🌹Monday's Quote! 🌹

Hello everyone!
The definition of quote is to repeat someone else's statement, phrases or thoughts.

Here is today's!

Happy Teaching!

Community People Word Wall Freebie!

Community People Word Wall Freebie!

Happy New Year from Fun To Teach!

Kinder to 2nd grade

This word wall contains words and pictures related to Community People.
This freebie is the word wall portion from our Community People Kindergarten Kit complete packet.  I am offering this for free so you can sample some of my work! 

This word wall contains 12 words and pictures related to Community People. The pictures are perfect for both the basic education classroom, ESL, speech and autism/ESE classroom.

Community People Word Wall pages includes:

·      Community People Word Wall cards,

·      alphabet headers

·      activities

Use these to teach CommunityPeople vocabulary, during reading centers, use in wall charts or posted on the wall. You can even cut off the word and have the student match the word to the picture.

You will find many uses for these versatile words and pictures.  These word cards are great for a theme wall, flashcards to send home or use as a matching game.  Spice-up your Community People with this great word wall packet.

Words included in this packet are:

Astronaut

Bus driver

Captain

Cyclist

Fireman

Flight attendant

Garbage collector

Pilot

Police officer

Taxi driver

Train engineer

Trucker

Click here to download this great freebie!

Happy Teaching! Lori

🔨ELD Toolbox Booster🔨 ELD Workshop

ELD Make and Take Workshops

By Fun To Teach 

🔨ELD Toolbox Booster🔨 
Fun effective strategies and activities to fill your ELD toolbox!

Save your seat now! Fax in the registration today 

2017 - Our New Workshop!

September 29, 2017
Portland, OR 

Are you interested in adding another layer of practical knowledge to your ELD instruction? Then this workshop is for you. Join us for the ELD Toolbox Booster workshop and enhance English Language instruction with procedures, routines, strategies and activities that will develop oral language, vocabulary and fluency in English learners. Come fill your ELD toolbox with language games, activities, strategies picture cards, songs, chants, sentence frames, and “make & take” activities that you can use in your classroom the next day! 

Who should attend?
ELD and ESL teachers, K-5 classroom teachers, specialist teachers and everyone who wants to fill their ELD toolkit!

🔨ELD Toolbox Booster 🔨

Portland, Oregon
Fun effective strategies and activities to fill your ELD toolbox!


$200.00PER WORKSHOP

 Call for more info or visit our website!
Click here!

• •

fax or mail a Purchase Order or check

Happy Teaching!

Lori

Back to School Bonus Sale at Teachers Pay Teachers

Hello Teachers,

Here is your chance to purchase all of the products on your Teachers Pay Teachers wish list!

 

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a one day Back to School Bonus Sale on August 22nd.  Most TPT sellers have the items in their stores discounted anywhere from 5% to 20%.  Fun to Teach is offering all products at a 20% discount!  In addition, a TPT discount of 5% will be applied at checkout if you enter the special code of BTSBonus.

 

To get started, click on over to my store and pick up this fun freebie 

Happy Shopping!

Happy Teaching! 

 

Lori

🌹Monday's Quote! 🌹

Hello everyone! The definition of quote is to repeat someone else's statement, phrases or thoughts. Here is today's! Happy Teaching

Hello everyone!
The definition of quote is to repeat someone else's statement, phrases or thoughts.

Here is today's!

Happy Teaching!

💕Friday Freebies💕

Hi teachers,

This Friday we have a great freebie for you!💕

Click Here for your Semantic Gradient Black Line!

Click here for your freebie!

Benefits of Semantic Gradients:

 •easy to use

•reproducible, make what you need

•use with small groups or whole class

Semantic gradients are powerful tools to teach elementary students the differences between related words and increase their vocabulary.

This method of improving reading comprehension works with both English Language Learners and native English speakers and offers classroom teachers a vehicle to reach the needs of all of students. This type of gradient helps students distinguish between the subtle nuances of meaning of related words and broadens their understanding of connected words. Furthermore, gradients show all students how to use vocabulary precisely when expressing themselves in speaking and writing.

Semantic gradients are lists of related words that have similar meanings placed on a continuum moving from one word to its opposite. It is a continuum that order related words by degree.

These gradients use anchor words (words and their opposites) at each end of the gradient. The words used in between gradually shift in meaning.

For example, freezing and sweltering would be the anchor words for a semantic gradient of temperature words that included the following: freezing, cold, cool, warm, hot, roasting, and sweltering.

How do you use a Semantic Gradient?

Identify your 2 anchor words by choosing a word and finding its opposite.

Find synonyms for each of those words and order them to create your word list.

Students then order the words to create a gradient or continuum.

Click Here for your Semantic Gradient Black Line!

Have fun and happy teaching!

☀️Learning Centers Made Simple! Part 3☀️

Hello everyone!

This is part 3 of using centers in your classroom…

Have you wanted to try centers in your classroom, but weren’t sure where to start?  Have you tried centers and not been successful?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, read on and I will try and answer some basic questions teachers often have about  centers.

