Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fun Halloween Learning Games and a Special Free Treat!

I loved using games as a learning tool with my students. I put together this fun learning game packet called "Don't Get Spooked" with 4 learning games that integrate reading,writing, and language standards.
 It has one of my favorite games called Don't Get Spooked. Students will take turns turning over word cards hoping not to get the picture of a Spider or their turn is over. The winner gets to wear the "I Didn't Get Spooked " Hat made with the Spiders with the Red X and everyone who can read their words gets the I'm Batty over your reading your words" Award. Here's a sneak peak at the cards for the game. There is also an October "Halloween"Noun Sort Activity and How Many Words Can You Make from the Words "Happy Halloween" and Picture/Word Card Activities. Just click on the image below to check it out and download the preview file to see sample pages of all the activities in the packet.
I just added another Halloween Fun Interactive Game packet as a special treat to all of you.

It has 3 fun games: What's in the Pumpkin Memory Game, I Spy Halloween Pictures Writing Activity, and Spot the Differences Partner Activity. Just click on the image below to get your free packet.

Hope you will check out all my new Pinterest Boards. Click Here to follow. TPT just started following this one.


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Have a great fall weekend.  Thanks for making a difference for your students.


Monday, October 21, 2013

My Truth Monday: My Truth About Fitness Linky

I'm linking up with my friend Denise over at Sunny Days in Second Grade in her new 12 week series called "My Truth Monday." This Monday is about fitness. I guess fitness has always been a part of my life. Here's my "Truth About Fitness."

So how about you? Grab the image and badge below and add your truth about fitness. Then link up by clicking on the badge below. Can't wait to read them all.
Now click on the badge below to add yours.
If you don't have a blog you can leave comments below.

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Veterans Day Free Resources and Activities

Having been born a few years after the end of WWII, I remember hearing all the war stories my dad used to tell. He served in the navy and was a cook in the Philippines. I am very connected to veterans. My husband spent his career in the Army, my son was in the Coast Guard, and my nephew had 2 tours of duty in Iraq. 

Veterans Day is a special holiday to me not only for the veterans in my family but for all the families who have sacrificed so much and for those who are in harms way today. I have put together lots of free resources and activities for my wonderful followers and viewers and hope you will find some great lessons, poems, crafts, and activities for your classrooms.

I found a list of books for Shared Reading or for your students to read at Amazon.com. I have been to "The Wall" several time as there are names of soldiers that my husband has known on it. Just click on the picture below to see a complete list of books.
Teachers Planet has a complete list of all the Veterans Day Websites for lessons, activities, and information that you can link to. You may want to start with this website first. Just click on the picture below.
Looking for some wonderful poems for Veterans Day? I have a few great websites. Do you know why people wear poppies on Veterans Day? It was the first flower that grew in Europe after the World War I. Here is the famous "In Flanders Fields" poem that you can access by clicking on the picture below.
You can find other wonderful poems like the one below at applesfortheteacher as well as other free resources by clicking on the picture below.
Are you are looking for some great craft ideas like the one below? Just click on the picture to see lots of fun crafts to make with your students.
Finally if you are looking for lessons plans you may want to check out the ones at Education World by clicking HERE

I just revised and updated my "Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day" packet for Grades 2-3 that you can check out by clicking on any of the picture below. Students will learn about the history of Veterans Day and important facts through reading and writing activities.You will find a Shared Reading Book and 2 differentiate Reading Texts and Comprehension Questions and Picture/Word or Fact Cards Match. Students will engage in Informative Text and Opinion Piece Writing Activities, Noun Sort, Letter Writing Activity, and an Acrostic Poem Writing Activity. You can check out this packet by clicking on the image below. When you download the Preview you will see sample pages of all the Reading Texts as well as many of the writing and other activities in this unit. 

I also have a free Veterans Day Syllable Sort Packet at my TpT store which you can download by clicking on the picture below. Would truly appreciate some feedback.
I decided to put together a K-1 Veterans Day packet called "Veterans Are Special People." It introduces who veterans are in a very simple way and that veterans are brave and are heroes. It includes a Shared Reading Book, 3 Differentiated Guided Reading Books, "My Veterans Day" Writing book at 3 different levels as well as writing and literacy activities. 

