Magic Reading Glasses: Idea #123

A fun way to get your student excited to read to you is to make them some Magic Reading Glasses. You can make them out of construction paper or cardstock. You could also buy some at the dollar store (just make sure you take the lenses out). 

These glasses are to be used when your student needs some motivation to read. Make the glasses bright and fun so that your student will be extra enthusiastic about wearing them. Try not to use them every day. This way the glasses will be even more special when they are put to use.

I found this glasses pattern on the following website: http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/crafts/masks/star-glasses.htm. I cut them out, colored them, and decorated them with glitter. The glasses turned out cute. I would advise you to print the glasses on cardstock so they are durable. You could even let your student decorate them if you would like! 

Letter Magnets: Idea #122

Letter magnets are great teaching and learning tools. They are wonderful for practicing letter sounds, sight words, word families, fry words, etc. If your student is a tactile learner, they will love using magnets. Here a few ideas of what you could do with your letter magnets:

1. LETTER SOUNDS: Place all of the letter magnets at the bottom of the white board or refrigerator. Tell the student a letter sound. Student must find the letter and move it to the top of the board or refrigerator. This is an excellent way to see how quickly your student remembers the letter sounds. It is also a great way to see which letter sounds they may need to practice more.

2. SIGHT WORDS: Place all of the letter magnets at the bottom of the white board or refrigerator. Tell your student a sight word. Student must find the letters and put them in the correct order to spell the word. Sight words are more difficult to spell, but it will be interesting to see what your student can do just by seeing the words multiple times in reading.

3. WORD FAMILIES: Place all of the letter magnets at the bottom of the white board or refrigerator. Tell your student a word family (for example the -ap family or the -et family). Student then makes words that belong to that family using the magnets. They may surprise you with the amount of words they come up with.

You can practice any words your student struggles with by using these letter magnets. Make sure you have more than one of each letter. You will need them! If your student is doing a really good job, reward them. Let them draw a picture of the word they spelled on the white board. 

Since your student is using their hands to actually make each word, the word will stick with them. They will remember more of their sight words in their reading because of this simple exercise. I hope your student enjoys the letter magnets!

Rhyming Words: Idea #121

When your student gets to a word in their reading that is difficult, help them by saying a rhyming word. By doing this your student must do two things: practice their rhyming skills and look at the beginning letter of the word.

For example, if your student was trying to read the word kite and they were having a hard time sounding it out, you might say, "This word rhymes with light." Then the student must think of all the words they know that rhyme with light: bite, fight, height, kite, might, night, quite, right, sight, tight, white, etc. Your student knows the word begins with the letter k, so it must be kite. This is a great way to get your student thinking instead of just being told, "It says kite." They have to put forth more effort and they are more likely to remember the word the next time.

Here is a list of some common words in children's books and their rhyming word:

1. where..... hair
2. are..... car
3. do..... shoe
4. for..... sure
5. go..... so
6. here..... tear
7. like..... bike
8. look..... book
9. my..... tie
10. said..... bed
11. play..... day
12. we..... key
13. to .....you
14. what..... cut
15. who..... zoo

Have fun reading!

Animal Sounds: Idea #120

As your student begins to read more difficult words, it is good to have some tricks up your sleeve to help them out. Every child has learned the song Old MacDonald Had a Farm and knows the sounds that animals make. Try using animal sounds to help them read.

For example, if your student is trying to read the word neighbor, you might say, "What sound does a horse make?" The student answers "Neigh", and then proceeds to sound out the rest of the letter sounds in the word neighbor.

Here are some more examples of words that have animal sounds:

A horse says NEIGH as in:
neighbor
neighborhood

A cow says MOO as in:
mood
moon
moose
move
movie

A sheep says BAA as in:
back
bad
bag
bam
ban
basket
bat

A cat says PURR as in:
perfect
pearl
purse
purple
perm
purpose

An owl says WHO as in: 
who
whom
whose
hoot
hoop

A crow says CAW as in: 
cob
coffee
coffin
call
calm
come
cop
car
cost
cot
  
I am sure you can think of even more than the words found on this list. Have fun! 

