Reading Tips: Resources, tips, and more!

Where do you find your inspiration for teaching? One of my favorite places to get ideas is my local thrift store. I never know what I will see when visit it. Some things may be from 50 years ago but perfect for the classroom, today.

Here are a few of my latest finds from a trip to my local thrift store. As you can see the scribbage game is older than me. Yet can be repurposed for the classroom for word work. You are being an Earth friendly model for your students when you do this.

Thrift stores and used book stores are a good place to find cheap books. I have used old readers like these as take home books. I found that not only were my students excited about them, but it really motivated the parents because it brought back fond memories for them.

This is an open-ended activity that you can adapt a bunch of different ways. Glue letters and numbers on popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. You can use die cut letters/numbers, bulletin board letters/numbers - Dollar Tree has them, or fun glittery ones like ones in the picture. I found these at Hobby Lobby. You can use this activity as a sponge activity, wiggles break, inside recess, or any other time that works for you. Suggested idea:

LETTER HUNT:

Give students a piece of paper or have them write in their journal.
Each student will draw one letter out of the bucket.
Have student draw 2 lines on their paper to divide the page into 3 parts.
Students will walk around the room looking for words with the letter in either the beginning, middle, or end of the word.
Students will write the word in the correct section of their paper and circle the letter.
Option #2 : Look for words in a book instead of around the classroom.
Option #3: Listen to story or watch a movie. Each time students hear a word that begins with the letter, he/she will write it down.

NUMBER HUNT:

Give students a piece of paper or have them write in their journal.
Each student will draw one number out of the bucket.
Students will walk around the room looking for words with the number of syllables as their number stick.
Option #2: Write as many words as you can in a given time period with the number that you drew from the bucket.
Option #3: Write your spelling words the number of times that you drew from the bucket.

Are you a fan of multiple intelligence? Syllables is an easy way to incorporate musical rhythmic intelligence. You can integrate this activity with your spelling words, science vocabulary, math vocabulary, or any other words that you are studying. Your students will love to shake or bang to each syllable. I found this drum at a thrift store. The bells are from Michael's.

Do you have limits on the amount of copies you can make? If so, I would recommend trying task cards. Students like them because they don't seem as much like a tradition worksheet. The task card is small so it isn't as overwhelming - especially for your students who have trouble focusing. If you have a large collection of them, students can work at their own pace. Plus, it is easy to differentiate.

The butterflies on the sticks are from Hobby Lobby. You can use these as an extension. Students can take the butterfly and walk around the room looking for compound words. They can write the words on the back of their task card recording sheet. There is something about having something in their hand that makes this extension more fun!


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