common core lessons

Teaching Common Core Standards By Making A Class Book

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 Ready. Set. Action!

Having to write a simple sentence with a noun and verb, with appropriate capitalization and end punctuation is now a standard for even our youngest students.

This can be a pretty big mountain to climb, as some of them are just learning how to write their name and to identify the letters of the alphabet, so I thought why not cover all of these standards in a fun way with an alliterative class-made alphabet book!

The 36-page Name & Action Verb and Noun Class Book packet, is perfect for first graders, and something that can be done later in the year for kindergartners and makes a great Daily 5 or reading or writing center activity as well.

The packet covers the Common Core Standards: RF.K1a, RF.K1c, RF.K1d, RF.K3a, RI.K.5, RI.K.6, L.K1a, L.K1b, L.K2a, L.K2b I'm very familiar with Kindergarten standards, and I know some of the first grade standards over lap, but I don't have a handle on all of them. Sorry I don't have the numbers for you. 

common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core reading lessons for kindergarten, common core writing lessons for kindergarten, common core reading lessons for first grade, common core writing lessons for first grade, class books for kindergarten, class books for first grade, making class books, name books, daily 5 activities, daily 5 lessons, verb and noun lessons, writing simple sentences, ending punctuation lessons, Students write a simple sentence using a letter from the alphabet that starts with the letter of their name.They underline the capital letter of the beginning word, as well as the ending punctuation. So that you have a complete alphabet book with all of the letters, you can also assign a letter to each student, and allow them to make up a name.

To make sure they have included an “action word” (verb) and a “thing word” (noun) they need to underline those as well. Children then illustrate their page.

common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core reading lessons for kindergarten, common core writing lessons for kindergarten, common core reading lessons for first grade, common core writing lessons for first grade, class books for kindergarten, class books for first grade, making class books, name books, daily 5 activities, daily 5 lessons, verb and noun lessons, writing simple sentences, ending punctuation lessons, I chose to make this an alliterative book because I think tongue twisters are not only more fun, and a bit more challenging for first graders, but they help reinforce the Common Core Standard RF.K3a where students demonstrate basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondence, by producing the common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core reading lessons for kindergarten, common core writing lessons for kindergarten, common core reading lessons for first grade, common core writing lessons for first grade, class books for kindergarten, class books for first grade, making class books, name books, daily 5 activities, daily 5 lessons, verb and noun lessons, writing simple sentences, ending punctuation lessons, primary or most frequent sound for each consonant.

If you think this is too difficult for your PK’s or K’s, simply have them think of any verb or noun and simply work on that skill, rather than make it too complicated.

I suggest sitting in a circle around the white board and brainstorming each child’s words, as a whole group, which would help the light bulbs go on via repetition, as you are continuously working on the same concept over and over with different letters, with everyone helping you until you have completed the task.

You could also send the page home as a home-school assignment, and let parents work one-on-one with their child.  For that finishing touch, add a photo to make the book even more interesting.

common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core reading lessons for kindergarten, common core writing lessons for kindergarten, common core reading lessons for first grade, common core writing lessons for first grade, class books for kindergarten, class books for first grade, making class books, name books, daily 5 activities, daily 5 lessons, verb and noun lessons, writing simple sentences, ending punctuation lessons, You can run off the last page so everyone can work on their letter skills.  Have them trace and then write their letters and then pair up with a partner and quiz each other on which letter is which.  I've also included a certificate of praise.

When everyone has completed their page, laminate and collate them into a class book. Make sure that you do a sample page of your own.  My students are always surprised to find out that I too, have a first name.

When they are done, they can choose one question to ask the class: What the action verb was, what the noun was, what was the name of the end punctuation or what letter was capitalized?

Students will enjoy “playing teacher” and you will be reinforcing several standards in a fun way, as each child shares their page! Click on the link to view/download Name and Action Class Book

common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core reading lessons for kindergarten, common core writing lessons for kindergarten, common core reading lessons for first grade, common core writing lessons for first grade, class books for kindergarten, class books for first grade, making class books, name books, daily 5 activities, daily 5 lessons, verb and noun lessons, writing simple sentences, ending punctuation lessons, Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

“See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little.” –Pope John XXIII

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Teaching Common Core With Kiddy Lit III: If You Take A Mouse To School

If You Take A Mouse To School You'll Have A Lot Of FUN!!!

The Common Core packets using kiddy lit continue to be one of our most popular downloads. I started with The Kissing Hand added Chrysanthemum, then If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, and today I bring you If You Take A Mouse To School, which was one of the most requested books that I do a packet for.  I also just finished First Day Jitters.

back to school bulletin boards, september bulletin boards, back to school bulletin board ideas, september bulletin board ideas, if you take a mouse to school actitivities, if you take a mouse to school lessons, first week of school lessons, first week of school activities, back to school lessons, back to school activities, september writing prompts, daily 5 activities for september, common core lessons, common core activities, common core lessons for kindergarten, common core lessons for first grade, common core activities for first grade, common core activities for kindergarten, Like all of the others, Taking A Mouse To School, follows the same format. it nails the Common Core State Standards: RI.K5,RI.K6,RI.K9,RI.K10,RL.K2, RL.K3,RL.K6, L.K1d, RI.1.9, RL.1.2, RL.1.3

I feel following a specific format when you do things, empowers students and builds their self-esteem. 

They feel smarter, because they know right from the start, what is expected of them and they can get "down to business"right away.

Less time is wasted because you are not reinventing the wheel preparing, nor are you having to continuously explain the directions and then having to repeat them to children who aren't listening or still don't "get it."

The packet includes:

  • A beginning-middle-end story map that will help students retell If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
  • A "favorite part" retelling "writing prompt" bookmark
  • A compare and contrast Venn diagram with If You Take A Mouse To The Movies book
  • Character, Setting and Event cards. (Laminate, put magnets on the back and put them up on your white board. Write down students' answers under the cards.)
  • Question Words activity sheet, reinforcing the who, what, why, when, where, how words.
  • Cover of book to label book parts + review author and illustrator
  • Mouse "craftivity" writing prompt. My sample says: "I brought a baby elephant to school and he used the water fountain to take a bath and squirted water everywhere!"

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Make the schoolhouse extra special by having students write the name of your school over the door and gluing their picture in one of the windows.

This is also  great for a September writing prompt or Daily 5 activity. Click on the link to view/download If You Take A Mouse To School Common Core Packet.

This is truly a quick, easy and fun way to review a lot of common core state standards, so if there are other books that you’d like me to make packets for, just shoot me an e-mail.  diane@teachwithme.com or post a comment below.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you can help them become what they are capable of becoming." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Teaching Common Core Standards With Kiddy Lit

A Great Back To School Book: Chrysanthemum!

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, I designed the Chrysanthemum packet to help reinforce LOTS of Common Core State Standards in quick, easy and fun ways.

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, As with The Kissing Hand Packet featured in yesterday's article, this packet reinforces Common Core State Standards: RI.K5,RI.K6,RI.K9,RI.K10,RL.K2, RL.K3,RL.K6, L.K1d, RI.1.9, RL.1.2, RL.1.3

The packet includes:

  • A beginning-middle-end story map, that will help students retell Chrysanthemum
  • A "favorite part" retelling "writing prompt" bookmark
  • A compare and contrast Venn diagram with Hooway For Wodney Wat
    • Character, Setting and Event cards. (Laminate, put magnets on the back and put them up on your white board. Write down students' answers under the cards.)
    • Cover to label book parts + review author and illustrator
    • Question words activity sheet, reinforcing who, what, why, when, where & how
    • 2 cover templates for the following activity:

I use the book Chrysanthemum as a wonderful lead-in story that the nursery rhyme: “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but names will never harm me” is simply NOT true’ as words can be very mean AND hurtful!

I Xerox off the cover of the book Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, and read the story.

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, Each time someone hurts Chrysanthemum's feelings, I pass the paper around the circle.

We each crumple up the paper, say "I'm sorry" and then smooth it out.  By the time I am done reading the story, the picture of Chrysanthemum is in shreds and full of holes as well.

We discuss the fact that words hurt, and even though we say that we are sorry and “smooth things out” with that person, we have still hurt them.

The words sort of leave “scars” on their heart and in their mind, just like the dilapidated paper visually demonstrates.

