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Guided reading is a cornerstone of effective literacy instruction, and incorporating seasonal themes can add a touch of magic to your lessons. Winter provides a wealth of opportunities to engage students with relatable content while helping them grow as readers. In this post, we'll explore strategies for implementing guided reading using novel studies and winter themes to captivate your primary students and boost their literacy skills.  Selecting Winter-Themed TextsChoosing the right texts is the foundation of successful guided reading. Consider selecting books that feature winter settings or themes to create a sense of connection and excitement. Picture Books: For early readers, winter-themed picture books like "Owl At Home" by Arnold Lobelor provide rich illustrations and simple text perfect for group discussions. Short Chapter Books: For more advanced readers, books like "Emma's Magic Winter" by Jean Little or "The Kids In Ms Coleman's Class - Snow War" by Ann M. Martin can offer more depth and complexity while maintaining a seasonal theme. Using guided reading studies helps to adapt discussions and activities for winter topics, incorporating the themes into vocabulary and comprehension exercises.  Pre-Reading ActivitiesSet the stage for success with pre-reading activities that build background knowledge and excitement. Winter Word Wall: Create a word wall with winter-themed vocabulary. Encourage students to make predictions about the text using these words. Picture Walk: If using picture books, take a "picture walk" through the book—previewing illustrations and discussing what might happen in the story. Sensory Exploration: Bring in winter-related items like mittens, scarves, or even a bowl of snow (if feasible) to spark curiosity and connect students to the setting.  Guided Reading SessionsDuring guided reading, focus on key literacy skills while leveraging the winter theme to keep students engaged. Comprehension Questions: Tailor questions to reflect the seasonal content. For example, ask, "How does the character stay warm in the story?" or "What challenges do they face because of the snow?" Vocabulary Work: Highlight winter-specific words and discuss their meanings. Encourage students to use these words in their responses. Fluency Practice: Have students take turns reading aloud passages that describe winter scenes, focusing on expression and pacing.  Post-Reading ActivitiesExtend learning with engaging post-reading activities that tie in with the winter theme. Descriptive Writing: Have students write about a favorite scene from the book. Encourage them to include sensory details like what the snow feels like or how a warm fire smells. Creative Projects: Have students draw their interpretation of a key winter scene from the book or create a diorama to represent the setting. Discussion Circles: Facilitate a group discussion about the story’s themes and how the characters adapt to winter challenges.  Integrating Centers with Guided Reading ThemesUse your winter-themed guided reading texts as a springboard for literacy centers. Vocabulary Center: Provide word cards from the story and have students match them with definitions or use them in sentences. Writing Center: Encourage students to write alternate endings or sequels to the story. Comprehension Center: Create a matching game with questions and answers based on the text’s content. Tips for Managing Guided Reading GroupsBalancing multiple groups in guided reading can be challenging. Here are some tips to streamline the process: Plan Rotations: Create a clear schedule for group rotations and ensure independent activities are meaningful and self-explanatory. Use Visual Aids: Post visual instructions for each center to minimize interruptions. Check-In Time: Schedule brief one-on-one check-ins with students to assess their progress and provide feedback.  By incorporating winter themes into your guided reading sessions, you can make literacy instruction both meaningful and memorable. Using seasonal texts, creative activities, and guided reading novel studies, you’ll create a rich learning experience that students will enjoy and remember.    Related Posts
Winter is the perfect time to engage young learners with themed literacy centers that build essential skills while sparking creativity and fun. As the cold weather sets in, incorporating seasonal elements into your classroom can make literacy activities even more exciting and relevant for primary students. Below, you'll find ideas and strategies for creating winter-themed literacy centers that cater to various skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and descriptive writing.  Phonemic Awareness and Phonics CentersPhonemic awareness and phonics are foundational skills for early readers. Add a winter twist to make these centers engaging and playful. Snowflake Sorting: Create a sorting activity where students match pictures or words with specific sounds (e.g., beginning, middle, or ending sounds). For example, "snowman" could be sorted under the /s/ or /m/ sound. Build-a-Snowman Phonics Game: Provide students with word families or blends and let them build a snowman for every word they create. Each correct word adds a part to their snowman—hat, scarf, buttons, etc. Winter Word Hunts: Scatter winter-themed sight words around the classroom and have students find and record them. This activity can double as a movement break.  Vocabulary Building CentersDeveloping a rich vocabulary is crucial for literacy success. Winter-themed vocabulary activities can make learning new words fun. Winter Word Bingo: Use winter-related vocabulary in a bingo format. Students can practice recognizing and using words like "icicle," "mittens," and "sled." Winter Vocabulary Activities And Games task cards would work well here. Snowy Synonyms and Antonyms: Provide students with winter-themed words and have them brainstorm synonyms and antonyms. For example, "cold" might lead to "chilly" and "hot." Snowball Toss Vocabulary: Write winter-related words on crumpled paper "snowballs." Students pick a snowball, read the word, and use it in a sentence or define it.  