Category Archives: Uncategorized

How to Write a Complete Sentence – 3 Steps to Success

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I have a BRAND NEW writing product to add to my TPT Store!

My problem was my students were writing…

BUT, they were not writing complete sentences.

They had a great idea, but could not get the right sequence of words to

make a complete sentence!

Their stories just did not FLOW! They didn’t make sense.

So WHAT is a teacher to do?

WRITE! And so I did.

I did some research, read some materials, and

I created a WRITING CENTER where my students can be successful!

I teach in a high-poverty, low-socioeconomic, Title 1 school.

I have had up to 50% of my class as EL students.

I have decided to help my students,

we need Writing a Complete Sentence – 3 STEPS TO SUCCESS!

Visuals for Vocabulary.
Structured Graphic Organizers for independent thoughts.
Practice, practice, practice!

Product Description:

Writing 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 ), and 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.

And so, it begins.

Check out the VIDEO!

Writing a Complete Sentence – 3 Steps to Success

Writing Paper for Scaffolding Writers

NOUN Cards for Vocabulary Support

VERB Cards for action

Noun Cards for “PLACES” to complete sentences.

Sample Writing Page included.

Teacher SUGGESTIONS for implementing.

THINK WRITING CENTER! 🙂

I hope this helps with your planning for

Back to School. I know.

Teachers NEVER stop thinking about SCHOOL!

Rest and Relax!

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Check it out!

How to Survive the 4th Quarter DASH!

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AKA… What to use to keep some working, while reteaching to others! 🙂

SPRING BREAK is Finally HERE!

Assessments, report cards, cleaning, paperwork,etc…

Third quarter done! YIPPEE!!

Though I really DO love this time of the year.

Kiddos are making TREMENDOUS progress!

Sniff…sniff…PROUD TEACHER!

So NOW we WORK!

When we go back we have the

4th Quarter DASH!

Catch everyone up to grade level standards

before they go to second grade!

And to HELP…I need it!

Some of my kiddos will work on YOU QUACK ME UP!

While I am WORKING with small groups, reteaching concepts they DIDN’T quite get.

DATA tells me that.

Right?

Say this with a SMILE..

“YOU QUACK ME UP!”

to be taken to my TPT store!

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade table of contents

ELA: rhymes, Read the Room, Sight Word Games,Grammar

MATH: 3 digit addition, Place Value, Guess My Number

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade rhyme game

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade Grammar

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade word work

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade story vocabulary

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade prefixes

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade task cards

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade Sight Word Game

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade 3 digit addition

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade Place Value

You Quack Me Up ELA & Math for First grade number game

My kiddos LOVE LOVE LOVE this!

So much fun going on in Room 3!

And NOW for the FREEBIE!

Click HERE

This GMA wants some

GIGGLE TIME!

And so…

HERE WE GO! 🙂

Check out my TPT Store for MORE goodies!

Do You teach NONSENSE words?

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I’ll admit it! ( Head hanging down).

I DID NOT TEACH NONSENSE WORDS!

UGH! BAD TEACHER!

WAIT! Let me tell you why!

I teach first grade. My students speak 6 different languages this year. They are JUST learning to read!

I thought NONSENSE Words were…NONSENSE!

I THOUGHT I was helping them by NOT CONFUSING THEM!

I admit it.

I WAS WRONG!

They need to experience PHONICS all around them!

They need to understand the phonemic sounds of ENGLISH!

Thank You, Della Larsen.

It’s NOT CRAZY! It’s good. It’s HELPFUL!

As I am re-thinking my BALANCED LITERACY instruction,

I will NOW be adding phonics fluency using real and nonsense words to my lessons.

A short “BURST” of phonics, multiple times during my day, will help my students become

PHONICS MASTERS!

My newest change of “TEACHER MINDSET” is …NONSENSE WORDS!

OK… I’m IN!

Here is my newest product to HELP my kiddos with NONSENSE WORDS!

EARLY PREVIEW for YOU! 🙂

Real or Nonsense Words? How to help your students with phonics fluency.

Tpt Link HERE!

Real or Nonsense Words? How to help your students with phonics fluency. Great for EL's and EO's. — Real or Nonsense Words? How to help your students with phonics fluency. Great for EL’s and EO’s.

Real or Nonsense Words? How to help your students with phonics fluency. Fluency Practice and Sorting .

Real or NONSENSE? Helping your readers with BOTH!

Finally…helping Readers is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO!

So, I will add READING REAL & NONSENSE WORDS to my literacy repertoire!

How about YOU?

Let me know how it goes!

Wendy

Valentine’s Day is Coming Soon

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Valentine’s Day is coming SOON!

