Winter Writing Freebie

This quick project was inspired by this fun picture my daughter brought home from preschool. Isn't it adorable? At first, I assumed it was her version of a snowman...see the hole punched eyes and buttons, carrot nose, and arm? She informed me this was a MELTED snowman. So adorable!

Read More...

What Teachers REALLY Want for the Holidays...& a FREEBIE!

As a teacher-mom, I can feel overstretched when it comes to the holidays.  While I adore celebrating birthdays and holidays with my students, family, and friends, finding the PERFECT gifts can get both expensive and overwhelming.

This year when considering gift ideas for my teacher-friends, I began considering what brings ME the most joy as a teacher.  I am a bit embarrassed to say that the "teachery" things that make me the happiest are:

1. A school bag with graded papers that have already been entered into the grade book.
2. When the copier is working.
3. Students that include part of the question in their answers.
4. Student names on EVERY paper.
5. Recess duty on a sunny day!

Clearly, I am not hard to please!  You can be honest, those are a few of your favorite things too, right?!  We are teachers, joy comes easily...we are appreciative for sharpened pencils, glue sticks with caps, markers that haven't dried out, and jeans on Fridays.

So this year, instead of scouring the shelves of Target or Pinteresting until my brain is ready to explode, I have decided to gift my teacher pals with things that don't come from store shelves, in bottles with corks, or in orderly six-packs!  Instead, I decided to create a sensible gift that can benefit my teacher comrades for months to come...a Happy, Merry Everything Gift Book!

 Simply:

• copy
• cut
• add some festive ribbon
• and AMAZE your teacher buddies with your kindness

Click the image to snag this festive FREEBIE...

Your school amigos will LOVE that you "get" them and understand the little gestures that make each day just a little bit easier.  This little "gift book" includes everything from covering recess duty and bus duty, to allowing for some much needed teacher venting.

Best of luck as you tackle these WILD weeks before the break with your students.  I appreciate all you do and your students are lucky to have you!

I would LOVE to hear about your favorite festive finds and the teacher gifts that have brought you the most joy.  Happiest Holidays!

Read More...

Managing Missing School

Going to school sick is sometimes easier than writing sub plans. You know it's true. But as the colder weather approaches, I've had to miss my fair share of class. And don't get me started on keeping up with all the work my students have missed when they are home sick! Talk about a headache. Here are a few ideas for managing missing school - whether it's you or your students who are out.

Read More...

Guess Who? Open House Writing Idea

Do you need a quick and easy writing idea for Open House?  Maybe you call it Curriculum Night or Back to School Night.  Either way...you've only been in school a few weeks and have been working on learning procedures and routines, but you need something to put up so parents are can feel excited about their child being in your class!

When I first introduced this to my kiddos, we discussed how to write two different kind of clues.  The first kind of clues needed to be ones that would match a lot of the students in our class.  The second kind of clues needed to be more specific to them.

The kiddos were so excited about trying to "trick" their parents!  Some of them even had a friend write their clues because they knew their parents would recognize their handwriting!

You can grab the Guess Who printable here.  Inside the flap is a picture of each student!  Parents, other students, and even other teachers LOVED trying to guess who!

Feel free to stop by on Instagram to say hi or to let me know how this went for you!! @rachbv

Read More...

Word Work Fun--and a Freebie!!

Today is our first day of school and I am so excited to be starting my 31st year of teaching.
I can't wait to get started with my new batch of kiddos.
This month we will be focusing on Words so it seems like a perfect time to discuss

one of our favorite stations in the guided reading rotation---
The Word Work Station!

Second graders still need lots of hands on activities to reinforce and retain words and meanings.

I like to give them lots of choices to keep them interested.

The first one I'd like to highlight is from the one and only Kathy Law.  I've been using her products for years now.  My kids love her Slides and Ladders vowel games and play them often at the word work station.

Next, is my Vocabulary Roll Games using the Second Grade Journeys reading series. 

My kids love playing these games each week to reinforce their story words.

One of my more recent additions is by Miss Giraffe and her Secret Words games. 

I'm really looking forward to using these this year.

It's perfect for beginning of the year assessment.

 I'll be using her blends and vowel teams secret words too!

Now for a FREEBIE to use in your guided reading stations! 

I use it every week when introducing vocabulary words.

Students choose a vocabulary word, identify the part of speech, add or take away ending, use the word in a sentence, draw a picture to remind them of the word meaning.

Be a Word Detective

Now for the best news---TpT has decided to throw a Bonus Sale today for one day only!! 

So my store as well as loads of other sellers have everything marked down!!

