Step N Spell: Idea #335

If you're looking to practice sight words or spelling words, you should try the game Step N Spell. It is super easy to play:

1. Put the large plastic Step N Spell mat on a flat surface (the mat contains all of the letters of the alphabet).

2. One player calls out a spelling/sight word to the jumper.

3. The jumper jumps on the letters to spell the word.

4. Then the players switch roles as a caller or jumper. Keep playing until you have practiced all of the spelling/sight words.

You can find Step N Spell mats here. Make sure to have your students watch closely as fellow classmates jump from letter to letter on the mat to spell words. I hope your students enjoys this active game!

Quiddler: Idea #334

On this blog I have given lots of ideas for board games you can play to practice reading. What about card games? Try playing the game Quiddler. This is how you play:

1. This game is for 1-8 players and the game consists of eight rounds.

2. In the first round each player is dealt three cards. In the second round each player is given four and so on until the final round being a total of ten cards.

3. Each card has one or two letters on it with a certain amount of points.

4. Player 1 draws a card from the top of the deck or discard pile. Then Player 1 discards one card. When the player is able to use all of the cards in his hand to spell words, he may go out by putting the words on the table.

5. The other players then get to drawn one last time and must play as many cards as they can.

6. The scoring is done by adding up the points on the cards used in the words on the table and then subtracting the card value points not used. The player with the most words and the player with the longest word each get 10 bonus points.

You can buy this game here. Have fun playing!

Wingo: Idea #333

Ready for another awesome reading practice board game? Try the game Wingo. Here is how you play: 

1. Each player puts one or two boards in front from them. 

2. On the player's turn, he spins the spinner and chooses one of the blocks that matches the color of the spinner. 

3. If the player can play the piece he selects on a matching color spot on either of his boards to make a real word, he gets to keep it there. If the player can't use that block to make a real word, he must discard it.

4. The first player to fill up his board wins!

You can buy this game and find out more about it here. Have fun!

Chip-O: Idea #332

I just found out about a great reading practice game called Chip-O! This is how you play:

1.Deal four cards to each player.

2. Player 1 selects one card to play, reads it, and puts a colored marker on top of its picture on the game board. All players get a turn doing those three things (selecting one card, reading it, and putting a marker on the board). Each picture is found on the board twice.

3. The point of the game is to get four of your markers in a row, diagonally, vertically, or horizontally, while preventing other players from getting four in a row.

4. The winner is the person who gets four in a row first!

You can buy this game here. Have fun!

Color Short and Long Vowel Sounds: Idea #331

 

Looking for a fun way to practice long and short vowel sounds? Try out this fun online game called Color Short and Long Vowel Sounds. Here is what you do:

1. Go to the following website: http://www.turtlediary.com/grade-1-games/esl-efl-games/color-short-and-long-vowels.html

2. Click play.

3. Student chooses a long or short vowel sound color and paints all of the words that make that particular sound. For example, if your student clicked on Long A, they would click on the word plate and the other long A words.

4. When your student chooses the correct word, the computer makes a magic sound and then reads the word to reinforce it to your student. If your student chooses the incorrect word, the box will not be painted in.

5. Once your student has completed the game, they will have the option of playing the game again or a different educational game that pops up on the website.

Have fun!

Read Along Books: Idea #330

Remember listening to books on tape as a kid? Now kids listen to books on CD. Even better, Lakeshore Learning has created a Phonics read along kit. It is perfect for students just starting out on their reading journey. The kit includes books that focus on short vowels, long vowels, and vowel combinations. Kids love reading about Patty Cat and Tiny Tiger, along with other fun and interesting characters. Each kit has 4 copies of each book (perfect for a small group) along with a CD that reads the text. Kids love following along to the stories and learning just how one uses expression and becomes a fluent reader. You can check out the Read Along Books here. Have fun!

EZSchool: Idea #329

Time to try out a new website! Click on this to get to EZSchool. On this website you will find over 3,000 worksheets and 800 online drills. This website has e-books with reading comprehension and over 100 educational games. It also includes over a dozen tutorials and a year round spelling program. The activities range from Preschool age up through high school. English, Math, Science, and Social Studies are covered on this website, along with some languages as well. Go ahead and take a look!

