Help a Friend Out! Editable Word Work Menu

I need a little help.

I've had some requests to make some editable resources for some friends.

I started with this Word Work menu (because who can't use Word Work ideas?).

If you can, please download the freebie by clicking on the pic below.

You'll get a PowerPoint file. If you are a Mac user (like me!), you can upload the file to Google docs or One Drive and edit it by adding your own vocabulary words.

Once you try editing it, please leave me a comment below and let me know how it works.

Be looking for more editable resources to come. I'm looking for a few Goggle Slides users to preview a few products for me. Send me your email if you'd like to help.

Frayer Model Freebie

I've used Frayer Models in our vocabulary journals to help students make meaning of our academic vocabulary. They're a great way to help students construct meaning of terms and concepts. Consider using one as a pre-assessment strategy, as well. Students can respond in both words and pictures. Two versions are included in this freebie.

Click on the pic below to get your freebie!

Please leave a comment below with your examples of Frayer Models in your classroom. Successful? Not so much?

Fortune Teller Word Game - Freebie!

Here's a fun word game for any grade level.

Use the blank sheet of cards to write any vocabulary or spelling words your kiddos need for practice. Students pair up. One partner gives clues to the other to help his partner guess the word. Teams score one point for every guess. The object is to have the lowest score at the end of the game.

Keep the word cards turned face up during the game if your kiddos need a little help.

Click on one of the pics above to download your freebie.

The game is in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store with a card for the 1,000 Fry words. Click on the links at the right if you are interested.

Year End Vocabulary -- Freebie

We have really focused on learning strategies to improve our vocabulary this year. I am interested in what my kids have learned using these strategies, so I'm giving them this worksheet. They will pick the favorite word they learned this year and give me synonyms, antonyms, a sentence using the word and a picture illustrating the word.

Click on the pic above to download the doc.

Please leave me a comment if you use this activity. I'd really like to know what words your kids picked.

Fancy Nancy's Splendiferous Christmas -- Freebie

Let Fancy Nancy review sequencing events in a story with your students. There's also a vocabulary and sentence writing activity included in this freebie.

Fonts by KevinandAmanda.com

Now I'm off to watch Once Upon a Time.....I spent all afternoon working at school while I was listening to/re-watching all the episodes! Anyone else hooked?

Vocabulary Response Chart

We introduced our new vocabulary words for the week today. I used the following chart before we talked about context clues.

Students put a small post-it with their name next to each word under the column that matched their understanding of the word:  I Know It, I Have Seen It But Can't Explain It, I Don't Know It. This is what our chart looked like before our small group lesson on context clues.

Here is a closeup.

After our lesson on context clues, each group was allowed to move their post-it if their understanding of the word had changed. This is our chart after two groups had worked with the words. 

The students liked showing how their understanding of the words had changed.

Linky Party Alert!!!! Share Your Favorite Vocabulary Idea!

Don't forget my Linky Party for Vocabulary ideas! Please link in with your best vocabulary ideas.

And after that, go to the Ultimate Linky Party and check out all the other great Linky Parties! Click on the button below!

Vocabulary Word of the Day

Each Second/Third Grade Looping teacher at our school has a Word of the Day posted outside the classroom. The kids all look at each other's Word of the Day as they travel from room to room and down the hall. We laminated a file folder to use.

Vocabulary Literacy Centers and Linky Party

I read several books this summer that emphasized the need for good vocabulary instruction in all classrooms. If students cannot understand the meanings of the words in the reading selections, they will not be able to comprehend the text. Almost every book stressed the need for students to be able to recognize prefixes, suffixes, and affixes. If the students are familiar with these, they can apply what they have learned to figure out many new words. Combining this with my belief that literacy centers are the best way to provide meaningful practice for students, I searched for easy to make activities that were readily available on the internet to make for my students. The best site is the Florida Center for Reading Research. This site has easy to make activities correlating to the Five Pillars of Reading that we teach at Learning Way. I started with the vocabulary resources and have them ready! Access these activities at http://www.fcrr.org/. Click on Instructional Materials for Teachers. From there, choose the Student Center activities for your grade level.    

A great resource for a Making Words Folder for either literacy centers or individual student work is at the blog, What the Teacher Wants, at http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-words-folder.html. 

The Cornerstone offers ideas for free centers at http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/centers/free-center-activities.  

Mrs. McDavid’s Second Grade website has several ready to print centers at http://www.ourclassweb.com/center_activities/lang_arts/.  

Ms. Leslie’s Class Website has great ideas at http://www6.swlauriersb.qc.ca/crestview/ls/Teacher/Teacher_Literacy_Centers.htm. 

Check out Russ’ Rockets at http://www.mrsruss.com/Teachers/foldergames.html for lots of games for literacy centers.

Beth Newingham is my idol! I love her Literacy Centers page at http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/, as well as her page at Scholastic at http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3746.  Be sure to check ALL of her links!

These are just a few of the books I read that help me as I plan for the new year.

What Really Matters in Vocabulary, Patricia M. Cunningham

Literacy Work Stations, Debbie Diller

Making the Most of Small Groups, Debbie Diller

Practice with Purpose, Debbie Diller

The Book Whisperer, by Donalyn Miller

I'm interested in hearing from other second and third grade teachers with vocabulary ideas, games, and activities! Click on the Linky Party for Vocabulary on the right!