Writing with Word Banks

AH.  I am posting a new product!  I am so excited for this because I know I will use this each and every month.  It's a simple print and go kind of a thing and requires no effort on my end now that it's complete.  

Every year my I start the writing process with my little ones.  It's hard.  I mean really hard for them.  I am thinking they will get it and then they throw me for a loop when they get confused.  It's hard for the little ones to create their own stories and write a sentence without some help or guidance.  But they always seem to get it a little bit faster and quicker when there is a word bank involved.  Somehow and someway the word being there right in front of them gives them the little bit of encouragement and help they needed.  Then from there it becomes a little bit easier.  So here is my sweet idea.

This is the perfect resource for me to have on hand for my little ones.  It will encourage them to write with the fun topics and ideas for each month and it will also give them that little boost of confidence they need to get writing with the word banks.  Here are some of what is included inside.

  Each month has 4 writing printables (possible one sheet a week) that have the holidays, theme or important dates for that particular month.  The students can get excited for writing as that particular holiday or date is approaching.  Some printables have an option for drawing as well.  

This is an example of a holiday sheet perfect for December.  I know my little ones will love it as they get excited to read all of the Gingerbread stories.

Get your class ready for the year with this fun writing pack.  You can grab it by clicking here.  Let me know what you think of it when you do.  I know this is one less stress I have to worry about as writing is always tricky at the beginning of the year.  Make it easier on you and your kiddies by grabbing this.  =)

Really Good Stuff - Teacher Box

Happy Sunday everyone!  As the summer quickly is coming to an end, it's time to start thinking of ideas for back to school. Every year I like to buy myself a few small things for the classroom.  I try not to over do it as I usually do.  I usually see and want everything.  But I think online, I seem to have more control of my buying as I can try to talk myself out of buying things I don't really do.  Does anyone else feel that way? 

My first stop was Really Good Stuff.  I get all my school supplies there as well as incentives for the little ones. Some recent purchases have included the ever so popular privacy shields.  

I use these for everything.  I use them during snack time, (if they are being too rowdy), tests, centers, etc.  They are great quality and last for years.  I have gotten super lucky the last few years.  As teachers have retired or teachers have gotten different positions, I always ask them to have their shields.  I am set for a good decade with this sweet resource.

I also have been in the hunt for some bins.  My room has been mostly neon for the last few years and I do not see that changing anytime soon.  I love coming in to my room and everything is bright and engaging.  I have purchased most of these bins from here.  Really Good Stuff has the bins, pencil holders and book cases all to match.  

These square bins are also perfect for chapter books or leveled readers.

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What I recently just discovered and am super excited to have joined was the Really Good Stuff Teacher Box.  It's a subscription box that comes with really useful resources and activities for the kids.  You can choose the grade level you want.  It's offered for K-6.  The activities and products can be used in a variety of ways.  You can use them to introduce the theme for the month, or separately.  It's up to you.  It includes tools, instructions and materials for up to 36 students.  

Here are some sample pictures of the box. 

By participating in this monthly box, you will also be joined in the Loyalty Program which gives you discounts on future purchases.  You can't go wrong with savings.  

Here is a clip of the box in action.

clip.  Check it out and don't wait.  You'll be set for the year with activities and resources for your little ones.  The themes seem exciting and interesting for their age group and offer a lot of different products to go along with it such as prompt cards, writing tasks and post it's to match the theme and skill.  It's only $29.99 a month.  Free shipping is always included.  

Want to read more.  Click Here to learn more and see if it's something you would enjoy doing with your class.

How to Write Using Sequence Words!

Ever struggle with teaching your little ones how to start using sequence words? I do too!  It's always so tricky trying to teach and model it in a way for their little minds to trap and understand.  So I came up with a little something just for that.

With this How to Writing Pack, you have all you need to start and finish your lesson.  This is just one part, or idea to get things going. This pack using sequence words has everything you need from anchor charts, visuals, printables and so much more to introduce, reinforce, model and review to your students this very tricky topic. This lesson is exclusive to how to build a sandwich. Check back for more topics and printables in the future.   Take a peek at what's inside…

I love me some anchor charts!  Especially when I want to refer to when modeling a new lesson.  I have a bunch of anchor charts for the board and even for your little ones to keep in their folder and refer to when they need a little reminder.

All printables in this set are geared towards strugglers, beginning learners and advanced learners.  That means theres a variety of different printables to suit your student needs and perfect for them to go at their own pace.