Here are some Valentine resources to help your day run smooth and be exciting!

ARE YOU READY?

Here are a few of the “KINDNESS” Products you can find at 1stgradefireworks.

6 Packet BUNDLE!

6 packets of Valentine Themed LOVE!

Packets include…

Be Mine – Place Value Game

Easy Peasy

Friendly Word Families

Lotsa Love 10 more / 10 Less

Some Bunny Loves You

Sweet Treats Making Ten Strategy

Valentine LOVE Bundle

Can You Make 10? Making 10 Math Strategy Booklets

Be Mine – Place Value Game

Valentine Themed.
Place Value Cards ( 54 Cards in ALL) for sorting.
Includes:
Sorting Header cards
Place value cards
( Expanded notation, base ten, ten frames, number words, numeral, ten & ones)

Sweet Treats Math for Grade 1

Math Practice for Grade 1
Includes:
Place Value
Printables
Sorting Cards
Missing Addends
Cards
Centers

More February “TREATS” from 1stgradefireworks

Follow ME in IG, FB, & Pinterest

PURCHASE NOW!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For MORE fun ideas:

Getting Ready for January

Calendars

Winter is Wonderful!

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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 2021!

WAHOO! Bigger & Better!

66 Pages of ELA & Math Centers!

ELA & Math Centers for Grade 1-2

ELA includes:

Contractions

Present, Past, 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

Winter is WONDERFUL! Reading / Writing & Math Centers

Contractions

Winter is WONDERFUL! Reading / Writing & Math Centers

VERBS

MIXED UP SENTENCES

Winter is WONDERFUL! Reading / Writing & Math Centers

WRITING…MAIN IDEA & DETAILS

MATH

Winter is WONDERFUL! Reading / Writing & Math Centers

Math Mountains

Missing Addends

Winter is WONDERFUL! Reading / Writing & Math Centers

MAKING 10 STRATEGY

PLACE VALUE

ELA & Math Centers for Winter

WINTER IS WONDERFUL

Easy Prep & Go! Get started organizing now..so YOU are ready for January!

Remember…2022 is the Year of BALANCED LITERACY!

Here’s a start BALANCED LITERACY

Click Here

Check out the WINTER Literacy Products from 1stgradefireworks

How to get ready for Christmas without the STRESS!

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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 (11.25.21) 4 SUNDAYS! YES, 4 SUNDAYS…

Christmas will be here!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

So??

How to get ready??

PACE YOURSELF!

Think

MARATHON…NOT SPRINT!

Where to start?

#1…..Make LISTS!

(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…

#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

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.

SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!

Now….start talking, texting, asking others…

#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!

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!

#4…..Figure out what you can spend..

AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.

They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!

Your kids COME FIRST!

And NOT going into SEVERE debt!

Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!

NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!

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..

#5…..I begin to look at my

LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”

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!

Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!

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!

Make Memories!

And when JANUARY comes around..

SMILE!

(And maybe a mani / pedi for yourself?)

But…remember…

Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!

Have FUN!

Elf on the Shelf… FAILURE!

Do OVER!

What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????

You can lead a horse to water…BUT

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Happy Summer! Today’s topic..CHICKENS! WHAT???

I have been helping hubby…AKA…FARMER WITHOUT A FARM…

Keep the homestead happy while he works & I ..vacation!

I have weeded vegetable gardens, picked vegetables, mowed, watered & etc.

(I know..I like to work outside, but IT’S BEEN SOOO HOT!)

But, we also have..

2 CHICKENS!

Yes..chickens..in a chicken coop.

I live in a suburban town.

70,000 people…house 5-8 feet APART!

AND WE HAVE CHICKENS!

I REALLY like fresh chicken eggs…and baby chicks are SOOOOO cute!

Now I will say..our city allows you to have 5…

we only have 2! That’s enough!

Here is RAPUNZEL – she has LONG feathers

SNOW WHITE is black ( hiding I am sure ) – C’mon

..Snow White has BLACK hair!

( Granddaughter’s named them)

Here is the TRI-LEVEL Chicken CONDO!

My hubby takes EXCELLENT care of his “chickies”…

BUT..

It has been hot here in NOR CAL…100 degrees plus!

Our “chickies” have a HUGE water tank (oustide the coop )

attached with a hose

to the inside of the coop

with a “CUP”

inside the for them to drink from.

It’s attached by a hose to our sprinklers

so they always have clean, fresh water to drink!

(Smart HUBBY)

The only problem is….

THEY WANT ME TO FILL IT

…intead of “pecking it” , for the water to come out!

They would LOVE it ,

if I would just stand there…

& keep the cup full.

NOT!

So what’s a farmer’s wife to do?

