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All Things Alphabet (but particularly Vowels and Consonants!)

17/8/2019

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I'm in Primary 1 (Kindergarten) this year, so the beginning of the year will be filled with all things Alphabet!

I've spent the last couple of days updating and extending the alphabet flashcards I used with my class last year. These flashcards coordinate with the Alphabet (Jolly Phonics) posters I wrote about earlier in the week.

There are at least 12 different words for most sounds (a few of the more unusual sounds have fewer than that). When I introduce a new letter, I add these flashcards with words and pictures to our word wall underneath the correct poster. 

Having so many different words for each initial sound reinforces both the letter sound itself and children's ability to focus on initial sounds. The flashcards also become a useful resource for the children as they learn their initial letter sounds, practice early writing skills, and eventually begin to write simple sentences. 

But - what needed to be changed if I already had the flashcards last year? Well, I've added some additional words, but the most important change I made was border colour. 

Originally, I made the letters in a variety of different colours (yellow, blue, green pink, purple, red, etc), alternating as I went along. It made for a lovely, colourful display. 

But as great as the colours were, I realised I was missing a teaching trick by not using the border colours to help children differentiate between vowels and consonants. So the vowels are now bordered in red, while the consonants are in blue. This visual cue helps children (when you highlight it for them, over and over again!) to recognise quickly the very important difference between vowels and consonants. 

With the most obvious exception of 'c' and 'g' (which make both hard and soft sounds - although the changes in these consonants are controlled by vowels!) and also 'y' (which sometimes functions as a vowel), 'a, e, i, o, u' are the trickiest letters in the alphabet, as well as being the most powerful.

In order to read, children need to know both vowel sounds and vowel names. Many of the phonemes (2 letters to make one sound) we use have at least 1 vowel in them. And if children sound out a word and it still doesn't make sense...it's almost certain that one of the vowels is playing up and making a slightly different sound than expected (generally speaking, consonants are much better behaved!). 

As a teacher - and particularly a Kindergarten teacher - there is so much that you need to help your class learn. So any simple visual tricks to remind children of important literacy rules are invaluable. I'm looking forward to using these new colour-coded posters and flashcards this coming year. If you'd like to use them as well, you can find them by clicking on either the picture above or one of the two pictures below (these show some of the resources you'll find in the file - there's a whole other preview page, which you can see if you click on the link that takes you to TPT).

These flashcards also come with 4 different printables (and the printables also come in different versions that save photocopying, once children have learned how to do each flashcard task!). The printables transform these flashcards into a resource that can easily be used in literacy centers, stations, etc. throughout the week. 
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The flashcards for the entire Alphabet plus the 4 printables total more than 110 pages, but I've put together flashcards for the letters A and S in a separate, FREE file, that you can find by clicking either one of the picture below. These FREE flashcards also come with a simple printable that your class can use with them during literacy centers, etc. 
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Count the Days in School - You Won't Regret It!

16/8/2019

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Many teachers are already back to school, with the rest of us soon to follow. I'm re-posting this updated (free) 'Count the Days in School' pack. If there is only one new math routine you add into your K-2 school day, this should definitely be it. 

Why? Let me count the ways! 
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- It only takes 1-2 minutes each morning. Very quick, very easy, very effective!
- Children love it (you must find a way to keep track of who has already had a turn to add the sticker to a 10 frame or you will have arguments on your hands).
- It provides a visual representation that children are directed to each morning of both number amounts (how big a number is) and place value information (tens/units, but also hundreds if you continue to count past 100 days, which I highly recommend). 
- It provides an easy way into early years Number Talks, while also providing that important visual representation that helps kids to really 'get' numbers, how they are constructed and how they can be partitioned. 

I've updated this pack to make it slightly easier to print and cut out. I've also included 3 pages of Number Talk ideas for the 3 different stages (K-2 / P1-3 / Reception-Year 2).

The main title for this display is 'We are counting the days in school'. In this pack, however, I've also included 4 additional titles that allow you to count: 
1) Days in the School Week
2) Days until Christmas
3) Days until Spring Break
4) Days until Summer

I know that there are some settings where counting smaller amounts (or more repetition of early counting skills) is important, so hopefully these additional sign options will help more people incorporate this routine into their classes in a way that is meaningful for their own pupils.

Welcome Back to School!

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Back to School in Primary 1 - Alphabet Time!

8/8/2019

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I know it's hard to believe (and accept?!), but it's almost Back to School time here in Aberdeen. I know some teachers are already back, others go back next week, while others still have a bit longer...but it's coming for all of us!

This coming school year, I'm back in Primary 1 (Kindergarten). I'm really looking forward to it! I'm in a new school which uses Jolly Phonics, which is new to me. 

​So.….
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I've spent the last few days updating some of my alphabet resources, so they will fit in with the Jolly Phonics programme. I've just finished my Alphabet display posters, which you can find (FREE!) on TPT by clicking on the picture above. 

Wherever possible (which means for 22 of the 26 letters), I've linked the image to the Jolly Phonics song that introduces that letter. There were a few letters that just didn't work ('G' for 'gurgling' and 'N' for 'nnnnn'....an airplane sound, come immediately to mind), so I've tried to choose simple, easily recognisable words/items to go with those letters instead. 

All of the consonants have blue borders, while the vowels have red borders. This visual cue helps children differentiate between vowels and consonants right from the start. This is important, as vowels make both their short sound and 'letter name' sound (unlike consonants) - as well as (let's be honest) making other vowel sounds AND also remaining silent. 

Vowels are tricky! 

By highlighting the vowels and how carefully you need to keep an eye on them, you can set kids up for success in literacy. If they sound out a word, but don't recognise it, it's almost always the vowel that is doing something unexpected. If kids know this from the beginning, they'll have a head start when they begin to blend sounds and start reading. It also cuts down on a lot of confusion! 

If you're looking at the picture above carefully, you'll see that there are 26+ alphabet display posters. For a few of the letters, I've added a second 'alternative' poster. These are generally letters where the Jolly Phonics picture is great - if you are using the Jolly Phonics song. But if you are using a different programme, a different (easier) word might be better. So if you need alphabet posters, but aren't using Jolly Phonics - these posters will still hopefully be just what you need! 

I'm generally in an 'updating resources' mode at the moment, so please do check back, as I'll be posting up all the different alphabet resources I've made and used with my littlest classes. 

Have a great new school year everyone! 

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    About Me

    I have taught from P1-P5 (K-4th grade). You'll find a variety of resources and ideas appropriate for these year groups as you explore this blog. I'm glad you are here and I hope you find activities, ideas or resources that are useful in your own class. 

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