Writing CentersWinter is a fantastic time to inspire descriptive and creative writing. Encourage your students to "paint pictures with words" using sensory details. Descriptive Writing with The Five Senses: Guide students in describing winter scenes. Prompts like "Describe a snowy day" or "What does hot chocolate smell and taste like?" work well. Check out Descriptive Writing Templates And Graphic Organizers Using The Five Senses for some graphics and templates that could help. Winter Story Starters: Provide prompts such as "If I were a snowflake, I would..." or "My winter adventure began when..." Let students’ imaginations run wild. Snow Globe Writing: Have students imagine they are inside a snow globe and write a story about their experience. Pair this with a craft where they draw their snow globe scene.  Parts of Speech PracticeGrammar can be fun when you add a dash of winter: Silly Winter Sentences: Winter Parts of Speech Activities Silly Sentences is a fun activity that helps students learn about adjectivies, nouns, and verbs while building humorous winter-themed sentences. Encourage them to swap nouns, verbs, and adjectives to see how their sentences transform. Winter Word Scramble: Provide scrambled words that focus on winter vocabulary and have students categorize them as nouns, verbs, or adjectives.  Independent Reading and Listening CentersIndependent reading and listening centers allow students to practice fluency and comprehension. Winter Reading Nook: Set up a cozy reading corner with winter-themed books. Include pillows, blankets, and perhaps a faux fireplace for ambiance. Listening to Winter Stories: Use audiobooks or record yourself reading winter-themed books. Provide follow-up comprehension questions or prompts for reflection.  By incorporating these winter-themed literacy centers into your classroom, you'll not only build essential skills but also create a joyful and engaging learning environment. With resources like Winter Vocabulary Activities And Games, Winter Parts of Speech Activities Silly Sentences, and Using The Five Senses For Descriptive Writing, you'll have everything you need to make winter literacy magical for your students.  Related Posts
Imagine hearing someone say, “Hold your horses!” Kids might look around, wondering where the horses even are! Teaching idioms in the primary classroom can be tricky but also tons of fun. Because idioms are phrases that mean something beyond the literal words, they often confuse young learners, who take things at face value. Luckily, with a little help from a quirky character like Amelia Bedelia, we can turn these expressions into something students look forward to learning. Let’s dive into some easy ways to teach idioms, using a few lessons we can borrow from our favorite literal-minded housekeeper, Amelia Bedelia.  Amelia Bedelia, that lovable housekeeper who always takes directions word for word, makes the perfect guide for introducing idioms. When asked to “dust the furniture,” she covers it in powder instead of cleaning it. Through these stories, students see just how confusing idioms can be when taken literally. Start by reading a short story from an Amelia Bedelia book. As you go, ask students to point out the parts that confused Amelia. Then, work together to explain what the phrases actually mean. You might even let the class brainstorm what they would have done differently if they were in Amelia’s shoes!  After reading each story, let students point out the idioms they heard and work together to interpret them. Other books, like Even More Parts by Tedd Arnold, also use idioms in a humorous way, making it easier for kids to connect figurative language with funny imagery.  To take things further, introduce Figurative Language Activity: Working With Idioms. This interactive resource invites students to explore idioms by drawing literal and figurative interpretations. They can split their paper in half, drawing the literal meaning on one side (such as actual cats and dogs falling from the sky) and the figurative meaning on the other (showing heavy rain). By visualizing these idioms, students gain a clearer understanding of why phrases like “jump the gun” or “cost an arm and a leg” don’t quite mean what the words suggest. The activity is perfect for sparking laughter and creativity, and students often enjoy sharing their drawings with classmates, adding a layer of peer learning. Check below for how to get a free sampler of this resource.  In addition to these activities, you might introduce an “Idiom of the Day.” Write an idiom on the board each morning and discuss its meaning as a class. The goal is to use that idiom throughout the day, encouraging students to weave these expressions into their conversations naturally. Start with accessible phrases like “a piece of cake” or “break the ice,” and as they grow more comfortable, you can add other idioms. Check out these idiom task cards for more ideas.  Another interactive idea is to play a round of Idiom Charades. Write a few idioms on slips of paper, let students draw one, and have them act out the idiom. Watching classmates’ interpretations brings endless laughter and gives everyone a memorable experience with the idioms you’re covering. The class will enjoy guessing what each idiom means and how it could look if taken literally.  Once students get a feel for how idioms work, it’s time to dive into hands-on activities that help cement these quirky phrases. This is where Figurative Language Task Cards: Idioms Activities Lemonade Version comes in handy. These task cards make idioms fun and accessible with a playful, lemonade theme that’s perfect for engaging young learners. With these cards, students can work independently or in small groups to figure out the meanings of common idioms. The cards present different idioms for students to interpret, how they are used in a sentence and what they really mean. The lemonade theme adds a refreshing twist, keeping the activity light and appealing. Get your free copy of figurative language activity working with idioms sampler here.  Using idioms in class could quickly become a highlight of your students’ day, and soon they’ll be impressing their friends and family with these fun phrases. So, take a leap—dive into idioms, and watch your students grow in both language and laughter!  If you would like to have a variety of resources for working with idioms check out my figurative language bundle here.  Related Posts