Blends: Idea #328

It's time to practice reading blends! Take a look at this website to get your student excited to read blends. The website includes the following types of worksheets: 

          -blend word lists
          -fill in the blanks
          -configurations
          -cut and paste 
          -crossword puzzles
          -Scrabble word fun
          -alphabetical order
          -word slides
          -blend word books  
          -blends stationary
          -word searches
          -word wheels and more!

This website has a lot to offer. Have fun checking it out and utilizing the activities that best meet your student's needs!

ABC Fast Phonics: Idea #327

Looking for a website to help you teach Phonics to your student? Try ABC Fast Phonics. Here is what you do:

1. Go to: http://www.abcfastphonics.com/

2. Click on the topic you would like to teach your student. Topics on the website include: Sounds and Letters, Words, Consonants and Vowels, Blends, and Common Words. 

I like the website because first they explain the concept and then they give great examples to help the student understand it. Some of them even include a short game to go along with it.

Have fun checking it out!

Rolling for Vowel Digraphs: Idea #326

Time to practice vowel digraphs! Try out this great game called Rolling for Vowel Digraphs. This is what you do:

1. PREPARATION: Go to the following website: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_rA_RSZDbdOOTg2YTcxOGYtNWRhZS00NDcyLTk4YTItODg1OWNmOWNmMjYz/edit?pli=1

2. Print off the game.

3. Put your students in pairs. 

4. Give each companionship two recording sheets, a die, and a set of word cards.

5. TO PLAY: Player 1 rolls the die, then Player 2 has to read that amount of word cards to Player 1. If all of the word cards are read correctly, then Player 2 gets to write them on his record sheet.

6. Switch roles so Player 2 gets to roll the die and Player 1 reads.

7. The first person to fill up their recording sheet is the winner.

Have fun trying out this new game!

Digraph Puzzles: Idea #325

A fun way to practice digraphs is to use digraph puzzles. I found an awesome one on www.lakeshorelearning.com. You can check it out here. It is a perfect hands-on activity! The puzzles include a picture on top that gives a clue as to the letters needed below. Students must fit the puzzle pieces together to build the word using a digraph and other letters. Each piece of the puzzle represents a different sound in the word. The game comes with 12 puzzles. Have fun watching your student put these fun puzzles together.

Digraph Board Game: Idea #324

Teaching digraphs can be tricky, so why not try making it fun with a board game! This is all you do:

1. Go to the following website: http://www.kayedstudio.com/1/post/2012/06/freebie-5-initial-digraph-board-games.html

2. Pick one of the board games and download it.

3. You will need a die and game pieces.

4. TO PLAY: Player 1 rolls the die and moves that many spaces on the board. Player 1 then makes the sound of that particular digraph and says a word that begins with that sound. If Player 1 lands on a star, he gets to roll the die again.

5. After Player 1 finishes his turn, Player 2 goes. The first person to make it to the end wins.

Have fun learning those digraphs!

Vowels Worksheet: Idea #323

It's time for some more great worksheets that can be found online. When practicing vowel sounds with your student, try using this worksheet. I like it because it not only helps your student with fine motor skills, but also with relating the vowel sounds with pictures that go together. For example for the short and long a sound you will see an ape that wants to eat an apple. For the short and long e sound you will see an eagle wanting to be by its eggs. I think your student will enjoy the pictures and be able to remember the vowel sounds by thinking of these simple pictures. Have fun checking it out!

Ice Cream Challenge: Idea #322

When I was a kid our elementary school did the Ice Cream Challenge. The way it worked was the last month of school every student was given a page to write down the books they read. There was a space on the page for parents to sign off to verify that their child actually read the book. If you read 100 books by the end of the ice cream challenge, you got to put an ice cream scoop or ice cream toppings on the school principal. As a kid everyone wanted to participate and contribute. It was a great way to get kids reading. Maybe you could try something similar in your own classroom.

Dunk Tank: Idea #321

Get your student excited to read more with fun incentives. Give your student a chart where they keep track of how many books they have read. At the end of the month, rent a dunk tank and let your student dunk you once for every ten books that they read. You will have kids reading so many books. What a creative way to get kids reading...even if you do get a little wet!

