Building Fluency with Beach Themed Fluency Tips and Activities

Fluency is one of the 5 Big Ideas in Reading. Fluency is necessary for students to comprehend what they are reading. Students need to read in order to become fluent but we know that struggling readers spend less time reading. They not only struggle with fluency but also with comprehension. Themes help to build fluency as students learn targeted vocabulary that they will use in a variety of activities with multiple exposures.

I created a new unit: "At the Beach Fluency Activities" which scaffolds fluency activities from reading words, phrases, sentences, reading texts, a poem, and readers theater. Each new activity builds on the one before to insure student success. There are assessments for reading words, phrases, sentences, and texts at the K and 1st grade levels and Student Progress Graphs for Repeated Readings. Just click on the picture below to download the Preview file to see all the activities and materials in the unit.

Here is a sample of the Word Fluency Activities. I included Picture/Word Cards for ESL students and Struggling readers to help them build their vocabulary. Here is a sample of Word and Phrase Fluency Cards and Activities. There are 2 Fluency Activities for Pair Work called "Point and Say" and "Fast Match" for both the word and phrase cards.

Once students become fluent at reading the words and phrases, they will read sentences using the same vocabulary. Here is a sample of some of the Sentence Fluency Cards.

Finally, students will read texts, a poem, "Going to the Beach", and a Pair Readers Theater called, "At the Beach".

This unit is great for those teaching summer school, RTI, or End of the Year Summer themed activities. I have also included Common Core Standards, B/W copies, and some Strategies for Reading to improve fluency.

Here is a freebie from my unit: Picture/Sentence Fluency Activity. It is a pair activity where one student holds up a picture and the other student has to find the sentence that describes the picture and read the sentence. Once all the picture and sentence cards are matched the students will switch places.

Just click on the picture below to download your free fluency activity.

If you are looking for more free Beach Resources, Crafts, and Activities just click HERE 

Looking for some more Great Stuff for Teachers? Follow my new Pinterest boards by clicking on the picture below. I also have a new one for parents too. 

                                 

For those of you who have finished the school year, I hope you rest and relax over your summer vacation. I hope for the rest of you your vacation will begin soon. Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.

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Memorial Day: Free Activities and Lesson Ideas

Memorial Day is usually one of the last school holidays. For those of you who will be teaching about Memorial Day I have some free activities and lesson ideas. Memorial Day is a special holiday for me as I am married to a retired soldier and both my father and my husband's mother were soldiers during World War II. Last year I wrote a blog post with lots of free resources and free activities which you can access by clicking on the picture below. There are links to great books, lesson plans, activities and more.

I finally revised my "Memorial Day: History and Traditions" and added lots of new materials including a biography on Davy Crockett and this Poppy Flower Bio Writing Craftivity. Did you know that poppies were the first flowers to grow back in the fields of Europe and World War I?  Students will write information about a soldier that died during a war in the 4 writing boxes and paste them to the petals of the red poppy. How about making a Wall of Honor Bulletin Board with all the Poppy Bios? I've included websites where students can find information about American soldiers that have died during our wars. Your students may also have relatives that served in a war and can give your students information about a soldier. 

The packet includes reading texts and writing activities that are written at both the 2nd and 3rd grade levels.

Here is a preview of the reading activities.

Just click on the picture above to download the Preview file and see all the materials and activities and get a free Soldier Acrostic Poem:

I also have a Free Memorial Day Noun Sort Activity which you can download by clicking on the picture below. Students will sort Proper Nouns, Common Nouns, and Plural Nouns related to Memorial Day. Hope you will leave some feedback.

I also have a free Compare and Contrast Veterans Day and Memorial Day Writing Activity which you can download by clicking on the picture below.

Thanks so much for making a difference for your students. I hope you will find one of the activities above that you can use in your classroom.

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TpT Sale Extended!

Happy to let you know that the TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale has been extended until 11:59pm EST today, May 8th. Everything in my store is 20% plus add the PROMO Code: TPTXO at check-out to get a total of 28% off.  Got all my shopping done with some super items.

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.
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Teacher Appreciation Freebie!

Believe it or not I only have 1 Math Product in my store. It's a great end of the year packet of addition and subtraction games from 0-20. I have made it FREE until 8 pm. EST tonight May 6th. Hope you will leave some feedback. Just click on the picture above. Hope you are enjoying your Teacher Appreciation week.

Don't forget that my whole shop is 20% off today through May 7th. Use the PROMO Code: TPTXO
to get an additional 8% at checkout.

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.
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Teachers are Appreciated! TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale and Freebies

TpT is having their Teacher Appreciation Sale this week on May 6th and May 7th. Everything in my store is 20% off for the 2 sale days and in honor of all the wonderful teachers, TpT is adding an extra 10% off at checkout. Don't forget to enter the PROMO Code: TPTXO to get the extra discount!  In case there is one last item you need for the end of the year or just want to browse, you can check out my store by clicking on the picture above.

From the time I was in 3rd grade I couldn't imagine ever being anything else but a teacher. I have seen all the rewards, challenges, and changes through my 33 year career and am truly in awe of those of you teaching today. I truly appreciate each and every one of you and all that you do to make a difference for all the diverse students in your classrooms. At this time of year you are truly in need of lots of extra warm fuzzies and a well deserved summer vacation. So "thank you" from the bottom of my heart.

As many of you know, I have spent this last year revising all of my products. I continue to grow and learn to make the very best products and the feedback you have left has meant so much to me. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of this wonderful sale to get some last minute products for the end of the year or even for the beginning of next year, especially if you are changing grade levels.  Here are a few of my newest revised ones.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week I have a few freebies for you, too. For Teachers in Grades 2-4, here are some Mother's Day Writing Prompts. Just click on the picture below.

How about a free Mother's Day Poem from my Moms Are Special People People packet: Just click on the picture below:

I will be posting some flash freebies this week on my FB page so be sure to click HERE to like my FB page so you won't miss out!
Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. Just know that you are truly appreciated each and every day of the year.
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Teacher Appreciation Sale at Teachers Notebook May 3-5th

For those of you that follow me or shop on Teachers Notebook I wanted to let you know that starting today and running through May 5th Teachers Notebook is having there Teacher Appreciation Sale. Everything in my shop is 40% off plus TN is adding an extra 10% at checkout. It is a great opportunity to grab a few bargains for the end of this school year or for the beginning of next year especially if you are switching grade levels. Just click on the picture above to access my shop. I truly appreciate all that you do each and every day to make a difference in the lives of your students. Have a great weekend.!
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