Pizza Party: Idea #119

Does your student still have problems reading certain sight words? Or any particular words for that matter? Try motivating them with a pizza party! Here is what you do:

1. Write down the words you would like your student to master.

2. Print off a picture of a pizza (or make one out of construction paper). I found my picture here: http://pad2.whstatic.com

3. If you wrote down four words, cut the pizza into fourths. If you wrote down eight words, cut the pizza into eighths and so on. 

4. Each time your student masters one of the sight words, write the word down and add a piece of pizza.

5. Once your student has learned all of the words on your initial list, your student has earned a pizza party!

The best part is, you can eat some pizza too!

Books with Repetition: Idea #118

Books with repetition are great confidence builders for struggling readers. Books with repetition do the following things:

1. Repeat the same words over and over

2. Follow a specific pattern

3. Make the next word on the page obvious to the reader 

4. Many times have a rhythm

5. Have pictures that give clues to what the words on the page say

6. Easy to memorize

7. Especially fun for beginning readers

  

Take for example Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? On every page it asks the same question to different animals. Then the answer format goes as follows: "I see a (color) (animal) looking at me." Your student will of course look at the picture to figure out what the words say. Kids catch on to the pattern quickly and then are able to read the story on their own. What a great way to get them reading!

Many board books are repetitious like Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Check out the list I found here: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/childrens-repetition . Scholastic also has a great list here: http://www.scholastic.com/tbw/viewBooklist.do?dp=%3D%3FUTF-8%3FB%3FYm9va2xpc3RJZD05OTg1NDImc2hhcmVkPXRydWU%3D%3F%3D.

Your student will enjoy reading these books with repetition. What a fun way to get your student progressing and feel like a reader!

Reading Pointers: Idea #117

Did your student love using the plastic witch finger yesterday? Kids love to use reading pointers. This morning I have done a little research on reading pointers. They are great to use for beginning readers. Most importantly kids feel so special using them, even pointers that aren't super elaborate. I have complied a list of ten different kinds. The last idea is my personal favorite. See which one your student likes best!

1. Reading pointers made with sparkly pom-poms, wooden rods, and hot glue:
http://lovehugsandladybugs.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-07-29T13%3A14%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7

2. Pencil with a topper: http://earlyliteracyconnection.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

3. Hobby Lobby Reading Wands: http://mrsmccumbeesclass.blogspot.com/2011/07/daily-five-choices.html

4. Popsicle sticks: http://blessedtoteach-katherine.blogspot.com/2012/08/monday-made-it-and-target-finds.html

5. Fingasaurs: http://mstremlsteachingblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/fingasaurs.html

6. Holiday popsicle pointers: http://krazy4kinders.blogspot.com/2011/01/cheap-pointers-for-reading.html

7. Foam Sticker Pointers: http://campkindergarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/reading-pointers.html

8. Hand Pointers: http://www.learningresources.com/product/hand+pointers,+set+of+10.do

9. Highlighter Pointer: http://buzzingalonginfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2011/09/pointers-for-reading-groups.html

10. Light-Up Pens (my favorite!): http://www.raymondgeddes.com/67429-spring-garden-light-up-pen.html?gclid=CKnTq5rsg7UCFYp_QgodDTkAcg

Reading pointers will get your student so excited to read to you. Have fun!

You could even use something as simple as a straw!

 

Witch Fingers: Idea #116

Does your student sometimes give you attitude when you ask them to read a story? Do they roll their eyes and drag their feet? Sometimes they just need a little extra encouragement to get them started. You should try using plastic witch fingers. Kids LOVE them. 

The plastic witch finger can help your student point to each word as they read. It can also help them not loose their spot in the page. Since the witch finger has a pointy fingernail, it can be used to follow each letter of a word. If it is not too distracting you might try glow-in-the-dark witch fingers for your student to use. If your student does a really good job reading you could give it to them. That would definitely get them reading more at home. 

