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High-Frequency Words

 

Sight Words

 

What do YOU call them?

 

This year, I'm calling them BALL Words!

 

I read Marsha McGuire's blog post about her BALL Words this summer and LOVED it.

 

Click the link below to read it for yourself:

http://www.differentiatedkindergarten.com/2012/07/ball-words-and-top-bananas-dolch-word.html

 

 My school follows the Journeys Reading curriculum though. Our Kindergarten report card has specific sight words that our students must master each six weeks, according to the Journeys series.

 

Journeys is set up for students to learn 1 sight word a week and then 2 sight words a week for the first few months of school. Then, the last few months of school, they must learn 6 words per week.

 

While I understand why it's a progression, I do not understand why they would wait to introduce all of those sight words at the end of the school year. In my experience, the more a student is exposed to something, the more likely they are to KNOW it!

 

EXPOSURE

 

Why not introduce words early? Why not give them more exposure?

That way, by the end of the year, they can and WILL master all of those words.

 

So, I bumped up all the sight words. I am introducing 5 sight words a week (including color and number words). As of this week, my students have been exposed to 15 sight words. Some have already mastered them. Most have not.

That is OK!

They don't NEED to master them until the 2nd or 3rd six weeks of school. By then, they will have a lot of exposure and practice with the words.

 

BALL WORDS

 

Like I said, I loved Marsha McGuire's idea of BALL words. So, here's what I did.

 

 

(Ignore the bulletin board. That is my Super Improvers Wall for WBT.)

 

These are my balls. The first 10 sight words are called baseball words. We progress from baseball to soccer ball, to basketball, and so on. Once a student has mastered (said the word within 3 seconds) the 10 baseball words, they move up to the soccer ball words.

 

I found these super cute little jerseys at The Learning House, and my intern student-teacher, Miss Audrey, attached their pictures.

How adorable are they?

All students started on the baseball. We discussed how we're all a team, and we work together. They are excited, and honestly, they just love their picture being "in" a jersey right now! ; )

 

I am hoping that by introducing the words early and providing plenty of exposure/practice, my students will be ready to master those words when the time comes.

 

Those that are mastering the words early...

Well, say it with me - - - DIFFERENTIATION!

It is my job to differentiate and provide them more words-

Dolch words not in Journeys or First Grade words.

 

Let's learn some BALL WORDS!

How do you set up your sight words?



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"Thrifty Thursday" on Friday

Hello!

 

I'm linking up with Mr. Greg for "Thrifty Thursday" on Friday. ; )

 

 

I, along with most teachers, LOVE Dollar Tree!

Since everything is only $1, I always end up spending MORE than planned.

When it's ONLY $1, it's easy for me to justify my NEED for the items.

 

Here's what I found at Dollar Tree this week:

These small containers are PERFECT for small decks of cards.

Cardboard boxes are hard for kinders to open.

They rip. They tear. Then, they look ugly.

And I am OCD.

I love how neat they look in these containers.

They come 2 for $1. So, I bought 4 packs.

Total spent: $4 for 8

I think I need more!!!

 

Next, I found these.

They are Reusable Dry-Erase Pockets!

They come with a multiplication or clock sheet in them.

Of course, I would not use those in kindergarten.

However, the possibilities are ENDLESS!!!

I love using these in my classroom.

I bought 5 for $5, but it was all they had at the time.

I may need more of these, too!

 

 

Lastly, I spotted these ocean animal paper cutouts.

8 paper cutouts for $1!!!

 

I love Marsha McGuire's I SPY activities, and my kinders do, too!

(If you haven't seen them, check her out at http://www.differentiatedkindergarten.com/ )

 

So, what am I going to do with the ocean animals?

Make my own I SPY activities!

 

To make:

Take a fine Sharpie and write (REALLY SMALL)

CVC words, CVCe words, blends, etc.

all over the ocean animals.

Laminate the paper cutouts.

You're DONE!

 

Students will take a magnifying glass and find the words.

(I SPY)

 

I have created a Recording Sheet for this activity.

Students will write the words they find and draw a picture of each word.

Then, they will write a sentence using a word they found.

 

 

You can get the Recording Sheet for FREE here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8vk7WPlas-PY1BiT2dWZHFBcTA/edit?usp=sharing

 

That's all for today!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Check out other "Thrifty Thursday" ideas here:

http://www.thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/2014/06/a-kindergarten-smorgasboard-thrifty_19.html

 

 

Monday Made It

Well, this is my very first time to link up with 4th Grade Frolics for "Monday Made It"!

 

 

Yes, I realize it is Tuesday now. I started typing this last night, but I fell asleep while typing. So, it had to wait until today.

 

Here is goes...

 

I actually didn't make these yesterday. I made these last summer. I love each of these quotes, and I love having them hanging in my classroom. The best part- It was easy to do!

 

I took 3 canvas panels and painted them with the solid yellow and red, green, or blue border. For the polka dots, I used a polka dot paint brush. Yes, they make those! I found mine at Wal-Mart. Then, I printed the quotes on regular computer paper and mod-podged them onto the canvas panels. Finally, I hot-glued some burlap ribbon onto the back for them to hang.

Done!

 

Pool Noodle Place Value

 

If you follow Mr. Greg, I'm sure you already know about these.

If you don't follow Mr. Greg, YOU NEED TO!

Click on the link below to check out his post on Pool Noodle Place Value.
 

http://www.thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/2014/03/a-kindergarten-smorgasboard-of-pool.html

 

Pool Noodle Quiet Blocks

 

I've seen several 'Pool Noodle Quiet Blocks' pins on Pinterest.