We all know how important it is to teach sight words — those high-frequency words that pop up constantly in texts. Being able to recognize them instantly makes a huge difference in reading fluency. Sight words don’t always follow regular phonetic rules, so sounding them out can be tricky for beginners. Although high frequency sight words are key to developing reading fluency, practicing them can get repetitive and kids can lose interest in studying them.  Why It’s So Important to Teach Sight WordsSight words are everywhere in the texts we read, and being able to recognize them on sight allows students to read smoothly without getting bogged down by decoding. This fluency frees up their minds to focus on the story and meaning, which is the real goal of reading. By making sight word practice fun and seasonal, we’re not only building reading fluency but also helping kids see reading as something enjoyable and achievable. That confidence boost goes a long way!  Why Small Groups Matter for Sight Word MasteryLet's face it, not everyone is ready to learn the same things at the same time. The wide range of abilities and readiness in classes these days makes small group instruction necessary if we want our students to be successful in their learning. Small group instruction lets you tailor sight word activities to individual students’ needs, providing ample practice with the support of the teacher and peers. Small groups also create a safe space where they feel more comfortable participating, making mistakes, and trying new strategies for learning. While they play sight word games, you can provide real-time feedback, correct misconceptions, and offer hints to guide them towards the correct answer. This also helps them practice self-correction—a valuable skill in reading development.  Small Group Games: Making Practice Fun and InteractiveGames naturally engage kids and make repetitive practice feel fresh and exciting. Sight word games can be customized to target the specific sight words each child needs to practice. Small group games allow children to participate actively, supporting each other and benefiting from guided feedback. Here are some different games and activities that can engage them and keep them learning.  Sight Word Bingo with Various ThemesBingo is a classroom classic, and switching things up with various themes can keep it feeling fresh. I use 220 High-Frequency Sight Words Bingo Cards and 95 Common Nouns Sight Word Bingo Cards and add in different themed cards that I’ve created. The kids love it! They stay engaged while practicing those essential sight words that will help them read more fluidly. I’m not changing the words, just the visuals, so the game feels new without needing extra prep time. Plus, as they recognize these words faster, their reading confidence grows, and they’re better prepared to tackle new texts independently.  Memory Match With a TwistMemory Match is another simple game that’s great for reinforcing sight words in small groups. I just switch up the images to match the time of year or theme—pumpkin pie cards in the fall, winter sports, valentines or groundhogs in February, animals, planets, etc. The words stay consistent, but the themed visuals keep the kids’ attention. They’re practicing the same high-frequency words over and over in a way that feels new. This consistency is what helps them recognize these words instantly, which really pays off when they encounter them in books or lessons. I make 2 sets of the words to play the match game and choose different sets of words to practice based on the needs of the students.  Pairing Sight Words with Actions: Kinesthetic LearningFor students who benefit from movement, adding physical activity to sight word practice can help solidify word recognition. Sight Word Hopscotch Tape or write sight words on the floor, creating a hopscotch path. As students hop through, they read each word aloud. This game can be adapted for different sight word lists, whether focusing on high-frequency words or common nouns. It's a fantastic way to incorporate a movement break while practicing reading skills. Swat the Word for Extra Movement For those high-energy days, try Swat The Word. Spread themed sight word cards on the table or wall, hand out flyswatters, and call out words for the kids to “swat.” Whether they’re swatting groundhogs in February or sports in May, they’re practicing those sight words without even realizing it. It’s hands-on, keeps them engaged, and gives them a break from sitting still while they focus on their sight words.  Why Themed Sight Word Practice WorksKeeping the same set of words while switching up visuals works wonders. The new visuals keep it fresh, and kids build that solid sight word base without getting bored. Each time they see those words with different images, it reinforces their recognition—plus, they get to try out a new theme. If you’re looking to keep sight word practice fun and effective all year, I have a bunch of themed resources in my store’s sight word category. Here's a sampler of my construction kids sight word games for you to try out. You can check out the full set here.   Whether you’re trying out Sight Word Bingo or playing Hopscotch in the classroom, the goal is to create a fun, supportive environment where students can build confidence and fluency with sight words. With the right tools and activities, sight word recognition becomes less of a challenge and more of an adventure! Here’s to helping our students become confident readers! 🎉 Related Posts
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a great opportunity to blend festive themes into our classroom activities, encouraging students to focus on the spirit of giving and gratitude while reinforcing important academic skills. This blog post will provide ideas for Thanksgiving-themed literacy and math centers, with suggestions for differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all learners. By focusing on hands-on, thematic learning, students will be able to engage more deeply with literacy and math while reflecting on the values of the season.  The Importance of Thanksgiving and Gratitude in the ClassroomThanksgiving is more than just turkey and pie—it’s a time to reflect on the importance of giving, sharing, and being grateful. By incorporating these themes into the classroom, students learn valuable life lessons about community and appreciation. A great way to begin a Thanksgiving unit is with a class discussion about gratitude. Ask students: What are you thankful for? How can we show gratitude every day, not just on Thanksgiving? This sets the tone for deeper reflection during the activities that follow, as students think about the importance of giving and sharing.  