My First Reading Comprehension

The beginning of the new year is a great time to try some new strategies with your students. A lot of reading comprehension materials are geared towards older students, but why not try something to help even your beginning readers learn comprehension skills! This free sample passage geared towards beginning readers in K-1 is fun, interactive, and will help lay a great foundation for learning these difficult skills!

 

Get "Rockin"

Kids love learning about rocks and minerals! I love it too! I've found a few rocks and minerals sites that may help you and your kids as you "dig" into your unit. I've also included a freebie to help you assess your students' understanding of weathering and erosion that includes a grading key. Just click on the link below! Hope your kids enjoy it!

Click Here

Free Martin Luther King Junior Writing Prompts

I hope everyone is having a nice break, enjoying time with family and friends and getting some much needed rest!  Do you need a need a few writing prompts to help your kindergarten or first grade student learn about Martin Luther King Junior?  Stop on by Sight and Sound Reading for your worksheets!

A Cause and Effect Freebie

Just a quick little post to share  a cause and effect freebie with you.  This one has been around for a while but I revamped the font so it was easier to read and the cover was updated. I find cause and effect to be so tricky so my kiddos can always use more practice. Hope this helps your class, too! Click here to grab it or on either of the image below. Enjoy!

New Year's Traditions Around the World: Switzerland Sampler

Already working on your lesson plans for next week?  I know that I am!  Here is a FREEBIE sampler from New Year's Traditions Around the World to help get you ready for next week.

Wishing you a wonderful New Year's holiday with friends and family!

There Was a Cold Lady Craftivity

January is around the corner and a fun book to read this winter is There Was a Cold Lady that Swallowed Some Snow. Read the story, do the follow up activities on the templates, then make the "Cold Lady" container. I use it to store their game cards. Enjoy!

 

 Grab this freebie, here.

Writing Lune and Cinquain Poetry Forms

I love teaching and writing poetry.  These two forms are easy for students to write.  I find reluctant writers get hooked on writing poetry, because they can tackle short projects with any topic.

This one page printable on Artistry of Education has both forms, an example of each, and lines for students to write their own.

FREE Little Math Books

Pop over to Liz's Early Learning Spot to download these sweet little math books. They're super cute, easy to use and give kids addition and subtraction practice they'll love.

I hope you get lots of use out of them and wish you happy teaching and learning.

What are Your Professional New Years Resolutions? Grab my Freebie and Write Yours.





 

This question is important to all of as we work to grow professionally: What are your professional New Years Resolutions? I created this freebie to help you write them down and stay on track.

 

 I am so excited to have my reply to this question featured in January's edition of The ASHA Leader, published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association! Read about my professional resolution and then grab my freebie HERE.

Now, sharpen your pencil and get ready to write yours!

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Productive New Year!.

Fractions on a Line Plot -- Steven's Pizza Party

Steven had a pizza party with seven of his friends.  Make a line plot that shows how much pizza each child ate.  Make recommendations to Steven about what types of pizza he should order next time.

This free two page worksheet is available on this post at Artistry of Education.

 

Make a Map of the Setting -- a Printable Map Key

I've taught this lesson twice now with two different sets of fourth graders.  I was amazed at how differently each group pursued this task.

I had each write original legends.  The first group made maps to illustrate their already completed short stories.  This year's group used the maps to continue plotting their stories.  Once they had the places drawn on their maps, it caused them to revise their legends in a more logical way.

Stop by Artistry of Education to download two versions of this map key.

Introducing Decomposing Fractions to Grades 3-5

I created this lesson on Artistry of Education to introduce the idea of decomposing fractions.  The image above shows a colored in version of the worksheet.  The document is two pages and covers fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and eighths. 

Working with my students through this activity was informative.  I was surprised at which of my students didn't understand fractions at all and had difficulty coming up with the corresponding equations for each picture.

I hope you find this activity useful in your classroom.

New Year's Day Traditions Word Search

Here is a fun FREEBIE to add to your plans for after the winter break.

Your kids will enjoy learning about traditions for the New Year's Celebrations.

Goal Setting with Young Children

New Year is coming, and with it come New Year's resolutions. If you are intending to take the time to talk to your kids about goal setting be sure to download these free goal setting sheets from Liz's Early Learning Spot. You can see some of the sheets below.

While you're there you might like to read through this post as it explores research into how well teachers and parents collaborate and what can be done to improve things. 

I'll give you a hint: teachers talk A LOT! 

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and wish you happy teaching and learning.

How to Write Senryu and Tanka Poetry Forms

Here is a one page printable lesson to teach two poetry forms.  Senryu is a form of poetry with a 5,7,5 syllable scheme.  It is like a haiku, but a senryu focuses on human behavior while a haiku focuses on seasons and nature.

This freebie on Artistry of Education has an example of each form and blanks for students to write their own.

Paper Bag Gingerbread Houses with Free Candy Printable

Christmas is getting close!

If you want to squeeze in another craft for the kids in the next few days, you may like to try this one -

Paper Bag Gingerbread Houses!

I used it with my 3 and 4 year old preschool classes, but it would be a fun activity for a variety of ages.

If you'd like to pick up a free candy printable to make this craft, just click here to get to my post!

Remix a Nursery Rhyme

Humpty Dumpty fell

off a wall

Could not be repaired

 

This is a remixed Nursery Rhyme.  I took the words from a traditional Nursery Rhyme and remixed them into a poetry form called the Lune whose syllable scheme is 5/3/5.

 

Here is another one in the form of a senryu (5/7/5):

 

Forgetful kittens

Lose their mittens while Mama

Cat loses temper

 

 

 

If you are interested in this activity, click here for the original post at Artistry of Education.