It's raining sight words in my room! Okay, not really...But I do have some sight words on umbrella shapes in my room for April. I have them taped right beside my door. They are like exit slips- when a student leaves my room, they must read the words on the umbrellas.
My teacher's aide brought in a bunch of wallpaper sample books. Normally, I don't like to have lots of extra stuff brought in because it is hard to store extra things.
But these sample books are like a goldmine!! There are some beautiful patterns in there. I like to dress up the students' work that I display and these will work great. Plus, there are many, many other ways to use these pretty papers!
I cut out the umbrellas for April showers. And changing the shape each month keeps the interest of the students. When they walk out the door, they read the words.
You could use this idea in many different ways. You could put up math problems, letters for kindergarten, content words that students must give the definition for , etc... Almost endless ways!
When I was in the classroom, I always had a helper of the day. They were the one that the person leaving the room would go to and whisper the word to. That way I could continue helping students without being interrupted and that helper of the day got really good at whatever words that were up for their day. It also made them feel important that they were the go to person before anyone left the room. If I had time, we would read the words even if the whole class was leaving the room. They would just read one word down the list rather than all the words. Or your helper of the day could stay and listen as students read the words on their way out and then get in the back of the line.
It really is a great way to get in extra practice on whatever students need quick drills at and a fun and colorful way to do it! If you have any other ways I could use the wallpaper besides for patterns for backing the sight words and displaying student work, I would love to hear them!!
Love the umbrellas! We have a secret word that we spell or read every day in order to get in the classroom. Of course if you don't know it you can still get in ;)!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Kimberly Ann
Live, Laugh, I love Kindergarten
I do the same thing with sight words. I have them on hand cutouts, and the kids give the word a "high five" as they read each word. Since I work with kindergartners, I also have letter cards on my door that they name when they leave. I generally put up 4-5 letters and sight words that they need extra help with.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite eery how very similar the beginning sentences of our posts are today. :) Anyway, your umbrellas are cute, easy to manage, and helpful!
ReplyDelete❀ Tammy
Forever in First
Lori, I love that idea. I can see using it with math facts and sentence strips to practice fluency...why have I never thought of this before? This is why I love your blog!
ReplyDelete-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
Great idea! I like using exit slips, too:)
ReplyDelete❀Barbara❀
Grade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
What a wonderful idea for using exit slips! I think the wallpaper samples are a great idea too!
ReplyDeleteLiteracyMinute
That is a fun idea to spell a secret word, Kimberly Ann. Love that idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a fun idea, Lee Ann, to put the words on hands for students to high five! I need to try that one out too! Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy, the wallpaper makes the umbrellas look better. And you are right that our posts started almost the same!
ReplyDeleteMaria, you are too kind- thank you! I like your ideas for exiting too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara. We are always searching for ideas to make their learning stick, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sandi! Some of the wallpaper is just so pretty that I don't want to cut it up to use it. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! I post our word of the day on the door so students are reminded of it ALL day long...
ReplyDeleteJessica
Literacy Spark
Thank you Jessica! I like your idea of the word on the door too. Some just need to see it more often to remember it. :)
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