I cut out a large red paper heart and glue the poor shredded cover of Chrysanthemum next to a fresh cover, as a gentle reminder to think before you speak, as words DO make a difference.

I also want children to understand that being critical of each other and saying things like "I don't want to be your friend” and leaving them out of a group when they play, is also hurtful.

I'll ask them a question like: “How would you feel if Mrs. Henderson said that to you?”, or how would they feel if I gave everyone else a toy or piece of candy, or let everyone go out for recess and didn't let them go?  It really gives them a wake up call.

Chrysanthemum discusses making fun of a child’s name.  Hooway For Wodney Wat is a wonderful book that delves into bullying and making fun of a child with a speech impediment.

This is a great comparison-contrast book to work on that Common Core Standard, using a Venn diagram that once again brings home the fact that teasing is hurtful.

Click on the link to view/download Chrysanthemum Packet Thank you for visiting today. Hope you can pop back tomorrow for more helpful tips. first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, back to school activities, Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.

“All you need is a plan, a road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” –Earl Nightingale

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Using Kiddie Lit To Teach Standards: The Kissing Hand

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1-2-3 Come Do Some Kissing Hand Activities With Me

Since the first Kissing Hand Activity Packet was such a huge success, I decided to make another packet designed specifically around Common Core State Standards.

This packet will reinforce: Common Core State Standards: RI.K5,RI.K6,RI.K9,RI.K10,RL.K2, RL.K3,RL.K6, L.K1d, RI.1.9, RL.1.2, RL.1.3

It has a variety of fun reading and writing activities to go along with Audrey Penn's adorable story The Kissing Hand, about a little raccoon who doesn’t want to go to school. This is one of my all-time favorite back to school books.

This packet, is the first in a series of quick and easy common core packets, where I use kiddie lit to teach standards.  I'll be posting and blogging about these FREEBIES for the next few days.

The Kissing Hand Packet includes:

  • A beginning-middle-end story map that will help students retell The Kissing Hand
  • A "favorite part" retelling "writing prompt" bookmark
  • A compare and contrast Venn diagram where students compare The Kissing Hand to another of my favorite first day of school books, First Day Jitters!
  • Character, Setting and Event cards. (Laminate, put magnets on the back and put them up on your white board. Write down students' answers under the cards.)
  • "My Feelings" discussion, skill sheet, and graphing extensions.
  • 1st day writing prompt
  • Kissing hand poem introducing rhyming words.
  • Question Words activity sheet, reinforcing the who, what, why, when, where, how words.
  • Cover of book to label book parts + review author and illustrator

back to school lessons, back to school activities, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, first day of school ideas, back to school ideas, the kissing hand activities, the kissing hand ideas, the kissing hand lessons, first day jitters activities, first day jitters lessons, first day jitters ideas, common core lessons, common core activities, back to school writing prompts, the first day of school writing prompts, parts of a book activities, retelling a story activities, compare and contrast activities, question word activities, feelings activities, graphing activities, parts of a book lessons, retelling a story lessons, compare and contrast lessons, venn diagram lessons, compare and contrast lessons, question word lessons, feelings lessons, Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Packet 2   It will be FREE for an entire year.  After that, it will become part of a big literacy packet in my TpT shope.

Stay tuned for a similar packet for First Day Jitters. For lots more activities forThe Kissing Hand click on the link to zip on over to that section ofTeachWithMe

back to school lessons, back to school activities, first day of school activities, first day of school lessons, first day of school ideas, back to school ideas, the kissing hand activities, the kissing hand ideas, the kissing hand lessons, first day jitters activities, first day jitters lessons, first day jitters ideas, common core lessons, common core activities, back to school writing prompts, the first day of school writing prompts, parts of a book activities, retelling a story activities, compare and contrast activities, question word activities, feelings activities, graphing activities, parts of a book lessons, retelling a story lessons, compare and contrast lessons, venn diagram lessons, compare and contrast lessons, question word lessons, feelings lessons, I'm off for a swim to cool off! (90's today.) Hope you're enjoying a sunny summer day as well!

“Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” –John Wayne

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More Back To School Helpful Ideas: Easy Readers About School

1-2-3 Read With Me!