Thanksgiving-Themed Literacy CentersIntegrating Thanksgiving themes into literacy activities provides students with the opportunity to develop reading, writing, and vocabulary skills in a creative and festive way. Below are some differentiated activities designed for varying ability levels: 1. Word Work Center: Turkey Scramble In this fun center, students unscramble Thanksgiving-themed words like "turkey," "harvest," and "gratitude," then use those words in sentences. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Provide simpler words and a word bank for support. For on-level learners: Use medium-difficulty words and ask students to create complete sentences. For advanced learners: Introduce complex words like "celebration" or "bountiful" and have students write a paragraph incorporating multiple words. 2. Creative Writing Center: Story Starters Using Thanksgiving-themed prompts, students create their own short stories. Prompts like, "On Thanksgiving morning, I found a talking turkey..." spark creativity and narrative skills. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Provide sentence starters and picture prompts to help with writing. For on-level learners: Focus on developing a clear beginning, middle, and end. For advanced learners: Challenge students to include dialogue, advanced vocabulary, and detailed descriptions.  3. Reading Comprehension Center: Thanksgiving Close Reading Students read a Thanksgiving-themed passage and answer comprehension questions about themes like gratitude and giving. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Provide shorter, simpler passages and picture support. For on-level learners: Ask more inferential comprehension questions. For advanced learners: Introduce more complex passages and ask open-ended questions about the theme.  Thanksgiving-Themed Math CentersMath activities can also be tied into the Thanksgiving theme, offering students a chance to practice problem-solving, estimation, fractions, and measurement while keeping the holiday spirit alive. These activities are differentiated to challenge all levels of learners: 1. Math Relay: Turkey Trot Students work in teams to solve Thanksgiving-themed math problems, such as calculating the total cost of a feast or solving multi-step word problems about the holiday. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Use basic addition and subtraction with single-digit numbers, offering manipulatives like counters for support. For on-level learners: Incorporate two-digit problems and simple word problems. For advanced learners: Introduce multi-step problems that involve multiplication, division, or larger numbers. 2. Fraction Center: Pumpkin Pie Fraction Matching Students match pie visuals divided into different fractions with the corresponding numbers, practicing their fraction skills. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Focus on simpler fractions, like halves and thirds, and use visuals to support learning. For on-level learners: Compare and order more complex fractions, like fourths and eighths. For advanced learners: Introduce mixed fractions and have students place fractions on a number line or convert between fractions and decimals.  3. Data and Graphing Center: Thanksgiving Graphing After collecting data on favorite Thanksgiving foods or traditions through a classroom survey, students create graphs to represent the data. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Provide pre-made tally marks and help students create simple bar graphs. For on-level learners: Let students create their own graphs and analyze the data. For advanced learners: Encourage students to collect more complex data and create multiple types of graphs, such as pie charts, asking them to infer and analyze their findings. 4. Measurement Center: Thanksgiving Feast Estimation Students estimate and measure the weight, length, or volume of Thanksgiving-related items, like toy turkeys, cranberries, or pumpkins. Differentiation: For struggling learners: Use simpler items to estimate and measure, such as measuring length with a ruler or counting objects. For on-level learners: Have students measure multiple items and compare estimates to actual measurements. For advanced learners: Challenge students with unit conversions or multi-step problems, such as finding the total weight of a group of items. Emphasizing Gratitude and GivingTo tie everything together, create a Thanksgiving Gratitude Wall where students can post things they are thankful for. This can be incorporated into your literacy center by having students write their responses on paper leaves or feathers and attach them to a large tree or turkey display in the classroom. Encourage the children to think about ways they can give back during this season of gratitude. Perhaps as a class, you can take on a community project such as collecting canned goods for a food drive or creating thank-you cards for school staff or local first responders.  Thanksgiving provides a wonderful opportunity to engage students in both academic learning and life lessons about giving and gratitude. By incorporating these Thanksgiving-themed centers into your literacy and math instruction, you can create a dynamic classroom environment that is festive, educational, and meaningful. And by offering differentiated activities, you can ensure that all students are challenged and supported, making the Thanksgiving season a memorable learning experience for everyone.  Here's a sampler of a writing and math activity that you can try out. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving season.  Related Posts
As the school year gets underway, you’re likely beginning to get a sense of your students’ reading abilities. This is the perfect time to start organizing your reading groups to meet the diverse needs of your learners. Setting up effective reading groups involves thoughtful planning and a variety of engaging activities that cater to different reading levels. Let’s explore some strategies and center ideas to help you manage multiple groups and create a dynamic learning environment.  Assess Your Students' Reading LevelsBefore diving into reading groups, it's essential to assess your students' reading levels. This can be done through a combination of formal assessments and informal observations. Pay attention to their fluency, comprehension, and ability to decode words. Understanding their current abilities will help you form groups that are homogenous in their needs but diverse enough to encourage peer learning.  