PHONICS FRIDAY--BLENDS & DIGRAPHS

PHONICS FRIDAY has arrived once again!  One of the key phonics concepts that we focus on in our building K-1 are blends and digraphs.

As an interventionist, I review these concepts constantly.  I usually start talking about digraphs in late fall for kindergarten and blends after Christmas.  In first grade, we start talking about blends and digraphs at the beginning of the year.   Since I target at risk students, I feel it is essential for the students to hear concepts repeatedly so that they are able to file the knowledge into their long term memory.

I am totally on the WBT bandwagon but I have always been into using multisensory techniques to teach concepts.  Therefore, when teaching the concepts of a digraph and a blend I like to use motions to go along with the definition.

The definition I use for a DIGRAPH is two consonants stuck together to make one sound.

The motions the kids and I use when saying the definition are "holding up two fingers together"when saying the part of the definition of two letters stuck together and then "just one finger" for the part of it makes one sound.

The definition I use for a BLEND is two or more consonants that blend together but each make their own sound. 

When teaching a blend, my buddy Lisa and I came up with "holding up two fingers showing the number two" for two consonants and then to show more "we swipe our hand from our chest toward the floor palm outward".  Then to show they blend together "we hold our pointer finger up and move it around in a blending motion".  Lastly for the part of the definition that states each consonant makes its own sound "the student cup one ear with one hand".

My bud Lisa from Always an Adventure in Kindergarten has shared some great blend and digraph FREEBIES at her TPT store.   Click on the pictures below to get your copy!

Leave me a comment and share how you teach blends and digraphs.  I would love to know:)  If there is a concept you would like me to talk about next week don't be shy!  Share away:)

Last but not least don't forget to follow me on BLOGLOVIN because July 1st is right around the corner.

TEN PIN LINK UP: MATH PINspiration

Pinning is one of my many addictions!  I do not pin quite as much now that I have started a blog but I have over 5,000 pins so I guess I would still be considered an addict:)  I love to visually sort things.  I find it relaxing.  Does that make me weird?  I decided to link up with Just Reed to share some of my favorite math idea pins.  (if you click the pictures you will go to the source).

I loved this pin!  As an interventionist I am always trying to find a different angle to teach a concept but traditional methods don't usually work for my kiddos. I am definitely giving this a try next year. 

 

 I am in love with the idea of having the kids illustrate math vocabulary that you are targeting.  

 What a great visual!!

source: Visit losfelizarts.org 

I love the visual but when I tried to access the acutal site it said it was password protected. 

I actually did this last year and loved it!  

I didn't actually use my money sticks to play Kaboom 

but just a warm up to review/practice money skills:)

I am stalking the book study:  

I am totally digging it.  Why I never thought of using reading concepts to teach math I don't know.  If you haven't checked out the posts for the study there is a ton of good info.  I am loving the book.  Teaching with a Touch of Twang came up with this great chart with ideas from the book to show the correlation between reading and math comprehension.

 

Touchpoints and multisensory do I need to say more...........

This is a great little resource for touch money.  Best of all it is FREE!

 

This goes along with teaching math vocabulary!  Although I pinned it before I read chapter 2 in Teaching Mathematical Comprehension.  (It is a paid TPT item)

I used this tool last year to help my students with the number grid.  It was AWESOME!

 

I love using songs and rhymes to teach!

  

 

 I love this pin!  What a great way to teach area and perimeter!!

I hope you pick up some great math ideas!!  

I can't wait to check out the other Ten Pin link ups:)

Giveaway!! Giveaway!! Giveaway!!

I wanted to give everyone a heads up about an awesome giveaway happening right now!! 

 Lisa from Always an Adventure in Kindergarten who is not only my blogging bestie:)   But I am also fortunate to get to work in her room as an intervention specialist and we make a great team.   It is always nice to work with someone who actually gets your thinking.  Lisa is the one who geeks out with me about the blogging world when no one else at work has any clue what we are talking about.    

