Common Core Phonics and Sight Word Fun!

I am a big fan of using phonics in the classroom.  I believe it is important to use in all grade levels in Elementary School and even if you have strugglers in middle and high school.  Common Core Standards include:

K.RFS.3, 1.RFS.3, 2.RFS.3, 3.RFS.3, 4.RFS.3, 5.RFS.3

Why not make phonics, sight words, and spelling fun for your students?

Here are ten activities that I have done with previous classes I have taught in centers, small group, or seat work:

White Boards - Kids love to use white boards to write their words.  Either give them their list of words or call them out one at a time during small groups and let them practice writing them.  It's a good quick assessment for you this way.

Elkonin Boxes - I sometimes draw a rectangle and divide it up into squares and the students push a magnetic counter into each square as they say the sounds of the word.  Then I give them a dry erase marker and they write the word into the boxes.

Shaving Cream - Children LOVE shaving cream!  I didn't have time to use it with the 5th graders, but toward the end of my short term with them they were asking me about using shaving cream.  Spray some on their desk and let them practice writing their spelling words.  It also cleans the desk, which keeps those custodians so happy!

Sand Art - Check out my previous post on sand art.  Children love making letters using colored sand.

Magnetic Letters - Let children use magnetic letters to make words.

Letter Tiles - Use letter tiles to make words.  You can use the ones in Scrabble kits or check out Lakeshore.

Chalk - If you still have the old chalkboards in your classroom let the children use chalk to make words on the chalk board.

Stencils - Write the words using stencils,

Spelling City - Type in the words on SpellingCity.com and let your students have fun playing games and taking quizes!

Word Sorting - Give your students a list of words and have them sort them using a T chart or 3 way chart by the different spelling patterns.  I always listed the children's spelling words on the board and they would sort the words into a composition notebook each week.  If they forgot a previous week how to spell a word I would remind them to check their composition notebook.

If you are a fan of word sorting you are in luck!  I have created a ton of different word sorts: cvc, cvce, blends, long vowel patterns, digraphs, dipthongs, r-controlled vowels, silent consonants, and soft and hard c and g.  41 pages full of fun!  This is on sale for over 50% off today, Sunday, September 30th and will be back to regular price $6.00 on Monday.  There are some free samples in the preview so be sure to download the preview file!  Click on the pictures to check it out.

What ideas do you have to make phonics fun.  Please post your ideas in the comments below!

As always thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings.  Keep on smiling!

Sand Art - Letters, Numbers & Sight Words

I remember as a child getting sand art kits to make pictures with different colored sand.  It kept me busy for quite awhile.  During my first year of teaching I came up with another creative way to use colored sand.  My sand center was probably the most popular learning center that I had when I taught Kindergarten.

We used the sand to make our letters and sight words.  You could also do the same with numbers.  I generally used the medium sized index cards, but you could use the large ones or if your students have great small motor control the small cards would work too.  Card stock may also work if you cut it down into fourths or smaller.

First the student writes the letter, number or sight word largely with a pencil, pen, or a sharpie on the index card. 

 

Next the child outlines it with glue.

Next sprinkle some colored sand on the letter, number, or sight word.

Carefully, slide the sand onto the plate or tray (I used to use one of those foil tin trays and had newspaper undneathe it just in case).  Now you have the letter, number, or sight word in colored sand.  Once it drys it becomes a tactile sight word, letter, or number that the child can trace with their hand. 

I never thought to use it in 2nd grade, but it would have worked well with their sight words and I believe they also would have enjoyed it.  It is a wonderful way to learn letters, numbers, and sight words, which fits the common core standards!  How might you use colored sand for learning beyond 2nd grade?  Anyone have any ideas?  Have you tried this in your classroom?  If not try it out and it is sure to be a big hit!!!

As always thanks for making my day by hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!  Keep on smilin'!

Letter Sand Art!

Here's a great activity that I used when I started my teaching career in Kindergarten.  I hope many of you find it useful!

Materials: colored sand, glue, large index or medium sized index cards, container, and a pencil or pen

1. Write or have your students write the letter of the week on an index card (I had them do two one for capital and one for lowercase).

2. Students trace it with Elmer's Glue (I don't think glue sticks would work).

3. Sprinkle some colored sand on the letter.

4. Pour the rest into the bin, which makes it easy to clean up and reuse the extra like Terri mentioned from Terri's Teaching Treasures with the glitter glue!  I hadn't thought of doing that with glitter for some reason so thanks Terri!  It works well with the sand!

5. Let the sand dry on the index card and the children will have a textile letter.

Differentiate: For the students who already know their letters you can do the same thing with sight words!  Many will fit on the large index cards or you can use card stock!

I hope your students have as much fun as my students had doing this.  I have no doubt it helped them learn their alphabet much quicker!