Linkies, Products, and Rolling Carts - oh, my!

Today I'm linking up with Latoya from Flying Into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted linky.

This week's topic is the 3 most favorite places in your classroom. 

That’s so tricky!  I have had a tough time with liking the arrangement of my classroom this year.  I’m sad to say I don’t have many pictures to put up.  It seems like the first year in a new grade never leaves my room looking neat and pretty.

1. The first would be my business board. It is the hub of my daily operations!  This is a photo from the very beginning of the year.  I have everything on this board that I need to make the day run smoothly.  I keep track of transportation changes and notes on the white board, clip notes for other places underneath, and have all the daily schedule stuff for everyone to see. I also put up a lunch menu and hang out lunch order slips.  It makes it easy to tell a sub where to find everything needed to organize the day.                                           
   
   
2. My other place would be my tall bookshelf.  I built it with my husband to fit in my last classroom.  It has rows of magazine holders with all of my themes and topics that I teach through the year.  The kids do not take books from the shelf – it contains all of my books for teaching during the year.  It makes me happy to see everything organized and in rainbow color order!
   
   
3. The last place is my guided reading table.  It is in front of my window and I have all of my materials organized behind it.  I will take a picture tomorrow if I get a chance!

I have a new set of centers!  I prettied up all of my spelling centers that I keep in spelling pockets.  They look so cute now and my students are loving the new look.  Click on the images to pick up a set on TPT.

Here is the other piece of my spelling work in my classroom.  Click on the images to grab a copy of the activity sheets I use with my class.

 

I keep all of my materials organized in these envelopes and place them, along with my students’ lists in the crate.  It makes for a pretty easy system.

On another note, I picked up this cart on sale last summer and have yet to use it in my classroom.  I saw a bunch of teachers used it and had it in their blog pics. When I saw the price, I couldn’t help but pick it up. Any suggestions on what to use it for?

Have a happy Monday!

A New Product Giveaway!

Whew!  It’s been a crazy two weeks in my neck of the woods!  I have been playing around with updating some of the printable activities that I use with my students to practice spelling words. Click on any of the images to visit the TPT store.

Here’s the description:

 

My students are loving the activities and they are practicing many great skills using their spelling words!  I actually made a class set of each of the activities to have on hand in the event I need something for a substitute or for those days when you need something extra!

I will give away one copy of the new product to one person who comments.  The rules:

1. Share your favorite spelling activity in the comments.

2. Include your email address.

3. Entries close at midnight on Sunday.  The winner will be announced on Monday!

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I am working on making pretty versions of my spelling pocket materials.  I keep laminated activities to include in a plastic envelope from the dollar store with a whiteboard for students to use during centers.The idea of having instant center activities that were reusable seemed really appealing to the participants in my workshop a couple months ago and I thought it would be helpful to create a product including all the things I use. I’m all about simple! I will upload that sometime this weekend.

Have a great weekend!

Technology for Literacy Centers - Day 4

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Day 1: Organization of Centers and Tools for Centers 
Day 2: Listening Centers 
Day 3: Work on Reading 
Day 4: Work on Spelling
Day 5: Work on Phonics
Day 6: Word on Vocabulary

Day 7; Work on Sight Words

Day 8: Work on Writing


Can you believe that I had this post almost finished and lost it?!?  It was a HUGE post! As I had mentioned when I started all this, I am putting together a summer workshop and thought I would I think, to make it more manageable, I am going to split Work Work into 4 different areas of focus: sight words, spelling, phonics, and vocabulary.  Today, let’s start with spelling.  If you have any ideas or resources to add, I would really love to hear them.  Please link up to the Linky Party at the bottom!


1. Online Resources
Spelling City – This is a great site where students can type in their spelling words and then test themselves or load games to play and practice.  It is very motivating and the games are fun to try.

 

 

ABCYA.com  - has this wonderful activity where students can practice their spelling words using refridgerator magnets.  How fun is that?!?   There is also a wonderful games for students to practice spelling basic sight words.  Click onto he images to check them out.


Wordle

In Wordle, the more times you type a word, the bigger the word is on the final creations. Have students type their name five times so you will know who it belongs to and then the spelling words three times. The kids get to choose the word cloud they want to print out and take home! They love it and it's a fun way to go over individual spelling words.

ABCYA.com also has a version that is more kid friendly.

2. IPods and IPads
I have been fortunate to borrow a set of 10 iPods from our local educational organization that supports districts and teacher staff development.  I would love to order some for permanent use, but need to find the funding.  There are a ton of amazing and free apps from spelling available through the Apple Store.  Here are a few:

Primary Applications

Intermediate Applications

  Click on the sire below for additional applications and descriptions:
http://www.squidoo.com/free-ipad-apps-for-kids-spelling


3. Other Tools:
Talk Spots and MP3s for Spelling Tests

 

I have talked about the Talk Points and MP3s before, but I have also used them to record spelling words for students to take spelling tests.  They can also easily read their own words into the Talk Points and then take a test.  Older students could use Audacity or Garage Band, recording applications available for free to use.

Along the same lines, I recently purchased my very own iPad (love it to pieces!!!) and found a few nice recording apps to use.  They would make great tools to record a spelling test and have the students click to take the test during centers.