Out of This World Fun!

Outer space is so intriguing for little minds (and big ones as well!)

I just finished creating some fun outer space themed mystery pictures! The 120 Chart Mystery Pictures are great for younger kids to practice numbers and colors, and the Multiplication Mystery Pictures let older ones review those facts! All the feedback I've gotten on these activities say that kids absolutely LOVE them!



I've also compiled a great list of books (fiction and non-fiction) that we like to read when learning about outer space!

Time for Kids Book of Why - Stellar Space
There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
Space Exploration (TIME for Kids Nonfiction Readers)
Outer Space Chase (Team Umi-Zoomi)
Geronimo Stilton #52 - Mouse in Space!
The Outer Space Mystery (Boxcar Children Mystery)
The Girl Who Could Dance in Outer Space - An Inspirational Tale About Mae Jemison
Little Space Explorers
Olivia Blasts Off
Herman the Cat Goes to Outer Space
Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice

Freebie Friday - Summer!

Since it's officially summer, I've found some great free summer resources for you! These would be great if you are still in school, doing summer school, or they can work for when you go back to school!

Summer Pattern Practice
By: The McGrew Crew




Hundreds Chart Mystery Picture - Palm Tree

By: Mrs. Thompson's Treasures

 

Free Quick & Easy Center Printables - Addition Doubles plus 1

By: Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas

 

Summer Numbers 1-12 Cut & Paste

By: KidSparkz

 

Summer Data Collection: Graphing & Tallying

By: Linda Nelson

 

Summery I-Spy Activity

By: Amy Lemons

Summer Math Centers
By: First Grade Centers and More


Disclaimer: These products are free at the time of this post. Sometimes authors change the price. I'm sorry if any of these are no longer free or available.

Diggin' Into Reading

I'm linking up again this week with the "Diggin' into next year" linky party!

 

 

 

Teach reading and reading comprehension!

 

When my son was 4, I introduced him to some sight words and word families, and he just took off reading! He is now 6 and reads at a 3rd grade level. This year I really want to focus more on teaching him literary elements, using context clues, and making inferences, instead of just seeing how big of a book he can read through ;)

 

I will continue with my daughter, who is now 4, with learning her sight words, working with word families, and beginning the reading process. She seems to be learning at a more average pace than her brother, so I'm learning to take things slow and not push her too fast!

I created these "Daily Dose" task cards to be a quick daily practice of reading comprehension, using context clues, and making inferences. I plan to use one of these each day in my son's morning notebook!

 

I also have some fun activities I'll be using with my daughter to practice her sight words and word families! Dot Marker Sight Word Mystery Pictures, and Word Family Mystery Pictures! Such great practice, but so much fun!

 

 

 

Click below to visit some more "Diggin' In blog posts!" 

 

Summer Stock Up - Guided Reading!

 

From my experience, I have found that 2 keys to teaching are making learning fun and engaging, and finding a way for each student to feel successful!

When teaching kids to read, it can sometimes be difficult to do those two things! I love creating and using mystery pictures to help students practice skills. They are definitely fun and engaging, and the students can feel successful by seeing the picture they created when they have finished!

With my daughter, I am using several different activities to help her with sight words and word families. The first is the Dot Marker Sight Words Mystery Picture Activities!

She can practice reading sight words, color words, and use the dot markers all at the same time! When she's done, she has a cute picture that she is proud of. I have 2 sets of these in my store. The first set of 30 pictures uses only a few sight words per page, and the second set is a little more challenging, using 6-8 sight words per page.



We also are learning one word family per week, and going through the activities in this Word Family Word Work Activities Bundle that includes activities for the whole week! Tracing, making, cut & paste matching, flap books, and of course mystery pictures!

These activities are so great for practicing the word families all week long! I also have just the word family mystery pictures in a bundle by themselves.



You can try a whole week's worth of my Word Family -ap Word Work for FREE here.

I am also offering exclusive samples of the Word Family Mystery Pictures and Dot Marker Sight Words Mystery Pictures to all my fans on Facebook! Just look for the "Summer Stock Up" tab! I am teaming up with some great teacher friends to bring you lots of free goodies to get ready for next year! They will all be available this weekend (June 21-22) so visit Facebook and stock up!

Another great way that students can feel successful is with emergent readers! Simple, repetitive text, coupled with picture clues lets kids be able to read a whole book by themselves!

One of the other great freebies you can grab in the Summer Stock Up is a Back to School Counting Reader from the McGrew Crew! It's a sample from this great Back to School Activity Pack!

Visit Mrs. Thompson's Treasures & The McGrew Crew on Facebook to get your freebies! Just look for the "Summer Stock Up" tab.

Winners!

Congratulations to Jennifer Steadman Brown & Andrea Lee - you two have each won a $25 TpT gift certificate! It has been emailed to you.

Thank you to all who entered and took part in celebrating with me!

I am still having giveaways each month this whole year, so keep checking back for the next one!

1,000 Followers Celebration!

 

I am so grateful to have reached over 1,000 followers in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! I am so thankful for each one of you! I'd like to show my appreciation by having a celebration of freebies and giveaways!

 

I have four new products I've been working on and I'll be uploading them as FREE for 24 hours each, one per day starting June 13! After that, they will become paid items in my store. Some are for younger kids, and some are for upper elementary, so hopefully everyone will be able to get some new and useful stuff! I will also host a giveaway of two $25 TpT gift cards that will end on June 17!

 

So, be sure you are following me on TpT - and you will see when I post a new product in the "Seller Update" box on the TpT homepage. Remember, each product will be free for only 24 hours, so grab it when you see it!

 

You can also enter the giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks everyone!
Lauren

Wordless Wednesday - Free Summer Fun!

What are some ways you have free summer fun? I set out bowls with water, and the kids love it!

 

 

Let's Talk About Books!



We love books around our house! So I'm really excited to be linking up with Mrs. Jump's Class for her Let's Talk About Books Linky! We recently found this book at the public library and I had to check it out!

 

We love Elmer the Patchwork Elephant! The books are so bright and colorful! This one is about Elmer and his cousin Wilber and the adventure they go on to try and see the whales like their grandpa did when he was younger. There are so many fun crafts you can do after reading these books!

 

Make your own Elmer with an elephant template and tissue paper.

 

Or take it up a notch and make one using a milk jug! So cute!

Freebie Friday - Father's Day

This week's freebies are all about

celebrating Father's Day!

 

Father's Day Clip Art Set

By: Whimsy Workshop Teaching

 

Father's Day Freebie

By: GreatMinds123

 

Father's Day Footprint Poem

By: Adventures in Kindergarten

 

 

Grandfather/Uncle Interview Questions

By: Miss Nelson

 

Father's Day Tie Craftivity

By: Erin Stephans Snazzy in Second

 

Father's Day Gift in a Bottle

By: First Grade and Flip Flops

 

Father's Day Fishing Card Pattern

By: Crayonbox Learning

 

 *Disclaimer: These products are listed as free at the time I posted. Sometimes authors change the price of items,
I'm sorry if any are no longer available or free!