I find that these activities are engaging for students because they do have to think a little harder. It's easier for them because it's the alphabet and chances are you have an alphabet strip on their desk or around the room as an already built-in tool to help them!

Using word families to increase the number of words a child can master is very effective. Instead of learning a couple of words per spelling pattern, a child can learn many more words without much extra effort, making it an efficient way to learn new words. I have always had my students make new words with magnets, rubber stamps, dry erase markers,...whatever we could find. Well, now we need to do things a little differently. Making words with Google Slides is a great way to achieve this method of word work in our new distance learning world.
Learning to read can be difficult so beginning with words that follow a particular pattern is a less confusing way to help our younger students learn to read. Word families or 'chunks' provide that predictable pattern and since the words rhyme, it makes them fun to read!
I hope this making words pack will help you with your distance learning challenges. Click here to get your free packet.
You are wonderful and your students love you. Keep fighting the good fight and stay safe!

Well, you have had a chance to check out the awesomeness of the Osmo Gaming System at its best in my classroom. (If you haven't seen it yet, head on over to check it out!) It is great for word work, math, and creative thinking. 
Well, now is your chance to get this educational tool up and running in your room. Just follow the Rafflecopter directions and cross your fingers and cross your toes for good luck! Some of the entries can be earned if you share every day, so don't miss out!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Hi guys! I wanted to show you a new, exciting, educational tool that I am now using in my classroom. It's called OSMO and turns an iPad into a hands-on learning tool that has my kids totally engaged! 

We really love the Words game and the best thing is that I was able to create pictures and sentences that would help my kids practice their very own spelling and vocabulary words. I have a list of the words they are to choose from. It is an amazing tool that uses cooperation and a little healthy competition to make learning fun!






Making your own words is easy too. All I did to make words for my own kiddos was go to Osmo and set up an account.  I made the pics on my computer and then just loaded them onto the site.

Not only are there word games, but there is also a tangram game and a creative thinking game that is a great way to get kids thinking and working together. 


Have more questions? Check out the Osmo FAQ page for more details. 
I highly recommend you scoop up an Osmo if you can get your hands on one of these awesome gadgets! Your kids will love you for it!  

I had the privilege of trying out an awesome product from {Smilemakers}. I received it over the summer. It took me awhile to get all my routines rolling, but I have it up and running in my room now. 

I have this awesome tool at my word work station. Each week, I switch out the strip of pictures for the kids to make the ladders. They love seeing the new pictures for the new week! Check out this video of one of my cuties making new words by changing letters!

I knew I was going to love the {paint stick and notebook word work activities}, but I just didn't know how much! My kids absolutely LOVE using them and they are so engaged as well! They have been working their little hearts out!

We are coming up on compound words on our spelling words and I have wanted to pull a fun activity together for my kiddos.

Well, I finally got it finished. I have been searching for clip art to help me with this project forever! At least it seems like forever. 

I think I am going to put Velcro on the rainbows and clouds so the kids can match two words to make the compound word. 

I also thought I might put the clouds in a pile and play a type of 'go fish' with them. The kids divide up the rainbows then take turns choosing a cloud. If the card chosen is one of the words to make their compound word, they keep it. The one who has the most completed rainbows wins!

I tried one of the ideas I found on Pinterest at my Word Work station and it worked really well. The kids had a blast too!

I posted the spelling words (so the kids wouldn't practice spelling them wrong) and they wrote them with their magic writer . . . a white crayon. I popped single colors out of water color sets for the paint. I didn't want a bunch of brown papers! I guess the red looks a little ominous though! LOL 

After the sharing is done, no papers! The kids just clean off their boards and they're ready for the next group.

Have a Rockin' day tomorrow!

This summer, when I was in Chicago, I found this awesome modeling compound that is AWESOME for my word work station. It is great to help kids learn by doing. 
Check this stuff out! It reminds me a little of Moon Sand, but it doesn't fall apart like Moon Sand.
Here is the Bubber in a 'blow up' sandbox. It's really cool because it has a cover that has Velcro around the edges, so you can close it up really easily.




I got these cool stamps from Lakeshore and have been wanting to use them forever. I just don't want to mess with play-doh because it dries out. I tried clay, but it was too hard for the kids to press into.






Voila! Isn't that neat? The kids were totally engaged while playing (aka learning) at the word work station! That's what it's all about!