Favorite Classroom Sayings Posters

I made posters of my favorite classroom sayings! A sense of humor always helps with behavior management. Click the pictures to download them for free from Teachers Pay Teachers and leave a comment here or there :)

Alphabet / ABC books for all ages

Here's a quick video I made explaining how to use Alphabet / ABC books as an alternative assessment. This video explains what an alphabet book is and how you can have your students create them to show what they know about a particular topic instead of having them do a report or take a test. Depending on the age of your students, you have have them work independently, in pairs, in a group, or as a class by assigning each student a letter.

 I used the webcam and PhotoBooth on my computer to make the video, then uploaded it to my YouTube account, which is linked to my Google account and blog. If you need any help making your own video, leave a comment and I'll post a tutorial.

Here are the planning sheet / blank word list, cover, and 26 alphabet pages that I made!
I tried to embed the document here as a pdf, but the formatting is off. If anyone can help me fix that, let me know! Please leave a feedback rating and comment about the topic you think you'd use it for.

I started doing this with my students before Roland Smith's books became popular. They're awesome though, so check them out!

A great idea is to get the books published. Students can buy the books and you get a free copy! I have used Student Treasures. The pages are glossy, so make sure to do a practice run and have your students work only in pencil until you have checked their pages. Also, you need to give yourself plenty of time for ordering, publication, and shipping. I think we had to get our order done and shipped out by early April to get it by the end of the school year in June.

Sight Word and Word Wall Freebies!

Here's something to go with your word walls and word wall folders. This book is called "Wall Words Word Search" by Kathleen Knoblock. It says it's for Grades 1-2, but older children love it too! Click the book for sample pages.

I also loooovveee these sight word books. My students get lots of practice writing and spelling the words and they have fun in the process. I got them at Barnes and Noble, but they are also available online at Amazon too.

More freebies: 

http://www.cherylsigmon.com/pdf/WordShapes.pdf  word shapes for writing word wall words

http://www.cherylsigmon.com/pdf/LightningWordGame.pdf  lightning word wall game

http://www.cherylsigmon.com/pdf/keyboard-4.pdf  laptop sheet for "typing" word wall words

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Don't forget to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers Store for Word Walls and the Dolch Sight Word pack! 

Guided Reading Organization

I've used Reading A to Z, Rigby Readers, and DRA books for guided reading instruction. I have found some simple ways to keep myself and my students organized. I hope you can use these ideas! 

2 benchmark books for each level with running record sheets - 1 on each side of pocket dividers

Master copies of leveled books go between each divider

Levels are separated with color pocket dividers

I use a 2-pocket folder that goes with each group's color for me and for my students (I usually have 5 groups of about 4 or 4 groups of about 5 depending on the year.)

Each student has a gallon-sized Ziploc bag inside their guided reading folder with their books in it. If they have group with me that day, then they have a strategy homework sheet that goes along with their book. It might be a sequencing graphic organizer, phonics, etc.

Edit: I now have the kids put their guided reading bags in these pocket charts from Really Good Stuff. It's magnetic, so I hang it on the back of one of my metal book shelves and the kids grab it whenever they need it instead of interrupting my guided reading group.

I use an accordion briefcase to store extra books and worksheets so that I'm ready to go whenever a group switches books or levels.

I use this sheet to plan and track anecdotal notes. 

Get those binders, folders, and dividers on Staples Teacher Appreciation Day (August 20 in New Jersey) or at Walmart's Back to School Sales!

Touch Math Giveaway

Teaching Happily Ever After has teamed up with Touch Math for a giveaway worth $150. I have found this program to be excellent for my struggling learners. I especially like Touch Money because it uses a multisensory approach to teaching. Children learn to count coins by ones and fives so they don't struggle while switching from counting quarters by 25, dimes by 10, nickels by 5, etc. If you've never used the program, check it out here and download free sample pages. Click the button to take you to her site to enter the TouchMath giveaway!