Alphabet Printable Activities

Hello!  It's that busy time of year we all love as teachers.  Everyone is ready to run out the door including yourself to get all the holiday errands and shopping done.  I know...I know.  It's hard to keep the little ones motivated in these last few days of school.  Especially my little kindergartners who could not wait to see what presents they would get or what trip they would take.  This time of year it's hard to teach any new concepts and it's a great time to review some concepts that some of them may be struggling with.  

   I have some ideas to share to help you get through the holidays.  Here's one that I have always used to keep my students motivated during center time.  These alphabet puzzles were always a hit with my preschoolers when I worked with that age group and my kindergartners.   I keep them on hand when I need to keep my students motivated through the holidays.  You can grab them here for free.

One other activity that I have also used to reinforce the alphabet is this one.  

We can never get enough practice identifying the lowercase letters b and d.  And I'll let you in on a little secret.  This free pack has silly glasses the kids can make to help them remember the difference.  Color them red and green to make them go along with the holiday or add some fun holiday stickers.  They are learning and having fun. Instructions are included.  Grab this freebie here.  

If your spend a little time grabbing this freebie....don't forget to check out this game that goes along with it.  And guess what?  It's free too.  :)  

Before I go...I wanted to share with you two other activities that I've just recently added that would make great morning work, center activity, items for the substitute folder, or just something to add for students to do right before or after a holiday activity.  Just a warning...these are not free but very affordable.  :) You can grab it here and here.   

Have a wonderful holiday.  

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The Teaching Bug

What to do when a student is absent!!! Classroom organization tip

  

I wanted to share with all of my readers a little tip that I have found so helpful for me when my students are absent from school.  I've helped a friend this past summer set up her classroom and she wanted something different to help with her students who would be absent. She is returning to the classroom after several years and I shared these absentee folders with her. She said "Great, can you make me some?"  Of course, I obliged and the best part I'm sharing a free cover with you. Stay tuned...below.  :)  

 You know the drill at the end of the day one of your students has been absent or has been absent for a week and you get a call from the office asking if you have any make up work for that student to complete at home.  Well as a matter of fact I do...but wait it's piled somewhere on my desk.  And you know how your desk can look at the end of the day.  So, I've come up with this idea.   It's so easy to prep ahead of time before the first day.  We love easy to prep right??? My hope is that you'll find it helpful too.  I know what you are thinking ...What if I don't have desks in my room....no problem find a wall and attach them with velcro under your whiteboard or on the back of the door.  And best part is if you don't want to make one for each student in your class....make 5 of them and just write their name on the folder and erase as you go.  I made a couple of spare folders you know for those folders who just don't make it through the year.  :) 

So here's how it's done.  First, you take a sticky note and place it on the center of the desk.  After applying the sticky note grab some packing tape and lay two pieces over the sticky note to protect it from falling off.  

Second, grab a round circle (or any shape) of velcro and attach it to the center of the sticky note that has been taped.  

Next, head to the Dollar Store and grab packages of 9x12 brown folders with clasps . Don't you love the Dollar Store?   Grab enough for your classroom and a few to spare.

Then, print out this freebie :)  and add them glued to the center of the folder.  After gluing them in place go on down to your laminating machine and laminate them for durability. You can click on the picture to grab your own cover.  Right here...

 After laminating take an Exacto knife and run along the opening of the file folder to open the folder.  

During the first day of school we talk about classroom expectations and organization.  All of that fun stuff just to get our school year started off right.  We talk about how we use these folders and then I show them how they work. I take out my sample folder and show them where they are placed on their desks and then explain what we do if a student is absent.  So for example if  I passed out papers then their paper will end up in their folder.  The responsibility is shared with my students.  Best feeling ever is when a parent shows up or the office calls looking for the student's work all I have to do is hand them the folder and say there you go.  I love the surprised look on their face when they see the quick response.  And I love having one less thing on my desk.  ;)  

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The Teaching Bug

How to build a Positive School Year in your Classroom

We are headed back to school very soon and each year we start off building a positive classroom community where all the little learners feel a part of my classroom.  Here are some ways that I use to make a positive classroom environment. 

1.  Share a First Day of School Story 
    One of my favorite stories to read with my students is the "Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn Read .  It is hard sometimes for me to get through it but somehow I muster up the courage to read it without crying myself.  :)   For my students who might be a little worried about their first day I also share Wemberly Worried. 

2.  Discuss Classroom Rules                                                                                                               

Usually my youngest students are so surprised when I tell them we are going to create rules for our classroom together.  Before I begin our rules discussion I share a book called "Back to School Rules" with them so we can direct our thoughts on appropriate rules for school.  

