These past couple of weeks, I've been printing and laminating my back-to-school resources. Whew!! As many of you are as well, I would like to post about some of my back-to-school creations.
What is a classroom without a word wall??? A word wall is an ongoing, organized display of key words that would provide a visual reference for students throughout the year. The words are used continually by the teacher and students during a variety of activities. It is essential in every classroom to have an interactive word wall. There are so many creative ideas on how to effectively use your word wall.
Effective word walls will:
-support the teaching of key words
-promote independence in reading and writing by building vocabulary
-provide visual clues and reference for language learners
-help students remember connections between words and concepts
How do students get your attention? Hand signals can be very important to implement this school year. I don't know what I would have done without implementing hand signals. At the beginning of the year, I strongly suggest modeling and practicing hand signals so students are aware of how to get your attention without coming to you. The most important benefit for implementing hand signals are during guided reading and guided math. I can't tell you how many times students would come to my round table and interrupt valuable teaching.
Here are 5 Keys to Success with Hand Signals
1. Choose a hand signal that are easily noticed.
2. Model and practice signals before expecting students to use them.
3. Always use signals consistently and expect everyone to honor the signal.
4. If some students aren't using the signal, stop and practice the signal again. (repeat, repeat, repeat)
5. Remember that the goal is to minimize interruption during instruction.
Where did they go??? I have heard this many times as I am walking back to class. Here is a simple way to indicate to people where your class is at. It is very simple to use. Print, Laminate, Hang outside your door with a clothespin. You can even add colorful ribbon to the back of the sign.
I don't know about you but in every classroom I have been to; I always get less wall space to hang up posters. This year I am working smarter and not harder. I created these shape and color posters to help minimize wall space. Students would be able to learn about colors as well as shapes. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
When I taught fourth grade, we instill to our students about using rubrics to self-assess themselves and their peers. This is how the "Listening Rubric" came about. In writer's workshop, we have been teaching students about kid friendly rubrics and how they're important in improving our writing. I tell students at the beginning of the year that to be able to be a super reader it starts with this listening rubric. This also plays into classroom management and the expectation on the reading carpet. This is a great resource to use to introduce rubrics to students and setting the expectation for learning.
When teaching phonics, my students just love creating these super cute mini anchor charts for their notebooks. As I teach a sound, I read aloud a book that has several examples of the sound of the week. When my kiddos hear the sound of the week, they raise their hands to indicate to me they heard the sound. Its a quick way to assess your students if they know the sound of the week. After the reading aloud, I create a chart size anchor chart with a picture to represent the sound. Students will raise their hands to tell me a word that has the sound of the week to write it on the chart. Next, students go back and create their own anchor chart in their notebook. In the end, students will have their own working word wall.
Alphabet posters and Phonics Posters are essential in a kindergarten and first grade classroom. Displaying these super cute alphabet posters can help support students with a visual representation and reinforce letters and sounds.
I will be using these for:
-Focus Wall: I will hang these up next to my objectives. This also helps administrators know what your focus is for the day.
-Guided Reading: I will use these to help support students who haven't mastered letters and sounds.
-RTI: This is great to document for intervention purposes.
-Workstations: Put these in a workstation for students to review and practice.
The first two week of school, I will be launching reader's workshop by implementing this super reader packet. (This packet doesn't include lesson plans.)
I will be implementing the following to help support my mini-lesson planning:
Posters: We can listen, We can love books, We can read independently, We can turn and talk, Parts of a book, We can read books, We can look like a super reader, and We can read together.
Response Book: The response book can be used during or after your read aloud. This is great for students to respond to literature.
Reading Skill Posters: Author, Illustrator, Setting, Characters, Character Traits, Problem, Solution, Lesson, Main Idea, Fiction, Prediction, Cause & Effect, Sequence, Summary, Retelling, Inference, Compare & Contrast
KINDERGARTEN CREATIONS
As I am shifting to a Kindergarten Teacher mind set. I have been hard at work creating some Alphabet Resources that I will be implementing to my phonemic awareness instruction. If you're a First Grade Teacher, these resources can be useful for students in your classroom who haven't mastered letters and sounds. In fact, we always get some kiddos who come into our classrooms at the beginning of the year who need that extra practice identifying uppercase and lowercase letters. These packets can be your guide.
Let's Have An Alphabet Photo-Shoot: This is a great resource for capturing your students moments as they're mastering the alphabets. Each letter camera has 5 engaging activities to help support your daily phonemic awareness instruction. Activities: Letter ID, Letter Tracing, Letter Handwriting, Beginning Sounds.
Alphabet Notebook: Alphabet Notebooks is a great way for students to practice on their fine motor skills but also create their very own alphabet book. This alphabet notebook will help support students in mastering their letters and sounds. It is a great notebook to use for a reference and it is just at their finger tips.
Alphabet Centers: What is a classroom without Alphabet Centers? Every Kinder and First Grade classroom should begin the year off with some alphabet centers. You will have your class actively engage in 5 alphabet activities from matching and tracing letters. Each activity is in black/white and in color.
Word Wall Letters (Freebie)
Classroom Management Hand Signals (Freebie)
Where Did You Go? Poster (Freebie)
Color & Shapes Posters (Freebie)
Listening Rubric (Freebie)
Adventures Addition
Mini Anchor Charts
Alphabet Posters
Phonics Posters
Phonics Poster w/Mini Books
Launching Reader's Workshop
Alphabet Camera's
Alphabet Notebook
Alphabet Centers
Do you want to SAVE of Alphabet Resources?
Alphabet Resources{Includes Alphabet Camera's, Alphabet Notebook, & Alphabet Centers}
Even though the TPT Back-to-School sale has ended don't worry. I am extending my Back-to-School "The LOVE Sale" for another week. Everything in my store will be 20% off. Enjoy!!! :)
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR MY CLASSROOM TOUR
