Getting to the Core

Common Core State Standard Letter Perfect Activity Poster

back to school ideas, back to school activities, back to school lessons, anchor charts, activities for the first week of school, lessons for the first week of school, ideas for the first week of school, common core state standards for kindergarten and first grade, activities for common core for kindergarten and first grade, lessons for common core for kindergartn and first grade, common core reading activities for kindergarten and first grade, activity posters, Here is a simple, easy, and relatively quick activity that you can plug in, to nail quite a few Common Core State Standards with one fell swoop!

Laminate this poster and use it during your calendar or reading block time.

Take a letter each day and fill in the appropriate boxes.

Using a dry erase marker demonstrate to your students how you write an uppercase and lowercase letter.

Students can practice on a dry erase board, or you can make a copy of the Letter Perfect sheets for them.

You can keep these as individual sheets or run off a set of 26 and collate them into an alphabet booklet for each child that they will take out and use during Daily 5 for the writing portion or word work.

If you don’t do Daily 5 this can be an independent writing center, or as in the example above, you can do these as whole group skill sheets.

Have students listen to the sound the letter makes as you say it.

Have students repeat the sound.

Ask them if they can think of any words that make that sound.

By demonstrating basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondence by producing the primary or most frequent sound for each consonant, they are working on Common Core State Standard: RF:K.3a

If the letter is a vowel, have students tell you what other letters are vowels.

I have my students sing the vowel song to the tune of B-I-N-G-O

There was a class who learned their vowels

And this is what they sang Oh

A-E-I-O-U

A-E-I-O-U

A-E-I-O-U

They were so very smart! Oh!

back to school ideas, back to school activities, back to school lessons, anchor charts, activities for the first week of school, lessons for the first week of school, ideas for the first week of school, common core state standards for kindergarten and first grade, activities for common core for kindergarten and first grade, lessons for common core for kindergartn and first grade, common core reading activities for kindergarten and first grade, activity posters, Differentiate between long and short vowels and fill in the appropriate boxes on the chart with words that they can think of.

By associating the long and short sounds with the common spellings for these 5 major vowel sounds, students are working on Common Core State Standard: RF: K. 3b.

By distinguishing long from short vowel sounds in any spoken single syllable words they come up with, they are working on Common Core State Standard: RF.1. 2a.

Have them become ABCDe-tectives and look around the room for words on their Word Wall or Read The Room signs that begin with that letter and then as they say them aloud, ask them to what box/category they should put the word in.

If the letter is a consonant decide if it is a hard or soft consonant and do the same thing as above.

Ask the children if there are any students who have a first or last name that begins with the letter of the day and have them come up and write it on the chart.

Finally, choose a quiet child to find and circle the letter of the day in the alphabet.

You can end by giving someone a pointer (I turned out the lights and used a laser light) to point to each letter of the alphabet on our border and we sang the ABC song.

back to school ideas, back to school activities, back to school lessons, anchor charts, activities for the first week of school, lessons for the first week of school, ideas for the first week of school, common core state standards for kindergarten and first grade, activities for common core for kindergarten and first grade, lessons for common core for kindergartn and first grade, common core reading activities for kindergarten and first grade, activity posters, By consistently reviewing all of the letters, you are helping students to recognize and name all of the upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet which is Common Core State Standard: RF:K.1d and L.1.1a

If you are also going to do these as a skill sheet for your students, they can record at the same time as you do, or after the group modeling, can return to their seats and fill in their own paper.

In order to cover the Common Core State Standard RF: K. 1b make sure that you:

Explain to children each day that “Spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.”

As you can see, quite a few standards are covered in one simple and fun poster activity, which can also double as a skill sheet for your students!

Click on the link to view/download Common Core State Standard Letter Activity Poster

back to school ideas, back to school activities, back to school lessons, anchor charts, activities for the first week of school, lessons for the first week of school, ideas for the first week of school, common core state standards for kindergarten and first grade, activities for common core for kindergarten and first grade, lessons for common core for kindergartn and first grade, common core reading activities for kindergarten and first grade, activity posters, Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you can pop back tomorrow for more back to school ideas.

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“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” –Benjamin Franklin

Double Your Pleasure-Double Your Fun, With These Doubler Math Activities

math centers, addition booklet, addition activities, teaching doubles activities, doubles booklet, doubles poster anchor chart, math activities for kindergarten and first grade, addition flashcards, addition games, addition certificatesLooking for something to make learning “doubles” fun?

