Daily Café Menu Bulletin Board Set Freebie

Freebie!

Hi Friends!


Here is a bulletin board set that includes what you need to teach the Daily Café in your primary classroom. I begin the year with The Literacy Café Menu sign and the 4 other header signs hanging up (C, A, F, E.) Then, as I teach each reading strategy, I add it to the board in the appropriate column. The board grows through the year and hangs as a reminder of the strategies that I hope to see the kids use as they work toward becoming more proficient readers.


Building the board -
I cover my Café board with bright yellow fabric and add a bright pink border. I hang the Café sign in the middle way at the top. Then, I use bright pink yarn to separate the four columns. Then, I hang the other four headings at the top of the four columns. I also add a cardboard denim pocket to the bottom of the board where I keep all the strategy strips. Once the board and strips are set up, all I have to do is pick out the strip of the day, model the strategy, and hang it under the correct heading. So easy!


Here are the 5 headings:


The Literacy Café Menu
C – Comprehension - “I understand what I read.”
A – Accuracy - “I can read the words.”
F – Fluency - “I can read accurately, with expression and I understand what I read.”
E – Expand Vocabulary - “I know how to find and use interesting words.”


Here’s a list of the 32 strategy strips with words and pictures:


Cross checking
Check for understanding
Back up and reread
Use the pictures
Use beginning and ending sounds
Flip the sounds
Blend the sounds
Skip the word - then come back
Chunk the letters and sounds together
Choose good-fit books
Practice high frequency words
Retell the story
Tune in to interesting words
Monitor and fix up
Make a text connection
Make a picture in your head
Ask questions while you read
Predict and confirm
Infer and support with evidence
Use text features
Voracious reading
Reread the text
Use pictures and diagrams
Use word parts to determine meaning
Ask someone to define the word
Use a dictionary or thesaurus
Adjust reading rate to match text
Use punctuation to enhance phrasing
Trade a word
Summarize text
What’s the author’s purpose?
Compare & contrast

Enjoy!
-Sue

Download the freebie!

Letter Aa - Alphabet Lesson – Power Point Freebie

Freebie!

Hi Friends!

This is a Power Point presentation that you can use to introduce the letter Aa. It has 10 slides that include what the letter looks like, what it sounds like, and how to write it. The show has just enough animation and sound to keep your kiddos engaged. My kindergarten kiddos loved it!
Here are the slide titles:

• Introducing… The Letter Aa

• What does it look like

• This is how you write an uppercase A. (A place for you to model writing the letter)

• This is how you write a lowercase a. (A place for you to model writing the letter)

• Where do we find it in the alphabet?

• Is it a Aa or not a Aa? (Visual discrimination)

• What does it sound like? (Letter Sound Association)

• These words begin with Aa.

• Is it a vowel or a consonant?

• Letter Aa Movie (a link to a Sesame Street video podcast)

• Know it By Heart!

Consider getting all 26 shows and you’ll have your letter lessons for the whole year!

Here’s the link to my store where you can find the rest of the alphabet lessons:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sue-Mcdonald

Enjoy!
-Sue

Click here to download it for free!

Behavior Management Bundle - Daily Behavior Plans, Charts, Rewards, Incentives

Hi Friends!

One of our biggest challenges as teachers is helping our kiddos learn expected school behavior in a positive encouraging way. For 23 years, I've been using these daily behavior plans to help my challenging students learn expected school behavior and to make good choices at school.

Whenever I experience a student who needs a little extra support to follow the rules, be respectful, and work hard, I can usually count on one of these daily communication plans to help get us on track. Here's what works for me...

Each plan is a little different, and choosing the right one is key.  I choose a plan that matches the student's needs.  I begin by meeting with the student and often with the parents to explain that this plan will be coming home each day.  I ask the parent(s) to sign and return the plan the following day.  Together, the student, the parents, and I decide what rewards and/or consequences will follow a great day vs. a stinky day.  This usually leads to a great discussion about age appropriate rewards and consequences.  We all agree, in front of the student, to stick to the plan. 

The plan takes very little time to implement.  I start each day with a positive meeting with the kiddo, letting him/her know that I believe in him/her and that it's going to be a great day!  Then, we have a quick two minute meeting near the end of the day, reflecting on the day and the choices that the student made throughout the day.  The student fills in the paper with a highlighter while I watch (making sure it's accurate.)  Sometimes I jot a note to the parents about an incident or a problem that occurred that day. I always initial the plan as a way of letting the parent know that I've seen it before sending it home. When the student has a great day, I write something big and inspiring all over the page.  My favorites:  It was a Wowie Zowie day!  Today was a Zippity Doo Da Day!  Joey Rocks!  Joey was a model of self-control today!  The kiddo takes it home, gets it signed, and returns it to my teacher mailbox in the morning.

