FREEBIE! Meet Your New Best Friend in the Classroom—Making Words!

Hey there, teacher friend! Happy New Year! I love January with my First Graders...the growth really accelerates by leaps and bounds once January hits! It's exciting to see. I still have a few more days of vacation but wanted to share one of my favorite classroom activities with you: Making Words! 

I did speed it up so you I could show you my words. Can you guess my thought process?  I can hear my Firsties saying, "I just used the digraph -ck!"  Every time I made a plural word, I envisioned, "Yes! She added the s to make more than one!"  I love how this engaging hands-on activity is like their own second dose of Fundations for the day!

I’m excited to show you why (and how) I use this game-changing tool that will make your teaching life even more amazing—and I have 13 FREE January/February themed Making Words ready for you to print out today and share with your class.

Do you have lots of magnetic letters? If so, you can make this activity center below as a year-long area for your kids to get more practice making words. My kids are always there...even during their Free Choice time.  Kids like to go in groups of 2 or 3 and just write messages or play school and practice sight words.

Here's a picture of one student using the Making Words Center to leave me a message.

They often write their parents a message and send it home via Seesaw. One parent even replied using refrigerator magnets and sending a message back to her child. Fun!

So, what's all the buzz about? Well, let me tell you how this tool is going to take your classroom to the next level of engagement and learning. Promise! 

What is Making Words?

Making Words is a hands-on, interactive learning resource that allows students to practice spelling, phonics, and vocabulary through word-building activities. The best part? It's completely adaptable for your classroom's needs. The FREE January/February Making Word packet comes with 13 Make-a-Word worksheets. While I don't use all 13, I do use, at a minimum, eight.  One per week where kids work together and then 1 per week that we do together.  I use magnetic letter on the board that they come up and manipulate into words and write down on their worksheet. (Or use Doc camera if you don't have letters.)  NOTE: I do add others to Free Choice time and send home when kids request them...which is often. Families do together.  Fun!

Making words is like a word puzzle, Fundation lesson, and a learning adventure all rolled into one. What’s not to love? 

If you do this:

then there is a very high probability that you will LOVE making words with your class!

Why You’ll Love It

1. Endless Fun with Themes Galore!
   With 13 Making Words per monthly packet, there’s a fresh word-building challenge for every month—and let’s not forget the holiday themes! From Pumpkin Spice words to Winter Wonderland vocabulary, your students will be excited to create and learn with each new theme.

2. Simple Setup, Big Impact
   You don’t need a PhD in lesson planning to get started. Each packet is designed for quick, easy implementation, saving you valuable time. Just print. That's it! Plus, with the activities aligned with the K-3 curriculum, you can quickly integrate them into your existing lessons without skipping a beat.

3. Helps with Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary
   Making words isn’t just a fun activity—it’s a critical literacy tool! Your kiddos will master phonics skills, improve their spelling, and expand their vocabulary all while playing and collaborating with their classmates. 

4. Perfect for Small Groups & Independent Work
   Whether you're working with small groups or letting kids dive into independent learning, Making Words has you covered. It’s versatile enough to use in a variety of ways. And the best part? It’s not just something your students will do once. They can revisit it again and again—making it a year-long valuable resource.

5. Boosts Confidence and Builds Creativity
   When students start creating words from scratch, something magical happens—they feel empowered! It builds their confidence and fosters creativity. Seeing a student light up when they’ve created a new word or finally recognize and can spell that Trick Word in Fundations, is an unforgettable moment that shows how powerful this tool is.

6. Helps with Differentiation
   You’ve got a class full of diverse learners, and Making Words is designed with that in mind. Whether they’re beginners or more advanced, it meets every child’s needs. Plus, the variety of words offered means there's always something new for everyone to explore!  

Why It’s a Must-Have for Your Classroom

Alright, let’s get real. We know that as teachers, you’re constantly on the lookout for tools that save time, maximize engagement, and boost learning. Well, guess what? Making Words checks all of those boxes—and more.

It’s a one-stop resource that will provide hours of educational fun throughout the year. Imagine the smiles as kids dive into themed word-building challenges, the high fives when they spell a tricky word, and the excitement of learning through play. Can you say "classroom gold"?

But don’t just take my word for it—this tool has been crafted with teachers in mind, and I can’t wait for you to see the difference it makes in your classroom.

How I Use Making Words in My Classroom:

1. Pick out a Making Words Sheet and gather your kids on the carpet area.  You can either use Magnetic letters or cut our the letters.  Either way, I do prefer kids to actually move the letters around to make the words.  Ask kids, "Can anyone make a word out of these letters?"

2. Record words on board. 

3. I often guide students who lack confidence. "Dan made the word at.  Look at the word, Sarah. If I put a C in front of -at, what is my new word?"  

