rockers stacked in baskets.

Rugs in the tub.

And chairs stacked.

They MOAN when the timer goes off.

They ask during other times of the day

to Read in the Rockers.

THEY WANT TO READ!

I have taught them to LOVE to READ..

ANY HOW…ANY WHERE!

Flexible seating choices have made a HUGE difference

in the reading choices my students make.

They want harder books.

They want to read MORE!

It’s hard to walk into a first grade classroom

and hear…SILENCE.

But the “whispers” of reading are heard, daily!

UPDATE

More flexible seating CHOICES!

I was the BIG..WINNER WINNER! 🙂

Yes…I won ALL 4

WHOOP! WHOOP!

And these Bad boys…

They are wooden rocking chairs,, and they SQUEAK!

I love to hear the squeak, squeak as they rock & READ!

Thank You Donor’s Choose!

My “flexible seating” is complete!

Now to “arrange” it into

WORKSTATIONS!

I absolutely LOVE IT!

( SO DO THE KIDDOS!)

Some of my “bloggy friends”

have also posted about

their experiences

with flexible seating.

Check them out.

How to fund and implement flexible seating

Teach2Love

10 things to know about flexible seating

Two Sharp Pencils

SassySavvySimpleteaching

If you want to learn MORE about reading

check out these blog posts:

Balanced Literacy

Read At Home

Guided Reading in 20 Minutes

Winter is Wonderful!

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WINTER is my Favorite Season

Winter is WONDERFUL

Winter.

Winter is WONDERFUL!

Snow.

Jackets, mittens, scarves, & snow boots.

I am NOT an expert on SNOW!

I live in NORCAL.

Wine country.

Not a lot of snow here.

My students LOVE to learn about WINTER!

Our favorite theme.

WINTER IS WONDERFUL!

UPDATED for 2022

WAHOO!

Bigger & Better

66 Pages of ELA & Math Centers

ELA & Math Centers for Grades 1-2

ELA includes:

Contractions

Present, Past, and Future Verbs

Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives

Mixed-Up Sentences

Writing Topic & Details

MATH includes:

Math Mountains

Addition & Subtraction

Making 10 Strategy

Place Value Addition

“ Ten” Groups

ELA & Math Centers for Winter

ELA AND MATH CENTERS

English Language Arts