Sounds Abound! Sound Chart Ideas, Part 2

Like I stated in the previous sound chart post, I love my sound chart. I believe this chart can be used in sort venter for more of the school year...it just depends how you use it. Abandoning the sound chart when your students know all their letters, would be a shame!

Sounds, Abound! Charts, Charts, and More Charts

I have always used the Fountas and Pinnell Sound Chart in my classroom in a variety of ways.  I enlarged the sound chart twice for for a classroom display and cut the squares as headers for my word wall words.  I also did a blog post about printing posters at home. (That post is linked at the bottom.) I had student copies for each child at the Writing Center, at the ABC Center, in the student's writing folder, and in the student's homework folder.  It was part of our chant during morning calendar and it was our sound-linking chart for writing "what we could hear."  So I made my own.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: Reading Month Ideas

WOW, where does the time go? My best advice for coming back form the holiday is jump into routines ASAP. Students crave boundaries and their routines are part of their boundaries. They find boundaries safe and predictable. The added bonus can be less behavior problems. In our state, reading month is January.  We usually offer many activities for our students.  Here are a few:

#oneword2019: A New Year Promise

Well, last year I stumbled upon something on twitter: a one word promise...that is NOT a resolution. #oneword2018 was one of my favorite blog posts. It was crazy reflective and made me be still and think about me. Last year my word was honor. I decided I would honor my family, my passions, my opportunities, my abilities, my relationships, my gifts, and my job. I had a bracelet with the word honor stamped on it and I had my scrabble tile reminder under my computer monitor...staring at me all year. AND, I feel like I did it. So many things in 2018 can be brought back to the word honor
So...it's that time again.

Summarizing for Early Learners

Early readers and writers can do so much more than we think...if we support them. One of the units our K-2 teachers must teach whole group is summarizing. This is especially hard with early learners because they don't necessarily attach a value to parts of a story; meaning they aren't sure what is important or note-worthy. Students tend to either give too much or too little when summarizing. I blogged previously about using the Somebody...Wanted...But...So...And... (SWBSA) technique to teach summary. This is absolutely the easiest way to teach this skill.

10 Reasons to Use Poem of the Week

I have always believed in a poem of the week. This seemingly small part of the day, can have a big impact...IF you know how to use it. Before talking to about how to use the poems there are a few ground rules about choosing and using a Poem of the Week.

When using the poem with emergent readers, the poem should be 4 lines in length. This length allows even the earliest of the learners to memorize the poem and discuss the contents of the poem. The poem can also be the related to the season, a holiday or standards based content. I have been known to create poems to fulfill a need in the standard. Like many other teachers, creating poems with familiar tunes to nursery rhymes can also link the poem to a tune and help early learners connect a known rhythm and making up movements can create a kinesthetic connection, as well. Also, the Poem of the Week should be read and discussed daily. Each day digging a little deeper as the students become more and more familiar with the poem. Finally, the Poem of the Week is a two-week process. One week, the students are introduced to the poem, the next week they will be reading it and dissecting it independently. Let's explore 10 Reasons to Use Poem of the Week.