There is  a fun "Design You Own Special Nametag" to display on your bulletin board. Students will write their names and draw pictures of things they love or that make them special. 
You can check out all the activities and materials by downloading the Preview file. You will see sample pages of all the Emergent Reading Books, Writing and other activities in this packet. Just click on the picture below.
I have lots of new Pinterest boards for you to follow. Just click HERE.

I hope you find some wonderful resources and activities to use for Veterans Day. Thanks so much for making a difference for your students.

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Freebie Fridays





What activities do you do for Veterans day?

Sunday, October 13, 2013

TPT is Having a Sale!

Did you hear the great news? TPT reached over 100K followers on FB and is offering 10% all your purchases through 10/14 at midnight Hawaiian time. Make sure you use the PROMO CODE at checkout: FB100K  I have put my entire store on sale to celebrate with them. Hope you find some great deals today! Just click on the image above to check out my sale!

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Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

October is for Poems, Popcorn, Rainbows, and Freebies


October is a great month. It really starts to feel like fall. Did you know that October is National Popcorn Popping Month? Believe it or not January 19th is National Popcorn Day. There are so many fun things to do with popcorn. If you are looking for some fun Read Aloud Books about Popcorn just click on the picture below. 

If you are looking for some free Language and Math worksheets for grades 1-6 then just click on the picture below.
I just uploaded a K-1 thematic unit called, "It's Popcorn Time" with a Shared Reading book called "Popcorn, Popcorn, What Do You See? , 2 Emergent Reading Books and 1 Emergent Level Reading Books, Literacy Center Activities, a Song and Chant about Popcorn, and a "My Popcorn Book" Writing Activity. How fun to write a book shaped like a popcorn!


There is a Word Wall, Picture/Word Cards, Differentiated Literacy and Writing Activities. If you would like to check out my unit just click on the picture below. Be sure to download the Preview to see all the materials and activities and get a free activity. This unit is perfect for any time of the year, not just for October. 


In case you would like more October Poetry you can check out my October Poetry Unit by clicking HERE. It is all new and revised. When you download the Preview you will see sample pages of all the poems and many of the activities and materials in this packet.

And last but not least Rainbows. Yes rainbows. I added one more Pumpkin product just for K-1 called "The Rainbow Pumpkin Patch." It's all about learning the colors of the rainbow.
Here are samples of the Guided Reading Books.
There are 2 Differentiated Plays:
Also included is a Word Wall, Picture/Word Cards and Literacy Activities.
 It was a lot of fun making this and hope you will check it out by downloading the Preview File to see all the materials and activities in this packet.  Just click on the picture below.
Here's a free Make and Take book called "A Rainbow of Colorful Pumpkins"
 You can download this freebie by clicking on the picture below. 
Here's are some great new Pinterest boards to follow.



Hope you have a Popping Good October! Hope you enjoy all the freebies. Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.




What other fun activities do you do with popcorn?

Teaching Blog Addict

Saturday, October 5, 2013

October? Time for Some Freebies

So excited to have from friend Sally guest blogging today. You will love all her free activities for October. She blogs over at Elementary Matters. I hope you will visit and check out her wonderful blog.

Hi!  I'm Sally from Elementary Matters!  I've been teaching in New Hampshire for 35 years, and, honestly, I love it as much as I did back in the 70s when I started my career.  I've taught from preschool through eighth grade, and like to make learning fun for the kiddos!  I've done a lot of research on how the brain learns, and FUN is a key element on learning!

Speaking of fun, I have a few things here to help you and your kiddos celebrate one of my favorite months: October! It just so happens I have lots of freebies for you!


First of all, here's an October calendar that has a few "different" holidays that kids love to celebrate!  (Click image to download)





October is Fire Safety month!  I've found these "Fire Safety What ifs" can really get the children talking about some fire problem solving!  Click the image to download these!

Common Core
And of course, it's football season!  Be sure to click the purple image for a football themed game that supports the Common Core!
Have you noticed Halloween is one of the biggest holidays of the year?  Here's a  freebie to keep your students interested in classwork during the Halloween Days!


If you like these activities, click the link for the whole Halloween Collection!

Here's another Halloween freebie to practice complete and incomplete sentences.  just click the image!

If you want more sentence activities with a Halloween theme, click the image for the whole set, which includes activities sorting by sentence type, real or fantasy, fragment or complete sentence, and subjects and predicates.

Isn't October fantastic?  I love this time of year!