Friday, June 27, 2014

Phonics Friday: Anchor Charts


This weeks edition is going to focus on anchor charts that support phonics instruction.  If you have followed me for a while then you know I am big on using multisensory techniques when teaching.  I wholeheartedly believe that visuals increase student understanding and connection to material.  It is also beneficial to post the chart somewhere in the classroom so that kids can refer to it as needed.


This chart is not only adorable but practical.  Visually showing the kids that CVC words contain a consonant vowel consonant will aid in the decoding process and lays the foundation for the introduction of closed syllables.  (The only change I might do is make the vowel stand out by writing it in a different color than the consonants.)




One concept that can be tricky for kids to learn is when to use the letters K and C when spelling.  I thought this chart was a great visual reminder for students.



FLIP THE SOUND is one strategy that students can use when stuck on a word.  I love all the different ways this chart shows flipping the sound.  The title is flipped, the vowels in the pan are flipped, and then there are words that have examples of long and short vowels.



Syllable division can be tricky for students.  This chart clearly shows students syllable division rules.  I love that the vowels were marked with a "v".



Last but not least!  A little freebie that I discovered on Pinterest during my anchor chart search.  These are portable long vowel anchor charts that students can use anywhere!!  I know!! Awesome...right?? Click the picture to snag your copy.


That is all for this week folks!!  I hope you enjoyed this weeks Phonics Friday!!  Leave me a comment below and share how you use anchor charts to teach phonics.  I would love to know!!

Stay tuned for next week....the focus will be letter and sound sorts.  I hope to have a little freebie finished up for ya!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: What Would You Do??

http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com/2014/06/wordless-wednesday-june-25th-my-new-bff.html

I am linking up with Christina from Sugar and Spice for one of the best linkys ever:  


What would you do if your husband came home and told you he wanted to move to Chicago?? 
( True story friends!!)  

Also does anyone know where we are in the pictures above??  
(1st person to guess correctly can have a free product of their choice from my store.)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Phonics Friday is Back!! (Five for Friday Phonics edition)

Okay friends.  Are you ready for it?? 
  Phonics Friday is baaaack! (on Saturday)


I am a Pinterest addict and I have pinned so many great phonics freebies.  For my 1st Phonics Friday of the summer, I thought I would share a few of my favorite phonics pin freebies. 



I love using visuals to teach so these charts are perfect to use with my primary students because they provide visual cues for each sound.  This freebie is from the lovely Haley O'Connor of My Silly Firsties.  Click the link below to snag it for yourself.


My Silly Firsties

Alphabet, Blends, Digraphs, and Tricky Vowels 




The suffix ED is a tricky one to teach because it has not one sound but three!!  I love these posters from Lori Rosenberg of Teaching with Love and Laughter.  This freebie has a poster for each -ed sound with three examples with accompanying picture cues.

Photobucket 
 


I love when teachers connect concepts to things that the students can relate to and enjoy.  Jennifer Knopf  from Herding Kats in Kindergarten created this adorable activity to reinforce digraphs.  The Fox Says Digraphs is a write the room activity that uses picture clues to accompany words such as thread that contain a digraph. Kids love this not only because it is fun but also because it connects to the song What does the Fox Say?



The Fox Says Digraphs



Changing and deleting sounds is a skill that can be difficult for kids to grasp.  I love the way that Jodi Southard from Fun in First Grade introduced this concept to her firsties.  She used the idea of stairs and on each step a sound was changed to form a new word.


Photobucket

Jodi created a template so you could easily do this activity with your kiddos!  This freebie includes a page that includes short vowel word families and also a blank template that allows teachers to add their own words!  Yay!

Word Stairs




For number 5-- I thought I would include a pin that was geared a little bit more toward intermediate kiddos.   Prefixes and Suffixes are difficult concepts for so kiddos to master.  Amy Lemmons from Step into Second Grade created this great freebie that allows students in interact with prefixes and suffixes in a variety of ways such as sorting and a flap book.








Look for Phonics Friday next week!  If all goes well it should arrive on Friday not Saturday.  I am also linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday to share my five random phonics finds.  Feel free to link up and share five random things about your week.

http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2014/06/five-for-friday-linky-party-june-20th.html


Until next time,

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wordless Wednesday.....How Many?

http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com/2014/06/wordless-wednesday-june-11th-almost-in.html
Finally got my classroom packed up for our move:)
How many boxes would it take to pack your classroom?

Monday, June 2, 2014

It's Farley Time and some news!




Another school year has come to a close!  I can't believe that I have been teaching 14 years already.  This year has been a challenging one to say the least.  

My hubby decided last June to interview for a position at Groupon.  He was super pumped about the opportunity but unfortunately the job was located in Chicago.  Since he is super gifted at what he does he of course got the job.  

Since the school year had just started, I stayed in Ohio to finish out the year and my husband moved to the city.  I know.......very fun.....

So my poor little blog has been very neglected this year unfortunately:(  But I decided to start the summer off right!  By doing a blog post and a Farley link up.


LISTENING:  My son is currently into watching Mickey on Netflix.  I must say I do enjoy Mickey more than Busytown Mysteries.

LOVING:  My niece is visiting for the week and my kids are so happy!!  I love it when my kids are happy.  The bonus for me is that she is helping me pack up my classroom while my daughter finishes out school.

THINKING:  WE NEED A HOME!  My husband and I are trying to find a place to rent in the Chicago area.  I think that we have narrowed it down to the Naperville area.  He goes out with the realtor again on Wednesday.

WANTING:  I am in the middle of packing up 14 years of teaching and it is a total bummer.  Don't worry I am getting rid of stuff and I am not keeping anything that I haven't used recently.  I am totally done with paper files.  I recycled my last few today.  I am looking forward to getting my classroom completed so that I can focus on packing up my house.

NEEDING:  I need to complete the final steps so that I can legally teach in Illinois.  I have three tests scheduled for June.  The first one is on Thursday.  Fingers crossed that I pass:)  I really need to be able to get a job:)

Well that's all for tonight folks!!  I need to get some studying in for my exam on Thursday!!  I look forward to reading some Farely posts and catching up with the land of blogging.