I’ve got several ideas for you!

Hang up the Doubles Poster and use it as an anchor chart.

Remember to take it down, or cover it, when you are testing.

Make extra copies for your students to use.

For an entertaining “craftivity” print off extra apple blackboard answer cards.

Put them in a container. Have each student pick a number out of the basket or whatever.

That is the number that they will have to make a collection/collage or group of sets of things of.

i.e. If they choose the number 2 they will find things that come in pairs like shoes, eyes, ears, dice, etc.

They can use numbers, pictures cut from magazines and catalogs, clip art, stickers, real drawings, photographs etc.

Students also need to put the equation for their number.  i.e 1 + 1 = 2

After students have shared their “math-erpiece”, hang them up on a hallway wall with the caption:

math centers, addition booklet, addition activities, teaching doubles activities, doubles booklet, doubles poster anchor chart, math activities for kindergarten and first grade, addition flashcards, addition games, addition certificatesOur Math-erpieces! “We are doubling our pleasure with numbers as we learn about doubles.

Afterwards, follow this activity up with My Doubles Addition Booklet.

This is an activity that will help with the addition portion of the Common Core State Math Standard for first grade: 1.OA.8 (Determining the unknown whole number in an addition equation relating three whole numbers. i.e. 2 + 2 = ).

After completing their math-erpiece and booklet ask students: "Did you think of the same items that were in the booklet?"

Children trace the numbers and solve the equations.

I wrote the equations horizontally as well as vertically, because some standardized tests do both, so students should learn both, so they are not unfamiliar with either version and thrown for a loop.

I like to include writing and reading along with math, so students trace the number word, and then write it.

I’ve also included some simple sentences that discuss what groups of things are found in that number.

The picture clues will help students with the words.

I believe that if a child can latch onto a picture, to go along with a numerical equation and answer, it will often help students whose light bulbs don’t turn on from mere rote memorization.

By associating groups of things, that students are familiar with, that are often grouped by that specific number, you help children bring their real world into the classroom and make their studies more relevant.

Challenge them to try and think of other things that are often grouped with “that many” in it.

Because I discuss Lifesavers and Smarties for the number 14, you may want to have several packs, so that your students can actually count and see if this is true.

Reward their efforts by giving each one a piece.

This is also a great time to review colors. Whenever I did colors with my Y5’s we also said the words in Spanish and Sign Language.

For the last page, as a silly activity, have everyone take off their shoes and socks and count up to 20 using their fingers and toes!

Students can make their own Itty Bitty booklet out of the blackboard equation and answer cards.

math centers, addition booklet, addition activities, teaching doubles activities, doubles booklet, doubles poster anchor chart, math activities for kindergarten and first grade, addition flashcards, addition games, addition certificatesMake extra sets and laminate them.  Play “I Have; Who Has?” Someone will have 1 + 1 and ask who has the answer 2 card?

Play Memory Match Concentration.  Run off the answer cards on ivory and the equation cards on white. Students play with a partner.  The person with the most pairs when the timer rings is the winner.

Toss the equation cards in a basket.  Students draw a card out and give the answer. If they can’t, they are out of the game.

There’s a praise certificate as well as mini “I know my doubles” cards, to pass out when children have achieved this standard.

Click on the link to view/download the Doubles Packet.

Do you have a fun way that you teach “doubles?”  I’d enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com or leave a comment here.  Thanks in advance for sharing!

math centers, addition booklet, addition activities, teaching doubles activities, doubles booklet, doubles poster anchor chart, math activities for kindergarten and first grade, addition flashcards, addition games, addition certificatesThank you too, for visiting today, I hope you can pop back tomorrow for more back to school tips.

Feel free to PIN anything from my site you think others might find helpful.

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein  

Nailing Common Core State Standards With Fun Vocabulary Building Word Books!common core state standard lessons, common core reading state standard, common core lessons for kindergarten, word work lessons for kindergarten and first grade, student made dictionaries, daily 5 activities for september, daily 5 activities for the first week of school, daily 5 word work activities, student dictionary template,

Dictionaries are a great way to practice the skill of alphabetizing. 

They help students become aware of new words, and by writing them down, defining and categorizing them, students are building their vocabularies.

At the end of the year students have a great keepsake and are truly amazed at all the words they have learned and can now read, spell and use!

Choose one dictionary for your students to work on, or pick several; there are 8 to choose from, including several generic ones. 

The cute cover designs are the artwork of Laura Strickland and Phil Martin.