Check out some witch fingers here: http://www.amazon.com/Block-Buster-Costumes-Witch-Fingers/dp/B00362QSBO. 

Have fun watching your student actually get excited to read to you!

Fish for Sight Words: Idea #115

I hope your student has enjoyed the sight word games on this blog. These games help students get faster and better at identifying sight words. It also makes learning the words fun. 

Do you remember the magnetic goldfish game in elementary school? Well, kids still love to play it. Try playing it with your student for extra sight word practice. Here is what you do:

1. Find a fish cutout template online (or use construction paper and cut the fish out freehand). I found this one on the following website: http://www.projectsforpreschoolers.com.

2. Choose the words you would like your student to practice and write them on the fish. Then decorate the fish and cut them out.

3. Put a paper clip on each of the fish.

4. Make the fishing pole with the following items: a pencil, string (I used a shoelace), and a magnet. All you do is tie the string to the pencil and then glue or tape the magnet at the end of the string. 

5. To play the game your student takes the fishing pole and fishes for a word. Once they get a word, they must read what the word says. If they can read it, they can keep the fish. If they don't know the word, they have to throw it back in the water. The game ends when they have finished reading all of the words. 

 

You can play this game with more than one student. Students just take turns fishing. Whoever has the most fish at the end is the winner!

Have fun practicing sight words with your student.

Sight Word Caterpillar: Idea #114

It is fun for students to see how many sight words they have learned over time. A great to keep track of the sight words your student has learned is to make a sight word caterpillar. Here is what you do:

1. Print off a cute caterpillar template (or make your own). I found mine on the following website: http://therapyfunzone.com

2. Each time your student learns a new sight word, add it on to the caterpillar.

3. Hang the caterpillar on the wall. As your student learns more sight words, add another circle to the caterpillar. Let your student write the word they mastered in the circle and then let them decorate it how they would like! It will be exciting to watch the caterpillar grow all around the classroom! This is also a great way to be constantly reviewing sight words.

Learning sight words has never been so much fun!

Roll A Sight Word: Idea #113

Is your student having difficulty with a few sight words? Every time they see those words do they draw a blank and get discouraged? Maybe you should try the Roll A Sight Word game. It is a great way to motivate your student to master those tough sight words. Here is what you do:

1.Print off a cube template. I found mine on the following website: http://www.freebeemom.com/2010/04/05/photo-cube/

2.  Fill in each box with a sight word that your student is currently struggling with in their reading. You could also write ANY words your student has difficulty reading.

3.  Cut out the cube and then tape it together.

4. Make a Roll A Sight Word worksheet. I have explained the worksheet to the right.

1- Title of the worksheet


2- Place for student to put name


3- Lines are for student to write in total number of times they rolled each word

4- This is where your student colors in the amount they rolled each word


5- The sight words


6- The color your student needs to color each sight word on the graph






5. This is what your student's worksheet may look like when it is completed:

I found this cute idea on the following blog: http://kindergartencrayons.blogspot.com/2011/03/roll-word-game-to-build-sight-word.html

  

6. To play the game all your student does is roll the sight word cube. The word that your student rolls, they need to read and then graph on their worksheet using the appropriate color. Once they have rolled one of the sight words seven times, the game is over. 

You can also play this with more than one student. The first one to roll a word seven times, wins. Have fun watching your student learn these words!

Read it Again: Idea #112

Kids love to listen to books over and over again. That is how they first learn how to read. They see the words read to them. They see how letters form words. They see how a sentence goes across a page. They see how words have meaning. They see the pictures telling a story. 

Reading stories over and over again can help your student see words and almost memorize them. It also helps with comprehension, without them even realizing it. It gives them a chance to eventually read a book that is above their reading level because they are so familiar with it. It is an excellent way to build confidence. Try it with your child. They'll love you for it.

Reading-With-Kids.com: Idea #111

Check out this awesome website: http://www.reading-with-kids.com/. You will find great books, reading games, reading activities, ABC coloring pages, and holiday fun. Your student will love playing games like Bingo, Memory, Hidden pictures, and Silly Sentences. Have fun checking out the wonderful things this website has to offer.

