I have found (though the help of our OT) an awesome reading program to help student learn their basic sight words in a visual way that will help them commit the word to their long term memory!!!
Picture Me Reading!!!
http://picturemereading.com/
We just got the program in at the beginning of November but I am so excited to start to be able to use it with my students! Hopefully you will see some improvements in their sight vocab carry over to home!
Picture Me Reading!!!
http://picturemereading.com/
We just got the program in at the beginning of November but I am so excited to start to be able to use it with my students! Hopefully you will see some improvements in their sight vocab carry over to home!
Spelling practice suggestions
- Flower Words - draw a flower for each word, 1 petal for each letter of the word.
- Window Writing - use Crayola Window Markers (or dry erase) and write words on windows or sliding glass doors. They wash off easily and writing on windows or doors is so much more fun than boring old paper.
- Tub Spelling - use foam letters in the tub and stick onto the wall to make words.
- Penny or Coin Spelling - use pennies or other small coins to make letters and spell out words.
- Sing - Use whatever song or beat you like but a simple B-I-N-G-O like song & some clapping works wonders especially on that first day of practicing words. It really helps kids begin to remember those words.
- Hidden Spelling Words - on a white piece of paper have student write the spelling words using a white crayon. Once all words have been written use watercolors and paint to make hidden words appear.
- Glue & Glitter - Write out spelling words in glue and sprinkle some glitter on top. Glitter makes everything fun, doesn't it?
- Alpha-Bit Spelling - Use Alpha-Bit cereal, alphabet pasta or even alphabet cookies to spell words - this can even double as a snack when done reviewing if you use the cereal or cookies.
- Rap - Yes rap! This is so much fun and a great way to - S to the P to the E to the Double L, spells SPELL! Let them have fun with it and get creative. We always end up in fits of giggles and it really doesn't feel like homework.
- Make a Video - use the household video camera or even your phone to take some quick video of your child spelling the target words.
- Bounce a Ball - bounce a ball as you spell words - 1 bounce per letter.
- Jumpin' Jack - do jumping jacks as you spell words - 1 jump per letter.
- One of the strategies that I will be using this year while working with math is touch points. Touch points is a system of counting that transitions well will the students as they progress through the grades. It is a strategy that is not too obvious to others and quick to use. You can find more information about it at the following link. https://www.touchmath.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.how Let me know if you would like more materials sent home to support this strategy.
- Movement- Kinesthetic Learning -This week we did a lot of movements with our learning. First graders had fun making the letter shapes or movements for their spelling words, 2nd graders were able to use shaving cream to work on subtraction problems, and other students went hunting for shapes found in furniture around the room to feel and trace. Any time you can connect a movement to information, it gives your mind something more to grasp onto and helps it remember it later. With first and second grade, I have attached the long and short vowel sounds to arm movements.
- Tying shoes can be so hard! Here is a helpful video (from a past OTA) to give you some tips. This is also the way we teach in our classroom.