Creating And Managing Reading GroupsOnce you've assessed your students, you can form groups based on their reading abilities. Each group should have around 4-6 students, allowing for manageable group dynamics and individualized attention. To effectively manage multiple groups at once, consider a rotating system where each group spends time at various literacy centers. This structure allows for a balanced approach to literacy instruction, incorporating different skills and activities.  Phonemic Awareness CenterPhonemic awareness is a critical foundation for reading success. At this center, students can engage in activities that help them recognize and manipulate the sounds in words. Use games like "Sound Matching" or "Rhyming Bingo" to make learning fun and interactive. Include auditory activities, such as listening to sounds and identifying the beginning, middle, or ending sounds in words.  Phonics And Word Work CenterPhonics instruction helps students understand the relationship between letters and sounds, enabling them to decode new words. In this center, provide hands-on activities like letter tiles, magnetic letters, and word-building games. Interactive activities, such as "Word Hunts" using decodable texts, can help students apply their phonics skills in a meaningful context. Word work centers focus on building vocabulary and understanding word patterns, which are essential for reading fluency and comprehension. Use word sorts, flashcards, and word-building games to help students practice sight words, spelling patterns, and prefixes/suffixes. Incorporating technology, such as educational apps or online games, can also engage students in word work activities.  Reading For Comprehension CenterComprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. This center should provide opportunities for students to practice their comprehension skills through guided reading activities and comprehension questions. Include a variety of texts—fiction, nonfiction, poetry—to expose students to different genres and styles. Encourage discussions and provide graphic organizers to help students visualize the text’s structure and main ideas. Listening CenterA listening center is a great way to develop students' listening comprehension and vocabulary. This center can include audiobooks, recorded stories, or listening activities where students follow along with a text. Equip the center with headphones and devices pre-loaded with a selection of leveled audio materials. Consider using listening response sheets where students can draw or write about what they heard, identify key details, or make predictions about the story. This not only improves listening skills but also reinforces comprehension and vocabulary in a fun, engaging way.  Independent Work CenterAn independent work center allows students to practice skills at their own pace. Provide a selection of leveled readers, comprehension worksheets, and response journals. This center can also be a place for students to listen to audiobooks or use tablets for reading apps that match their reading levels. The goal is to develop independence while reinforcing skills learned in other centers. Direct Instruction With The TeacherDirect instruction time is your opportunity to provide targeted support based on each group’s needs. Use this time to introduce new concepts, review previously taught skills, and provide immediate feedback. Small group instruction allows you to differentiate your teaching and offer personalized guidance. Rotate groups every 15-20 minutes to ensure that all students receive focused instruction a few times a week. Those that need the most help should receive instruction daily, if possible.  Managing Multiple Groups SimultaneouslyManaging multiple groups can be challenging, but with clear routines and expectations, it can run smoothly. Use visual schedules and timers to help students know when to rotate. Assign a student leader for each group who can help with transitions and ensure everyone is on task. Establish clear signals for quiet attention, such as a chime or hand signal, to maintain order without disrupting other groups. Have several different centers ready and select the ones that will be used for each day. Ensure that students know where their group will start and what the rotation for the day will be.  Assessment And AdjustmentRegularly assess your students' progress and be prepared to adjust groups and activities as needed. Use formative assessments, such as running records and comprehension checks, to monitor growth and identify areas needing further support. Flexibility is key; some students may progress more quickly or slowly than others, and groups should be fluid to reflect these changes. Communication With Parents And GuardiansKeep parents informed about their child’s progress and the goals of your reading groups. Send home regular updates or newsletters highlighting the skills being focused on and suggesting ways to reinforce these at home. Engage parents in the process, and consider hosting a literacy night to share strategies and resources they can use to support reading at home.  Organizing and managing reading groups can seem like a daunting task, but with careful planning and a variety of engaging centers, it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your students. Remember, the goal is to create a supportive environment where all students can develop their reading skills at their own pace. By incorporating diverse activities and creating a love for reading, you’re setting your students up for lifelong literacy success. This diverse approach ensures that all students are actively engaged in meaningful literacy activities, allowing you to cater to the diverse needs of your classroom while keeping everyone on task and progressing in their reading abilities. Happy teaching! Related Posts
Back to school time can be exciting, or stressful and overwhelming. Kids are full of energy and not in routine mode any more. Some will be excited and eager to get back to school, but others may be anxious or unmotivated to be back. Nowadays teachers often do some basic planning to get started the first few weeks, but with all the possible changes to class configurations due to budgets and enrolment, it doesn't always work to do extensive planning too early. Here is a roundup of some resources that can help with first weeks planning for primary grades. They cover several different subject areas.  Back to School First Weeks ActivitiesThese 6 different resources help with getting started and engaging kids while reviewing some basic skills. They are a collection of games, worksheets, task cards and activities.
