Maximize Your Letter and Word Wall's Potential: Is it a tool or a decoration?

Do you have a letter or word wall?  Did you even know there was a difference?

In preschool, a letter wall is used instead of a traditional word wall. The focus is on the initial letter and letter identification.

According to the State Center for Early Childhood Development from the University of Texas, a letter wall is a visual display of the alphabet with a key word picture for each letter. It is used as an interactive tool to expose young children to a variety of concepts throughout the school year. Every word on the letter wall is accompanied by a picture representation.

A letter wall is different from a word wall. Word walls have been traditionally used in elementary grades to help students with reading, writing, and spelling. They may include sight words or high frequency words with no picture.

Letter and Word Walls, when used appropriately, can become a vital tool for building vocabulary, early reading and writing skills. A word wall will consist of the same things as a letter wall except you may not have a picture to represent each word. For example, it is very difficult to illustrate the words: the, and, etc.

Essential components of a letter wall:
1. It needs to be practical
2. Hands-on and interactive
3. Prominently located where students can see it and manipulate it
4. Simple font and a picture for every word
5. Built over time with shared student-teacher responsibility
6. Uncluttered

A letter wall that students cannot see or manipulate becomes another classroom decoration.  

Laminating words and using Velcro is a very easy way to help make your letter wall interactive. In a bilingual class, best practice is to have two separate letter or word walls, one for each language.

When I taught a bilingual preschool class, I had all the Spanish words on a red background and printed the initial letter in red.  The English letter wall had a blue background with the initial letter of each word printed in blue.   The color visual helped my students identify what language a particular word was written in, and helped them identify what letter wall to refer to on different language days.

 

Spanish Letter Wall

 

English Letter Wall

Letter/Word Wall Potential

For early learners, letter walls can facilitate their understanding and awareness of distinctive letter forms, letter names, the concept of words, basic letter-sound correspondence, initial letter sounds, and the idea that words can be written down.

Letter/word walls promote vocabulary growth which lead to improvement in literacy skills, including reading comprehension and writing.

Space for letter/word walls can sometimes be a challenge due to the many things displayed around the room in addition to essential furniture and stationary items such as white boards etc. Watch this video to see how this teacher found a very practical solution to that problem. Her idea is simply genius!

Keeping It Going

Most preK-5th grade teachers have a letter or word wall in their classroom. What I notice is that sometimes as teachers, we get in a rut and run out of ideas of ways we can have students interact with the letter/word wall in a fun and meaningful way.

Last year, a friend and I sat and brainstormed different ideas for using the letter wall.  We created a resource for teachers to keep handy to help them avoid the letter wall rut and monotony. This resource can be printed and kept on a ring readily accessible.

 

Download your copy of Letter Wall Games, Transitions and More Printable Cards right here and revitalize your letter/word wall today.  I hope you will find it useful and helps you maximize your letter wall's potential.

 

All in the Family

Hey yall! Natalie here from Teachery Tidbits.

 

My kiddos have started learning about a tricky little thing called fact families.

Anyone else's kiddos struggle with these???

 

I wanted to make it fun and interesting for them, so I started out by introducing them to the Fact Family.

 

 

We discussed how the Fact Family are kind of snobby and only like to be with themselves. They don't like to let anyone else into their house.

We talked about how, since Daddy is the biggest, he will always be the biggest number. Mommy will be the middle number and Baby will be the smallest number.

 

We practiced a ton with these family cards that I made. Click on the picture below to snag them!

 

 

 

After lots and lots of practice on fact families, they are finally starting to get it! They really connect with the daddy, mommy, and baby {or doggy}.

 

But then we decided that they needed a house to live in!

So, naturally, we made them some!

 

 

They turned out so cute! I love how they are all just a little bit different :)

We didn't use any patterns, just kinda winged it, but it worked out great!

 

So...how do you teach your kiddos about fact families?

 

 

 





Gettin' Techy with Facts!

Hi Friends! Is your February zooming by like mine? Oh my word - where is 2014 going already?! 

Today I'm here to share something fun I've incorporated in my classroom, with an at home extension! 

My district's adopted Math program lacks basic math fact skills - big time! So, last summer I set out to create a program to use.  

This sequential program takes the students through 30-problem basic math fact tests, one fact family at time.  By the end of the program, they will master their facts! 

 

I keep track of my students' progress with this yummy display! Since we're now in the middle of the year, the kids have filled up those cookie jars quite a bit! 

                               

All materials can be easily organized in a plastic file box. 