Just as teaching anyone to do anything…

MODEL, MODEL, MODEL

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

Really?

YOU want ME to Model this??????? To CHICKENS????

NOT! REALLY??? ME????

So..I took a stick..pushed on the nozzel in the cup ( really just tapped it)

AND WATER FILLED UP THE CUP!

I had both of them in my hands

..NOT CHOKING THEM

though I may have thought about it!

..just enough so they wouldn’t scratch me!

I showed them where the water was & how to get it!

Then I stuck pushed, pushed a little harder, their “LITTLE BEAKS” into the cup.

(MANY times!)

Over & Over

and

Over and Over…

Did I mention chickens are NOT “above average” in cognitive development?

And again…and again..

DONE!

NOW for independent practice! 🙂

Here’s my theory..

I WILL NOT POUR THE WATER INTO YOUR BEAKS!

If you are thirsty….

DRINK!!!!!

So..

They are alive.

I guess sometime ( when I am NOT looking )..

they drink!

SUCCESS!

SO..you can lead a horse to water…

but make sure he teaches the chickens HOW to drink!

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

From me to YOU…

CHICKEN DANCE!

(NO…I WILL NOT

TEACH THEM

HOW TO DANCE!!!)

Click Here 🙂

I think I will go practice the MACARENA! 🙂

It’s Time to Get Ready for…The END OF THE YEAR!

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A FREEBIE to Help you get PACKING! 🙂

What are YOU Packing?

WHAT ARE YOU

PACKING IN BOXES

FOR THE END

OF THE SCHOOL YEAR??

Here is my list:

It’s ALL about ME!

What will I need the first week?

My TE’s…Sticky notes inside to remind my “aging” brain…what I INTEND to do!

What MATERIALS will I need to accomplish this?

USE THOSE STICKY NOTES INSIDE YOUR TE!

You will NOT remember months from now… what you are thinking about TODAY!

Use the next few weeks to make your NOTES!

Before the end of the year, get ready for the BEGINNING of the Year!

Don’t forget…hide a few

water bottles, mints, chocolate, and Tylenol

for the first week back…FOR YOU!

Never know how that FIRST WEEK will go!

BE Prepared!

Student materials ( packets, papers, journals, etc ).

RUN THEM NOW!

( Nothing feels better than pulling out MUCH NEEDED

things…ALREADY DONE!)

Whew! SO glad I prepped these BEFORE school was out!!

I ran off ALL papers I would need for the first two weeks, before the end of the year.

Beginning of the year..all prepped!

Get some puzzles, games, blocks, etc. out.

THEY WILL NOT BE INDEPENDENT!

Have a few things ready so they can have “down time”…

while YOU are doing ONE-TO-ONE assessing!

You know you will HAVE TO…prepare for IT!

Last….MANY BOXES for centers, games, things you need to go through

LATER!

I know you NEED these..

BUT

You will “SURVIVE” looking at them LATER!

NO STRESS!

( YEAH, right!)

Prepare today…

after a RELAXING Summer…

the thought of coming back

and redoing everything in a day or two is

EXCRUTIATING!

Breathe…relax…make your lists…stick to them…and PREP AWAY!

The payoff is HUGE!

Now…where did I pack that STAPLER?

Here are some HELPERS to get your year started!

EVERYTHING?

Time to PURGE!

I think I need a LOT MORE BOXES!

Hi HO..HI HO…It’s off to pack I go!

Here is a little FREEBIE to help you get ready!

Back to School FREEBIE!Word Work Preview.

SPRING Word Trees with EXTENSIONS

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Spring Word Trees for Reading Fluency UPDATED with Easy-prep extensions. — Spring Word Trees for Reading Fluency UPDATED with Easy-prep extensions
.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Word-TreesFluency-Practice-3646980

Spring is a time for renewal. A time for growth!

In our classroom, the “seeds” we have planted ALL year long, are NOW GROWING!

And they are GROWING FAST!

All of the letter sounds, phonics lessons, sight words, guided reading, etc, etc ,etc are NOW

taking root!

So NOW WHAT? How to make it STICK?

First and foremost, Practice. Practice. Practice!

There is NO MAGIC! ( SORRY to tell you that!)

For student’s to internalize learning and to become independent readers.

They must read. And read A LOT!

These sight word fluency pages will help YOUR students practice the reading skills and strategies YOU have taught, with fun and engaging content.

Easy Prep Spring Word Trees help students with sight words, fluency, and grammar.

Students show their greatest growth patterns in the SPRING!

And TEACHERS…REJOICE!

Student’s have the “AH HA” moments…

Students also cheer! The

“LIGHBULB” goes on!

The student "lightbulb" goes on! — The student “lightbulb” goes on!