Welcome to a center-based classroom!

Imagine walking into your classroom and seeing students in small groups working cooperatively. One group sits at a center with the teacher for guided reading instruction. Another group of children work at a theme center sequencing the life cycle of an insect. At the next center, students work together restructuring a story with sentence strips. The teacher signals for attention; the students quiet for directions. Students clean up their centers and rotate to the next center, going right to work.  Centers can be done simply with the helpful hints we give you here. Read on and

make centers a reality in your classroom!

💜💜💜

By providing a center-based environment in your classroom, you will be able to give your attention to small groups of children during “guided reading.” Research shows that this small-group instruction is one of the primary components that leads to strong readers. Centers also allow you to teach to all the student levels that are in your classroom. Your choice to run centers in your classroom will also teach your students how to work cooperatively in small groups. Learning centers allow you to teach “responsibility” as students work independently, practicing and

reviewing skills and concepts at each center. 

💜💜💜

Q: How does a center-based classroom look?

A: Many teachers use tables and desks against the walls in

their classroom. You can use student desks as a center, too.

During center time, the desks will be empty and small groups of children will be sitting at centers throughout the room. The teacher at guided reading will have her/his back to the wall in order to see all centers at a glance from where she/he sits.

💜💜💜

Q: How many adults do I need to run centers in my classroom?

A: Just you! When you teach the routines and procedures of

your centers well, your students will learn how to work without supervision during center time.

💜💜💜

Q: How long is center time?

A: That depends on you and on how many centers you have

each day. If you have five groups of students rotating through five centers and spending 15 minutes at each center, then you will need 1 hour and 15 minutes for center time. Six groups of children rotating through six centers will need an hour and a half. Remember to add a little extra time for the rotation of

groups when determining the time you will allot for centers.

💜💜💜

Q: When it is time to change centers, how do I get my students’ attention?

A: Ringing a bell or calling out “freeze” or “give me five” are great ways to call your students to attention. Teach your students to “freeze” when the signal is given and to listen for instructions.

Happy Teaching,

Lori

For more in depth information on running centers in an elementary classroom Click Here! 


 Click Here!

☀️Learning Centers Made Simple! Part 2☀️

Hi everyone,

Let's continue on our discussion on running a center based classroom.  Let's take a look at the answers to some common questions teachers have as they get started!

 Questions and Answers!

Q: What is a center?

A: A center is a physical area in a classroom set aside for a specific

learning purpose. The center has appropriate materials and supplies

so students can work individually or in cooperative groups.

 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

Q: How many students should I put in each group?

A: We recommend three to four students in each group at each center.

 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

Q: How long do students spend at each center?

A: Twenty to thirty minutes at each center is an adequate amount of time for students to complete most center activities.

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Q: How do students know where to go when it is time to rotate centers?

A: By teaching and practicing the routines and procedures you want followed at center time, your students will know what you want them to do. We suggest you follow a clockwise rotation pattern to rotate students through centers.

💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

Q: How do I group my students for centers?

A: To teach to the varied levels in all classrooms, we suggest you group your students by reading abilities. By grouping students this way, you can meet the instructional needs of all your students in language arts. Learning centers will allow you to teach to your low, medium, and high ability groups and move everyone forward.

💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

For more in depth information on running centers in an elementary classroom Click Here!

Check out our next post for more insights to running centers in your classroom!

Happy Teaching,

For more in depth information on running centers in an elementary classroom Click Here!

☀️Learning Centers Made Simple!☀️

Hello everyone!

Have you wanted to try learning centers in your classroom, but weren’t sure where to start?  🌋 Have you tried centers and not been successful? 

If you answered yes to either of these questions, read on and I will try and answer some basic questions teachers often have about math and literacy centers.

Let's start with the basics! 🅱

What does a center-based classroom look like?

A well-run center-based classroom will have small groups of children working independently at all of the centers, the teacher leading a small group at the guided reading center and perhaps a parent facilitating another center.  The children will be engaged in the activities, well trained about the procedures, and involved in their own learning.

 

 

 

What's the rationale?

Learning centers facilitate growth and learning!

💭 Learning centers provide an opportunity for small-group

reading instruction.

💭  Learning centers enhance student learning.

💭  Learning centers teach students responsibility.

💭  Learning centers allow you to teach to a variety of

learning styles.

💭  Learning centers offer a wider variety of activities for

students to learn from.

💭  Learning centers allow students to work at their own level

while reviewing and practicing skills.

💭  Learning centers promote cooperative learning

 Stay tuned for the next post and the answers to some common questions about Learning Centers.

Happy Teaching😊

For more in depth information on running centers in an elementary classroom Click Here!

🌹Monday's Quote! 🌹

Hello everyone!
The definition of quote is to repeat someone else's statement, phrases or thoughts.

Here is today's!

ESL Newcomer Sentence Starters - No Prep!

Hello teachers!

Check out my new product on Teachers Pay Teachers!  I created this packet specifically for my ELL newcomers!