The comments said...

"Quiet."

"Played with them for hours."

 

So, I had to make some for the days when we have (dun dun dun) "INDOOR RECESS!"

Can't wait to see how my new kinder babies like them!

 

 

 

Sight Word Sour Apple Game on TPT

I have followed kindergarten teacher's blogs for years!!!

I have also followed many teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers... 64 to be exact!

I have purchased 125 activities on Teachers Pay Teachers! That doesn't include the hundreds of freebies I've downloaded from TPT.

While the things I create for my classroom may not be as great as THE Kim Adsit, THE Deanna Jump, THE Greg Smedley, and so on... The things that I create have helped my students learn and may help others learn, too!

SO...

As of TODAY...

I, Starla Jenkins, am on TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS!!! Eek!

I needed a name for my TPT store. Since my name is "Starla", I was trying to think of something to go along with my name.

Shooting STAR... Twinkle, Twinkle, Little STAR... Super STAR...

Then, I thought of "What do you want to be when you grow-up?"

So, I went with "Super Starla Jenkins"!

If you can think of a better name that goes along with my name, please help a girl out! ; )

Check out my TPT store here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Super-Starla-Jenkins

I have my FREE Flower Numbers posted in TPT, as well as, SIGHT WORD SOUR APPLE!

Sight Word Sour Apple is a game played exactly like OLD MAID!

I know you've played Old Maid before. Now, see how much fun your students will have when they play Sight Word Sour Apple.

Check it out here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sight-Word-Sour-Apple-1278541

Question of the Day Flower Numbers

Last summer, I saw this on Pinterest...

After clicking on the link, I read about the "Question of the Day" by First Grade Blue Skies.

I loved the idea and decided to purchase the unit on TPT. Each morning my students have a routine.

 

1. Unpack.

2. Put planner and folders in correct baskets.

3. Put backpack/lunchbox in cubby.

4. Use the restroom and get water.

5. QUESTION OF THE DAY

6. Get Morning Work and get busy!

 

I hung the question ring right beside my two pans. My students would answer the "Question of the Day", and then they would move their number magnet from the NO pan to the YES pan. It gave them one more thing to do in the morning. I could clearly see who had done it and who hadn't. Occasionally, they would forget; however, they LOVED doing this and WANTED to do this. So, with a quick glance, I could also see who was absent. Of course, I would confirm their absence with our lunch choices. It was fun! They were learning! And let me be honest- It kept them busy longer.

 

Please go to First Grade Blue Skies and read about it for yourself. You need it! ; )

http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.com/2013/03/question-of-day-for-kindergarten.html

 

Last year, my number magnets were not very cute. This year, I have made bright new number magnets that will go along with my Flower Theme. 

 

 

Click on the link below to download yours for FREE!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8vk7WPlas-PMkdSSXZ6eVFGNGM/edit?usp=sharing

 

(If the link doesn't work, please let me know! I am learning!!!)

 

Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

When I Grow Up... Scrapbook Keepsake

What do YOU want to be when you grow up?

It's a question that I asked my students this year. Each student completed a research project entitled "The Job For Me". They had to research and decide what they want to be when they grow up, write about the job and why they want to do said job, and present it to the class. It was an option to dress in job attire.

 

The day before "Job Day", I had a little boy ask,

"Mrs. Starla, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

 

Well, here's what I came up with...

 

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, and that's exactly what I did. I became a teacher. I'm 25 years old, but I still don't FEEL "grown up"! So, what do I want to be when I grow up? I want to be a SUPER Teacher. As a teacher, I am always researching, reading, "pinteresting", finding new ways to teach things, new activities, new behavior management techniques, etc. I love to learn!!! I hope that when I "grow up", I can be a SUPER Teacher!

 

I was VERY impressed with my student's projects and their presentations. We had everything from a doctor to a vet, a pilot to a detective, a police officer to an army man, an artist to a weather man, and several teachers. Of course, I took pictures! Then, I saw THIS on Pinterest:

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/63754150947705013/

 

So, what did I do? I made my own version. Check it out!

This gem went it every child's Kindergarten Scrapbook!

What a great memory to look back on years from now!

 

Now, what do YOU want to be when you grow up?

FIRST Blog Post

Well, the title says it all... This is my very FIRST blog post ever!

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you will continue to visit. I promise it will get better as I learn how to do more on here and add on new features.

 

Since this is my FIRST post on my FIRST blog, I would like to tell you about WHY I was inspired to start a blog. For years, about 4 years to be exact, I have followed other kindergarten teacher's blogs. Of course, I love all the freebies on the blogs. Who doesn't? However, my favorite thing of all has been just simply reading what and how other kindergarten teachers do things, seeing their ideas in action, realizing I'm not "the only one" struggling with _____, and so on. I found out that one of my MOST favorite bloggers teaches about 2 1/2 hours away from me, and I couldn't help but ask him if I could come observe him. Can you guess who I'm talking about???... That's right- Mr. Greg!!!!!

I learned SO much by watching him teach. I could go on and on about all that I learned, but I will save that for another day.

 

What I do want to say is THANK YOU to Mr. Greg!

He inspires me, encourages me, and helps me!

Therefore, my first blog post is dedicated to Mr. Greg at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard!

http://www.thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/

 

I would also really like to "network" more with other kindergarten teachers, and I think this blog will be the perfect way to do that!

 

Thanks for stopping by! Come back SOON!

See ya later, alligator!