4. Repeat the above and if students don't mentions diraps, plurals etc, guide them. Help them make those connections.  Point to the Word Wall area and remind kids to make those words too.

5. Group Work: Once a week, while kids are eating snack at desks, I will whip out a Making Words.  They can eat and think at the same time! 

6. Independent Time! When kids are ready to work without me, I will let them work independently at times but OFTEN in a group.  They make/record words together.

7. Share Words: Halfway through, I get everyone's attention and ask if anyone wants to share a word.  This is the best part. The kids love to show what they know.  The student says the word as I write it on the board.  I tell the kids that they can add this word to their own paper if they want. Most do. 

My colleague uses these Making Words activities but does NOT have kids cut the letters out. Personal preference. Do what's best for your kids.  I do have kids store words in a snack baggie so they can work on their words throughout the week.

In the beginning, the words in First Grade start off as mostly 2-3 letter words but that really changes fast.

Side Note: A few years ago, our First Grade Team was concerned that so many of our kids struggled with RHYMING WORDS for the first time.  A downward trend that I feel was reversed by Making Words. 

Are you up for a new activity in 2025? Grab your Making Words set today!

Happy teaching!

Little Voters in Training: Exciting 2024 Election Printables for Kids!

I'm excited about a product that I finished tonight and since it's on sale for $2.40 at the moment, I wanted to highlight it here. I think I'm extra excited because I'm usually making things like this last minute.

Here's everything that's included...

I love asking my kids to interpret data collected and I often do it by asking them to include one true and one false statement about the data like I did on the Tally/Graph page. Often this is tough for some of them at first but through modeling for them and for each other, they become quite adept at doing it.

I have the short reading passage above, So You Want to be President, (that I'll be reading to my students) and then doing the second version of the sheet here: Chit Chat with a Chum.  Yep.  The answers are verbal only.  Of course if you have independent readers, your students can complete the one with written responses.

Who doesn't love wearing a crown?  I've included a girl and bot version here AND colored as well as black and white options. To be clear, I have my students color their in. I include color for myself OR if I feel like giving one to a colleague so they ca join in the fun, I'll print the colored copy our for them.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of open-ended questions such as Which One Doesn't Belong?  I made this one up for Election Day and I've included 10 possible responses to get you thinking. I'm always surprised at what the kids think up! 

The Lift the Flap says True and False Election Statements.  I promise you there is no Fake News here! Pretty basic questions such as, "If you are 16, you can vote in the election."  Kids sort the 8 statements and glue under the correct flap.

I love the sense of community that a class book offers. Each student contributes a page to the book and then we put it in our class library.  This is from my November Class Book packet. We do so many class books that each child gets to bring 2 home in June.  The above can be differentiated by the paper picked.  For the last page, I often add a photo of my class.  While I include a colored cover ready to be printed, I usually ask a student to complete the cover. I like to give options, though!

The poem VOTE TODAY is from my November poetry packet.  I love using poems to support the curriculum.  My entire September Poetry Packet is free and you can see all 22 of them in an earlier Blog Post as well as grab some other free poems. The Pick-a-Prompt can actually be used up to 3 times if you ask kids to pick a new one each time.  Always prove to be very insightful.  You can see my September Pick-a-Prompts here if interested.

I like my "crafts" to be quick and meaningful. This fits the bill! It makes a nice display and won't take your little ones all day to complete. 

If you want to grab my September/October Make a Word Packet for FREE, please do!  So helpful when you want to reinforce our Fundations lessons!

I just realized that I forgot to add the Word Search!  Eek.  I'll add it tomorrow when I have the time. I always like to make two options of the word search: with and without diagonals so you can differentiate for your class.

So all of this for a just $2.40 during the TPT sale...Yea!  I'd vote for it!

Have a great day!

Rhyme Time: Engaging Young Minds with Poetry in the Classroom

I love using poetry in the classroom. In my First Grade world, poetry is 95% rhyming. When I put the poetry slides up on the board, I'm always met with cheers. The kids LOVE our poems! We have a poetry binder that helps keep our poems organized. We use our binders for Buddy Reading as well as for independent reading time. But when I see kids grab their binders and pair up during their free choice time, I know I have a true winner! All poems featured below are FREE! Click to grab.

 If you aren't yet using poetry in your primary classroom but are thinking about it, read about the some of the benefits. 

1. Language Development: Poetry often uses rich and descriptive language that can enhance vocabulary and language skills. For young children, this exposure helps them grasp new words and understand their meanings in context.  They are perfect for reinforcing sight words, too. I introduce new poems after our Fundations lessons and the kids love seeing the letter/sound combinations they've learned through Fundations and can now apply independently. 

