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Sunday, November 2, 2014

Interactive Short Vowel Books

Hip Hip Hooray!!!  I finished all of the interactive short vowel phonics books (finally!)  -  I missed my deadline of the end of October by one day, but at least I made it before we change the clocks back.  I can't wait to share these with you so that you can share them with your students.  So here is the big reveal ;)

There is a book for each short vowel (CVC) and they all have the same layout.  They are also in an easy to construct layout - you just copy, staple and cut.  There are two books to a page - the pictures in this post show a constructed book.  Each book has a cover page:
On the first page (although the pages can be put in any order) the students are asked to sort cards by the word families.  There are three options for this sort: all pictures, mixed pictures and words or all words.  In the picture below, I used the mixed pictures and words option:
Then, the students are asked to sort cards by whether they have the short vowel sound or not.  There are also three options for this sort: all pictures, mixed pictures and words or all words - as you can see, I am a fan of the mixed option (:
Thoughts so far?  My students loved these two pages because they were cutting and gluing right into their little book!
On the next page, the students are asked to draw a line matching the picture to the word.  I like this page because it shows that they can read the word and that they understand what that word is.
The next page is similar to the previous one...this time the students paste the matching word underneath each picture.
 This next page was my students favorite page.  One sweet student said that it was 'tricky for her brain'... I love first graders!  The students have to unscramble the letters to make a word, then they have to color the picture that matches the word that they just unscrambled.
Are you still with me?  I know it is a lot but this book can be completed over the course of a few days or all in one sitting...it's up to you!
On the next page, the students read each sentence and draw a line to the matching picture.  The students colored their pictures after they matched...but I was a little lazy in my sample (:
The next page is similar, this time the students read the sentence and add details to the picture so that it matches the sentence.  My students got a real kick out of my fan - I guess drawing is not my thing!
Phew!  There are still more --the next page is a simple page in which the students fill in the blank with a word to finish the sentence so that it matches the picture.
This next page is one of my favorites - my students can always use extra practice on rhyming words!  The students read the word in the top of the box and color the pictures that rhyme with that word.
We made it to the last page!!  This one really puts the students' understanding of the phonics skill to the test because they have to read a short passage and show understanding of the passage by coloring parts of the picture.

Voila!  And those are the pages in each interactive short vowel phonics books.  The answer keys are included at the end of the file.  My students absolutely loved this little book - especially since they were able to take it home when they were finished with it.  There are many different ways to use it in the classroom - I used it as a brief review of the skill at the beginning of my small groups.

I would love to hear your thoughts!!  Based on the response to these I have hopes of making interactive phonics books for blends and long vowels (CVCe).

Hooray!  Now I am going to sit back and cuddle up with some hot chocolate - I feel like this cold weather came out of nowhere!!  Click on the picture below if you would like to grab the file - it's on sale for this weekend only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Short-Vowel-Phonics-Books-CVC-1529208


Have a great weekend (:


Saturday, November 1, 2014

November Currently

Two posts in one weekend... mark it down in the record books!!  But I couldn't pass up the November Currently post with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade - plus, I am already curled up with the computer in my lap - so why not??


Listening
I am curled up by the fireplace and loving the sound.  I cannot say that I am loving this cold weather though.  Where in the world did it come from?  I feel like one minute it was beautiful outside and then BAM the cold weather hit.  Ugh.

Loving
I L.O.V.E. Thanksgiving.  The family, the food, the football, the food, the games, the food...did I mention the food?  I can't wait for some mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole all mixed together with some turkey!  Mmmmm....

Thinking
This month is going to fly by!  This week is a four day week (Election Day is on Tuesday - teachers have to go, but no students), the following week is a four day week (no school for Veteran's Day), the week after that is a full week and then the last week in November is only two days (Thanksgiving break).  Where has all of the time gone??

Wanting
I had a whole two trick-or-treaters.  Yea, I know it was hard to handle all those kids.  But now I am stuck with all this leftover candy and I do NOT need to be the one to eat it.  Maybe I will go give the leftovers to the neighbor kids.

Needing
I need to get a head start on my Christmas shopping this year because I always wait until the last minute.  Not this year!  I am going to make a plan and get started on it early so that I can enjoy the days before Christmas.

Reading
I picked up the book 'Orphan Train' and just started it.  So far I like it!!

That's what I'm doing currently...how about you??  Happy November (: