Be Yourself!

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Four Little Owls Printable

Here is a cute activity to practice rhyme.  It has the sing-song rhythm that little ones like so much.  You can download it here.  Everyone gets a poem, four owls, and a tree limb!

 

Prompts to Support Meaning/Comprehension

I am in charge of RTI for my district, as well as coaching literacy and working with special education!  Thank goodness we only have 4 schools!  It is still an undertaking each and every day.  Small group instruction is vital to RTI.  I am working on interventions and will have lots of things to share in the near future.  Today, I thought about teacher-language in small groups.  We often tell students to "sound it out" but that isn't enough to promote meaning. Students who struggle with decoding are often robbed of meaning.  As their decoding improves, we need to prompt using the "right" prompts.  This appears simple, but when I am in a small group, I revert back to old habits!  So, I copied the prompts in Teaching for Comprehension in Reading, Grades K-2 by Pinnell and Scharer. 
You can print and have them ready for when you need to prompt for meaning in small group.  Click here!

Paper Plate Continents

While the globes in the previous post are a wonderful representation, using paper mache can be quite an undertaking.  I came up with the idea of using Chinet oval plates as an alternative.  I was thrilled with the results! With the help of one of our art teachers, the students created the following:

You can find Printable Blank World Maps Here and Google mapHere!

Where in the World Am I?

Out third graders have been busy making globes to show-off the continents.  Parents contributed supplies: round balloons, newspapers, glue, salt, and flour.  The salt keeps them from getting moldy.

We cut lots of newspaper strips!

We worked hard to get those balloons just the right size. 

Each balloon was covered in strips dipped in the flour mixture.

The globes sat on paper rings to dry.

 The globes were painted with blue paint.

The continents were glued to the globes. You can paint them on or cut them out and glue them on.

Where in the world are we?  It was fun finding out!  Messy,,,but fun!

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

Here is a cute song to sing during the fall months!

"Dingle Dangle Scarecrow" is a children's song written by Mollie Russell-Smith (lyrics) and her brother Geoffry Russell-Smith (music) who are from England. 1964

You can hear it performed by The Speks here.  Add the motions I have listed below and have fun!

Lyrics for Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

When all the cows were sleeping   (crouch down and fold hands as sleeping)
And the sun had gone to bed
Up jumped the scarecrow      (jump up)
And this is what he said

Chorus: 

(arms out, use hands to show hat on head, shake hands then feet)

I'm a dingle dangle scarecrow
With a great big floppy hat
I can shake my hands like this
And I can shake my feet like that

When all the hens were roosting
And the moon behind a cloud    (use hands to make round moon)
Up jumped the scarecrow    (jump up)
And shouted very loud

Loud Chorus

When dogs were in the kennels
And doves were in the loft             (crouch down, hold arms up and move fingers)
Up jumped the scarecrow
And whispered very soft

Soft Chorus
Loud Chorus

Speech Therapy Cards

I just finished my first set of articulation cards for the S sound.  There are 28 pictures with initial, medial, and final S sounds.  Students can also read the words and place them on the ball included in the set.  This is a great value for a deck of therapy cards which can be pricey!

Speech therapists can find them here.  

Owl Wisdom

This old nursery rhyme speaks to me!  Sometimes I should listen more and talk less!  Hope it speaks to you too!

Download it here!