                                                

I've included labels that will make finding levels easy for the kids.  

                                           

You can keep track of students' levels with the progress chart.

                            

But, wait! I haven't shared the best part! 

To help kids learn these facts at home, I created an app for the iPhone/iPad. 

When I was creating the paper & pencil program last summer, I kept hearing parents' voices in my head saying, "How can I help my child practice these facts at home?" As teachers we usually suggest games, flashcards and even educational apps we've come across that work well. 

  

So, I had a grand idea to create an app that mirrors the program! 

There are two modes of play: Timed & Practice Play.

If a child is working on passing Level 3 in the classroom, then they can simply practice Level 3 on the app! The exact same math problems are in the classroom version, as the app version! 

Once a child chooses a level to play, there's a quick countdown screen.  

Below is a screenshot of Level 1. It clearly shows the child which level & problem they are on.  The cloud in the corner counts down from 2:30.  In practice play, the screen looks the same, but there's simply no timer! 

If a child can successfully complete 30 correct problems in 2:30 minutes or less, they earn a "cookie" in their jar.  The cookie dances around the screen and jumps into the jar! 

I would LOVE for you to pass along the app to your parents, colleagues and even your own children! If you love it, please leave feedback in the App store! I suppose if you don't love it, you could leave feedback too :) 

If you'd like to snag the Smart Cookie Math program, I've put it on sale for the day! Head over and snag it! {There's also a Smart Cookie Multiplication version if you teach those "big kids!"}

Enjoy the rest of your month! 

Lucky to Be in First

Mini-Moments #2 ~ tiny teachable times

Hi there!  It's Lisa from Second Grade Stories... although there haven't been many "stories" to tell around here lately, considering we've barely been in school!  I went back and figured out that since Christmas break - waaaaay back on Dec. 20, we haven't been in school a full week... nope, not once.  There have been delayed openings, early closings, holidays and just plain snow days.  All of this missed time makes every minute we're with our kiddos important.  This brings me to

graphics by Krista Wallden; fonts by KB fonts and Hello Literacy

I blogged once already over at my place about ways to enrich your morning calendar time with TONS of math practice.  Today we're going to focus on how to get the most out of lining up and waiting (in line to leave the room, to go into an assembly, for specials to start...)

1.  Line up with "oral" exit slips.  I know many teachers use exit slips - written answers to short questions - as a way to end the class.  And I use them, too.  I'm especially fond of post it notes, which I can organize and save for future planning.  But sometimes - especially in the lower grades - writing ANYTHING down is another 10 minutes process.  So, I ask students to respond orally, as they line up.  For example, when the objective for the lesson was to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction texts, everyone lined up one at a time by telling me one text feature for fiction or nonfiction.  We've lined up (or put away Daily 5 books) by sharing what the setting was from the story, naming a character trait and giving support, whatever goes with your lesson.  The same is true for math.  Ask students to line up by giving you a number with 6 in the tens place (you can differentiate by asking for 2,3, or 4 digit numbers), ask for a subtraction sentence with a difference of 8, a key word that tells you are adding in a word problem, etc.  The possibilities are endless!  And sometimes it really is eye-opening to know who can answer when you're discussing in a group, and who has trouble when they're put on the spot. 

You can use this strategy when you have a few minutes waiting in line, as well.  Ask everyone to name a famous American, something that is a liquid, an even number bigger than 50.... anything you want.

2.  Task card questions:  This one can be used as you line up, or while you are waiting in line to leave for an assembly, while everyone gets back from the bathroom, etc.  I always have a set of task cards on a ring by my door.  One is math and one is grammar/spelling/phonics.  When we have a couple minutes in line, I'll take them out and ask the question.  EVERYONE is responsible for thinking of the answer.  Sometimes I'll hand a card to each student (you can differentiate again here, depending on the card you give a particular student) and have them give me the answer.  (You can do this as they line up , as well!)  I keep one set of cards for each month.  I haven't used them for a full year yet, so I cant say if last year's February ones work for this year, but it's easy to go in and change the question on the cards to match what we are learning about or need practice in.  I'm sharing my February cards below, just so you can get an idea of what they are like.  maybe they'll work with your kiddos!  Click on the image to download.