My friend Sandy at Sweet Integrations and also one of our CTR bloggers has made this adorable graphic to tell about the sale!! 

Use the code ONEDAY to save up to 28%!!

I hope I've given you a few ideas to use in your classroom this year!

Until next time---Happy word working and don't forget to load up your cart at the TpT Bonus Sale!!

Read More...

Sight Word Assessments Can Be Fun!?

Getting ready for the new school year has taken over my life! Every year I think about how it should be getting easier to set up my classroom and get ready to start a new year!  Nope!  It just never seems to be “easy”!  I always want to “tweak” something a little bit or try something just a little differently!  I guess I want to keep it fresh for me and for the new bunch of sweeties coming to my classroom!  

One thing that has NOT changed is my beginning of the year sight word assessments and overall sight word program!  These assessments drive my sight word program for the year. 

Assessing six year olds at the beginning of the year breaks my heart! Honestly, all I want to do is get to know each other and have fun while we kick off our year together!  I have a word wall in the classroom that is empty except for the most important words my kiddos need to know right away...NAMES!  These will be some of the first words we work with during our first days and weeks together.  

However, we all know the reality is we have to assess our students!  In order to keep it simple, fun and useful, I created a year long sight word system, including assessments, that works for me. Now I don't know about you, but I know that I won’t follow through with anything that is too overwhelming, so this is not!  

I try to present it to students like a game.  I show students my box of color coded sight word cards and tell them, "I just need to see where you are going to start, so just read the words you know."   It seems a little less intimidating, I think.  They read the words they can and then I simply hand them a card to keep in their book box.  They don't need to know that I recorded their mistakes and kept a record!  Eventually they may know this, but to get started I keep it low key!  Once I know a child's level, it is super easy to give them appropriate practice tools in the form of GAMES!

This system allows students to work on the words that they need to, while reviewing all words throughout the year! I’ve been using this system for years and I love how easy it is to keep track of my students' progress and provide levelized practice!  

Once I know a little more about my students, I'm ready to differentiate and get my students involved in play!  That's right, we play hard and learn lots!   Here are some samples of the fun we have while we practice our high frequency words!

We build our words with letter tiles!

We search for sight words in text.  We work with poetry, books, big books, posters, you name it!

We play card games like Go Fish, Uno, and Memory! The game above is practicing silent e words.

My grade level team uses the Dolch list.  We divided the first 200 words into 10 lists of 20.  Each week we focus instruction and word work around 5 of words.  Each week we assess students on those 5 words.  However, this system also allows us to individualize instruction.  After assessing students at the beginning of the year, we assign students to the appropriate list.  Individual assessments are given each week on Friday.   

I like to fit in sight word practice and review any chance I get!  Morning meetings, transitions, sponge activities, "I have, who has?", you name it!  

Singing sight words is one of my favorite ways to practice throughout the day!  Long ago, I attend the Northern California Kindergarten conference and learned this little trick for singing any sight word using familiar tunes!  I've used it ever since!  Feel free to download this "cheat sheet" and use it in your class!

If this sounds like something that could help you in your classroom, take a look! This is it!  Everything you will need to run your own classroom sight word program!  Word cards, word mats, weekly assessments, progress monitoring assessment sheet, and word work practice games!

Weekly assessment sheets for all words!

I print each list on a specific color and laminate.  These word mats are perfect for small group games and independent or partner practice. 

This is always a favorite game in my class!  I created enough word mats to include all of the first 200 Dolch words!

I hope this offered some ideas for you in your own classroom!  Here's to a great new year!!

Read More...

Counting Words: An Important Step in Early Reading

As I begin another year with the kindergarten students, I always have to remember to start out with many phonemic awareness activities. So many times we want to jump in and start them off reading, without giving them the tools they need for success. Before children can read, they have to understand that sounds make words, and they all go together. Phonemic awareness is not phonics, but it is the understanding of the sounds that words make and being able to manipulate them.

Read More...

DIY Paint Can Back to School Survival Kit

With Back to School just around the corner, why not get an early start and do a fun, little DIY project? We've all seen those Back to School Survival Kits that you can make to give to teachers, but this unique kit is sure to grab some attention.  First of all, who knew you could buy brand-new, empty paint cans? When I discovered this, I just knew I had the perfect use for one of those shiny pails. Just look at this oh-so-inviting Back to School Survival Kit!

