Valentine's Freebie 2018

We love to sing this one at my house! Here is a Valentine Freebie of the song!

Grab the poem Here!

Gingerbread Men Cutouts Freebie

I thought I would share these cute gingerbread men that can be used for sight words or any activity you can create!  There are 3 sizes!

Download Here!

Graphics by Scrappin Doodles of course!

What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew! Printable

What a great little article from Scholastic: What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew!

I thought it was worthy of printing and giving out to parents.

Here is a copy!

Download here!

Sandi

Summer Writing Paper Freebie

     Download Here!

Thought you might like a summer writing paper!

I can think of lots of reasons to like summer!
I am linking up with Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies!  Just follow the button for more free goodies!

 
    Sandi

Mother's Day Writing Freebie

Here's a little love for Mother's Day!

Download Here!

Sandi

Clip Chart Magic and Freebie

I just love the Clip Chart system of behavior management!  We have a lot of teachers planning on using this next year, and I am so happy about it!

Here is an Ebook by Rick Morris that explains everything!

The best thing about Clip Charts is that everyday is a new day!  All clips start on "Ready to Learn" each morning!  No more pulling cards and only noticing negative behaviors!  You can have your own Positive Behavior Support (PBS) environment!

I do have some ideas for you that will make it even better!  

Clips

I like to use wooden clothespins.  Write a number for each child on the handle of the clip.  The number will be the only thing identifying the child.  So, if you have a guest, they will not know who is on a bottom level.

Consider adding "bling" to your clips.  If a student continues to shine, then add extras to their clip.  They will love this!

Mid-year, you can switch to plastic/colored clips for a change of pace.  Use them for children who are truly outstanding!

Moving Clips!

You have to decide who is going to move the clips!  If students will move their own clips, then they will need to access the chart from top to bottom.  I suggest printing the levels smaller that a page.  My above examples were on a full page.  As you can see, it is a very tall chart!  I have reduced the size, and it works much better!

Laminate each piece together and place magnets on the back.  Place the chart on your whiteboard and students can pull or push it down and up to reach it!

Reporting to Parents

Most teachers keep a record in the student's folder that indicates which level they were on each day.  You might consider letting students record-keep at the end of the day.  You can always make a note if you need to respond to a parent.

Here is a Freebie on Google Docs with daily record and parent note!  

Better yet download my Complete Clip Chart Systems

Here!

School-wide Support

This system works well when everyone participates!  When students get "bling" or switch to colored clips, invite your administration to the celebration.

Schools can use a reward system to pair with the chart.  Teachers can give points for certain levels and students can redeem them for rewards.  

Behavior Intervention

This system works well for students with behavior plans.  You can target certain behaviors each day/week!  This makes working with struggling students much easier!  

I have several Clip Charts for sale in my TPT store!  They each come with a weekly chart for reporting to parents.  They also have cards for using as sticky notes.  Students can glue them to a sheet each day.

I hope you will consider using a Clip Chart in your room next year!

I will be happy to make other charts in different themes!  Send me an email!

You can find my address in the About section!

Sandi

Ocean Writing Paper Freebie

This time of year many of you are studying oceans.  I thought you might like a writing paper. 

Download Here!

This would be great to add to my TPT,  A House for Hermit Crab Unit!

You can find it here! 

 KPM Doodles created these cute graphics!

Welcome The Go To Teacher! Guest Blogger!

Today is my birthday and I thought it would be nice to have a friend over!  So, welcome Jen, The Go To Teacher!  She is my first blogger buddy to come for a visit, so welcome her with lots of comments and bloggy love!  

Hello Literacy Minute followers!

My name is Jennifer Willis from The Go to Teacher blog.  I was so excited when Sandi emailed me to guest blog.  It is my first time doing so and I think it is her first guest blogger!  An added bonus is that I love this blog!

I knew immediately what I wanted to blog about because it has been on my mind way too often these past couple weeks…the end of the school year!  I always get panicked when I think of only weeks left.  There is always something more to teach!  This year I have decided to take a different approach, it’s called confidently believing in my students {genius, huh?}!

 We have gathered as a class on the carpet close to 140 days to discuss favorite books, learn new ways to think, giggle at the funny things characters do, share our schema on a topic,   make connections, listen to our friends’ thoughts and so much more.  I want to give the opportunity to each student to show what they learned and take pride in the fact that it is SO MUCH! I created the freebie below in the hopes that their knowledge of reading will impress them as much as it has me. 

There are 30 reading questions for the last 30 days of school.  Just print them out and stick them in a dog bowl.  There are journal pages as well. 

It's Been a Dog-Gone Terrrrrrific Year!

My hope is that your students will impress you but even more that they will impress themselves! 

The Napping House and Freebie

The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood is a wonderful book.  The repetitive phrases make it great for beginning/struggling readers.  The remarkable illustrations bring the story to life.  

Kizclub has story patterns that can be printed on cardstock and laminated.  Attach a magnet on the back so that students can use the pieces to retell the story.  

Audrey Wood's website has coloring pages.
Carol Hurst has great ideas for using the book.
Here is a 10 page idea booklet for using the book by Itty Bitty Bookworm.

I like using the book to teach synonyms.  The author uses them and it makes the story fun!  Here is an activity sheet for students to make their own synonyms.

Download Here

Similes Freebie

Download Here

As I have mentioned before, Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe is a great book to use for teaching similes.  Here is a freebie to use with the book.  

You can grab your own mason jars at Sweetly Scrapped HERE!

Spring Writing Papers Freebie

Have you visited Melanie over at Frog Spot, a blog from the pond?  She has some really cute graphics and many are free!  I took several of her frames and graphics and made these spring writing papers!  

You can download them HERE! 

Hope these bring springtime to your writing!

Sandi

March Madness Writing Freebie

Download Here

Lessons from March Madness

There are many lessons to be learned from sports! As basketball bounces through March and toward the Final Four, you might want to write about it.  

Check out this article by Sarah Caron.  She writes about the many lessons that can be learned from sports.

Lesson Topics:

Do Your Best

Play with Confidence

Practice, Practice, Practice

It's Not Over Until It's Over also known as Don't Give Up!

I especially like her comment that NCAA basketball players play the game until the buzzer sounds!  The players have to focus on the the game and not the outcome!  I know that teachers and students can take that lesson to heart this time of year!

Why not discuss her article with your students and see what they take away as a life lesson!

Sandi

I would love to see your writing!  

March Poetry Freebie

Thought you might want to add a few Irish Blessings to your poetry notebooks!  Hope you are blessed this week with shamrocks and rainbows!  

To get all three...

Download Here!

or

Here!

Lucky Contractions Freebie

In honor of St. Patty's Day, you can get Lucky Contractions Here!

This can be a small group activity or literacy center game.  Please take the time to leave some TPT feedback and follow my TPT store!  

Thank you!

"I Just Read Dr. Suess" Freebie

If you follow my blog, you know that I love to promote writing!  Especially as a part of balanced literacy.  Here is a writing paper to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday!  Hope you have a great Seuss Day!

Download HERE!

Please follow my blog if you don't mind!

It is thoughtful, smart, and kind!

Wink Wink!

The 5 W's on the Hat! Freebie!

The Common Core focuses on these:  Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. (2nd grade) 

Have your struggling readers use this graphic and then retell the story!  

Download this freebie HERE!

Thanks!

For more ideas for Seuss Day

Snow Globe Freebie

This is such a cute book!  

The real family lives in the big house on the hill, while the little family lives in a snow globe on the fireplace mantel.  Both are waiting for a good snow so that they can go sledding!  

What is happening in your snow globe?

Download Here!