Sometimes I use an incentive charts to track the number of good days and set a reward for __?_  good days in a row. Once I see steady progress with a lot of good days in a row, we talk about phasing out the plan.  I've included several of the incentive charts in the bundle.

Here's what's included:

11 Daily behavior plans

10 Incentive charts to track progress

4 Pages of reward tickets/coupons

1 Thank you note from the teacher

These have been lifesavers for me over the years.  I hope you find them useful too!

Enjoy!

-Sue 

Click here to purchase.

Valentine's Day Centers

Valentine's Day Centers

Here's a collection of 22 printable activities to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kiddos. My students work on these independently while I’m teaching reading groups. (Click to purchase.)

Here is what’s included in the bundle:


Valentine’s Day Memory Game
Writing stationary – Write a Valentine story
Fill in the lowercase alphabet
Fill in the uppercase alphabet
Roses are Red poem – Read and color
Valentine’s Day Word Splash
Read it, Write, it, Build it! – Dolch words
Candy Quiz – Name the candy in the pictures 
Gumball Words – To practice your words
Conversation Hearts – Fill in the messages
Valentine’s Day Math – Number sense
Odds & Evens – Cut out and paste sorting
What’s your name? - Name writing practice
2 Valentine cards
Make a Paper Chain – Cut and assemble
Valentine’s Dots Game
Valentine’s Day Word Search
Make a Word Search - Blank
Pattern Fun – Continue the patterns
Addition Hearts
A Bouquet for You – Create a bouquet in the pot

Click here to purchase.

Valentine's Day Bookmarks

Valentine’s Day Bookmarks

Hi Friends!

Here is a Valentine’s Day project that works great with my second graders.

There are 4 bookmarks on a page.  I have my kiddos color them in.   Then we punch a hole in them, and attach a piece of ribbon.  The kids string some beads on the ribbon.  I ask that beads be in some kind of pattern.  Add a few shiny stickers to give them a little extra pizzazz!

This year we made them for our neighbors at the nursing home.  They loved them!

Enjoy!

-Sue

Click to purchase.

Valentine's Day Bingo for Smart Board

Valentine’s Day Bingo for Smart Board - Any Grade

Hi Friends!

Here is a Valentine’s Day Bingo game ready to print and play! Included are the printable game boards for the students and Smart Notebook projectable for keeping track of the game pieces as you call them.

The Smart Board game pieces use the infinite cloner to preserve the design so you can use it year after year.  There are 5 game boards so that you can quickly start your next round.

Here’s what works with my kiddos:

I print the sheets (page 6) one per student. Then, I have the kids cut off the game pieces at the bottom and use a glue stick to glue them onto the game board. I give each player a pack of Smarties for markers.  Then, I work the smart board, sliding one game piece at a time up as the kids cover them on their boards. The winner gets a surprise.  So fun!

Enjoy!

-Sue

Click here to purchase.

Word Wall Cheers

40 Word Wall Cheers

Word Wall Cheers

One fun way to practice spelling is to cheer the words.  Here is a list of over 40 different cheers that you can do in your classroom to help you students practice their words in a quick fun way.  Be sure to have your students say the whole word, cheer each letter, then say the whole word again.  I've been using these cheers for years in my kindergarten and first grade classrooms.  I introduce a few each week.  Then, when the kids know them all, I add them as a center activity.  The kids never seem to get tired of them!  Enjoy!

Here is the complete list:

Whisper It

Hand Jive

Raise the Roof

Disco

Throw the Stars

Mexican Hat Dance

Stomper

Motorcycle Dudes

Dribble and Shoot

Yo-Yo

Pumping Iron

Imaginary Chalkboard

Apple Picking

Robot

Tigger Bounce

Alligator Clap

Blast Off

Frogger

Back Tracer

Pat It

Boxer

Be the Letter

Hula Dance

Jumping Jacks

Toe Touches

Batter Up

Push-ups

Frisbee

Pitcher

Lumber Jack

Surfer

Swimmer

Movie Star Kisses

Opera

Fly Like a Bird

Funky Chicken

Nose Goes

Bang!

Cheerleader

Snapper Clapper

Ketchup Bottle

Volcano

Marshmallow Hands

Slow Motion

Ride'm Cowboy

Deep Voice

Mini-Mouse

Scream It

Click here to purchase.