September 11th Freebies & Link Up

Click the picture above to hop over to my blog to snag some simple freebies to help your students remember September 11th.

I decided to have my students do a simple "Thank you" to a firefighter, soldier, or police officer.  I feel first grade is a bit young for them to really understand, but they do know that these people help to keep our country safe.

If you have an idea or freebie for remembering September 11th, please click the picture above and link up on my blog!  Thanks!!!

Beginning Sound Clothespin Match

In my Beginning Sounds Mega Game Pack, I've featured several games of the clothespin match.  I wanted to share more about the game, how it was made, and the game in action!

I color coded the three game board and clothes pin.  I purchased all the paint and clothespins at Walmart for under 10 dollars!  After spray painting the clothespins, I added capital letters to one side and lowercase to the other side.  Make sure you are writing the letters on the same clothespin. **Experience talking here!**

Sun Yellow, Grass Green, and Sky Blue

I created the games with a blackline for the answers.  The blackline will look the same as the game board with the addition of the image name.

 

I’ve also prepared a mirror image of the blackline. I liked having the answers on the back of the game board.  You’ve already prepared the clothespins with letters on both sides of the clip,  Checking answers will be simplified!

I just added this game as a separate purchase if you are interested.  I'll be back to share more games in use this week.  If you are interested in the clothespin match, click image below.

If you are interested in the mega games pack, click the image below.

Beginning Sound Mega Game Pack

I've been working on two things for the past three weeks.  My newest unit and the postcard exchange.  With the second week of school under my belt, a finished unit, and second exchange being finalized... I'm a happy lady!

Click image above to link!

This bubbly fun beginning sound mega pack is filled with 239 pages of easy to use games.

Included are...

Beginning Sound Teaching Posters with all sound images on each alpha card for instructional introduction to sounds. You'll want to ensure students have the vocabulary before playing games independently. 

Beginning Sound Sort Cards with up to five images per alpha letter. Vowels are created. in orange chevron backgrounds and Consonants are created in pink chevron backgrounds.

Beginning Sound Clothespin Match with three games provided for different beginning sound images. Each game has different color backgrounds for easy identification!

Beginning Sound BINGO with five games provided for different beginning sound images. Each game has different color backgrounds for easy identification! Spinner come in coordinating design for added organization.

Beginning Sound Puzzles with all beginning sound images placed on the right side of the puzzle pieces and alpha letters on the left side.

Beginning Sound “I Have, Who Has” Cards with three games provided for continued practice! Background images for each of the games differ for organization.

Beginning Sound “Go Fish” Cards with two games provided for differentiated support! Background images for each of the games differ for organization.

Blackline Master of only the Beginning Sound Cards are provided. Send a copy home for students to practice! 

Meets Common Core Standard: RF.K.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. {Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.}

Games and Posters sold separately would cost $29. This bundle is discounted to $20 and will provide support for at least a month! Don't forget to check out my half sized freebie teaching posters and close up images of each game in the free preview download! You can access this free preview by clicking the first image above!

If you love what you see and would like to follow more, I have a lil ole blog called Primary Graffiti.  I'd love that you link over and join my journey as I loop with this class from Kindergarten to 2nd Grade!  =D

Observing September 11th with Children

School has barely gotten underway and suddenly its time to observe September 11th with your students. 

I just wrote a blog post with suggestions. Immediately after 9-11, I wrote a very simple song  to help restore hope in the aftermath. I recorded it onto my fourth CD and have since turned it into a traditional hardback picture book as author and illustrator. My book, with CD insert, is entitled "Red, White and Blue." The book won the 2011 Indy Book of Excellence Award!! Whoohooo!

In opening my new TpT store, I have created a zip file with 2 Mp3 versions of the song included -- one that is sung (with my voice as well as children and professional vocalists) and another version that is the instrumental only. The song has been performed around the country. The zip file also includes a sign language chart and music notation with chords to support your use with your class. 

Here's the link to TpT for the digital download. I have it set for 20% off for the next three days. I know that its sufficiently simple that you still have enough time to teach it this week and perform it next. 

If you're looking for possible patriotic Art projects I have lots of those in this link at my blog. 

-- Debbie -- 

RainbowsWithinReach

Metacognition, Thinking about Thinking!! Freebies!

Comprehension is a difficult thing to teach. How do you teach someone to understand something??? I've struggled with this over the years and have always looked for ways to make the concepts more concrete. This week I taught my 6th graders about meta-cognition. We did a lot of thinking about our thinking and they understood it so well I wanted to share with all of you the lesson I taught. Come on over to my blog and read about it then grab some freebies so you can teach it to!!  Here's a preview...

 

Click on any of the pics above to come see more!