Here is a cute and easy turkey for kids to make. If you click on the picture a template for the feathers and body are provided. I let the kids make the feet and beak themselves using orange construction paper. I think those little touches help make each one unique and cute. I read the book Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks before making the turkeys. Then we come up with something we are thankful for to write on each feather. I have the students write in pencil and then after I have checked over their work they can trace in black marker. Happy Thanksgiving!
My students are all doing really well spelling cvc words and we are moving on to practicing blends. We will still be working on stretching out words and recording the sounds. I have a morning activity that we will do each morning to practice this skill using blends now instead of cvc words. Blends are not listed as a kindergarten common core skill however, the books that students are reading in kindergarten contain words with blends. Since my kids know all of their letters and sounds now, this is the next logical step as far as phonics instruction. I think of blends as a shortcut for sounding out a word. We also start to work on digraphs during this time. I have created a video that has all of the blends we work on. Students make up a motion to go with each blend. This has proven to be helpful for some students who are kinestic learners to remember the sound.
I have created a blends folder that we will work on each morning. Blends are reviewed during this time and the movement and sound is practiced. Students also write words that contain a blend in the beginning of the word. All of this is done with students having their own folder with visuals to point to each blend and a space to write the word. I have included the link to the activity, this packet also includes posters to hang as visuals in the classroom and several games partners can do to practice blend sounds.
We read the book Run, Turkey, Run and then came up with ideas of how a turkey could disquise himself so the farmer would not beable to find him. This would work with any Thanksgiving book about a turkey not wanting to be eaten. Click on the link below for a free copy of this activity.
Update: I have created a resources and visual display for kids to help them remember what a good reading coach does. These things go right along with the video found below! Click on the picture for the resources. Happy Coaching!
Children learn so much from each other and gain new understandings by talking to partners. Each day in my classroom I have students read with an assigned partner that is on the same level as them. Students work on the three ways to read a book during this time. I start my partner reading time with a mini lesson and then tell them the type of reading they will be practicing for that day. As the year goes on and students progress into reading the words of books I phase out the read to pictures type. There are four ways to read with a partner. In the beginning of the year I tell groups which way to practice and as the year goes on students are able to pick.
1. I read a page, you read a page (students take turns back and forth reading the pages)
2. Echo reading (one student reads a page and the other student repeats)
3. Choral reading (both students read the words at the same time)
4. I read a book, you read a book (one student reads an entire book, and the partner reads a whole book)
Here is a link to posters I have in my classroom for students to remember the types of Buddy Reading
I have them practice sitting criss-cross and both holding on to the book. This way both partners can see the book and whoever is not reading can follow along and help coach their buddy.
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