Portable Word Wall Freebie

**********Fixed a typo on the Christmas page!  Re-download!************

I know the value and importance of a Word Wall.  However, with I Can statements, a million anchor charts, and student work, it is hard giving up an ENTIRE wall!  This year I have been using Portable Word Walls.  The kids love them and I LOVE having an extra wall!

Here are a few pics of them being used in action.

Mine are kept in a plastic 3 pronged folder.  Nothing fancy but they are durable!

The pages are placed in plastic sleeves....again...durability!

These are the ones I made at the beginning of the year.  Don't worry, I have "cutsied" them up for you!

I do not add a page until that season/holiday.  Before I add it, we talk about the words on the new page, so the kids are easily able to find the words they need.  

I have one folder at each table, one at the Teacher Table, and a couple more in baskets around the room.  The kids do great sharing them and reminding each other where to find words!

Click {HERE} if you would like it for FREE.  (I would appreciate feedback or a blog or Facebook follow!)

If there are any words you would like added or pages, please let me know and I will add them!

WInter Warm-Up Unit and a FREEBIE

Aaahhhhhhhhh.......VACATION!  I have enjoyed relaxing, spending time with family, relaxing, leisurely running errands, relaxing, staying in my sweatpants, relaxing, and reading!  Did I mention simply relaxing?
I have lived in Florida for 10 years, but this is the first time I have spent the holidays here.  I did miss having a white Christmas, but going to the beach ON Christmas made it a little better!  My family was here from Indiana and it was their first Florida Christmas too so we took full advantage!  We grilled out, took a jeep ride with the top down and went to the beach!

In between all of my relaxing I have also been creating some units!

First up is a FREEBIE!  I know the value and importance of a Word Wall.  However, with I Can statements, a million anchor charts, and student work, it is hard giving up an ENTIRE wall!  This year I have been using Portable Word Walls.  The kids love them and I LOVE having an extra wall!

Here are a few pics of them being used in action.

Mine are kept in a plastic 3 pronged folder.  Nothing fancy but they are durable!

The pages are placed in plastic sleeves....again...durability!

These are the ones I made at the beginning of the year.  Don't worry, I have "cutsied" them up for you!

I do not add a page until that season/holiday.  Before I add it, we talk about the words on the new page, so the kids are easily able to find the words they need.  
I have one folder at each table, one at the Teacher Table, and a couple more in baskets around the room.  The kids do great sharing them and reminding each other where to find words!
Click {HERE} if you would like it for FREE.  (I would appreciate feedback or a blog or Facebook follow!)
If there are any words you would like added or pages, please let me know and I will add them!

I also created a unit of literacy games to practice reading long and short vowel words.  They require very little teacher prep and are easy for students to play independently!

Click {HERE} to grab it for $4.
I better get back to my relaxing now!
Meredith

Turkey Disguise...a bit late!

December.....what???  (Said in a minion voice.  I watched Despicable Me for the first time over break!)

Here are a couple of pictures I wanted to share before Thanksgiving Break (but never got around to)!

Turkey Disguise!
We sent the turkey disguise project home last month.  They all did fantastic, but this is the most creative one I have ever had.

Not sure what it is?  I wasn't either at first, but it is....... Lady Gob Gob!  (Apparently this little first grader is a major Lady Gaga fan!)  As part of the project they had to pretend they were the turkey and use the speech bubble to convince me that they were not a turkey.

It says:  Gob, Gob!  Oh La La.  I am the fabulous Lady Gob Gob!  I am not a turkey....Can't read my, can't read my, No you can't read my turkey face!  See you on tour!

I laughed so hard and had to share it with anyone who came in our classroom last week!

This month we sent home a Random Acts of Kindness Project.  2 days in and my kids are so excited to share their random acts of kindness with me!  I will blog about it soon!  

Meredith

Action Verbs with Pete the Cat

First graders always love Pete the Cat.  Since I did not get around to reading them at the beginning of the school year, I decided to use a couple of the books to reinforce action verbs.  It was a HIT!

First we listened to I Love My White Shoes.  Visit Harper Collins to listen to the Pete stories by clicking {here}.  They are great readings and they even sing the song parts.
Then I reread the story and we found all of the action verbs.  (Ignore the velcro dots, I used the poster I created last year for a character activity!)

The next day we listened to Rockin' In My School Shoes.  After reviewing the chart from yesterday, I split the students into small groups and gave each group a copy of the book, sticky notes and a smelly marker (because smelly markers make every activity more fun!)