If you have a new ESL student that does not speak English, help is here! Use this 63-page ESL Newcomer Sentence Starter packet with ESL students at the beginning level of English and cover the verbs and pronouns ESL newcomers to English need to master.


This No Prep ESL newcomer package consists of :
•42 ESL Newcomer Sentence starter word wall cards

•Individual lined paper for each sentence starter

Verbs covered in this packet:
• TO BE • HAVE • CAN

• LIKE • NEED • WANT

Pronouns covered in this packet:
I, you, he, she, it, we, they

All the above mentioned are reproducible.  Click here!

These No Prep ESL newcomer writing prompts and activities provide engaging, independent practice for your ESL newcomer or beginner level ESL students. These engaging sentence starters focus on the verbs and pronouns beginning English speakers need to express themselves. Big lines on the writing pages help ESL students focus on handwriting and making the letters all the same size!

Get your ESL newcomer students writing right away!

Use these comprehensive ESL sentence starters in your ELD or regular content class. Use the word wall cards to create a word wall that will support vocabulary growth with your ELL newcomers. This word wall of the pronouns and verbs ESL newcomers need will give ELLs visual clues to make connections with key learning concepts, provides reference support, and promote academic achievement in the content areas.

This packet contains 42 ESL newcomer sentence strips.
 Click here to buy! 


Happy Teaching!

Very varied voices

Happy day to everyone! 
Using songs to open a lesson is a great strategy to get students to practice the language you are teaching.  Don't let your songs get boring.  Change the way you sing your songs using a variety of "voices".  Here are a few of my favorites.  What are some of yours?

 Mouse squeak

Opera singing

Robot

Whisper

Deep/High

Hold your nose

Growling voice

Happy Teaching!

Lori

Check out our great ESL & ELD Songs and Chants Volume ISING IT LOUD! SING IT CLEAR!

This 51-page collection of ELD and ESL songs and black lines are perfect for every classroom with second language learners. Open every lesson with a song or chant from this rich collection of ELD based lyrics and watch your students' fluency grow. Volume I includes 22 songs/ chants, lesson ideas and activities that will raise the oral academic language of your students to new heights. The songs and chants are sung to familiar popular songs or the lyrics are used in call backs or chant style tunes. These lyrics provide a compelling way to begin your ELD lesson while targeting complex English Structures. You and your students will enjoy these engaging and memorable lyrics.

Songs and Chants for:
Possessive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
Present Tense Questions
Regular Past Tense Verbs
Past Tense Questions
Present Perfect
Prepositions

Language levels included:
Beginning
Intermediate
Advanced

click here to go to Teachers Pay Teachers store!

🎈Welcome Back to School!🎈

Hello Teachers!
Happy August! 

 Are you ready to head back to school? I am!  

Thinking about how many teachers will find English Language Learners (ELLs) on classroom rosters this year, I thought I would share some ideas used to establish a warm, and supportive learning environment for second language learners.    

As teachers we know that creating a safe and secure classroom environment includes such things as:

•Arrange the classroom in a way to maximize interaction with clear walkways and designated work areas

•Post student work   

•Display classroom rules and procedures

•Model kindness, patience and respect

•Smile often, laughing with our students and giving explicit positive reinforcement

  

You can ensure a sheltered and supportive classroom for your English language learners by including labels for your room and classroom objects that include words and pictures.  This helps build vocabulary and helps limited or non-speakers know where things go and what they are called.

Don't forget to put up your word walls!

A vocabulary word wall is an organized group of large print words posted on a bulletin board or wall in your classroom. Word walls draw attention to the words you are teaching and are used in whole class or small group activities.

Word walls provide a systematic visual vocabulary organizer that aides children in seeing and remembering connections between words and the characteristics that help them form categories and schemas to remember how to use them.

Click here to get this great freebie!
 
 
Integrate Ells’ first language and culture into your classroom when possible.  Incorporate all students into the classroom by putting up posters, books, songs and pictures of different cultures.

Remember to develop and maintain predictable procedures, schedules and routines.  I model and practice these often during the first weeks of school and adhere to them throughout the year.  Posting a schedule, content and language objectives, rules, lunch menus and bus schedules gives a sense of security to students.  Try to always include pictures and simple wording.

Establish a sense of belonging by seating ELLs in the middle of the room toward the front facing the teacher.  Make regular eye contact.  Some teachers think they should not put second language students on the spot and don’t interact with them.  I feel this allows an ELL to slip to the edges of a classroom, never participating, speaking or learning. Offer support by asking ELLs to repeat a simple statement from another student.  That keeps the student engaged while lowering the affective filter!

    Further that sense of belonging by designing classroom jobs appropriate for ELL students.  There are many classroom jobs that a limited speaker can do such as:  Handing out papers, posting lunch numbers, etc.

   Have fun this year! 
   Happy Teaching!

Here is another great product to start out your year! 
 Check it out today!

💕

 💕🎈🎈🎈🎈