Dinosaur Stomp Spelling Activity Freebie...

Hi everyone!  I am on a real roll here, trying to get as many literacy centres created and made for my kiddos, before I start back at school next week - phew still 7 days break to go!

This Dinosaur Stomp spelling activity is along the same lines as the Pirate Treasure Spelling Activity from my last post.  You can check that out by clicking HERE.  Again, I have used the fabulous clip art from Kirsten at KPM Doodles.  If you have not checked Kirsten's clip art out, you should head over there straight away!!  Kirsten has very generous terms of use conditions for teachers!!

This Dinosaur Stomp version uses dinosaur egg shaped letter discs to create the spelling words.  I have printed these out onto colour card stock (and I don't think I will even bother laminating them!!) ...

then students write their words on the recording sheets.

This time I have also included a 'Make your own Find-a-Word puzzle' worksheet that my students can complete using their spelling words.  The advantage of having our middle daughter in the 6th grade, is that she helps me with activities for my 1st and 2nd graders to do.  My extended Yr 2 kiddos love making their own find-a-word puzzles, so they should really enjoy this added worksheet!

CLICK HERE to download this FREEBIE from Google Docs.

Again, I hope that you can find this useful in your own classrooms.  I have another couple of versions on the way... my little Lottie, who is in Kindergarten, wants me to make a fairy version and a truck version...looks like I may be busy tonight!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Pirate Treasure Spelling Freebie...

I am so lucky to have a class full of 1st and 2nd graders who love to practise their spelling words!  Seriously...when we have a spare 5 minutes or if I have early finishers, they ask if they can write their spelling words!  Favourite ways to do this are on the individual white boards and of course using the jumbo pencils that I posted about HERE.

We have implemented a new literacy program for Grade 1 and 2 this year, as part of a trial program.  Part of that involves us having our class doing literacy centres while I am doing guided reading... nothing new for most of you out there, I know!!  The only downside to this has been that the amount of time that we are required to spend on guided reading AND writing every day, has taken our spelling time away (OK, I am pretty OC when it comes to spelling, so I was 'borrowing' time from science and computer lab, to ensure that my kiddos got their spelling and handwriting practise in)!!

Anyhoo... I first saw some fabulous spelling gems over at the lovely Tara's blog,  4th Grade Frolics, a while back.  I decided to put a pirate themed twist to them and my kiddos LOVE this spelling centre!!

I bought clear glass gems from a local cheapy shop and then used a sharpie to write the letters onto the sticky side of small round dots.  I just stuck these to the flat sides of the glass gems and voila....pirate treasure letters!   I store my pirate treasure gems in an old instant coffee can.

I have used the fabulous graphics from the very lovely Kirsten at KPM Doodles, to make up the centre into a  packet to share as a FREEBIE.

The packet includes a storage container label...

Two worksheets with different pictures,  that you can either just photocopy or laminate (which is my preference, as we have a photocopy limit)...

And lastly, I know that sometimes people are not able to get hold of the clear glass gems, so I have included alphabet circle sheets in the packet, so that you can just print them out onto yellow card, cut and laminate them, and there you will have gold pirate coins :)

CLICK HERE to download the Pirate Treasure Spelling packet.

I hope that you can find this spelling centre useful and that your kiddies have lots of fun using it to learn their spelling words.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Steep Learning Curve & A Spelling Freebie...

Wow lovely, friends!  I am so sorry it has been a while between posts, but as I am finding out...this teaching gig is TOUGH!!

As a new graduate, there are so many things that I have never even seen before...let alone had to put together!!

The past few weeks have been a  HUGE learning curve.  Amongst all the learning (mine, not so much my students') a few things we managed to enjoy were:

1.  We (my kiddies and I) stopped a pesky pigeon from driving a bus, wanting a puppy and staying up late!  We just LOVED the Mo Willems Author Study by Sarah from First Grader...At Last!  If you haven't used this great resource, you really should hop on over to Sarah's blog and check it out....SO MUCH FUN!!

2.  We had so much fun reading Splat The Cat by Rob Scotton and then, inspired by the amazing art lesson by Patty from Deep Space Sparkle, creating our own Splat the Cats, using paint, chalk and special paper folded legs!

3.  I had to submit my Teaching Program Folder to our Principal.  It was a HUGE task to get this ready...boy the things they don't teach you at Uni!!  Then it was just as stressful having to go through it page by page with our amazing relieving Principal.

4.  All our Year 1 - 2 teachers have had to begin to implement our new Literacy program into our classrooms!  Again...another HUGE undertaking!  However, guided reading groups are up and running, and we now have literacy centers happening...which is so much fun!  However, due to the different timetable and the amount of time required for the guided reading and guided writing each day, I have noticed that SPELLING has really suffered the last two weeks.  So I am now moving my spelling activities from my word work station and adding them to a specific SPELLING STATION (in place of 'reading to a buddy', which is just not working in our classroom).

I have made up a packet of simple spelling activities that my kiddies are already familiar with.  Nothing new in there, but they are a small set of simple Black Line Masters that you may find handy for your own classroom use.  I have uploaded them to Google Docs.  I plan on laminating mine to get maximum use from them ... gee I can't tell you how much printer ink I have used in the past 5 weeks!!

CLICK HERE to download the Spelling Worksheets Packet.

I have absolutely no idea how all of you amazing teacher / bloggers find the time to create and share your resources, or even just blog!  I hope to discover that secret soon!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend ahead!  I, for one, am so thankful for the weekend and the chance to catch up and get organised again before Monday morning!

Thanks for stopping by!!