End of the Year Activities

It seems like FOREVER since I have posted.  We've had so many things going on... and it's just plain been busy.  We moved.  Jeff's sweet mother passed away.  And then there's school.  You all know!

I have a few fun ideas if you are still in school like I am... (until June 23).

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey!

First of all, our writing units are DONE!  We scored our last writing sample.  It always amazes me how far the children come in a year.  Yes- when we read the kindergarten 'sample' and it says something like "Spring is best because the wind blows through my hair..." I shudder a little because I know mine don't sound like that- but I couldn't be more proud of how far mine have come- even if the wind doesn't blow through their hair in their stories...

This time of year, I like to do some "fun" writing- the kind where the kids like it so much, they don't even realize they are writing as much as they are.

One of the children's favorites is directed drawing and writing. It's one of my favorites, too because there is so little planning.  First, I check YouTube to find some fun directed drawings.  We did castles this week. You can read a story to go with your lesson, which I usually do.  This time, we brainstormed all sorts of things we know about castles.  We shared who lived there (princesses, kings, queens, Beauty and the Beast, Disney characters) how it is protected (moats, alligators, army guys, you name it- we heard it!), what they are made of, and what the inside may look like.  Then we did the directed drawing. This is the one I used- it's very simple and was just perfect for my kids. I paused it if anyone seemed to need a little extra time.


After we drew, the children could decorate their castle any way they wanted, remembering to use at least 5 or 6 colors and details. (Most of my children are 6 now, so that's our magic number!)  Then, they wrote about their castle and tried to fill the front and back of the paper.  That was it- and it was so much fun.  Finally, we shared our castles and marveled at how special each one was.

 (My castle is big and colorful because it is special because it is protected by sharks.)

 (I have a castle.  My roof is gold.  I have alligators and sharks surrounding my castle.)

                                                            

Sticker writing is always fun.  We read lots of animal books to get some ideas about illustrations and facts.  Then, everyone gets a paper with two stickers on it.  Nobody knows which ones they will get. I put them face down on the table, and they turn the paper over and have to draw a detailed background and write something about their animals.  They love this writing!  Nobody even complains.  Last year when I was handing the papers out, someone started saying, "You get what you get, and you're thankful for it!"   I love that little saying.  I love it so much better than "You don't throw a fit."  It makes it so much more positive.

The gorilla was looking for a friend.  The fox was looking for a friend, too.

I live in the jungle.  I know, I know.  I am big and strong, but I am nice.  

Here is another fun drawing activity for this time of year!  The children really WANT to know how to draw different things- and directed drawing makes them feel so successful.  We read Mrs. Wishy Washy's Farm and Otis to go along with our farm drawings.

We drew the pictures after we read the stories, and then wrote about our drawings later in the day.   I printed out these papers from Activity Village and let them go!

I loved that when he added details, he added TEETH to the farmer. 

Loved the wind!

I didn't want to leave you in suspense...  

My class LOVES to play Sparkle!  We play it probably almost every day during those extra minutes we always seem to have.  The game only takes a few minutes and we practice spelling so many sight words during that time. 

If you don't know how to play, here you go!

The children stand in a circle.  You say a word for the children to spell.  One at a time, a child says one letter of the word, as you make your way around the circle of children.  If the word is "at," the first child says, "a," the next child says, "t," then the next child says, "sparkle," and the next child sits down.  You continue right on with the next child spelling a new word:  You say, "The word is 'you.'  And the children spell   "Y," "o," "u," "sparkle," then sit.    I go right around the circle and point to each child as  it is his turn to say the letter to keep the game moving right along quickly. 

I always put my hand on the head of the child that has to sit and make a funny sound as they sit down so everyone is laughing, and it's never sad.  You continue spelling around the circle until only one child is left standing and is the SPARKLE CHAMP!

Well, we love this game for learning sight words so much, so when we did our Opinion Unit in writing and the children needed to know how to spell because,  we played this game and ONLY spelled because around the circle.  "B," "e," "c," "a," "u," "s," "e." "sparkle," sit, "b," "e," "c," "a," ...   

You could use this game to have your children learn to spell any word!

I put together my Summer Journals for my class this week.  It is FREE at my TpT store!  Dr. Jean and I had lots of fun putting this together.  Usually, we do a few pages together before the children go home for summer. Then, I send home the rest for them to have for the summer. These have always been a big hit with the kids!  Here are some sample pages:

Dr. Jean and I also made 20 different designs for 17 sayings for our Gift Tag, Gift Card, and Gift Idea Packet.  Each saying is on both a half sheet of paper to use as a gift tag or a full sheet that can be printed, folded, and made into a card that your class can sign. 

Last year we gave everyone a Thanks a Latte card with a gift card.  You can use them anytime of the  year- and for any occasion!

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Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Five for Friday April 29

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey! 