3.  And, Not and Or:  This one is not related to a specific academic skill, but it is an important language skill - and gets students to listen carefully, too!  I use it mainly to line up.  I know many teachers use statements like, "Line up if you are wearing a blue shirt," to keep everyone from getting in line at once.  I take that a step further - how about, "Line up if you have a dog AND it is small."  Or, "Line up if you have a tv in your kitchen, but NOT in your bedroom."  You can make the statements related to the season, holiday, a topic or just random.  It's a great way to also find out more about your students - something that is so important.  When you do this with math, it opens a whole new area.  For example - "Name me a number that is even AND is greater than 50," or "Name me a number that has an 8 in the ones place OR the tens place."  Lots of thinking going on here!

4.  Silly Voices:  This one is a quick and easy activity for when you have an extra minute or two, but not enough to do something more in depth. It's simple - but it probably ranks as my students' favorite "mini moment" activity.   Give students a task, and have them respond in a silly voice.  Try, "Count by 10's starting at 42 in a robot voice."  Or, "Spell ____ in a mouse voice."  Students can respond in unison, or you can ask specific students to do a particular task.   If you can't think of voices off the top of your head, ask your students!  Or keep a list on an index card somewhere.

I hope I've given you a few ideas to get the most out of your "teachable time."  What creative ways do you have for those mini moments?

 

Prove It: Bringing 21st Century Thinking and Writing Skills to the Primary Classroom

Hi all!  It's Tamra and Sarah again from First Grade Buddies!  We wanted to share with you a bit about how we have been bringing critical thinking skills into our 1st grade classrooms.  Our BIG focus this year has been having kiddos using writing to share their thoughts, prove their understanding, and support their ideas.  Our kiddos had generally been able to do this orally, but needed to be trained to do it in a written format.  We want to share a few resources we've created to help us "train" our kiddos to evidence based writing skills.

Our first resource is our Reading Passages with Written Responses Requiring Text Evidence.  We LOVE using these in small groups during guided reading time.  Our kiddos LOVE using highlighters while we work on them!  As part of new Running Records we do this year, our kiddos are required to complete 2 written response comprehension questions.  These reading passages have been a great tool to help our kiddos get used to form of writing.  

We start by reading through the passage together as a group.  The passages are not leveled, so we give support based on the needs of each group we meet with.  After reading the passage, we look at the comprehension question.  We think about what information we will need to answer the question.  Then, we go back to the passage and highlight all of the information that will help us with our answer: names, phrases, key words.  When we make it back down to the question, kiddos can more easily respond to the answer by using the parts they highlighted in the passage.  And 2 bonuses: the kiddos can spell correctly because they are looking back the highlighted words and they get practice to the strategy to look back in the passage for information - a great strategy loved by the upper grades!

We created 3 sets of passages to help our kiddos gain independence.  The passages start with lots of  guidance, then we lessen the guidance, and finally, kiddos respond to the prompt independently.  Click the pic to see it in our TpT store!

You can also grab a FREEBIE sample of 3 passages with each type of scaffolded responses.

We use about one passage a week in our guided reading groups.  However, we also practice written comprehension questions with our guided reading books too!

  We took the question stems from our Running Record books and made them into general prompts that could be used for any book.  

Here are our kiddos working on a response prompt!  The primary composition journals are GREAT for our reading groups!!  They have a picture top and nice primary writing lines at the bottom.  They work so well for doing written comprehension.

Another resource we have just created for the classroom are our Prove Yourself! prompts.

Sadly, we don't have any kiddos work samples for this new tool because we've had 3 snow days this week!  We did get to use some time before the snow came to work in the classroom and get the journals ready.

We're using some spiral bound notebooks we've had since stocking up in the summer (knew they would finally come in handy).  Glued in the front of the notebook are sample responses kiddos can use as a "frame" to respond with a complete thought where they share their idea and give proof, or support their thoughts.  We've got a FREEBIE sample from this resource too!

At home, we use our homework routines to help parents continue to support their kiddos with these thinking skills.  We want parents to have an idea of what thinking skills their kiddos are expected to demonstrate in the classroom.  This is our Homework packet: 

Here is a FREEBIE sample of the differentiated reading passages and the comprehension page!

We use our Family Message Journals to continue to encourage writing at home.  In the beginning of the year during our Curriculum Night, we explained to parents how their kiddos should be responding to the prompts.  We helped parents to understand that we don't want just a simple response, like : "I want to be a teacher."  Rather, we would like more evidence...why do they want to be a teacher?  Here is a great kiddo sample.

As part of the journals, we tell parents they have to respond to the same prompt on the back of the page.  It is a great way for kiddos to see their parents writing too!

What do you do in your classroom to encourage kiddos to show evidence of 21st Century thinking skills?