I love printables that you can toss in the center bin and see how the students are grasping what your teaching them during whole group instruction.  And who doesn't love a little brainstorming map to get their minds going about what they will write about in order.

To check out more on this How to Write Using Sequence Words pack, click here to take you there.  Make sure to check out the preview to see more of what's included.

This How to Build a Sandwich pack includes:

*examples for first, next and last for beginning learners and first,next,then,now and last for more advanced learners

*anchor charts/visuals for modeling sequence words

*cut and paste activities for sequencing 

*drawing using sequence words for writing strugglers

*listing/ordering using writing and draw

*write and draw picture prompts 

*center activities for sequencing

*sequencing guide for students to keep in folders when referencing

* read, write and highlight sequence words

*sequence words strips for modeling

*sequence words for ring binders (one on one student action)

*listing/brainstorming picture printable

and so much more! 

Stay tuned for more topics coming soon:

How to Build a Snowman

How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

How to Make Lemonade

How to Make a Fishbowl

How to Make a S'more

Happy Sunday!

Parent Wish List with Oriental Trading

Happy Monday all!  It's back to school time and I am excited for a brand new school year with little students to get to know.  We have our full first week back so I need to be energized! I have a big group this year but they are so cute, I forget all about it once they walk through that door!  They are so smart too.  So I'm excited to see what they are capable of!

Before school started, I was stressed.  I had to go back to school shopping and that requires me getting supplies, rewards, decorations and so much more.  It's hard to do it all on a budget. Right?!

I was able to team up with Oriental Trading and come up with a wish list.  There's so much we would love to do for our class, but it's hard to do it all.  With a wish list for parents, your able to let parents know what exactly you want and hope they can donate something off your wish list.  

This could help a ton, especially at the beginning of the year! 

A great way to showcase a parent wish list is this cute little display…

You can grab this cute freebie from Teach Create Motivate here.  I'm going to set this up and show the parents at Back to School Night next week.

I created my wish list and then got everything on my list! I'm not patient. LOL  

Instead of having parents donate, you can always make a list of what ya need and grab and go.

So what did I get? So many goodies that I can't wait to use!  

First lets start with my most favorite thing ever!

My storage baskets!  These baskets are perfect for markers, pencils, reading phones and so much more. I love the way it looks behind my reading desk.  Check out these storage baskets by clicking here.It comes in a set of 6 and it's the perfect amount.

What do you spy in those baskets?

PENCILS!

I always have a shortage of pencils.  They are always missing, stolen, or broken. With this mega stack of pencils, your little ones will always keep these safe.  They have such cute designs, wether it's smiley faces or hearts or soccer balls.  These pencils are cute and I can't wait to use them as an incentives for those hard workers!

What else do we spy in those storage baskets? 

Read to Self Phones!

Okay seriously, my little ones LOVED these last year!  My cuties would go to their reading center and pick up a phone and read to themselves.  It was so nice to see. It's excellent for phonemes awareness and the kids are able to monitor themselves as they hear themselves reading on their own.  

What a great buy!  And who doesn't love the bright colors ?

I also added dice to my wish list.

I use these all the time for math centers, roll and cover and bingo.  It's a great way to reinforce number recognition, addition and more. Check out these foam dice here.  The size is perfect for the center bins!

The last item on my list will probably be used daily!  

Dry Erase Number Line Sheets

These will be used so much, I already know.  We work on number lines at the beginning of the year and use it all throughout the year.  I love that you can write on it as you jump up and down the number line and then ERASE!  Easy Peasy!

Okay, so after I received these products and loved them, I had to go back to Oriental Trading for some more supplies.  I can't wait to receive them in the mail and put them to use!  Stay tuned for that next.

To check out the awesome products Oriental Trading has to offer, click here!

What's on your wish list?  

I was provided Back to Schoolproducts featured in this post from Oriental Trading for review purposes. All opinions are mine alone and based off of the experience I had with the products I reviewed.

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Staying Busy in September!

Has it seriously been that long sing I have blogged?  My goodness!  Where have I been?  My life has been crazy hectic.. but I am back!   With a fun little pack to get your little ones and MINE excited for back to school.  

Staying Busy in September

Last year, I literally relied on my Staying Busy Packs all of last year.  I have a bunch of packs from amazing bloggers, but these packs were mostly used for centers and homework last year.  Here is a sneak peak of what's in my latest pack.   It's filled with things that would go perfect for the month and has tons of activities the kids will love to work on.