Graffiti Wall for Kids: Idea #110

A graffiti wall is a common method used in teaching to get students to express their concerns and opinions. Students don't literally write on the wall, but there are posters set up around the classroom where students can share their views on certain topics. For example, there might be one poster entitled 'Dress code' and another poster 'Field trips' and so on. Students then have the opportunity to walk around to all of the posters and write ideas and feelings they have about the topic. It is a great way for kids to express their emotions freely.

Since this blog focuses on younger children learning how to read, I have come up with a simpler way of doing a graffiti wall to meet their needs. Here is what you do:

1. Get 5 poster boards (you can also use butcher paper). On each board write a different letter at the top. For example, you might write the letter A on one board and the letter S on another board.

2. Hang up the 5 posters around the classroom.

3. Give each student a marker (or several markers) to write with. 

4. Students are to walk around to the different posters writing words they know that begin with each letter. For example, at the A poster, one student could write: a, at, an, and, am, are, etc. As another student walks by the poster, he/she may add to the list: as. They can write the word however they would like: fancy, big, tiny, etc. Just like an actual graffiti wall.

5. Every student must go to every poster writing words they can read/spell. Once they have written on each poster have them sit down.

6. When the students are finished, take down the posters. Read the words written on each poster together, as a class for extra practice.

Kids will enjoy writing on walls and using markers. Have fun seeing what your student knows.

Paper Window: Idea #109

Another way to help your student practice word families or sight words is to make a paper window. Here is what you do:

1. Get an 8.5x11 piece of paper.

2. Fold it in half hamburger style.

3. Fold it in half again.

4. Then fold the paper down.

5. You now have eight sections on your piece of paper.

6. Fold in the two outer sections so that it sort of opens up.

7. Cut one slit on each section that you folded in. Make sure you cut along the fold.

8. On the squares on the outside, write word families or words you want your student to practice.

9. If your student is making a practice words window, have them draw pictures when they open each window. If your student is making a word family window, have them write the words that go in that particular word family.

10. Your student will write or draw in each window to show their knowledge of the word family or the practice word. 

They will enjoy making their paper window and will be learning at the same time! What a fun way to get your student to read.

Word Family Flowers: Idea #108

When your child understands word families, the reading really comes along. Word families help one learn many words all at once. For example, if your child knows what sound -og makes, they already know the words: log, dog, fog, hog, jog, etc. A fun way to teach your child word families is to make a word family flower. Here is what you do:

1. Print off some flowers, or draw them yourself. Just make sure the flowers have at least five petals.

I found this worksheet here: www.allkidsnetwork.com.

2. Have your student write the word family you would like them to work on in the center of the flower.

3. Have your student write words that go with each word family on the petals.

4. Have your student color the flowers, cut them out, and glue them on construction paper.

Check out more: http://www.activity-mom.com/2011/06/flower-word-garden.html

Your student will love this art project. They get to write, color, cut, and glue. They will beg you to learn more word families so that they can make more flowers. Have fun! 

Sticky Head Game: Idea #107

I am sure that the title of this post alone caused you to want to read on. The truth is, I just don't know the name of this game, so there you have it. The sticky head game is fun for kids and doesn't take too long to play. It is a great way for kids to practice their sight words or any words for that matter. You will need at least six kids for this game to be fun. Here is what you do:

1. PREPARATION BEFORE GAME: Teacher counts out one index card for each student. So if there are 6 kids, you need 6 index cards. If there are 20 kids, you need 20 index cards.

2. On each index card write a sight word. Make sure that each sight word is on two index cards. For example, if you only had 6 cards you might write: she on two cards, said on two cards, and the on two index cards.

I actually cut the index cards in half...kids have small foreheads!

3. TO PLAY: Teacher/parent tapes a card on each student's forehead so that the word is facing out for others to see. Students are to find the other student that has the same word on their forehead.