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, Here are 4 easy readers that are great activities for the first week of school.

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, My First Day Of School, is a quick and easy activity that will engage your students on that busy first day.

Take their photo and include it, to make this a real keepsake.

I've also included a page for preschool, Y5's, 1st grade + a blank page for you to fill in whatever other grade is appropriate for you.

 

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, How Do You Go To School, helps reinforce how children get to school. Students will enjoy reading this booklet and sharing how they arrive.

To make it more personal, have students put an X by the picture on the cover, of how they get to school, then have them write the name of their school on the last page.

Children read the sentence using pictures as clues.  They trace and write the key word, then cut and glue another picture to the matching numbered boxes.

The easy reader School, reinforces the idea of students liking school!

Children use picture clues to read the sentence. Students trace it and then write the main-idea word.  Children then cut and glue a picture to the matching numbered boxes.

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, The packet includes:

  • 14 word-wall word flashcards +
  • Covers to make an Itty Bitty Word Book
  • 3 picture cards,
  • A class book writing extension with two different writing prompts
  • 2 math skill sheets
  • A graphing extension +
  • A certificate of praise

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, Finally, We Go To School works on days of the week.

Being able to read (sight words) word wall words is a Common Core State Standard. I listed the parts of a calendar as part of my word wall and thought an easy reader that addressed this concept, would be a fun way to learn them.

I included a quick and easy schoolhouse days of the week slider in this packet as well.

I hope you find these easy readers a nice addition to your classroom activities.  They work well for Daily 5 or a Reading/Writing center too.

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you can pop back tomorrow for more back to school ideas.

first day of school activities, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, back to school ideas, back to school lessons, back to school activities, easy readers, back to school booklet, first day of school booklet, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading activities, Feel free to PIN anything you think might be helpful to others.

“Whoever retains the natural curiosity of childhood is never bored or dull.” -Unknown

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More Back To School Ideas: Teaching the Common Core

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Using Chicka Boom Boom To Help Teach A Common Core Standard

You might have noticed that any item in the shopping cart, that has to do with learning the upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet,  now has Common Core RF:K.1d in the description.

I ran off a copy of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Kindergarten and First Grade and am going through each standard and then finding all of the items on my shopping cart that will help teach that standard and labeling it with that standard.

teaching common core standards, common core standard upper and lower case letters, chicka boom activities, chicka boom ideas, chicka boom booklet, first day of school activities, back to school activities, first day of school ideas, back to school ideas,Since I have so many items that help teach upper and lowercase letters, I thought I’d start there.

I hope teachers will find this helpful.  I also want to make positive affirmation cards for you, as well as take a crack at assessments and certificates when students pass the standard.

I plan to work on this each day throughout the summer.  I feel there is a real need out there for this information, as there are only a handful of states that haven’t jumped on the bandwagon and teachers don’t have enough time to prep all of this.

I hope to have the shopping cart cataloged by the end of summer.  It would be so helpful, if you are downloading an item, because you find it will be helpful for a specific CCSS, and you see that I don’t have it marked, if you would please take a moment to shoot me an e-mail and tell me what standard you are using it for.

If everyone would do that, who is using items for CCSS, I could get this job done so much faster, and everyone would benefit! diane@teachwithme.com

It’s a bit labor intensive for me, because there are no standards for Y5’s, so I never had to worry about them.

I’ve been spending lots of time doing research online learning about Common Core and picking my teacher friends’ brains.  Anyway….thanks in advance.

One of my hottest downloads that teach CCSS RF:K.1d is my Chicka Boom Activities packet.

This packet is great for the first week of school and a fun way to help your students learn about their classmates, as you include their photo on the coconuts and write their names in alphabetical order in your first class book!

I LOVE the Chicka Boom books; they were certainly a favorite read aloud for my students, and are perfect for back to school.

teaching common core standards, common core standard upper and lower case letters, chicka boom activities, chicka boom ideas, chicka boom booklet, first day of school activities, back to school activities, first day of school ideas, back to school ideas,Click on the link to view/download the Chicka Boom Activities packet.

Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Dear teacher.  I like to talk to everyone, so moving my seat won't help."

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