Use the common ABC page template for all of the dictionaries.

Students write their name on the cover and then jot down the word on the appropriate letter page, and define it.

It would also be a good idea to have students trace the upper and lowercase letters for extra alphabet practice.

Run off more pages if students find more words that begin with a certain letter, such as T, S, M etc.

Run off and collate these booklets at the beginning of the year.

Students can keep them in a folder, file, portfolio or their cubby for easy access.

common core state standard lessons, common core reading state standard, common core lessons for kindergarten, word work lessons for kindergarten and first grade, student made dictionaries, daily 5 activities for september, daily 5 activities for the first week of school, daily 5 word work activities, student dictionary template,  So that my students are empowered and can find their booklets quickly, each child has a number at the beginning of the year.

This is far easier than alphabetizing things.  I quickly collect booklets etc. and put them in numerical order.

The dictionaries make a perfect addition to your “Word Work” for Daily 5.

If you don’t do Daily 5 they are terrific as independent work for your writing center.

If you do a sight word or the Dolch word dictionary you will be helping to fulfill the Common Core State Standard: RF:K.3c

I've also included a tip sheet of how to guide 1st graders so that you can also incorporate Common Core State Reading Standards: L.1.4a,  L.1.5b, L.1.5c

Click on the link to view/download Student-Made Dictionaries.

common core state standard lessons, common core reading state standard, common core lessons for kindergarten, word work lessons for kindergarten and first grade, student made dictionaries, daily 5 activities for september, daily 5 activities for the first week of school, daily 5 word work activities, student dictionary template,  Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you can pop back tomorrow for more back-to-school ideas!

Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Anyone can be cool, but awesome takes practice!" - Unknown

The Very Hungry Student

back to school ideas, back to school activities, activities for a porfolio, student portfolios, back to school lessons, first day of school ideas, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, daily 5 activities, september writing prompts, monthly writing prompts, writing prompts for the first week of school, writing prompts for the first day of school, fun writing activities, writing centers, school keepsake booklets, student booklets, keepsake school activities,The Very Hungry Student is a fun way for students to write down what they have learned each month.

Because it records their accomplishments, it’s a terrific way to build self-esteem.

Because students write in it each month, you will see improvement in their handwriting, as well as their writing abilities, so the booklet is a good addition to a portfolio, if you have them, or tuck into a student folder, to take out and share with parents during conferences.

Practice reading the simple rhyming sentences, after students complete their page, so that at the end of the year, children are able to read their booklet when they take it home to share with their families!

I have a cute caterpillar with a face for one cover, but you can make this even more special, by having students glue their photo over his face for a “student caterpillar” instead.

Because this is a quick and easy writing assignment, that students can do independently, it makes a nice Daily 5 activity too.

back to school ideas, back to school activities, activities for a porfolio, student portfolios, back to school lessons, first day of school ideas, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, daily 5 activities, september writing prompts, monthly writing prompts, writing prompts for the first week of school, writing prompts for the first day of school, fun writing activities, writing centers, school keepsake booklets, student booklets, keepsake school activities,back to school ideas, back to school activities, activities for a porfolio, student portfolios, back to school lessons, first day of school ideas, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, daily 5 activities, september writing prompts, monthly writing prompts, writing prompts for the first week of school, writing prompts for the first day of school, fun writing activities, writing centers, school keepsake booklets, student booklets, keepsake school activities,If you don't do Daily 5, keep the booklets for your writing center. 

They make a great writing prompt for the first day of school, as there is a page specifically for that.

Because there is a page for each month, you could start out September and each month, with The Very Hungry Student's page as your writing prompt for the month.

For an activity that helps students with verbal acuity, gather children in a circle and have them share that day’s page by reading it to their classmates.

At the end of the year, you can discuss what everyone’s favorite thing was that they learned, or their favorite month of activities.  If they overlap, graph them.

A little bit of science is covered, as the very hungry caterpillar is "bursting with knowledge" and turns into a butterfly, flying into the next grade.

In June, (s)he is once again a fat little caterpillar, promising to slim down over the summer, so they are ready to fatten up and gobble down more knowledge, in their new grade!

Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Student booklet.

back to school ideas, back to school activities, activities for a porfolio, student portfolios, back to school lessons, first day of school ideas, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, daily 5 activities, september writing prompts, monthly writing prompts, writing prompts for the first week of school, writing prompts for the first day of school, fun writing activities, writing centers, school keepsake booklets, student booklets, keepsake school activities,Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others might find helpful.