Vowels are Sticky Letters: Idea #320

To help your students understand the role vowels play in the words that they read, share this short LeapFrog clip with them. It explains just how sticky vowels really are. They HAVE to stick to letters. You might even print vowels off on paper and tape them on glue bottles, as seen here. Once students have those vowel sounds down, it will be that much easier for them to take off in their reading! Every word has at least one vowel! Have fun helping your students succeed!

Magic e Wand Worksheet: Idea #319

When you call a silent e, magic e instead, it brings some excitement to the concept. Kids like thinking that a letter is magic. On this website there is a magic e worksheet available. In one column there are pictures of cvc words, the other column is blank. There is a magic wand just above the blank  column with several empty squares. Your student is to add a magic e to the end of the of cvc words, making a new word. Then there is room for your student to draw a picture of the new word. It is amazing how one letter can change an entire word. This worksheet allows your student to do some reading practice and even draw and color. How fun!

Silent e Sound Sort: Idea #318

There are so many ways to make practicing silent e words fun. Go to this website to check out a Silent e Sound Sort. After printing the two pages off, have your student put a silent e at the end of each word where there is a blank provided. Then have your student cut the words out on the dotted lines. Once the words are cut out, your student is to use page 2 to sort the words. Each word is either a real word or a nonsense word, your student has to figure it out and then glue them in the correct column. Have fun reading and watching your student learn those tricky silent e words!

Canned Sort: Idea #317

I just found another really fun way to practice silent e words. Try doing a canned sort. You can read about it here. This is what you do:

1. PREPARATION: Get/Make/Buy silent e flash cards and CVC flash cards. 

2. Get two cans (soup cans are fine). Label one of the cans 'Silent e'. Label the other can 'CVC words'. 

3. TO PLAY: Mix the silent e and CVC flash cards together and put them in a stack face down. Player 1 chooses the card on top, reads it, and puts the card in the correct can. For example, if the card said note, Player 1 would put the card in the 'Silent e' can.

4. Player 2 then has a turn reading and putting the card in the correct can. Players continue taking turns until all of the cards are sorted.

5. At the end of the game, the teacher dumps out the cans and checks student work. Teacher may ask students to read each word as she goes through the cans.

Have fun practicing!

Jake the Snake: Idea #316

Try playing the game Jake the Snake to practice silent e words. This is how you play:

1. PREPARATION: Go to this website and print off the game.

2. You will need: one die and a game piece for each player.

3. TO PLAY: Player 1 rolls the die, if he lands on a short vowel sound word, his turn is over. If he lands on a long vowel sound word, he gets to roll the die one more time.

4. The player that gets to the end of the snake first wins.

Have fun mastering silent e words!

Learning Games for Kids: Idea #315

Try out this really great educational website called Learning Games for Kids. You can find it at the following website: http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/. On the website you will see online games for kids in Preschool up to 8th grade. You will find Math games, Spelling games, Science games, Literacy games, Social Studies games, and even Keyboarding games. There are so many options and things to choose from. Give yourself and hour or two to look through the website and see all they have to offer. You won't be disappointed!

Silent e Movie: Idea #314

Looking for an exciting way to teach your student how to read magic e words? Check out this awesome movie found on youtube. The teacher in the movie explains how to make a magic e wand and make the vowel stand out with glitter. How fun! Who knew that learning about silent e could be so exciting!

Silent e Word Activity: Idea #313

Don't you just love awesome worksheets that you can download for free? Go here to check out the Silent E Word Activity. All you do is cut out the word cards and the magic e's provided. Make sure to glue or tape a magic e on a popsicle stick for each student. Your student then uses to the word cards to place their magic e stick at the end, making a new word. The student reads the new word they made and then writes it down on their worksheet. 

Students love having their very own magic e stick. It also helps so much with reading those tricky silent e words. Have fun!

Silent e Board Game: Idea #312

If your student is a visual learner and thrives working in small groups, you should introduce them to the Silent e Board Game. This game provides excellent practice with reading silent e words. Here is how you play:

1. PREPARATION: Go to the following website: http://r3600f11silente.wikispaces.com/Learning+Center+Activities. Scroll down to the section that says Silent e Board Game.