2. Creativity and Imagination: Poetry encourages creativity and imagination. Poems often have playful rhythms and vivid imagery, which can spark a child's imagination and inspire them to think creatively about language and storytelling. 

3. Emotional Expression: Poetry allows children to express their emotions in a safe and structured way. They can explore feelings like joy, sadness, excitement, and curiosity through poems, which helps them develop emotional intelligence.

4. Rhythm and Phonological Awareness: The rhythmic patterns in poetry help children develop phonological awareness—the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in words. This is crucial for early literacy development.

   
   
   

5. Memorization and Recitation: Learning poems by heart and reciting them can improve memory skills and boost confidence in public speaking. It also fosters a sense of accomplishment when children can recite a poem independently. Note: While I NEVER make kids memorize any poem, it often happens due to repeated rereadings and boosts the confidence of my struggling readers. 

   
   
   

6. Cultural and Historical Understanding: Many poems are steeped in culture and history. Introducing children to different types of poems from various cultures expands their worldview and fosters appreciation for diversity.  

   

7. Fun and Enjoyment: Most importantly, poetry can be fun! Whether it's silly rhymes, adventurous tales, or heartwarming verses, exposing first graders to poetry can instill a lifelong love for reading and writing.

   

   

All of the above are free!  Be sure to grab them. My monthly packets like the first four slides above come in PDF and Google Slides so you can project on board.  If a student wants to read one of the poems or if my class is doing an awesome, expressive choral reading, I'll often record it and send it to parents via Seesaw. Fun! 

Take a sneak peek at my October poems! 

Birthday Celebrations in the Classroom (Update)

This is an update to the post Birthday Celebrations in the Classroom.

What's different?

No.

More.

Making.

Individual.

Cards.

They are so stinkin' cute though, aren't they?

Then why did I stop this year? My class was taking FOREVER (and a day!) to make them.  Seriously!  

Our schedule is SO TIGHT this year (don't get me started!) and all the kids were taking WAY more than the 15 minutes "Do-Now" time. I mean WAYYYYYY more than 15 minutes.  Heck, some kids are still making a card from October as I write this...

Seriously, it became a huge time suck and I found myself getting agitated.

Way.

Too.

Agitated.

What do I do now?  

Yep. That's what they get. Nothing fancy, I know. (They still do other things in the original post. This replaces cards.)

What do they think? They LOVE IT! They get to take it home and hang up in their room.

What do I think? I LOVE it because kids can sign name and draw a small pic if they want throughout the day and it doesn't take up really any time since kids sign during "down times."

Note: 3/4 of my class took F-O-R-E-V-E-R. The other ones took about 2.2 seconds and Id have to remind them to put in effort, etc. Their final card never changed much. So, this change, for me, was a "good for all" change.

Honestly, I sort of feel like the Birthday Scrooge by not allowing them to make cards but it works,  For me.  What works for you?  I'd honestly love to know!

COMING NEXT WEEK: SQUASH THE BUG: A Writing Workshop Tip.

Using Crowns and Headbands In My Classroom

I'm a crown and headband kind of girl!  Always have been! When I was little, it wasn't really dress-up without a tiara or two on my head! My love of headbands and crowns has extended to the classroom. I use them monthly and invite other optional opportunities for kids to make and bring home.

Why Use Crowns and Headbands In Your Classroom?

• a quick, easy, yet meaningful "hat" that highlights a specific day or holiday to celebrate
• an activity that promotes classroom community and school spirit
• perfect for a quick Do-Now as kids arrive in the morning
• reinforce curriculum
• helps kids practice fine motor skills with coloring and cutting
• sparks conversations in class and at home which strengthens the home-school connection

How To Make Crowns and Headbands

• print out the crown you want 
• use crayons or markers to color in the crown
• cut out
• glue onto a sentence strip and size to head
• staple it

I use 2-3 crowns a month BUT I often out out the ones I didn't use during centers that kids can make and take home if they want. For example, we celebrated coding in September in school and I did a lesson on it but I didn't offer a crown to make. Some kids picked it during centers and brought it home to make while a few decided to make it in school.  

I've packed lots of crowns into each monthly packet. The best part? Many of them can be used ANY time of the year! Gotta love that!

Spooktacular October Crafts

So many crafts, so little time! Unless it's QUICK or supports the curriculum in a meaningful way, I'll pass. Here are some that made their way into my October/Fall classroom this year.

Creepy Pair of Underwear has been a favorite the last few years. The writing activity that goes along with the craft is related to Jasper's saying: "I'm not a little baby anymore." It also ties in beautifully with my The Power of Yet theme in my class. The kids aren't the only ones who love making Jasper and his creepy underwear. I get a kick out of these every year. Fun!