I hope you can pop in tomorrow for another back-to-school idea!

"Stop trying to fit in, when you were born to stand out!" - Dr. Seuss 

 Let's Get Organized!

graphic organizers, back to school ideas, common core state reading standard lessons, common core state standard language lessons, teaching common core lessons, common core activities,  common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core lessons for second grade,onthly graphic organizers, themed graphic organizers, apple graphic organizer, pumpkin graphic organizer, writing graphic organizer, reading graphic organizer, story parts graphic organizer, star graphic organizer, daisy graphic organizer, shape graphic organizer, venn diagram template, graphic organizer templates, story graphic organizer, beginning middle end story graphic organizer, fish bone graphic organizer, free templates for graphic organizers, who what where when why graphic organizer, Main idea wheel graphic organizers,I LOVE using graphic organizers for a variety of things no matter what grade I teach.

I think once you start using them you’ll enjoy them too.  In this particular packet I’ve designed an easy-to-use 3 and 4-column graphic organizer.

There are some for every month, season and a huge variety of themes.

graphic organizers, back to school ideas, common core state reading standard lessons, common core state standard language lessons, teaching common core lessons, common core activities,  common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core lessons for second grade,onthly graphic organizers, themed graphic organizers, apple graphic organizer, pumpkin graphic organizer, writing graphic organizer, reading graphic organizer, story parts graphic organizer, star graphic organizer, daisy graphic organizer, shape graphic organizer, venn diagram template, graphic organizer templates, story graphic organizer, beginning middle end story graphic organizer, fish bone graphic organizer, free templates for graphic organizers, who what where when why graphic organizer, Main idea wheel graphic organizers,Click on the link to view/download the Themed Graphic Organizer Packet.

I also made up another 44- page packet with a variety of DIFFERENT kinds of graphic organizers; from stars and a question mark to a fish bone and butterfly; I’m sure you’ll find something here that will fit your needs.

Many of these will help you with a variety of Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades.

As I've stated in a previous article, I work a little each day adding CCSS codes to the items in my shopping cart, to help you find lessons that specifically correlate to them.

If you are downloading, or have downloaded an item that fits a CCSS, would you please drop me an e-mail to help expedite this big process.  Thanks!

With that in mind, I included 2 student dictionary's that they can make, that will help with a Language Vocabulary Acquisition Common Core State Standard.

Click on the link to view/download the general General Graphic Organizer Packet.

Graphic Organizers are visual displays that are used to depict the relationships between facts, terms and/or ideas in a learning task.

graphic organizers, back to school ideas, common core state reading standard lessons, common core state standard language lessons, teaching common core lessons, common core activities,  common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core lessons for second grade,onthly graphic organizers, themed graphic organizers, apple graphic organizer, pumpkin graphic organizer, writing graphic organizer, reading graphic organizer, story parts graphic organizer, star graphic organizer, daisy graphic organizer, shape graphic organizer, venn diagram template, graphic organizer templates, story graphic organizer, beginning middle end story graphic organizer, fish bone graphic organizer, free templates for graphic organizers, who what where when why graphic organizer, Main idea wheel graphic organizers,They are also called mind maps, concept maps, story maps, concept diagrams & entity relationship charts.

They are a pictorial way of constructing knowledge that help organize information.

They help students compress a lot of information into an easy-to-understand graphic display.

The visual display conveys complex information in an easy-to-read manner.

A calendar is actually a graphic organizer, perhaps the original “series of events” organizer.

Graphic organizers can be used for a variety of things, including problem solving, studying, brainstorming, and decision-making, writing projects, and planning research.

Colors and pictures help increase the utility and readability of your visual display.

There are many types of graphic organizers. The task you need to perform, determines the type of graphic organizer you should use.

graphic organizers, back to school ideas, common core state reading standard lessons, common core state standard language lessons, teaching common core lessons, common core activities,  common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core lessons for second grade,onthly graphic organizers, themed graphic organizers, apple graphic organizer, pumpkin graphic organizer, writing graphic organizer, reading graphic organizer, story parts graphic organizer, star graphic organizer, daisy graphic organizer, shape graphic organizer, venn diagram template, graphic organizer templates, story graphic organizer, beginning middle end story graphic organizer, fish bone graphic organizer, free templates for graphic organizers, who what where when why graphic organizer, Main idea wheel graphic organizers,Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.

I hope you can drop in tomorrow for more back to school ideas.

“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this—you haven’t.” –Thomas Edison

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