Back to School Classroom ManagementEffective classroom management is key for creating a positive and successful learning environment. Here are some tools for helping to create a caring and respectful environment in your classroom.
SELBack to school SEL activities are important as well. Here are a few different resources that might help to promote a positive attitude in your classroom. For more specific SEL resources, check out these social stories and activities.
Back to School MathThis set has basic fact sheets for addition and subtraction, place value activities, glyphs, fact family worksheets, and several other review activities to help kids review basic skills and concepts.
Back to School ScienceScience experiments are fun to do and help develop the different components of the scientific method. This kit includes experiments, a scientific method poster, some amazing weather facts posters, a plant life cycle and needs resource, a bean plant journal, a life cycle of an apple resource and animal research templates.
Back to School LiteracyGet literacy activities that focus on word development, parts of speech, vocabulary, idioms, writing using the five senses, and looking for evidence when reading with this kit. These are fun activities and task cards that are sure to engage students as they practice these skills.
The Ultimate Primary Teachers Ready To Go KitIf you would like to have a resource that contains all the above items you should check out the Ultimate Primary Teachers Ready To Go Kit. It has 65+ resources to make your prep easy and can be used to jumpstart your new school year. It can also be a go to kit for unexpected situations when you need to have someone take over your class.
The Ready To Go Sampler KitIf you aren't sure about getting the whole kit or you only want a few items from a variety of subjects, try out this sampler kit. It gives you a few activities for back to school, classroom management, literacy, math, science, self esteem, team building, and brain breaks.
If you are wanting a good start to your year that doesn't have you stressed out or overwhelmed with planning give one or more of these resources a try. The previews also have some sample pages to use. Check them out in my TPT store. I wish you a happy and successful school year. Happy teaching.  Related Post When it comes to nurturing successful readers, we often focus on the importance of word work activities, phonics instruction, and comprehension strategies. And while these elements undoubtedly play a crucial role in developing literacy skills, let's not overlook another essential aspect: the types of reading material we provide to our students. Just like the ingredients in a recipe, the selection of reading material can significantly impact a child's reading journey and overall literacy development. Think about it: would you serve the same meal for every occasion? Of course not! Just as we vary our menus to cater to different tastes and dietary needs, we must offer a diverse array of reading material to meet the varied interests, abilities, and learning styles of our students. Whether it's decodable books, leveled readers, fiction, non-fiction texts, or close reading, each type of reading material brings its own unique flavor to the table, enriching the reading experience in distinct ways.  Decodable BooksFirst up, let's talk about decodable books. Think of them as the training wheels of reading. These specialized texts are like the building blocks of reading, providing early readers with the phonetic patterns and word structures they need to decode unfamiliar words with confidence. With decodables, our students can gain confidence as they tackle words one sound at a time. Plus, they're often filled with fun stories and characters that keep kids engaged and excited about reading. Here are some ways you can use decodable books in your classroom. - Reinforce phonics skills by focusing on specific letter-sound relationships or phonetic patterns - Incorporate decodable books into guided reading sessions, where you can provide targeted support and instruction based on students' individual needs. - Set up word work centers where students can practice decoding words from decodable texts through activities like word building, word sorts, and phonics games.  Leveled BooksMoving on to leveled books, we discover books in all shapes and sizes, tailored to suit different reading levels. Whether a child is just beginning their reading journey or ready to tackle more complex texts, leveled readers offer the perfect balance of challenge and support. They help ensure that each child is reading at just the right level for them, which is key for building those all-important comprehension skills. Here are some ways you can use leveled books in your classroom. - Organize leveled books into guided reading groups based on students' reading levels. Use these groups to provide differentiated instruction and targeted support. - Allow students to choose leveled books to read independently during silent reading time or as part of a reading workshop model. - Facilitate discussions about leveled books through book talks, where students can share their thoughts, make predictions, and ask questions about the text.  Fictional BooksFictional stories captivate readers' imaginations, transporting them to far-off lands, introducing them to unforgettable characters, and sparking their creativity in ways that only the power of storytelling can. Through fiction, students not only develop essential literacy skills such as comprehension and vocabulary but also cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of reading. Here are some ways you can use fiction books in your classroom. - Encourage students to predict what will happen next, read to confirm their predictions, and reflect on the story afterward. This helps develop comprehension and critical thinking skills. - Have students analyze characters' traits, motivations, and actions throughout the story. This promotes empathy and understanding of character development. - Explore story elements such as plot, setting, and theme through discussions, graphic organizers, and creative activities like story mapping and retelling.  Non-Fiction BooksAnd then there's non-fiction, with its wealth of information and endless opportunities for exploration. From fascinating facts about the natural world to in-depth studies of historical events and science, non-fiction texts increase knowledge, encourage curiosity and develop a thirst for learning in young minds. By integrating non-fiction into our reading curriculum, we empower students to become informed citizens, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. Here are some ways you can use non-fiction books in your classroom. - Teach students how to navigate non-fiction texts by exploring text features such as headings, captions, diagrams, and glossaries. Help them understand how these features enhance comprehension. - Guide students in identifying the main idea and supporting details of non-fiction texts. Use graphic organizers like main idea webs or summarizing templates to aid comprehension. - Integrate non-fiction texts with other subjects like science, social studies, and mathematics to provide context and deepen understanding of content-area concepts.  