2. Print off the board game. You will also need: two dice, game pieces, and flash cards with silent e words.

3. TO PLAY: Player 1 rolls the dice and picks up a silent e flash card from the stack. Player 1 must be able to read the word on the card as well as the word without the silent e. For example, if the card said: cape, the student would also say cap.

4. If Player 1 can read the word with the long and short vowel sounds, they can move however spaces they roll with the dice. If Player 1 can't read both words, then they must move back one space on the board.

5. The first player to get to the end wins the game.

I hope your student enjoys playing this game!

Maze Madness: Idea #311

Are you trying to find a fun way to practice silent e words? You should check out this worksheet called Maze Madness. It is a simple maze worksheet where your student must help a boy named Mike get to the playground. If he comes to a word with a silent e, he must turn right in the maze. If he runs into a word with a short vowel sound, he must turn left. You can check out this maze worksheet here. Have an a-MAZE-ing time!

Vowel Boot Camp: Idea #310

When introducing vowels or vowel patterns, I like to use the Vowel Boot Camp videos found on youtube.com. They are very clever and get kids interested. I have listed below which vowels talk about which vowel patterns in the videos:

VOWEL A and VOWEL E- These videos talk about when two vowels are side by side in a word, the first one says its name.

VOWEL I and VOWEL O and VOWEL U- These videos talk about the silent e.

Your student will love watching these short clips. Not only are they humorous, but they teach the concepts well. Enjoy!

Magic e Adventures: Idea #309

Are you trying to find a way to motivate your student to read more silent e words? You should try playing The Magic e Adventures. I bet your student would love playing this online game. 

In the game a wizard has cast a spell on a prince and turned him into a frog. In order for the frog to get to the princess and turn back into a prince, the student must use the magic wand to drag or click on the silent e word that is heard. Your student will go through four levels (each one gets a little more difficult) in order to finally get to the castle. You can check out the game here. Have fun!

Silent e Song: Idea #308

Looking for ways to help your student master those tricky silent e words? Try teaching them the Silent e Song that I found here. The song goes to the tune of For He's A Jolly Good Fellow. Try it out:

The e jumps over the consonant
The e jumps over the consonant
The e jumps over the consonant

To let the vowel say its name!

If you want to print a large poster of the song, go here. I hope your student enjoys this useful reading tip!

Learning Lift-Off Game: Idea #307

Ready for another fun board game? Try the Learning Lift-Off with CVC words game. It is both exciting and educational. The game is for up to four players. To play, a student spins a spinner and moves on the game board. Then they answer a question on the puzzle piece and lift the piece to see the answer. Kids love this very hands-on game and best of all it's not very expensive. Check it out here. Have fun!

Magic e Activity: Idea #306

Is your student becoming quite the reader? Try introducing magic e words. A fun way to get them started is to do the following:

1. Make a list of about ten words that have a silent e. For example: pine, game, lone, Pete, cube.

2. Arrange them similar to the following worksheet: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVVpIW5AEnUkjZPxoXyWt-CY7RrK2wDvLFFiOQuqIOBLM4TCtLXrCbUAsMHWZAOU5OT-VNj3Eya1k_nGCvgpt5CWcJSPgyZtQ0-Y0w31r2SgvpT2Ww9o6U68eucXnlFC7fz33DVPUp1pu/s1600/magic+e.jpg 

3. Make sure that the letter e is spaced out from the rest of the word. Once your list is finalized, have your student cut it in half and fold the paper over to cover the silent e. You can see how they do it here.

4. Have your student read the three letter word first, then uncover the silent e and read the new word. For example, at first your student may see the word cap, but after the e is uncovered the new word is cape. 

5. See how fast your student can read the new words to you. Reading magic e words was never so much fun!

CVC Bottle Cap Activity: Idea #305

Looking for a cheap way to practice CVC words with your student? Try making the CVC bottle cap game. I am sure you have a bunch of old milk lids or plastic bottle caps lying around. On each bottle cap write a letter with a permanent marker. Then place all of the lids with letters on your student's desk. Tell them a CVC word and then have them spell it using their bottle caps. You could also show your student a picture of something and have them spell it using their bottle caps. You can see an example of this CVC game here, under Reading the Alphabet. Have fun using all your old bottle caps!