Aren't these bats and pumpkins adorable? They are from this TpT Seller. What I love: I can use the editible template to make my own math problems. Most students solved "Add 1 more" and "add 2 more'" but a few solved addition to 20 problems.  They solved the problems one day and colored them in. The next day, they made them. The Pumpkin was super quick. The bat has more cutting but a pretty fast craft too.  (In her packet, she also has a cute ghost.)

The Fall banners have a small writing activity on them and look sweet around the room.  The best part? They are FREE from this seller. I sprinkle around the room but you can also string them together.

NOTE: I don't know either seller above. I use their products and wanted to share.

A 5 minute crafts that also looks adorable and supports Fire Prevention Week?  Yes please! 

You can read about my Fire Prevention Week activities.

I do put out some simple OPTIONAL crafty type activities during Friday centers and we usually make something Spooktacular during our Halloween party.

This week during centers, I have a cute paper color/cut/glue craft that my husband found recently. And it's FREE. Check back to see it on Friday...if the kids pick it.

Fire Prevention Week Activities (October 9-15th)

Are you looking for some ways to reinforce Fire Prevention Safety in a meaningful way that doesn't suck up hours of your planning time or instructional time?  I have some simple ideas for you!

When I was teaching Second Grade, I was going to give a quick mention of Fire Safety Week and move on. But a Firefighter friend of mine told me to ask my 7 year olds the above question.  Not one student answered with the correct answer: ONE. Oh boy...there was work to be done!

If you subscribe to Scholastic News, I suggest starting there. 

If you do subscribe, I hope you're taking advantage of the fabulous online content. Top notch. You also get access to all of the older editions throughout at least the last five years. That means the videos, games, etc. Here are the back issues I saw yesterday.

The Fire Tech tools is one I'll be revisiting this year. If your school has funding available and you're not yet a subscriber, I promise you it's well worth the price. You get 4 "magazines" a month. Each child will get to bring home their own copy. Then of course, the online access which I use all the time.

We often have Fire Fighters come to visit the students.  Most of the time, they bring the truck but while fun and a cute photo op, I think it's best left to the Kindergarten classes. I think it's way more important to have them speak to the kids and introduce/review the importance of Stop, Drop and Roll as well as calling 911 when needed.  Our department brings SQUIRT who answers questions and interacts with the kids. 

After the visit, I have two poems that I like to use to reinforce the lesson shared.

I'm big into Poetry Binders so we add these to them and sing often! Read about a fun way I incorporate poems into my classroom via a Poet Tree! 

Of course I have books available to share with the kids and let them look through. I don't read all of them but do make sure they are easily accessible to the kids.

I usually have the kids make a headband / crown when the Fire Fighters visit. The kids make it as their Do-Now one morning so it's a quick activity.  It's also a good visual reminder to parents to continue the convo at home when they see the kids coming off the bus wearing them.

Another Do-Now (Which is done in the morning after arrival but before I take attendance and school officially starts) is to play a simple, Roll and Cover game.  I just added graphics to support the week but really a basic game. I have them play with a partner. Usually when someone wins one of our games, they pop up and yell, "Winner, winner chicken dinner." In the case, they pop up and yell out, "Stop, Drop and Roll."

Another tried and true activity...Origami Dalmatian Dogs that take under five minutes.

 I like to hang them around a "Fire Fighters Are, Can, and Have" poster we make together. In the past, I had them list a prevention tip or piece of advice on the back to share with the class and their families.

But this year, I'm going to add to our class library and have everyone contribute one page to a class book.  There is a pre-made cover that you can print or have a student color in the page.  (Note: I make these all year long, place in library and at the end of the year, each students gets to take home two of the class books. A great memory!)

Each booklet (Five booklets for each month) comes with lines paper or simply a drawing space for those not yet writing.  Honestly, I let them pick the one that is best for them. Most kids used the lines paper but I usually have 3-5 opt for drawing only.

I added these class books to my store recently. There are 5 books per month. Check out my October Books if interested.

If you know me, you know that I LOVE Which One Doesn't Belong OPEN-ENDED activities. There are always MULTIPLE ANSWERS. I use them for a five minute filler activity, a Morning Meeting Activity, during math (when I'm using my math focused one) and as Do-Nows, too.  One included in my October packet has a Fire Fighter theme. To see these in action, take a peek at my video of the students sharing answers or a blog post showing answers. Hands down, my kids favorite activity.

Here are some FREE Which One Doesn't Belong? slides for you to share with your class. I'm sure you will be amazed at their thinking. 

I hope you were able to get some ideas for Fire Safety Prevention Week here. Are there any you're planning on trying? Let me know.