Close Reading For ComprehensionReading for comprehension is an important piece in learning to read. It isn't enough to be able to decode words and read them fluently. If there isn't some deeper understanding of what is going on and what the author is trying to tell us, then there isn't much of a purpose to the reading. Close reading is a strategy that helps readers uncover a deeper meaning while reading passages. This technique is all about diving deep into a text and really getting to grips with what it's all about. Instead of just skimming the surface, close reading encourages students to ask questions, make connections, and think critically about what they're reading. It's a fantastic way to develop those higher-order thinking skills and get kids actively engaged in their reading. Teach close reading strategies alongside the use of fiction and non-fiction texts. Encourage students to engage deeply with the text, asking questions, making connections, and analyzing the author's purpose and point of view. Close reading can be applied to both fiction and non-fiction texts, allowing students to develop critical thinking skills across genres.  If you would like your students to dig deeper for more comprehension, check out this free sampler of Find The Evidence. You can check out the full resource here.  Balancing FormatsBalancing these resources effectively is key to making reading successful for kids. Here are some ways to do this. Start by assessing each student's reading level and comprehension skills. Use tools like running records, comprehension assessments, and observations to gather data. Once you understand where each student is at, you can provide appropriately leveled materials. Leveled books and decodables are fantastic for this, ensuring that students are reading at a level that challenges them without overwhelming them. Incorporate a variety of reading materials into your curriculum. Use decodable books for targeted phonics instruction and practice. Leveled books can be used for guided reading sessions where you work with small groups of students at their instructional level. Introduce fiction and non-fiction texts for independent reading and to explore different genres and topics. Provide opportunities for student choice and follow their interests. Offer a selection of books at various levels and genres, allowing students to choose what they want to read. When kids are interested in what they're reading, they're more likely to be engaged and motivated to improve their skills. Integrate reading activities with other areas of the curriculum. Use non-fiction texts to support science and social studies lessons, and incorporate fiction texts into language arts and creative writing activities. This helps students see the relevance of their reading skills across different subjects. Continuously monitor student progress through ongoing assessment and provide timely feedback. This can include informal assessments during reading conferences, comprehension checks, and written responses to texts. Use this feedback to adjust instruction and provide additional support or challenges as needed. By balancing these resources and strategies effectively, you can create a rich and supportive reading environment that meets the needs of all students and fosters a love of reading that will last a lifetime.  The types of reading material we use are indeed as important as the word work activities we employ when helping kids become successful readers. With the help of decodable books, leveled texts, close reading, fiction, and non-fiction, we've got everything we need to help our young readers become confident, enthusiastic, and skilled readers. Adding variety and flavor is the key to helping our students learn to enjoy reading and keeps them learning and thriving as they continue on their literary adventures! Related Posts
Word work activities are key to developing strong language skills and fluent readers. Working with word families is an effective way to solidify connecting groups of letters with meaning and it is fun for kids to do. Here are some more word work activities that you might want to try.  6 Word Work Activities1. Word Family SortProvide students with a set of word cards representing various word families (e.g., -at, -an, -it). Have them sort the words into the corresponding word family categories. Differentiation: For struggling students use visual aids like pictures alongside words to reinforce word family connections. For advanced students introduce less common word families or challenge them to generate new words within a given word family.  2. Word Family Flip BooksCreate flip books with word family endings (e.g., -at, -an) and a variety of beginning letters. Students can flip the pages to create new words within the same word family. Differentiation: For struggling students provide word starters with visual cues and scaffold the activity by focusing on one word family at a time. For advanced students include more complex word families and encourage them to create sentences using the words they generate  3. Word Family Word HuntsGive students a list of word families to focus on. Have them search through books or texts to find words that belong to each word family and write them down. Differentiation: For struggling students provide a list of words to search for within the text and offer support with decoding if needed. For advanced students encourage them to identify additional words that belong to each word family beyond those provided on the list.  4. Word ListsUsing digraphs, blends, or other letter combinations, change the vowel and add a consonant at the beginning to make a list of words that fit the ending. For example: _and, _end, _ind, _ond, _und Differentiation: For struggling students provide some letter tiles to create the words so they can sound them out. For advanced students encourage them to add more letters to the beginning and notice suffixes such as with the word handful.  5. Real vs Nonsense Words ActivitiesProvide letter tiles and word endings and create words with them. Decide if the words are real or nonsense words. This could be combined with the word list activity above. Note: If the students can't explain what the word is, they may need to put it in the nonsense category. As they develop a bigger vocabulary, some of the words may be identified as real words. Differentiation: For struggling students try to get them to tell you why the word is real. Use pictures if needed. For advanced students have them check out words in a dictionary if they are unsure.  6. Real Words vs Nonsense Words Using DiceUse a set of dice with short vowel word family endings and some dice with single consonants and create word lists. Record the words as real words or nonsense words. Check the images below to see how you can create your own dice.