I love to introduce just the *idea* of ABC order at the beginning of the year.  We work on it slowly and as the year progresses, they start to understand it more.  This is a fun printable just to get the idea introduced.

My little ones loved my making connections sheets.  They enjoyed it mostly because they are working on so many different things, they don't have time to relax.  Their reading, writing, highlighting and drawing.  It's always a hit!

Printables like these make my little ones think and thats a good thing, right?!  I have a few printables like these that work on cutting, pasting and sequencing.  

First graders love numbers and they love to understand what's bigger and smaller.  This is perfect for working on greater than and less than.

Another cute worksheet that works on more than one skill.  I know my little ones will enjoy doing this for centers, buddy work or even homework.  

Matching numbers is perfect for back to school.  My little ones struggle with identifying number words.  This is a perfect little practice sheet that can get them working on these important skills that will definitely be needed through the year!

What do you think?  If you grab this set let me know what you think.  Check out what else I have for back to school in my TpT Shop

This packet includes:

LAL/Writing

*letter identification

*using sequential words 

*abc order

*syllables

*tapping out

*writing printables

*making connections with text

*sentence order

*labeling

*retelling

*can has is

Math

*number identification

*associating numbers with pictures

*roll and cover numbers

*bigger or less than

*cutting and pasting numbers

*roll and fill using number words

*identifying number words

*fill in missing numbers

*patterns

*skipping

*graphing

*odds and evens

*number sense

I hope you love it!

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Staying Busy in March!

I'm a tad late but it's finally done!  My Staying Busy in March pack is complete.  It's full of cute and fun printables perfect for the month of March.  March is one of my favorite months because it means it's getting closer and closer to my birthday!  I know my little ones will love completing this during the month.  I've snapped a few of my favorite printables to show you what inside…

I've included some really fun writing prompts to get my little ones thinking.  My firsties are just starting to get really into writing and these printables will help encourage them to write about some cute topics!

My little ones also love my making connections sheets.  They love to find and highlight the answers.  Iv'e included a couple in this set

Some phonics lessons that matches our Wilson's program! My first graders have been learning about glued sounds, digraphs, trick words and all this other cool stuff.  They really love it.  I'm hoping they love these printables to match it.

and of course some math printables!

There's so many more cute worksheets your kids will truly love to do!  

This pack includes:

* long/short vowel sounds

*ABC order

*making connections (reading comprehension)

*parts of a story

*glued sounds

*roll a pot of gold

*how to catch a leprechaun

*how to catch a bunny

*various writing prompts (pertaining to the month of March)

*skipping numbers

*minute math

*weighing

*roll and cover (adding 3 numbers)

*graphs

Come check out what else is in this pack, click here to take you there.

What are you guys up to for St. Patty's Day?  

Staying Busy In February!

EEEEK!  How is it February already?  Time is flying by and I am NOT complaining.  I forgot to let you all in on my latest pack!  Staying Busy in February.  I am not going to lie, these packs have been getting me through my centers this year.  I just print and place in their bins and it's all set.  The rules and directions are pretty easy to follow, even for first graders!  Take a look!

I included a handful of writing prompts in this set.  My little ones are now working more on their writing.  What better way to practice than with fun prompts.

I know my little ones will love writing about these cute prompts, perfect for Valentine's Day!

With Wilson's, we have been reviewing the suffix -s and the sounds it can make.  This is a cute practice printable that gets them thinking about what sound the suffix makes at the end of the word.  My little ones love to cut and paste so this is perfect for them!

Now for Math! 

How can I forget Math?  My sweeties have been learning a bunch of things lately.  Identifying big and little numbers is one of them along with tally marks and word problems.  This cute pack has those printables to reinforce those skills. 

My kids love to color code.  Identifying which number is big and little will definitely be a go to center for me.  Word problems is also a tricky skill to master.  I have included 2 "What's the Problem?" printables for the students for read and figure out what they need to do. 

This set is perfect for the month of February. It is filled with fun holiday themed math and literacy printables that can be used for centers, buddy work, early finishers and even homework. Grab this cute bundle now and be all set for the month of February. More months to come! Click here to take you there!

This pack includes:

* long/short vowel sounds

*ABC order

*making connections (reading comprehension)

*parts of a story

*finding the suffix

*basewords

*various writing prompts (pertaining to the month of February)

*true/falso math facts

*word problems

*big or small

*roll and cover (double plus 1)

*tallies

*spelling with math

Hope you enjoy it!