Isn't it funny how one little change can make all the difference sometimes? The kids have been loving reading to each other in the mornings.  Yesterday, they each read four books to friends, and were quiet and excited.  I can't really ask for more. We had about 20 minutes to read, and this is what we did to make it extra fun (and so simple).

I came up with 8 reading spots.  I numbered sticks so the kids didn't know what number went to what spot.  (I took out number 6 because I only had 14 in the room so I only needed 7 spots.) We have computer lab every other day, so I send part of the class to that and work with part.  This activity is great when I want the kids reading, but I need to do bench marking or one on one work with the kids.

I also made three different sets of partner cards to use for different times, and chose one for the day.  I paired up a higher reader with a lower reader this time.  First we explained the rules.  Each partner gets one book, reads it to the other partner, then listens to his partner read her book, then they return the book  and get another if there's time.  They have to be reading together.  That's basically the rule. 

Other times, I have them read the book to a partner, and have the listener tell the reader his/her favorite part or something for a follow-up.

After I name the groups of partners, each group comes up to pull a stick to find their reading spot.  I tried to find fun spots- like behind the easel(the "fort)," under any table (which they call "the office" for some reason), housekeeping, by my desk,  in special chairs, and in the hall.  

After about 10 minutes, we gathered back on the rug, returned books, and I had them change partners, draw new spots,  and do it all again.  

The fort!

 The coveted spot... in the hall!

Here's a tip I have learned over years of teaching reading.  Ready... it's a biggie...

I think as teachers we want to teach.  We want to help, solve problems, and fix things.  But during guided reading, I've trained myself to be able to just sit there and wait when I'm reading with a student, especially this time of year when they have heard and used the reading strategies hundreds of times.  It's hard.  I WANT to say, "What do you do next? What do you look for?  What are you going to use?  What sound does that letter make?  Did you notice anything in the picture? blah blah blah." It's so tempting to prompt while you're sitting there waiting for them to find those strategies in their sweet little heads, decide which one to use, and give it a try. But I know they hear my voice saying those things in their heads if I sit there quietly. Maybe they need time to try two or three. They can do it- and they do.  It takes a little time, and patience for me to wait quietly and give them that time. 

Obviously, I don't me to sit there mute, forever, and make the child frustrated- but sometimes the kids are just a little nervous and get in their own way.  Sometimes they are just playing the waiting game, trying to wait you out so you'll do the work.  When they know I'm not going to jump in, I can almost see them saying to themselves, "OK- pull it together.  I can do this. I know what to do."  Sometimes it's hard and awkward to just sit there. But that's ok, because when the child comes up with the strategy, it is so much more powerful than if I have prompted it.  So, as hard as it is,   I just sit and smile. And wait. The smile on that little face when they figure something out, and see they can do it,  is worth the wait! 

Dr. Jean and I had so much fun putting together our Bugs and Insects Packet.   My kids absolutely loved the activities and are loving the QR codes and singing her song all the time.  It's an easy, fun way to teach and learn about Bugs and Insects.

Here are some of the highlights:

Dr. Jean's  Insect Body song download

Bug and Insect Prezi

QR Code Packet for Listening Center

Writing Prompts with QR Codes

 

Favorite Bug Activities

Here are some fun crafts I found that are great to add to the bug fun.

Crafty Morning shared this bubblewrap painting beehive with fingerprint bees.  So cute. 

                                               
Or how about this cute bubblewrap bug?!
                  

Bubblewrap also makes GREAT compound eyes when you have out materials for the children to build their own bugs!

Pink Stripey Socks shared these great egg carton bugs.  I love the ant because you can really see those three body parts! 

What a fun celebration after the Bug and Insect unit these would make from The Crafting Chicks!

Dr. Jean and I also put together this Summer Fun Journal Writing Prompts Packet to help keep our students writing over the summer.  It's FREE at my TpT store if you would like to make some books for your students this summer.

Each prompt has 3 versions:  one with all the same font (black and white); one with different fonts(black and white); one with fun fonts and colored clipart.

There are 4 different covers you can use for the book- OR you could print out some prompts, put them in a pocket folder for each student, and encourage the children to add "summer treasures" to the folder.  They can include things like ticket stubs, pamphlets from trips, or pictures.

Finally, this picture.  I've always loved this picture for some reason.  

I don't even know why and never really thought about it. It just "spoke to me."   One year my kids got it for me for Christmas.  I was so excited!  We moved it the other day, and when Jeff was putting it up he said, "I'm always surprised you like this, because who do you identify with in the picture? I can't see  you wanting someone to hold an umbrella for you in the rain while you danced and had fun." 

Not sure if he was expecting me to say, "OH NO- I identify with the maid.  I want to be the umbrella- holder!" or what.  But I do think there is something romantic about this dance in the rain and me  this girl in my her red dress.  

And of course I would hope that the maid and butler were secretly in love with each other, and after I danced, I'd trade places and hold the umbrella for them.  So there you go.  My dreams aren't all selfish. But I'm still going to be the one in the red dress.  I don't even feel guilty about it.

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!