Lisa has reached 100 followers and has but a TOTALLY fabulous giveaway together with freebies from Ashley Hughes, Deanna Jump, Mrs. Will's Kindergarten, and more!!  You definitely are going to want to check it out and enter for your chance to win all of this loot!  I know I want to win;)

LET'S PLAY JEOPARDY!

Friday has arrived!!  I am very excited to share with everyone another fun way to review syllable types.  Who doesn't like to play Jeopardy?  I know I love it! 

This game reviews 5 syllable types:
CLOSED
BOSSY R
VOWEL CONSONANT E
DOUBLE VOWEL
OPEN

The class can be divided into two or three teams.  It depends on what works best for your classroom.  There is a slide to keep score and I usually cross out the questions that are completed so that the kids remember what has already been done.

There are many different question types.  I tried to really be true to the point value so the questions get harder as the point values increase.  I also included marking of syllables since it is an important component of breaking words apart and recognizing what the separate chunks represent.

Syllable Jeopardy is a great way to assess whether your students know the skills or need reinforcement in targeted areas.   Click HERE to get for your copy of Syllable Jeopardy!  Any comments, feedback or ideas are welcome.   I would love to hear from you.  Also please let me know if you have any requests for next week's PHONICS FRIDAY!

Don't forget to enter my 100 follower giveaway before time runs out!!

GENRE FREEBIE

In continuing my 100 follower celebration, I have a little FREEBIE to share with everyone tonight.  I have been working on updating my genre pack and I thought I would share a couple pages.  I would love any input, idea, or thoughts anyone has to share:)

Click on the picture above to grab your FREEBIE:)  

Don't forget to enter my giveaway so you can win 

my entire TPT store and a $25 TPT gift card.

The Celebration Continues.......

In continuation of my 100 follower celebration, 

I am linking up with Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies!  

Click on the picture below to snag a short "a" memory match 

to reinforce CVC words with a short "a".  

This game could also be used to practice word families.  

I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE!  Be sure to check out 

Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies 

to snag more awesome creations.

100 FOLLOWERS STRONG!

I am so pumped to have reached 100 followers last week:)  I love the blogging world and being able to learn and share with teachers from not only the United States but the entire world!  In honor of hitting this milestone I am going to host a "little" giveaway.  The winner will receive a $25 TPT gift certificate and my entire TPT store.  Make sure that you get your entries in by the 21st  so that you have a chance to be the lucky winner.  Also stay tuned this week for a few little FREEBIES to honor the occasion as well!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PHONICS FRIDAY--A SYLLABLE SORT

 PHONICS FRIDAY has arrived!  But first I wanted to share some exciting news!!  I am thrilled to have reached 100 followers this week!  Stay tuned for a little giveaway and a few freebies I have up my sleeve to celebrate:)

Today's PHONICS FRIDAY focuses on sorting syllables.  One of the components that I really like about Fundations is it teaches kids to recognize not only how many syllables a word has but also to identify what the syllable type.

One of the ways I like to reinforce the concepts I teach is to pass out several word cards to each student.  Then we do I SPY.  I say "I spy" a word that is a closed syllable.  The students will then raise their hands if they have a closed syllable and read the word and state how they know it is a closed syllable.  The same type of thing can be done for reinforcing the other syllable types as well as short and long vowels.  This is just one idea on how to use these word cards:)

 The silent "e" syllable (v-e) is one vowel followed by a consonant and a silent e. 

 The sneaky "e" kicks the vowel making it say its name.

The bossy "r" or r-controlled syllable is a vowel that has neither a

 long or short sound because it is controlled by the consonant r.

 

 A closed syllable is one vowel that is closed in or followed by one or

 more consonants which make the vowel sound short.

 A double vowel syllable has two vowels and
the first vowel usually says its name.

If you would like to grab this GLAM SORT click on the picture below.

I hope you enjoyed this PHONICS FRIDAY!  

Any suggestions or comments are welcome!  

I would love to hear from you!!

PHONICS FRIDAY--A VOWEL SORT

Today was a fun but very busy day:)  My husband and I took our little guy to the zoo.  He had a ball but we were all exhausted by the end of the trip.  I am still not great at scheduling my posts in advance therefore my PHONICS FRIDAY is late tonight.  One of my many goals for this summer is to become more organized and getting my posts done in advance.  I am so bad about doing stuff last minute.

