treasure

Learning what to call "things" in the classroom and giving them unique names is a simple, but valuable tidbit I've learned working with kinders. The handwriting books, writing folders, daily folders, charts, mailboxes, cubbies, etc. There are so many "things" that we use on a regular basis and our kinders have to quickly learn all of this new vocab, remember where these things are kept and get them out/put them back on anindependent basis.

I've learned that things need to have unique names as much as possible and as much as I can muster with creativity in order to quickly and effectively give out directions or expectations. I do that a lot. I don't give directions so much anymore. I give expectations.

Well, what do you do when you create something new and want to introduce it into your daily or weekly routines mid-year? I realized that my kinders needed more practice with word families, and created some teeny tiny rhyming books that felt unique and were slightly novel for being so small. What do I call these little books that my kinders need to keep and re-read on a constant basis? Or where do they keep them? I called them their treasure books and they keep them in their treasure box (plastic pencil boxes). Because when we learn to read 3 letter words quickly, its like finding reading treasure.

So I hope these help your kinders with these standards:

• K.RF.2.c-1. Blend onsets and rimes of single-syllable words when given by a teacher
• K.RF.2.c-2. Segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable words when given by a teacher 
• K.RF.2.e-1. Blend at least three phonemes together to state one-syllable words.
• K.RF.2.e-3. Substitute individual sounds of simple one-syllable words to make new words. Start with beginning sounds (e.g., cat becomes hat).
• K.RL.4.e-3. Chunk unknown words into parts to read unknown words.

{click to download -and booklets}

{click to download -am booklets}
{click to download -at booklets} 

{click to download -in booklets}
{click to download -ing booklets}
{click to download -is booklets}
{click to download -it booklets} 

• On the cover, my kinders write the date, their name and the word family bit. 
• On page 2, they simply add a sound to the beginning of the word.
• On pages 3 and 4 they trace the rime in addition to adding a new sound.
• On pages 5 and 6 they have to write the both the onset and the rime. 

With my higher groups, I am stretching them to incorporate the bits that we practice. They re-read these books a couple of times a week and beg me to take them home.

To print and bind easily: 

Print sets using your copier's stapler function (2 on the left side). Cut with your paper cutter horizontally, so that you are left with 3 sets of 2 books. Then cut the two books apart and staple the remaining ones that didn't get stapled by the copy machine.

So, I'm hoping that these really improve my kinders abilities to blend onset and rimes (and eventually CVC) on their own without my prompting. Since we started in January, I'm very happy with the progress they've made. Since these are kind of random in nature, I'll be sharing them as freebies with you and sending a little treasure your way!