To help with the SPRING FLING…

I have added a new component to MY Guided Reading for Spring.

Spring Word Trees UPDATED with EXTENSIONS!

Spring word Trees for Fluency Practice. Now with Extensions

Spring Word Trees for reading fluency. Updated with extensions.

Spring Word Trees for reading fluency. Whole page or booklet style.Updated with extensions.

Spring Word Trees for reading fluency. Whole page or booklet style.New Scrambled sentences extensions.

Spring Word Trees for reading fluency. Whole page or booklet style.UPDATED with new Scrambled sentences extensions.

Now my students can read, practice sentence structure with words, AND WRITE!

ALL in one easy-prep page!

HAPPY DANCE! 🙂

Happy Spring!

1stgradefireworks logo

When is it “officially” FALL?

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It’s 100 degrees in NorCAL!

My A/C has been on for WEEKS!

I don’t like to sweat.

My calendar says Fall ‘officially” begins on Monday, September 23?

WHAT? Why so far away?

I think FALL should begin TODAY!

WHEN is it “officially” FALL?

I am ready for… FALL!

When is it “Officially” FALL?

I have been looking for FALL-themed resources

to help get my first-graders into the

FALL MODE!

I hope these help YOU too!

(Thank You PINTEREST!)

The Best of Fall Read Alouds

Fall themes? YES! Many to choose from!

What do YOU teach in the FALL?

PUMPKIN EVERYTHING?

When is it “officially” FALL?

Need MORE Fall inspiration?

🙂

Bring on FALL! We are READY!

How Do You Know When It’s Fall?

Fall, Apples, & Johnny Appleseed

And so my friends…as YOU can SEE…FALL is ALMOST here!

Enjoy the changing season! Have fun with your students, hug your family!

Now…where did I put thise leather boots?

Hmmm…I may have to clean out a

closet or two!

pumpkin spiced latte

Pumpkin Spice LATTE is almost HERE! WAHOO!!

HAPPY Fall. ‘yall from NORCAL!

1stgradefireworks

BUT, they were not writing complete sentences.

I created a WRITING CENTER where my students can be successful!

we need Writing a Complete Sentence – 3 STEPS TO SUCCESS!

THINK WRITING CENTER! 🙂

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

I DID NOT TEACH NONSENSE WORDS!

I thought NONSENSE Words were…NONSENSE!

I WAS WRONG!

I will NOW be adding phonics fluency using real and nonsense words to my lessons.

Here is my newest product to HELP my kiddos with NONSENSE WORDS!

So, I will add READING REAL & NONSENSE WORDS to my literacy repertoire!

Share this:

Like this:

Valentine’s Day is coming SOON!

Here are a few of the “KINDNESS” Products you can find at 1stgradefireworks.

6 packets of Valentine Themed LOVE!

Follow ME in IG, FB, & Pinterest

Share this:

Like this:

Winter.

My students LOVE to learn about WINTER!

UPDATED for 2021!

WAHOO! Bigger & Better!

Remember…2022 is the Year of BALANCED LITERACY!

Check out the WINTER Literacy Products from 1stgradefireworks

Share this:

Like this:

Christmas will be here!

How to get ready??

PACE YOURSELF!

Where to start?

#1…..Make LISTS!

#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!

#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!

#4…..Figure out what you can spend..

AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.

Your kids COME FIRST!

NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!

#5…..I begin to look at my

LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”

Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!

Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!

Share this:

Like this:

Happy Summer! Today’s topic..CHICKENS! WHAT???

Yes..chickens..in a chicken coop.

My hubby takes EXCELLENT care of his “chickies”…

YOU want ME to Model this??????? To CHICKENS????

Did I mention chickens are NOT “above average” in cognitive development?

SO..you can lead a horse to water…

Share this:

Like this:

A FREEBIE to Help you get PACKING! 🙂

What are YOU Packing?

USE THOSE STICKY NOTES INSIDE YOUR TE!

Before the end of the year, get ready for the BEGINNING of the Year!

RUN THEM NOW!

Share this:

Like this:

In our classroom, the “seeds” we have planted ALL year long, are NOW GROWING!

So NOW WHAT? How to make it STICK?

These sight word fluency pages will help YOUR students practice the reading skills and strategies YOU have taught, with fun and engaging content.

Easy Prep Spring Word Trees help students with sight words, fluency, and grammar.

Happy Spring!

Share this:

Like this:

WHEN is it “officially” FALL?

I am ready for… FALL!

I have been looking for FALL-themed resources

Fall themes? YES! Many to choose from!

What do YOU teach in the FALL?

And so my friends…as YOU can SEE…FALL is ALMOST here!

HAPPY Fall. ‘yall from NORCAL!

Share this:

Like this: