Pick-Stamp-Write

Each week in the Writing Center we have a couple of "must do" activities.  One of the tasks this week is what I call Pick-Stamp-Write!

 

First, the children PICK an alphabet flash card.

Next, they STAMP the letter.

And finally, they WRITE the letter.

 

It's such an easy center to set up! The kids love using stamps and they get some writing practice in, too!

Would you like the recording sheet my kids used?

Here it is...Pick-Stamp-Write Recording Sheet!

Target Tuesday

Looking for cute activities with hardly any teacher prep?

 

Here you go!  Everything you need is at Bulleye's Playground!

 

You'll want to pick up several of these plastic storage containers for this project.  They're available in a variety of colors and, of course, priced at only $1. I didn't really need these for storage purposes so I started thinking how I could use them in the classroom.

 

 

 

 

For a quick counting activity, you simply write numerals on small post it notes and place them in each section of the container.

 

 

 

 

Have your students use the Target erasers to count out how many.

 

I lucked up and found these adorable cat and dog erasers that I'm sure my kids will ❤ to use as math counters!

 

 

 

 

For a little alphabet fun, let's use these colorful magnetic letters!

 





 

 

All you have to do to prepare this activity is put the letters you're focusing on in the storage container. How's that for no teacher prep!

 

 

Your students will do the rest as they work on making a match with the lowercase letters!

 

 

How will you use your Target treasures?

Trace Stamp Write

Raise your hand if you need a fun, simple activity so your students can practice writing the alphabet!

Here's a great independent skillsheet I created where students will TRACE the letter....STAMP the letter....and WRITE the letter!

All you need at your Writing Center is the TRACE-STAMP-WRITE skillsheets, uppercase & lowercase Alphabet Stamps, and pencils or crayons. 

This activity is super easy to set up and the kids will LOVE it!

Get your free copy of  TRACE-STAMP-WRITE below!

Trace Stamp Write

Target Tuesday

I've never met a teacher who doesn't 💗 Target!  I know I sure do!

So every Tuesday, I'll be posting one of my favorite finds from Bulleye's Playground and show you how I'm planning to use it in my classroom! 

Get ready for Target Tuesday!

I immediately fell in love with this Giant ABC Work Pad when I saw it! 

 

Soon I realized it was meant for only one child to use and it wasn't really suited for a classroom full of preschoolers. 

I loved the big pages, clean format, and all the opportunities to work on fine motor skills.  And, of course, I loved the $3 Bulleye's Playground price tag, too!  

 

 

 

So I started thinking...how could I use this in a classroom setting and allow multiple children the chance to do these cute pages?

 

Decided I could simply tear out the pages, laminate them, and turn this into a fun independent activity!

 

 

 

Once you've laminated the pages, just add a dry erase marker and a soft cloth or an eraser. 

 

You're all set with a fun Writing Center activity that can be used over and over!

Letter Salad

One of my favorite alphabet resources is Letter Salad!

Letter Salad is a fun sensory experience for students to look for specific letters, match uppercase & lowercase, and record their findings.  Students will love learning with Letter Salad and will ask to make salad over and over!

Here's a list of what you need for setting up Letter Salad in your classroom: 

• large bowl or plastic storage tub
• green crepe paper or green tissue paper (torn into pieces) or green Easter grass for your "lettuce".  You can also use a combination of light green and dark green papers for a mixed green salad!
• pair of tongs
• small plastic bowls
• Letter Salad cards and recording sheet

Letter Salad Cards coming soon!

You choose how many letter cards to put in your large salad bowl.  I typically have students working on matching 4 to 6 sets of letters at a time but your kids may need more or less depending on their skill level. Letter Salad is very easy to differentiate for your students.

For beginning learners, you could simply put in a few of the uppercase letter cards.  Have the student name the letter as they use the tongs to add each letter card to their salad bowl.

Use the recording sheet as a way for students to practice writing their letters.

I hope your students enjoy learning the alphabet and making Letter Salad!



Monday Made It - Shirts & Aprons

I've always wished I could sew like my mother.  However, I didn't inherit her talent so I tend to use Stitch Witchery or hot glue on most of my sewing projects.  Good thing my Monday Made It projects didn't test my seamstress skills too much! 

If all my "to do" projects were as quick as this one was...I'd be done!



I saw a cute Pete the Cat counting activity here and knew I had to make it for my kids, too!   I had some of the felt pieces already and ran up to Hobby Lobby for a couple more.  Then, all I had to do was print the shirt pattern.

 

Pinned the paper pattern on my felt...

 

Cut it out with my "good" sewing scissors...

 

Colorful shirts for Pete!

 

Add a jar of buttons and a number dice and my Pete counting activity is finished!

 

 

Last summer I bought a teacher apron from Sandy at the I Teach K Conference.  Her sewing skills are obviously more like my mother's than mine!  I wore my teacher apron mostly for teaching and reviewing sight words but this year I knew I wanted to also use it for basic alphabet lessons.  I found a wonderful beginning sounds alphabet set on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Click here to see the product details. 



 

I printed, laminated, and cut all the cards this week.  Each letter has four picture cards along with the upper case and lower case letters.  Best of all, the cards fit perfectly in my teacher apron pockets!

 

 I stored the cards in a small file box, organizing them with a set of alphabetical dividers.  It will be super easy to pull the letter cards I need for my lesson and then return them to the box when I'm done.

 

One more thing ready for school!

  

Click here to see more teacher projects at this week's linky party!

 

Wordless Wednesday - ABC Bean Bags

I went to the yard sale of a sweet young lady who was changing careers...
from Special-Ed Teacher to Beautician! 

Found this box of Alphabet Bean Bags BRAND NEW and NEVER USED for only $5!
They usually retail for $39 so I know I got a really great deal!

How would you use these bean bags in your classroom?




Linking up with Second Grade Sugar and Spice for another fun Wordless Wednesday!

Book Talk Tuesday - Another Alpha Favorite

I'm thrilled Mrs. Jump's Class will be continuing Book Talk Tuesday throughout this school year!  It's a great way to find interesting books and activities to use in your classroom!

Today I am sharing ANOTHER favorite Alphabet Book!  In fact, I think I could share a favorite ABC book every week and never run out of titles!  I use alphabet books every single day in my classroom and never tire of reading about those good ol' letters!

 

Tomorrow's Alphabet is an incredible book that will really make your kids (and YOU)  think about letters.  It's not just another ABC book by any means.   Each page is a riddle to be solved and you must consider it's all about tomorrow.

 

When you read "A is for seed" your class will think you've gone absolutely crazy and they'll be frantic reminding you that seed begins with S and that A isn't for seed!  I always tell them it's what the words in the book say so it has to be true.  But they'll go on and on knowing it's wrong!

 

 

 

Until...you tell them A is "tomorrow's apple"!  Then they'll begin to get it!

 

 

Of course, they'll laugh & laugh when you try to explain "K is for tomato"...but they'll soon understand you need tomatoes in order for K to be "tomorrow's ketchup".

And how could "O is for acorn" possibly be true? Oh, yes!  It's going to be "tomorrow's Oak Tree" after it grows.

After you finish reading Tomorrow's Alphabet, have your class brainstorm other possibilities for what different letters can be today and what they'll be tomorrow.  Their ideas can easily be turned into a wonderful class book that won't be your typical Alphabet book!

Thanks for joining me today!  I'm heading back over to Mrs. Jump's Class for more Book Talk Tuesday! 

Monday Made It - Tigers, Zebras, Foxes - Oh My!

I missed last week's Monday Made It  since my family was enjoying one last HURRAH of summer!  We had a wonderful week along the South Carolina coast at my in-laws beach house...delightful sunshine, yummy local shrimp, and plenty of competitive card games since we don't have cable TV!  I actually packed a big stack of laminating and got it all cut one night. 

 

Now I'm super excited to join 4th Grade Frolics today and share what I made when we got back!

 

Before our trip, I stopped in Walmart for a few last minute beach items and, of course, I took a stroll around the school supply aisles.  I was disappointed they didn't have those whimsical file folders & seasonal borders like last year.  Do you remember all that cuteness for the unbelievably low prices?  They had packs of generic teacher die-cuts marked $2.97.  Not much of a deal in my opinion....BUT....hanging alongside the basic ones I spotted these novelty goodies...

 

Check out the price!!!

 

I knew immediately what I'd make!

 

 

Using clear Avery address labels, I typed upper & lower case letters and made a matching game!  The clear labels worked perfectly on the bold tiger print die-cuts.  To keep the ink from smearing on these slick labels, I've learned to change the settings from "plain paper" to "premium ink jet paper". Works like a charm! 

Next, I took the zebra printed die-cuts and made a fun counting game!  Students will use my Wild Animal math manipulatives (from Lakeshore) and count the number on their zebra card. 

 

 

My last project was with the foxes....destined to be a huge hit in the classroom!  I typed up our sight word list so the kids can read what the fox says when they select a card!  What a fun game to play and practice those sight words!

 

So for less than $5 I now have three new NOVELTY center activities for this school year!