I love to use this activity with my small groups. It is versatile, easy to differentiate and always popular. Make I use a large piece of poster board. The dollar store usually has sheets. I draw a tree trunk and branches. I'm not an artist so it is crude but recognizable! I write the words that… Continue reading Sight Word Apple Tree
6 Down: A Spelling Game
I was looking for a quick spelling game last week when I remembered this activity. I used to play it with math facts, but it was easily adapted for spelling. To Play I gave each player a white board and marker. I also gave each player a score sheet. I put 6… Continue reading 6 Down: A Spelling Game
Bookmarks
I hate waste. I dislike it for environmental reasons and I dislike it because I'm frugal! I use a lot of paper, colored ink and laminating film. It adds up to a significant expense. One of my favorite thrifty ways to use up scraps is my bookmark jar. The laminated strips I cut off printables (especially… Continue reading Bookmarks
13 DIY Tactile Ways to Practice Letters and Sounds
There are so many great DIY tactile ideas for learning letters and sounds. These activities are fun for all learners. My dyslexic kiddos need lots and lots of multisensory practice to learn their letter/ sound combinations. Here are some engaging ways to practice. Check some out and add them to your back to school lesson… Continue reading 13 DIY Tactile Ways to Practice Letters and Sounds
Reading Towers
This is another "as simple as it gets" reading activity. It is very popular with my K-3 students. All you need are some Duplo blocks, a sharpie marker, and a die. My four kids are all grown, but I still have some favorite toys including Duplo and Lego blocks. I put them out for siblings to play… Continue reading Reading Towers
Kid Designed Reading Games
I've made a lot of reading games over the years, and for the most part, my students love them. But by far, the most popular games are the ones the students create themselves. This is always a hit. I try to add game making to at least one class with most students and groups I… Continue reading Kid Designed Reading Games
Letter Guessing Game
One of the favorite activities in my pre-k literacy groups is the "feely box." It is so simple but my students ask for it again and again. They get excited every single time I take this can out. My mom was a preschool teacher when I was growing up and she played this game with her… Continue reading Letter Guessing Game
Breaking the Guess and Go Habit
Guess and Go Do you have a student that is fond of the guess and go method of reading? I know I see it often in my students. They glance at the first letter of a word and blurt out a word that starts with that sound. This activity is great for helping to break… Continue reading Breaking the Guess and Go Habit
My Favorite Rhyming Picture Books
Rhyming Rhyming is an early pre-reading skill. Some children pick it up quickly, others struggle. There is some research suggesting that ability to rhyme can be a predictor of future reading success. Rhyming is fun. It can be silly, and most preschoolers love to play with sounds and words in this way. I begin all of… Continue reading My Favorite Rhyming Picture Books
Word Ladders
A fun no prep activity Draw a ladder. We like to make a big one on a large white board, but paper works just as well. If you only have a few minutes just make 6-7 rungs. If you have more time make it larger. Write a word on the bottom rung. Each player takes a… Continue reading Word Ladders
Blue Cottage Tutoring 