Here is what you need:

• A new, unused, empty paint can (I bought mine at my local Home Depot).
• Candy, school supplies, treats.  I included bubble gum, band aids, crayons, glue stick, travel size kleenex, life savers, paper clips, index cards, post-it notes, Milky Way, Jolly Ranchers, Nutter Butters, pencils, pencil sharpener, and erasers.
• Colorful ribbon
• Label for the outside
• Note to teacher with a list of contents and their meanings for the inside

 Assembling your kit is quite simple, once you have gathered your supplies! First cut out the paint can label and the Note to Teacher. You can create your own, or feel free to download the FREE labels as shown in the photo.

Next, start packing the items into the paint can. 

At first glance, it looks like you won't be able to fit everything in the can. With some careful packing, though, it can be done.  Just be sure NOT to forget your list of contents and their meanings in the can before it gets too full! 

Once your can is filled, add your Back to School Survival Kit label.  Glue the label to the front of the paint can.

Once the label is neatly in place on your can, add some colorful ribbon. I chose some spare red ribbon I had left over from another project.  I think it is perfect!

Now, the fun part: Give your Back to School Survival Kit to a lucky teacher! I can assure you that everyone will ask where it came from! Isn't it adorable? 

To download the FREE Back to School Survival Kit packet, click HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I'd love to connect with you on my Facebook page, Appletastic: Blossoming in Fifth Grade!

Read More...

5 EASY End of the Year Technology Activities

Do you need some E-A-S-Y techie activities to help wrap up the end of the year? Here are 5 quick projects you can carry out with your students as they reflect on the MEMORIES they made this past year.

Have students create memory posters using the free website PosterMyWall. You do not have to login! Click "Start New" and begin creating with all of the fun and colorful backgrounds, clipart, word art and fun fonts that are provided. I like for the kids to start from a blank poster instead of choosing a template. The interface is super easy to use and very intuitive. You can even upload your own pictures!

A few years ago I saw the CUTEST idea on Pinterest. I wish I could give credit to the original creator but I saw it in so many different forms. Simply take pictures of students holding their arm out as if they are holding a balloon and "flying away". Print and have them cut out their bodies. They can attach a paper balloon with a string. Some people have had the pictures hold 3 balloons with a prefix, root word and suffix written in the middle of each balloon. Other projects I have seen involved students writing a small paragraph inside of the balloon. Why not involve a little technology and have your students record themselves reading a paragraph they write about "Soaring into __Grade" and share one of their favorite memories from this past year? Turn their recording into a QR code to paste inside of the balloon.

Using the website Vocaroo, students can create their audio QR code in a matter of minutes. The simple interface makes this tool a breeze to use, even for kindergartners! All students have to do is click the red record button, read their paragraph and press stop. They press "Click here to save" when finished:

Next, click QR Code:

BOOM! Their QR Code appears on their screen for them to print. Have them cut out their QR code and paste it to their balloon. This makes a cute, interactive bulletin board :)

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with this Google Slides presentation. This resource makes for a fun end of the year writing activity. Using the directions provided, students will take a selfie, crop to a circular shape and add their face to the car on the cover page. They will advance to the other three slides and write their favorite memory from the beginning of the year, middle of the year and end of the year. At the bottom of each slide are directions that indicate how they can use the search feature within Google Slides to find copyright free pictures to add to their slides that match their sentence(s). Afterwards, have your students practice their public speaking skills as they present their slideshow to the class. Send the link home to parents to view and/or embed on your class blog or website!

Click the image to take you to this download

Or, have your students create a DIGITAL Memory Book in Google Slides. Check out this no-prep template I have in my TpT Store if you are interested:

If you have taken a bunch of pictures throughout the school year then I highly recommend you letting your students create their own Mixbook Scrapbook. Students can express their creativity on the computer individually or in pairs, pick their own templates and use all of the pictures to recap their wonderful school year. Parents have the option of buying these scrapbooks. There is also an option to grab an embed code and publish them online for FREE! Students can create accounts or you could have them all sign into one account for easy management.

Have your students create Compliment Word Clouds using the website Tagxedo. Students can scoot around to each others' computers and type one describing word about that person in the text box. I always have to establish a few ground rules for this:

• Compliments are intended to be KIND words. Words such as "shy, ugly, loud, etc." may be hurtful so do not type anything that could be perceived as negative.
• Tap the space bar ONE time after you have typed your word so the next person to visit the computer can start typing their word.
• No repeats! You need to read through the words before adding your own. It will get more challenging as you visit computers that already have a bunch of describing words typed in.

Afterwards, students return to their own computer to check out all of the compliments they received from their classmates. They can choose what shape they want their word cloud to be and print. Now they have a special keepsake to take home and share with their parents!

Have fun wrapping up the end of the year with your students!

Read More...