This was a super activity for cooperative learning and gradual release, which happen to be major buzz words in my district this year.  I heard great dialogue while circulating during this activity.  I was impressed that they were all taking turns reading the pages and identifying the action verbs.  I even heard them helping and encouraging each other if they couldn't decide if a word was an action verb.  (Would have been an ideal time for an administrator to do a walk through, LOL!)
Finally we regrouped on the carpet and added our verbs to the chart.  They had to listen to what each group added to make sure they did not add the same verb.  They did GREAT!!!

We have a two day week this week!  I love that it is a short week, but there are so many cute Thanksgiving activities I have to cram into those two days!

Meredith

Thanksgiving Units

If you are still looking for Thanksgiving activities, check out a couple of my units by clicking on the pictures below.  They take little prep!

Meredith

Veterans Day

As part of last week's homework, our first graders wrote a letter to a veteran.  Friday afternoon, all of the teachers sat around and read them.  They truly melted our hearts!  The letters were put and a binder and delivered to a local VA hospital today!  The binder is being placed in their lobby for everyone to see!

Meredith

New Unit---Flash Giveaway!

I created a new R Blends Word Work Pack this weekend!

Click the picture to get it for $4.  If you want it for FREE leave a comment with your email and I will pick 2 winners in the morning!
Meredith

Let's Talk Turkey....Flash Freebie!

I just uploaded a new literacy unit for Thanksgiving.  Click the picture to check it out!
It is free until tomorrow afternoon!  Please leave feedback if you download it!  I would also love you to follow me on Facebook!  Link to my page is in the picture.

Meredith

Flash Freebie!

Flash Freebie for 24 hours!  Grab it by clicking the picture!

Following of my FB page and sharing would be GREATLY appreciated!  Link is in the picture.

Meredith

November Currently and a Schedule Linky!

It is November already!  How did that happen?

Listening:  To a very loud fan.  My air conditioner broke a couple of weeks ago.  It cannot be fixed so I have to purchase a new one....YIKES!  To combat the 90 degree weather, I ran to the nearby Dollar Store to pick up a fan.  It is the loudest fan I have ever heard!  (I know you are saying, "What did she expect, she got a fan at the Dollar Store?!?!!)
Loving:  The cool front that is moving through.  It is raining.  I don't care.  It is supposed to cool it off for a few days.  Upper 70's.  WooHoo!
Thinking:  About lesson plans.  I have next week's done.  My goal for the weekend is to get the following week's done as well.  I am TRYING to get ahead!
Wanting:  To win the lottery.  So I can purchase a new air conditioner.  (And do other important things like get my hair and nails done.)   FYI: I have not purchased any lottery tickets, so this is not going to happen! I will have to keep wanting!
Needing:  To start planning.  My family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving this year!   In my 10 years living in Florida, I have never stayed here for the holidays.  I always go visit my family in Indiana.  I am SOOOOO excited!
A Yummy Pin:  This is my new favorite pasta dish!  It is very easy.  I use fresh herbs and it makes the house smell wonderful while it it cooking.  Click the picture for the link.

If you want to link up with Farley, click {HERE}!

I am also linking up with TGIF for a peek at other teacher's daily schedules.  Mine varies slightly several days of the week due to Early Release Wednesdays and PLC day.  (On Thursdays, we get 15 minutes added to our Special Area for grade level PLC.)  Our Special Area schedule is very difficult to keep up with.  We have a Week A and a Week B to accommodate a part time PE teacher's schedule.  (We share him with another school.)

What does your schedule look like?  Link up!

Meredith

Five For Friday

Five For Friday...on a Saturday.  There is no need for me to explain my tardiness to you.  You all are teachers who just survived Halloween like me!

First Grade created a Bats & Spiders Gallery Walk along our wall to wrap up our Informational Non Fiction unit.  If you want to see more, check out {THIS POST}.

To keep first graders academically engaged on Halloween, we held Super Science Spooktacular Day!  The classes rotated to each first grade teacher to do a science investigation.  They had  a blast!

Pumpkin Math and Science!  We spent several afternoons this week completing our Pumpkin Observation booklet (by Christina Bainbridge).  We predicted, measured, weighed, counted, and investigated every inch of our pumpkin!  Their favorite part was testing their sink or float predictions!

Here are a few of the entries from our Storybook Character Pumpkin Contest.  This was an optional family project.  We encouraged the pumpkins  be completed by the first grader with minimal adult assistance. I was impressed with our families hard work!

Fall...I miss it!  I grew up in Indiana.  Even though I have lived in Florida for 10 years, I still miss fall!  I REALLY miss it this year.  My air conditioner broke a couple of weeks ago.  It is not fixable and has to be replaced.  We had record highs yesterday.  90 something.

If you want to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching or check out other Five For Fridays, click {HERE}!

Happy Saturday!

Meredith