Differentiation: For struggling students ask them to tell you what they words are and how they know they are real words, if possible. For advanced students, add in some blends or digraphs instead of single consonants. Add in some other more complex word endings as well.  These word work activities provide engaging ways for students to practice word families and distinguish between real and nonsense words, supporting their phonemic awareness and phonics skills development. By using the differentiation ideas, adjustments can be made to suit the needs of individual learners, ensuring that all students receive appropriate support and challenge. Related Posts
Learning to read can be tricky as children learn in many different ways. Adding in a variety of skills and activities will help to engage them as they learn. Phonemic awareness and phonics are both important components of reading. Finding the combination of both that works for your students will make a difference to their successfulness in reading and writing. Here are 5 phonemic awareness activities and 5 phonics activities to consider as you plan for your lessons. I have also included some differentiations for those that need extra support and those who are more advanced.  Phonemic Awareness Activities1. Picture/Sound SortUsing a variety of pictures or objects, have students sort them by beginning, middle, or end sounds. (Choose only one of these skills at a time.) This activity will help them listen for specific sounds in the words. Differentiation: For struggling students provide fewer words or objects. For advanced students provide more challenging sounds or blends. Maybe even have them sort for more categories.  2. Rhyming Words RecognitionPresent students with pairs of words and ask them to identify if they rhyme or not. For example, "cat" and "bat" rhyme, while "cat" and "dog" do not. Differentiation: For struggling students use word pairs with clear rhyming patterns and provide visual cues like pictures to support understanding. For advanced students include words with less common rhyming patterns or words with multiple syllables. 3. Sound SegmentingSay a word aloud and have students identify the individual sounds within the word. For example, say "sun" and ask students to identify the /s/, /u/, and /n/ sounds. Differentiation: For struggling students use words with only 2 or 3 phonemes and have them tap out the sounds. I like to use the arm so they can visualize the different sounds. For advanced students use longer words or words with consonant blends.  4. Odd One OutGive students 3 words and have them identify which one doesn't rhyme with the others. Differentiation: For struggling students choose word sets with clear rhyming patterns and provide visual support if needed with pictures. For advanced students use words with subtle differences.  5. Sound SubstitutionSay a word and ask students to substitute one sound to make a new word. Example: cat/ change c to h/ hat. Diferentiation: For struggling students begin with simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and provide visual aids like letter cards. For advanced students introduce words with consonant blends or digraphs and encourage them to generate multiple new words by substituting different phonemes. Phonics Activities1. Word BuildingHave a selection of letter tiles available as well as a word bank of words that focus on specific phonetic patterns or word families. Choose words from the word bank and use the letters to build the words. Differentiation: For struggling students provide a smaller set of letters and offer word banks with simpler words. For advanced students increase the complexity by introducing longer words or words with more challenging phonetic patterns.  2. Word SortsGive students a collection of words and have them sort the words into categories based on specific phonetic patterns (e.g., short vowels vs. long vowels, words with different digraphs). Differentiation: For struggling students use word sets with clear differences in phonetic patterns and provide visual cues like color-coding for sorting. For advanced students include words with irregular spelling patterns or words with multiple syllables.  3. Decodable TextProvide students with decodable texts that contain words they have learned phonetic patterns for. Have them practice reading the text aloud, focusing on decoding unfamiliar words using phonics skills. Differentiation: For struggling students choose texts with simpler vocabulary and provide additional support during reading, such as using finger tracking or a glossary for unfamiliar words. For advance students select texts with more complex sentences and vocabulary, and encourage them to identify phonetic patterns in words independently. 4. Word Building RelayBuild a Word Relay is an activity where students take turns adding a letter or changing a letter in a word to create new words. For example, start with "cat" and add a letter to make "coat," then change the letter c to g to make goat and so on. Differentiation: For struggling students begin with shorter words and provide visual support with letter cards. For advanced students increase the word length and challenge them to build words with specific phonetic patterns.  5. Phonics Board GamesCreate board games where students move pieces along a path by correctly reading words containing specific phonetic patterns. You could also include challenge cards that require students to apply phonics rules in different contexts. Differentiation: For struggling students simplify the game board and provide more frequent opportunities for reinforcement of phonetic patterns. For advanced students introduce additional challenges such as reading words with irregular spelling patterns or applying phonics rules to multisyllabic words.  These phonics board games work great for practicing alphabet sounds and different phonetic patterns. Check them out here. If you want to try out some letter sounds, grab this free sampler below. These activities provide a range of opportunities for students to practice both phonemic awareness and phonics skills, with differentiation strategies to support learners at different levels of proficiency.  Related Posts |
About Me Charlene Sequeira
I am a wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 9, and a retired primary and music teacher. I love working with kids and continue to volunteer at school and teach ukulele. 
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