Word Study Centers

Bendaroos (wiki-sticks) and playdoh for word study! This week the students all had to learn how to spell the months of the year so we had two centers where the kids could practice their words. What 7 year old doesn't love hands on activities?!

Helpful Hands Christmas Tree

This is our helpful hands Christmas tree in our classroom. Each child cuts out their traced hands (2-3 times) and I staple them to our bulletin board in the shape of a Christmas Tree. For Writer's Workshop, we follow this activity up by answering this prompt: If I could give away one item in my house to a family in need at Christmas time what would it be and why? The broken shovel response here cracked me up...it would just be too much for a 7 year old to give away a good shovel, a broken one will have to do!

Guided Reading

I have found that plays are one of the best ways to work on fluency and expression with young readers. This past week one of my guided reading groups worked on the play, The Giant Jumperee. After working on the play for a week in a guided reading group with an emphasis on fluency, they presented the play to the class. I found the printable animal masks for free online at, www.animaljr.com. The kids colored, cut and taped the masks to some rulers. Then they held the masks up to their face when it was their turn to read. What a great job they did!