Character Pumpkins and State Notebook

Character Pumpkins were amazing.  We picked a vocabulary word to define on our crowns and celebrated our pumpkins in the vocab parade!

I created this explosive 111 page freebie for my postcard exchange.  The file includes several picture tutorials on creating different notebook artifacts.  I've included all sheets in color and grayscale.  Also included are links to resource websites and book recommendations.  

Arrêté après des centaines de graffitis sur des trains.

... grâce à l'exploitation des sites internet, les enquêteurs de la sous-direction régionale de la police des transports (SDRPT) identifient un individu ... (L'express 26/10/2011)

OVIOL - SKULL

GRAFFITI - BCK CREW

PALO - MOBS UR

INOK - CXK MHT - SWITZERLAND

KILLUMINATIS

OSIM

GRAFFITI SPOTS

WOSIX

GRAFFITI ON TRUCKS

An Inch Deep and Mile Wide Just Wont Do

My second article, An Inch Deep and Mile Wide Just Won't Do, was published with Really Good Stuff.  This article explains the importance of vocabulary instruction.  

 Click the image to link to the article.

This month, I'm working on Vocabulary with the book: A Boy Who Loved Words.  Although a bit challenging, the story was a fantastic read.  I love watching the kids use STRONG descriptive words in their writing.  A kindergartener told me they were voracious as he walked in line to the lunch room.  ADORABLE!!!

Each of the kids in our school were given a word book to jot down (vocab from BOM) and develop their favorite vocabulary words.  I created vocabulary cards using words from the The Boy Who Loved Words.  As I introduced each word during the read aloud, the kids searched through their bags to find the word and glue them into their word books.  It took nearly three days to complete the story.  After a week break, we revisited the the book of the month today. I read through, stopping at each of the vocabulary words.  The kids called out the correct word  as I paused.  They can read the vocabulary word in isolation.  I now know they understand the meaning in the text.  I asked for the meaning or a synonym for each of the vocabulary words.  Without hesitation, the kids were able to answer.  My heart is aflutter with excitement!

After our lesson, I had the kids look determine what they loved the most.  They looked up the definition in the dictionary and leaned how to use the thesaurus. We described what we loved with great vocabulary.

I've included the vocabulary picture cards and link a few great lesson ideas #1    #2    #3 for  The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter.

The Boy Who Loved Words Vocabulary

MUSLIM BORAT - end2end

GORILA - TO X-RAY NOACH

THE CREW

GRAFFITI OMG

2T CREW

1UP - ONEUP

Rockin with Doubles

Its the Doubles Rap, Baby!  We are diving into doubles and near doubles in class.  Nearly a year ago, Heidi Samuelson from Swamp Frog First Graders posted a video tutorial on creating an iPod case out of an envelope for your flashcards. You can link here to see her post.

I gave each of my kids the doubles rap to place in the "screen" of the iPod.

Once the doubles rap was glued on the sealed envelope, the kids colored a border.  This allowed for a visual of where they should cut the the top off.

Technology is powerful.  The kids love their iPod case and are eager to pull out their math facts.  

I'm including a copy of my flashcards and the Double Rap.  Enjoy!

Doubles Rap Saoud

Update 10/17/2013 {Crazy, exactly two years later}...  Now that I've looped up with my darlings, I have a new group to create rockin' doubles iPods with!  

Today we listen to Harry Kindergarten's doubles video.  You must subscribe.  All the videos are AMAZING!  ... and probably not a big surprise for most!  

This year, I gave each child a menu button...

iPod by PrimaryGraffiti