Finger Paints: Idea #284

Finger painting is a wonderful way for kids to use their fine motor skills and practice reading at the same time. I found the finger painting idea here. This is what you do:

1. YOU WILL NEED: A cookie sheet and finger paints.

2. Give each student a cookie sheet.

3. Put some finger paint on each tray.

4. Each student flattens the finger paint on their tray.

5. Say a word family word or a sight word. Each student writes the word on their tray using their finger.

6. Check each student's tray. If student spelled word correctly, give your student a thumbs up. If your student has spelled the word incorrectly, help your student figure out how to spell it.

7. Students then wipe their hand over the tray to clear it for the next word.

8. Continue giving more words until the practice is complete.

9. Have students wash their trays and their hands. 

Have fun!

Word Family High Five: Idea #280

A fun way to practice word families is to make something visual. Have your student trace their hand on a piece of paper. Then have your student write the word family of their choice in the palm of the hand drawn. On each finger have them write a letter to make a word in that particular word family. 

For example, if they chose the word family: -at, they would write: -at in the palm of the hand. Then they would write the letters: h, p, m, f, r on the fingers, making the words: hat, pat, mat, fat, rat. You can see an example of this here. Decorate them as beautiful as you want and of course have fun!

Wikki Stix: Idea #202

Hands-on activities are an absolute must when a child is learning. To enhance your student's learning, try using wikki stix. Kids love their texture and easy mobility. You can even buy them in fun colors. When practicing sight words, or any words for that matter, try doing this:

1. Write down 10-12 words you would like your student to master reading.

2. Print each word in large font on an 8.5x11 piece of cardstock paper.

3. Make sure to laminate each page.

4. Give your student one of the pages and have them use wikki stix to trace the word. 

5. Try quizzing your student on the words after they have traced three or four words. 

6. When your student has completed tracing every word, use the pages as flashcards and quiz your student on them. 

Your student will enjoy learning sight words this way!

Easter Basket: Idea #181

I love finding new sight word activities on the web. I found the following sight word activity on the website Making Learning Fun. Check it out:
 
1. Get a paper plate and cut out a handle as shown below.

2. Get a second paper plate and cut it in half.

3. Decorate and color the two plates.

4. Staple the two plates together or punch holes around the edge and lace it with yarn.

5. Print off the sight word eggs found on this website. Color them and then cut them out.

6. Put all of the eggs in the basket.

 
7. Parent/Teacher calls out a sight word and student must find the word in the basket. 

This is a great way to see what sight words your student knows. Your student will love taking home their adorable Easter basket. Have fun!

Sight Words in Sand: Idea #177

A fun way to practice sight words with your student is to write them in sand. You can use the sand on the playground or your classroom sandbox or even craft sand. You could try writing sight words in the sand a few different ways:

#1: Teacher/Parent writes sight words in the sand (with their finger or a stick) and then the student reads the words.

#2: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and then the student writes the word in the sand with their finger or a stick.
 
#3: Teacher/Parent hides each letter (written on cardboard or something similar) in the sand and says a sight word. Then the student must find the letters that make the word.

#4: Teacher/Parent  hides sight words in the sand (written on cardboard or something similar). Teacher/Parent then says a sight word and the student must find it in the sand.

This activity is great for reading and spelling sight words. Your student will love playing in the sand!

Play Dough Sight Words: Idea #176

Most kids love hands on activities. A great way to practice sight words is to write them in play dough.You could do this a few different ways:

OPTION #1: Teacher/Parent forms letters out of play dough to make different sight words and then the student reads the words.

OPTION #2: Teacher/Parent flattens play dough and writes sight words in dough with a pencil. Then student reads the words.

OPTION #3: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and then the student forms letters out of play dough to make that sight word.

OPTION #4: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and the student flattens the play dough and writes the word in the dough with a pencil.

OPTION #5: Teacher/Parent prints off each sight word in large font on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper and laminates them. Then teacher/parent holds up one of the papers, student reads the word outloud and traces it using play dough. 

This activity is great for reading and spelling sight words. You could also try using letter cookie cutters and spring colored play dough to make it a little more fun!

Word Family Pancakes: Idea #175

Kids love pancakes! Why not try practicing word families by flipping some pancakes? Here is what you do:

1. Decide on the word family you would like your student to practice reading. I chose the -at family.

2. Make a list of the words in that word family. The words should be simple enough for your student to read. My list had these words: bat, cat, hat, sat, fat, pat, rat, mat.

3. Count the number of words you wrote and then cut out that many circles. Color the circles yellow to look like a pancake.

4. Write each word on a different circle.

5. Then draw or tape a picture of the word on the back of the circle.

I got my pictures from www.clipart.com.

6. Draw or print a frying pan for your pancakes.

I found these printable frying pans here.

7. When you are done making your pancakes, you should have about 8-12.

8. Your student is to look at the side of the pancake with the word on it first. Once they read the word, they flip the pancake. When your student sees the picture on the back of the pancake, they will know if they read the word correctly.

This is a great game for your student to do independently or during center time. You could even give your student a real frying pan and spatula to make it more fun!

Sticker Sight Words: Idea #174

Kids love stickers! A fun sight word activity is covering the letters found in the words with stickers. This activity can help with not only reading but also spelling. This is what you do:

1. Write the word or words you would like your student to practice in bubble letters.

2. Give a copy of the word to your student.

3. Give your student stickers to cover the word. You can have them cut the stickers to make them fit into the letters.

OR you could just have them fit the stickers the best they can inside the letters.

Your student will love making these and they turn out really cute. Have fun!

Spring Fun with Sight Words: Idea #171

Did you know that today is the first day of spring? In order to motivate your student to learn more sight words this spring, you should use this fun bunny rabbit page. Here is what you do:

1. Print off this page found on the following website: http://www.speechtherapyideas.com/2011/04/18/easter-bunny-activity-with-free-printable/

2. Write in a different sight word on each bunny (or have your student write in the words). 

3. Have your student read the sight words to you. Each time your student can read a sight word, let them color the rabbit.

4. Have your student read the words to you a second time. As your student reads each sight word to you, give them a cotton ball.

5. Have your student read the words to you a third time. As your student reads the sight words to you, have them glue each cotton ball on the bunny's tail.

This is a great way to motivate your student to practice and master their sight words. Have fun and happy spring!

Sight Word Watches: Idea #170

I just found these AWESOME sight word watches online. They are perfect for helping your student learn those especially difficult words. If you go to the following website: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MoffattGirls/time-for-sight-words-the-bundle you can find a book full of these watches.

On each page of the book you will find a page similar to the one below. At the beginning of the week, when you introduce a new sight word to your student, give them a watch with the corresponding word to decorate and wear. There are four watches on the page so that each day of the week (M-Th) you can give your student a new watch to decorate and wear. By Friday, your student should have the new sight word mastered!

http://kindercraze.blogspot.com/2012/10/time-for-sight-word-watches-giveaway.html

 I hope your student has a great time learning sight words!

Grouchy Leprechaun: Idea #166

It's so fun to put holidays into your teaching. St. Patrick's Day has a lot of fun aspects to it: clovers, green, luck, pot of gold, and my personal favorite: leprechauns. Leprechauns are supposed to be so grouchy. I loved watching my students draw an angry leprechaun's face for St. Patrick's Day. Here is how you can make it into a reading practice activity:

1. Print off a picture of a leprechaun that does not have a face.

I found this worksheet here.

2. Get out your sight word flash cards, or any special words that your student needs practice with.

3. Show student a card, if your student can read the word on the card, your student can draw one thing on the leprechaun's face (a mouth, an eye, an eyebrow, etc).

4. By the time your student has read about ten words, the leprechaun's face will be almost finished. Let your student be as detailed as they wish. 

5. When the leprechaun's face is completely drawn, you can continue showing your student flash cards and allow them to color in one thing on the leprechaun's face each time they read a card. If you don't have the time, just let your student color the entire leprechaun face.

I hope this gets you excited for St. Patrick's Day!

Sight Word Bracelets: Idea #164

Kids love bracelets. Especially the rubber ones that say things like: "WWJD" or "Just say no". Kids love to admire the beautiful bracelet on their wrist and show it to everyone. So, why not make something that your student will look at all time and help them learn sight words? Try to making a sight word bracelet. Here is what you do:

1. Cut out a strip of paper. I used white paper, but you can use whatever color you would like.

2. Make several boxes on your strip of paper. There should be enough boxes to write the sight words your student needs to practice. 

3. Write a different sight word in each box.

4. Color the strip of paper the way you desire. I drew shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.

5. Staple or tape the ends of the strip together to make the bracelet. Make sure that the bracelet is not too tight or loose on your student's wrist.

Your student will love showing off the bracelet. Encourage people to ask your student to read a word on the bracelet. Your student will see the words all day and will practice reading them. What an excellent way to help with sight word reading!

Pictographs: Idea #150

In order to help your student learn those tough sight words, try making pictographs. All you do is turn the sight word into a picture. The picture drawn should give your student clues as to what the word is. Check out the following picture for the sight word and.

The letters seem to come together to help the picture tell the story.
You can find other pictographs similar to the one above on the following website: http://picturemereading.com/pictograph_examples.html.

After making sight words into pictographs your student will be able to recognize sight words based on the pictures that were made.The words will truly begin to come to life to your student. Sight word practice will become more enjoyable. You could even post them around your classroom or make the pictographs into a book.

I made a couple of pictographs on my own. I hope this gives you some more ideas of what you could do.

What a fun way to practice sight words!

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!

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!