Distinguishing between long and short vowel sounds is HUGE for kiddos learning to read.  In our district, we utilize Fundations to teach students basic phonics concepts.  It begins with introducing short vowel sounds and then introducing long sounds starting with the silent "e".  I sometimes take for granted that students can hear the vowel say its "name" and they don't need to practice sorting the long and short vowel sounds.  Practice with this skill is important.  It reinforces that students understand the difference between the two sounds or tells you clearly that they need more opportunities to practice. 

I created a little freebie to practice sorting the short and long sounds for the letter A.  I did a picture sort and a word sort.  I would love to know which you prefer to use to practice this skill and why!

Click on the pictures above to grab your freebie.  I hope you enjoyed this PHONICS FRIDAY!  Any ideas on what you would like to see next week please feel free to let me know!!!  I am open to ideas, thoughts, and suggestions.  Until next week!

Phonics Mania, Flash Freebie & a Giveaway

As an intervention specialist, I review concepts with my students that were previously done in a whole class setting.  Games are a great way to reinforce concepts.   Not only are the students practicing what they have learned but they have fun doing it!! (and so do I) 

One game that I totally love to use is Whizzle Phonics 123 and 456.  Whizzle Phonics is actually 6 different decks of cards that target a specific skill or concept like the silent E or open syllables.  The best part is that the kids already know how to play because it is very similar to UNO.  Each vowel is its own color and students have to match the vowel or beginning or ending sound of a word.

Since I like the game so much I decided to make my own version because there are phonics concepts I would like to target but they are not covered in the decks that I have already like blends and digraphs with short vowels.  I finally finished BLEND AND DIGRAPH PHONICS MANIA yesterday!!  My first finished product of the summer!!  Whoo Whoo!

Here is a sneak peak:

I am going to have it available for FREE until 7pm tonight if you would like to snag it after that if will cost $3.00.  I hope you enjoy.  I would love to know your thoughts!

Also if you are a total clip art junkie like me then you will want to check out the giveaway going on at First Grade in the Foxwell Forest until June 7th.  Fonts, clip art, and borders really could a girl ask for more??  Click below to head on over to the giveaway!!

May luck be with you:)

HELLO JUNE!

It is June 1st!  I can't believe it.  I am so excited about spending some quality time with my kidders:)  I took my daughter shopping today because I can not keep that girl in clothes.  Shopping with an almost 13 year old not easy but we both survived and actually did purchase some much needed shorts and a totally unneeded cowboy hat that is way too cute.

I am excited to link up with Farley for her monthly linky!!  I can't wait to read about everyone's summer plans:)  Mine are pretty low key this year and I am okay with that.  I have some much needed cleaning and organizing to do!

So when I started writing this post I was listening to HGTV but now I am only listening to the rain that caused our satellite to lose its signal!  Oh well.

I am totally loving the fact that can leave the hamster wheel for a moment and take a breath.  I am very excited about being able to get up in the morning with my little guy and have my coffee on the back porch!  Yay.  It is totally the simple things in life that make it all worth it.

I really have a lot I want to get done this summer at home and school.  First on my list at home is shampooing my carpets and cleaning my closet.  At school, I am working on my organizing my school library.

I hope to get a few days that don't start when the roosters get up but we will see!!  It is a good thing I love my little guy.

The piles that have been slowly growing during the school year will soon disappear!  I hope.

My must haves for vacation are:

SUNGLASSES!!  I wear contacts and the sun really bothers my eyes.  Right now I have an ugly pair that I picked up at the gas station before field day.  New ones are on my list!!

A BOOK:  I need to do some mindless reading just for my own mental health.  I am embarrassed about how long it has been since I have read a book.

FLIP FLOPS:  I love flip flops and would love to wear them all year long but alas the OHIO winters really don't allow that unfortunately.

I am pumped to find out your three summer must haves:)   One week of summer vacation has flown by already.  Slow down summer---I need to enjoy you;)