4. When students go around to classmates, they read the words on their foreheads, until they figure out who has their word. This is not a quiet game.

5. When students find their match, they sit down together while the rest of the students find their partner.

This game is great because students are practicing their reading skills and are also trying to read quick so they can be one of the first to find their partner.

I have found that kids get really excited about this game. You may want to set some rules before they start playing, but have fun!

Nursery Rhymes: Idea #106

Did you know that having your student memorize nursery rhymes actually helps them read better? Did you know that "experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re 4 years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re 8." (quote found on the following website: http://writingtosanity.com/nursery-rhymes-help/).

Nursery rhymes are fun and easy for kids to learn. They are easy to memorize because they have a predictable outcome, good consistent rhythm, and of course they rhyme. Kids love the stories and especially the characters. It stretches their imagination. Some of them are quite clever and funny. 

Nursery rhymes can expand your child's vocabulary because they learn new words like: tuffet, curds and whey. It's also a great way to introduce poetry to your child early. Nursery rhymes have been made into songs as well, making them even easier to learn. Check out Dr. Jean's nursery rhymes cd here: http://www.quill.com/dr-jean-feldman-cds/cbs/220339.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_220339.

Here are a some of my favorite nursery rhymes: 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush', 'Hey Diddle Diddle', 'Hickory Dickory Dock', 'Hot Cross Buns', 'Humpty Dumpty', 'Jack and Jill', 'Little Bo Peep', 'Little Miss Muffet', 'Little Boy Blue', 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', 'Old Mother Hubbard', and many more. You can find a list of them on wikipedia.com.

Check out this website for more information on nursery rhymes and why they are so beneficial for your student to learn: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education-news/2011/10/11/how-nursery-rhymes-can-help-children-learn-91466-29571675/. 

If you want to check out some great nursery rhyme videos, go to youtube and type in: Nursery Rhymes 1983. This could also be a great way for your child to learn them.

They will have more fun learning these rhymes than you may think!

Pre-K Pages.com: Idea #105

Okay, it's time for me to share another wonderful website. The website is called Pre-K Pages. There are many great things on this website. You can find: assessments, center ideas, ideas for classroom management, literacy, math, music, schedules, worksheets, teaching tips, technology ideas, themes, and even workshops. It would be worth your time to look it over. 

As far as helping your child learn how to read, under the Literacy section there are great ideas for teaching your child the alphabet, how to make class books, worksheets, nursery rhymes, phonics, reading workshops, sight words, and WORD WALLS! I like the games, ideas, and explanations on how to teach concepts. Things are explained very simply and direct. 

This website is a great resource for all parents and teachers. Check it out: http://www.pre-kpages.com.

Word Wall: Idea #104

A word wall is an organized collection of words that are largely displayed on a wall or chalkboard or bulletin board. Word walls mainly include high frequency words, sight words, names, hard words, or any words that seem necessary for a student to frequently see.

A word wall is also nicely organized in alphabetical order. This makes it easy for a student to make the connection of which words start with same sounds. The student also kind of memorizes the location of words on a word wall so that when it comes time to write a sentence, they can use the word wall as a reference.

Word walls help kids recognize tough words in their reading and see patterns between words. They can also help students with spelling and reading practice.

Try using a word wall with your student. Maybe start with a few simple words and then add a few more each week. 

Check out some great ideas on word walls here: http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/word_walls/words.html 

I hope this helps your student!

Sing-Along Songs: Idea #103

Sing-Along movies can help your student identify new words. Sing-Along movies are typically made for kids to learn certain songs. I like them because when your child is supposed to be singing a particular word, the word lights up on the screen. This helps your child make the connection of how the word looks to how it sounds. 

Kids love to watch movies over and over again. This repetition could really come in handy for learning words. Plus, they get to learn some fun songs. 

Check out Disney's Sing Along Songs here: http://www.youtube.com/user/DisneySingAlongSongs. After your child has learned a few songs, maybe you could reward them with a karaoke night. How fun!