3.  Participate in a get to know you activity                                                                                   

This is my favorite part of my back to school activities.  It gives me as a teacher a glimpse into who my students are and what they like.  It is also provides me a picture of how this new group of students will work together in the classroom.  I usually start my lesson with a chart of get to know your teacher.  I have a chart prepared about myself usually with prompts ready like (pets, husband, kids, books I like, etc.) so my interview questions stay focused. 

Some of the activities I use with my students are fun and interactive.  For my little learners who aren't able to read yet I use a cupcake activity with pictures so they can learn about one another. 

 

For my older students when I taught 3rd grade we would use something a little more geared for their age.  Emoji's are a hit with older kids.  This get to know you activity allows students to be broken up into small groups and then work together as a group to spin a spinner and find someone in the classroom that fits the spin they made.  They are working together to fill their recording sheet to learn more about their classmates.  After a certain time they can switch the spinners to gather more students names.  I would have the groups go to marked tables with the spinners and then switch after a certain amount of time. 

 

  4.  Get to know your school
Another important thing I feel is necessary to do with my kindergartners is to teach them about the school they are in.  How do you do this?  Well I try and make it fun by giving them a little scavenger hunt .  Later in the week I buy some fun gingerbread man cookies and then tell my students we had a special visitor come to our classroom to teach us where the office, gym, nurses office, etc. are in our school.  Part of making my students feel a part of the school community is allowing them feel comfortable with their surroundings.  This activity is perfect for that.  A little bit of easy prep work by placing the cards in the spots prior to the school day and then placing our gingerbread man on the board...this activity is a hit with my students. 

 

 

5.  Establish Routine                                                                                                               

One of the most crucial things I feel will build a positive school year is establishing a routine in the classroom.  We are creatures of habit with routine.  Establishing a routine in the classroom is important for students to know what is expected from them each day they enter the classroom.  Less stress and chaos is the key part of establishing routine. 

 

 Wishing you all a happy and positive classroom school year! 

 

 

 

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The Teaching Bug

Back to School and a Freebie-Week 3

Back again for a little sight word freebie and back to school celebration.  I wanted to share one of the ways we review sight words at home.  This is a quick and easy review to do right before bedtime. 



First, we lay out all of the words we are working on.  I don't typically give more than 10 at a time to learn.  I turn all the cards over and my kiddo is ready to play. 

Second, the cards are flipped over and if my kiddo reads it right then it goes in their pile....if not the card is mine...ha ha ha (evil laughter)  just kidding.  :)  Of course that adds a little competition to it so they can beat mom. 


Finally the cards are tallied up and sometimes I even throw in a few that we have already mastered just to make sure they are still on the mastered list. 

And now for the freebie.....a little more apple fun with Pre-Primer sight words.  Enjoy.  Head on back next Sunday for the final back to school freebie. 

Have a great week. 

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The Teaching Bug

Back to School and a Freebie -Week 2

Alright week 2 of our Back to School celebration! How is everyone doing? Just a little tired....I am by the end of the day. September is spent getting routines down and classroom policies in place . Once that is all done and learned then we can get started on the real heart of the curriculum. Last week, I shared with you a little sight word freebie and this week I am going to piggy back

on that and share the next part of my sight word piece by adding a little reading and highlighting to our sight word recognition. This freebie (click on freebie picture above)is allowing the students to read the sentences and color the apple where the word is found in the sentence. If you are looking for more sight word activities head on over to my Pinterest board (click on picture of my board above )and you will find all kinds of activities using sight words and all the other little goodies I have found for teaching.

Have a great week!

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The Teaching Bug

Back to School and a Freebie

Saying farewell to summer is always hard for me. The carefree days are slowly pushed aside with schedules, time constraints, and a new start. Don't get me wrong I love what I do...I just cherish those carefree days. I wanted to celebrate a few things as we all headed back to school.

Over the summer I reached a milestone in my TpT store and I thought my great blog readers deserved something free. To celebrate back to school I decided to share some freebies with all of you every Sunday throughout September. So come back every Sunday this month and pick up a freebie. All this month I am going to give you a little sight word freebie. At the end of this collection of freebies one lucky reader will win something new I am working on. I know you will like it. Here is a question for you: Did you know that sight words make up 50-70% of the words found in a text? I truly believe that a student with strong sight word recognition will become a successful fluent reader. Now, that is not the only component of reading. Many other skills are equally as important. Click on the picture below and grab your freebie. And a continued thanks for following me. ;) See ya next Sunday.

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The Teaching Bug