Weekly Focus Words and Rimes

I know- long time, no see!

What can I say- retirement is busy!

I just uploaded my newest packet! It has been a LOOOONG time coming.

It is 238 pages, so it's taken me a while to put together.

 This packet contains an outline of focus words and rimes for the entire school year broken down into 34 weeks. It has 13 different fun and engaging activities to choose from each week for students to practice and become familiar with the words and rimes. 

Lots of fun and engaging activities for self-starters, centers, guided reading, small groups, whole groups, homework , or individual work.

You can use this packet as a Spelling Program. There are 4 sight words and 2 rimes each week. Choose a few different activities each day. You don't have to use every activity every week. Rotate them so the students don't get bored. There is a spelling test recording sheet for Friday tests.

If you already have a spelling program then you could use this packet for a review of sight words and rimes. It's even GREAT for fun, engaging HOMEWORK.

Check it out at my TeacherPayTeacher Shop!

Happy Teaching!

Fun Markers!

I don't know about your kiddos but mine L.O.V.E. markers!

I don't let them use them all the time which probably helps make them "special". There are certain projects I let them use markers on. But I found some cool markers for this next year that I know my firsties will go crazy for. I know I blogged about some of these before but here is an update. You can click on each picture for more information from Amazon.com.

These are cool. You write with one end then trace over it with the other end and it changes colors.

These are the BEST smelly markers! There are other brands out there too.

My team mate Amanda showed these to me. We will have fun stamping our spelling words in Daily 5 with these.

I bought all mine at Wal-Mart but I found the Mr. Sketch were cheaper on Amazon.com.
I let my kiddos use the 'special' markers for spelling and sight word practice. I made a little sheet to go with it. I made it blank so you can write in your own words before you print it for the kids. Here's a picture.

And here's a free download. Just click on the picture for a PDF.

I just looked at the calendar. I really shouldn't have. I only have 3 1/2 weeks of summer left. AHHHH! Mixed feeling about that. I love teaching and miss my students but I really LOVE my summers. Some of my 3 1/2 weeks will be spent re-organizing my files and getting my room ready. And of course, SHOPPING which I've been doing ALL summer. Hubby, I think likes it better when I'm in school. I don't swipe my cards as much.
Have a great day!

Evaporate

I did a great sight word/spelling practice with my kids today called evaporate. I got a small chalkboard (about 6x8) at the craft store. Then I wet a small sponge with water. My kids had their whiteboards and markers ready. I had them write the first word in the middle of their board and then put their markers in the air. I wrote the same word on the chalkboard with the wet sponge. Then I said "go". They had to write the word as many times as they could before my word evaporated. They LOVED it! I said "stop" when it had evaporated and then had them count how many times they had written the word. Then they had to show the number on their fingers and look around the room and wink at someone with the same number. We did it all silently, well almost! They thought it was a blast. Here is a picture of my chalkboard and sponge.

Read and Write the Room and Name Graph

READ AND WRITE THE ROOM
An fun idea that has been around for a long time is Read the Room. I like to have some accountability with it and make it Read and Write the room. I also like to put some structure with it and place certain words around the room  for the students to find. Our word family this week is the -an family so I put -an words around for them to find. I also throw in my 4 spelling words for the week. My spelling words are sight words. Here is my recording sheet and an example of the cards.

NAME GRAPH
The graphing was so fun on Friday! It was a little hard for some but they got the hang of it. Here is the graph I'm doing this Friday. We've already talked about our names and counted out the letters. Now we'll gather data and put it into a graph.

Click on the picture to download a PDF.