Word Work Centers Freebie!!!

I just love freebies!!!!!!!! They really do help my classroom go 'round. That's why I try to make a lot of the products in my store free for many teachers to use. And here's my newest freebie: 

I love centers!! And even more, I love coming up with ideas for centers!!!!!

I have drawers for all my Word Work supplies. I print out these posters and laminate them. Then I print out the recording pages I use and make class copies. I put the pages along with the original in a large brown envelope with the Word Work Poster. Students can then take the envelope and supplies with them to an appropriate work space. 

The posters are as follows: 

Magnetic Letters - 2 recording pages

Computer

Wikki Stix

White Board - 

Playdough - 4 recording pages, also included is editable PowerPoint file to create workmats

Rainbow Write - 4 recording pages

Word Wall - 1 recording page

ABC Order - 2 recording pages

Markerpalooza - 2 recording pages

Parents - this is a great way to reinforce what we are doing in school, at home! 

I hope you can use and enjoy this little freebie for a limited time!!

These are all pretty simple centers featuring a variety of recording pages from which to choose. Most of my centers are self contained with minimal prep time. We may however create a themed Word Work center focusing on words in our content area or we may put a phonics game in the games drawer every once in a while. The children like to see things changed up, so I try to keep it updated. 

If you want your own FREE copy, click on the picture below and make sure to leave feedback!! Thanks so much, and Happy Teaching!!

Class Newsletter - The Weekly Ozmopolitan

Happy Labor Day friends!! So far I am loving my first day off (weekends don't count!!)!!! I've got cookie dough chilling in the fridge and I'm about to start on a Red Velvet Cake. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

Here is a quick look at my class newsletter, The Weekly Ozmopolitan. 

Obviously, since my theme is Wizard of Oz, I've duly named it. 

The front page has a note from me, our WOW, and some information for parents about what we will be doing in the classroom on things they may not exactly know about like the Daily Cafe. 

I plan on posting one every Friday via email to my parents and here on the blog. I've never done a class newsletter this way. We send home our {Weekly Assignment Sheets} in the {OZ binder} every week but this year I thought I would try this as well. We shall see! I've heard back from one parent about how much she loved it!! 

In the middle pages I included some pictures from the first couple of weeks. 

On the back page I put some fun trivia and our class wish list. There is upcoming news and events listed and some helpful learning websites. 

I hope my parents find this newsletter useful!! 

If you click {HERE} you can grab a template for yourself. 

Thanks for reading!!!

Weekly Assignment Sheets

Good morning! I'm am still busy working on all the things that are needed at the beginning of school. One particularly useful page we have is our Weekly Assignment Sheet. This is also a work in progress. I have been tweaking and remaking this page for almost five years now. It was part of my evaluation for my LaTAAP portfolio. Here's some old versions:

When I was teaching in a Catholic school and only had 10-12 kids, I could print them in color. Now with 26 kids, it's not economical. 

I'm proud of my newest design. It really streamlines the page.

This sheet lists everything!! We've got reading, writing, spelling, math, science, and even tips. We make sure that we cover everything students and parents will need to know for the week. This sheet goes in a page protector in our OZ binder so it is easily accessible. We pass them out on Fridays with the homework packet and replace them the following Friday. Students always have their binders so if they need to reference their words, they can pull them out and flip to this page. 

For your own copy of the page, click on the picture above. The font I used in the picture is called HomegirlKiddo. The font in the Google doc is Coming Soon. 

Thanks for reading and happy planning! 

Back to School Night Freebie

I just wanted to share a quick little freebie with you  about my parent packet I give out at Teacher Meet and Greet night.  It is continually a work in progress. Every year I add to it or change it or take away from it. Here are some of the pages I'm including this year.

This page sits on top of everything at each student's seat. It gives parents a list of things to do before they leave. It also gives me an opportunity to talk with parents while others aren't standing around waiting their turn. As each parent/family finished their paperwork they can put up supplies or come speak with me or pay their supply fee. 

Inside the packet, I put the parent and student letters, 

(first page of parent letter)

Information on Class Dojo (WHICH IS AWESOME! If you aren't using it, you totally should. Check out my little blog post on it {HERE})

I also include each individual child's unique code for signing up on ClassDojo. 

Oh, look it's Dorothy from Kansas! 

Students use their codes to set up their little account and parents use their code to receive updates about their child's points. 

The classroom contact information page is also inside the packet. 

along with the class schedule,

the classroom behavior letter, 

and a list of sight words to know by the end of first grade. 

A classroom volunteer page and any forms/letters from the school go in the packet as well. 

Other things include reading strategies to practice at home, problem solving strategies, math homework help, and ideas for books. 

Now our school spent this summer developing Tour Guides for each grade level. My team met in June and knocked this out over two days. We developed a nice document that is comprised of expectations and examples of those expectations so that parents can see what their children will learn in First Grade. 

I am unsure whether these Tour Guides will be printed and handed out to every parent, but we will include some of the items in our parent packet. 

If you would like a copy of our parent packet notes, you can grab one {RIGHT HERE}

Thanks and good luck planning for the new year!