Individual Word Work Folders for Reading Intervention

During my 30-minute reading intervention time, I have a group of four to six students in need of intense individualized reading instruction. After all, how else are they going to get better at reading without practicing reading? As any reading teacher will tell you, that's much easier said than done. Until now!

I can't wait share with you the easiest way to keep track of your students and their progress on learning new sight words. All you need for each student is a file folder labeled on the inside with the words "Words I Know" on one side and "Words I'm Learning" on the other side, a marker, and 2"x 2" post-it notes (7 to 10). Here's how it works. 

First, listen to each student as they read a fluency passage. While they read, keep track of high frequency words that they know quickly and write them down, one per post-it. These will be suck to the student's Words I'm Learning half of the folder. 

Then, write two or three sight words or high frequency words that the student stumbles over. These are placed into the Words I'm Learning section of their folder.  

Then, each day as part of my small group reading time, I ask students to interact with their words. 

We build sentences. We play "I spy", we pair word families... Anything that I can think of to quickly ask students to touch, move, hold, read, and say their words.  Most of time, we notice patterns in words they hold, and the students begin showing each other patterns, families of words or phonetic rules in each other's words at my reading table. Daily exposure to new words allows these kids to move their words from the side of Words I'm Learning to Words I Know. Then we can pick new words all over again!

 The whole activity takes in between 3 and 5 minutes. I store the folders with my other reading intervention materials so that the students don't lose their words and/or play with them. This is also a great informal assessment grab-and-go for an RTI meeting, parent conference, or team meeting on individual students. Easy and fun!

I hope you'll try out this great strategy for word work. I can't wait to hear all about how you use and modify this to work for your classroom!

 I hope you enjoyed this month's Bright Ideas blog post! If you would like more ideas from me, be sure to follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers, Pinterest, and Facebook to stay posted with fabulous freebies and ideas!

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Color By Sums Addition Puzzles (CAUTION: These are engaging!)

Lately, my second graders have been a little... less than thrilled about practicing addition fact fluency... that is, until now!

CAUTION: These Color by Sums Addition Puzzles are highly engaging, and WILL make your life easier!! 

I'm thrilled to share my latest product with you...  To grab yours, click on the link to my store, or any of the images!

 I've created 5 different under-the-sea puzzles to choose from. Each puzzle has addition facts, with sums to 20. Color by code AND practice addition facts! My students are loving these!!!!

 Each puzzle has an answer key to make your life even easier. Print-and-go!

 Seriously, have I told you how much my students are loving these? Perfect for math centers, homework, or whole group!

Enjoy!

Click here for my FALL-themed addition puzzles! 

Happy Teaching!

 XOXO

Be ready for your copy volunteers tomorrow and a FREEBIE!

Be ready for your copy parents with these adorable and time-saving labels for volunteers! {Inspiration for these comes from, where else, Pinterest!} Follow these 3 easy steps to get yourself ready for parent copy volunteers by tomorrow! Download your free copy by clicking on the link or any of the images. 

You'll need clothespins, scissors, super glue, and an optional laminator. I used my Scotch Thermal Laminator --which I L.O.V.E.!!

Step 1: Download and print the copy labels.  Use card stock for extra durability.

Step 2: Cut. Laminate, if desired. 

Step 3: Glue onto clothespins. Voila!

I chose to store my clothespins by clipping them onto an old flower pot. But you could also use a cup or bucket from the Dollar Tree or DollarSpot at Target. 

Keep your clothespins nearby when you're planning. That way, as soon as you pull a resource, you can clothespin it for copying by you or a volunteer. This sure beats my chicken-scratch handwritten notes on post-its which half of the time, cannot even be read by even me, let alone a volunteer! [smh]

I hope you enjoy these free labels! Thanks for stopping by to read :)